I'm not by nature a clean person.
No, not hazardously dirty...we're not talking maggots or mold or critters moving in without my notice. I'm just more of a surface cleaner with a mild hoarding condition. Whose house sometimes looks like a tornado of fabric and sequins went tearing through.
To get our house in peak condition for sale, I needed to pull myself together and clean down to the bones.
There were two items that rocked my world during the process.
1. Old English
Nope, in the 8 years in that house, I had never Old Englished anything. Not a single cupboard or piece of furniture.
I'm certain that is why the kitchen cupboards and bathroom vanities all looked so rejuvenated after a good buffing.
This photo doesn't capture the transformation as I had hoped, but it does clearly show months (or years) old food splatter that was wiped off in the process. Don't judge me.
Some of those 'daily cleaning plans' I've seen on Pinterest since then have Old English/wood polishing down for ever week.
Not a chance in hell. I'll shoot for anually-ish.
I wish I could have an Oprah moment and tell you to look under your chair to find your very own. You get a steamer. You get a steamer. You get a steamer!
I steamed everything that wouldn't melt.
Steamed the oven, the counters, the tiles.
Who knew my grout wasn't black?!
Steamed the toilets, the patio, the dried crud around the windows.
The nasty shower doors and the scum they left behind in the tracks.
I did have to use Scrubbing Bubbles to help remove the shower door mineral build up. If I had to do it again I would try vinegar.
Steamed the grill a little bit too, even though it was going to be covered. I just couldn't stop. And yes I threw away the toilet tip when I was done cleaning them.
The steam climax came from cleaning the vent cover leading to the air handler in our upstairs hallway. My previous attempts just pushed the shmutz around. Not the steamer. Steam attack with an easy wipe off.
Booyah! Suck it vent cover!
No, literally. Please, suck the dust and stagnant air out of the house.
Need to acquaint yourself with our house and the progress so far? Here are the links:
Wow, now I want one of those steam cleaners! I'm really tempted. Oh, and just wanted to say that I use straight up vinegar on our walk in shower about once a month and it works wonders! It's better than anything else I've tried. It stinks a lot, but at least the smell doesn't stick around.
ReplyDeleteNice, thanks! I think I figured out that I am preferring the vinegar smell more than the chemicals. And Happy Easter!! Just out of curiosity, did you make a huge batch of eggs with 7-Up in them today? For some reason I was thinking about Bethany Easter breakfast eggs today. Do you remember that?
DeleteI want to drink the kind of coffee that you're drinking, Heidi!
ReplyDeleteThat can easily be arranged Libby! :)
DeleteIs that one of those Old Navy vintage T's and lucy pants??
ReplyDeleteI have a floor steamer and have instant jealousy of yours!
Gone Girl was the bomb, BTW. Would love to share one of those coffees and discuss amongst ourselves (via phone)!
Yes. I am predictable and have a problem. ;) But seriously, please stage an intervention if I haven't updated my look by 2014.
DeleteIt's a date!!