Ugly eh? Genius me was emptying my pencil sharpener on the counter. Of course it was way over full and got lead shavings on the counter. So I started wiping them with a dry cloth and it left a little cloud. Then I got a wet dishcloth, wiped it and this is what I was left with.
Nothing got it off. I used soap water, straight dish soap, degreaser, and bathroom cleaner. Nothing. Now I know that you can sand the counter down (the beauty of solid surface) but I was terribly nervous about that. So after I was done scouring my sink with Comet I used the cloth. The reason I didn’t use Comet in the first place was the Corian cleaning scare tactics. They said don’t use anything abrasive, it will leave scratch marks. They said it would be better to use a fine grit sand paper. Well, they were wrong. It took it right out! No scratches, no damage! Apparently a little comet goes a long.
Stain removers are often expensive and don’t always work. I have a great one that I use on clothes but the carpet it another matter. But I have 4 kids and a son who gets nose bleeds. So that is a lot of spots and stains on carpet to be had. That is blood in the first picture. I use a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water. I put it in a spray bottle and shake it up before using it. I soak the area with the solution then just towel it off. Though the picture is off, you will notice that there isn’t any blood in the second picture! Now there will be a white vinegar smell but that dissipates really quickly. For just pennys you get a great stain remover that actually works. Can’t top that!
I have a little water tip for WFMW! I saw this in a magazine a while ago. They said to place nail polish on your shower dial (you know, where you turn it on and find the temp?) on the place you always land. This is so that you can go straight to the temp you want so you don’t waste water. Well, we have 2 kids who can now be left in the shower in the shower but we have issues getting them going. The oldest does pretty well but has a tendancy to get the water too warm and we are afraid his is going to burn himself. The NerdPie doesn’t like to get her face in the water to get to the dial. If we could have her set it right before she gets in she would get a warm shower. This helps the kids to know how warm they want the water but they won’t burn themselves.
Save water, prevents burns and gives parents a little more freedom. What more do you want from a tip?
Tammy’s Recipes is hosting Make Your Home a Haven and this week she is focusing on having a Morning Routine of 5 things. The theory behind 5 things is that if you make your list to daunting you won’t do it. To me the 5 things are just a few of the things to get my day off right but I haven’t been consistent. So here is my first 5 things I want to get done in the morning. 1. Brush my teeth 2. Go to the gym 3. Shower and change 4. Make breakfast for the kids 5. Start a load of laundry
So here we meet again. The weather around here can’t decide if it is cold or warm. So I am going to focus on a little comfort food.
Monday: Stew Tuesday: Cube Steak, Corn Casserole, Broccoli Wednesday: Chicken, Asparagus and Pasta in a Butter Garlic Sauce Thursday: Corned Beef, Corn Casserole and Broccoli Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine
(This is a republish because this week’s Work For Me Wednesday is an oldie but goodie call)
Moms, let me break the news to you…You don’t have to do all the laundry but you do have to invest some time in training and let go of the details. Let us first start with the dirty clothes. By the time they are a year and a half my kids are responsible to put their own dirty clothes in the hamper (and yes I remind them;). Then by 5 they can sort their clothes into color piles (I do mine just because of the gentle issue). I do a cursory look until about 6. Now I don’t really check the NerdBug sorting unless I knew there was some iffy things. They are also always welcome to ask me if they are unsure which pile they go into. Then we go onto the washing and drying. When we moved into our new house we got the new front loading washer and dryer. This is great for kids. Both the 4 and 6 year old can easily put clothes in the washer and move them to the dryer. The 6 year old can even start the loads. Then I have the kids dump all the clean clothes into a basket and move them to the loft (where I want them to be). Now my kids do all this while I am nearby usually changing a baby or something like that (my laundry room is upstairs).
Then I invested in those pop up baskets for laundry that they sell with all the “stock up you dorm” stuff for $5, one for each kids. The ones I got at JoAnns have handles, are colored (one for each kid) and have sections you can velcro up or just leave as on big long basket. I sort all the laundry and put the appropriate foldables for each kid. For the 4 year old I give her wash cloths, spit cloths and her socks. The 6 year old gets all of his clothes at this point. Now, not everything is absolutely folded perfectly but it will be ok. My rule is, as long as it all fits in your drawers it is ok. I have gone through and shown them the correct way to fold, had them show me they can and let it go. Remember, you don’t have to look at it or do it so don’t complain.
Monday: Fish, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli Tuesday: Chicken Kiev, Pasta and Asparagus Wednesday: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli Thursday: Hamburger Helper for Dad and the kids: NerdMom is going to Campaigna Friday: Pasta Carbonara Florentine
Ugly eh? Genius me was emptying my pencil sharpener on the counter. Of course it was way over full and got lead shavings on the counter. So I started wiping them with a dry cloth and it left a little cloud. Then I got a wet dishcloth, wiped it and this is what I was left with. 
