I have an addiction. To cleaning supplies. I am a self-proclaiming cleaning supplies hoarder.
When we moved, I gathered all my cleaning supplies from around my house so that they could move to the new house all in one box. Funny. It was more like 6 boxes. I seriously have as many cleaning supplies as my son has toys.
“A watch won’t take you to where you want to be. It’s up to you if you want to be on time.” Mama Bear Berenstain
If you haven’t discovered The Berenstain Bears on Sprout, you really should look for it. The show is everything you want a Berenstain Bears cartoon to be, right down to the calm demeanor and bluegrass music. To say I love that show would be a sincere understatement.
I love the wisdom of the Berenstain Bears and that same simple wisdom brings me back to my cleaning supply stockpile. Apparently, I believe somewhere deep down in my heart that if I have this one more cleaning miracle, I will finally win the battle with my dirty, messy house.
And that’s just about like saying that a watch will get you somewhere on time or a camera takes nice pictures. Cleaning supplies don’t actually clean your house. Now, if I could just convince my wallet not to buy them…
I just stink at cleaning. That’s the cold, hard, and really bitter truth. Almost as bitter as 100% chocolate. I love having a clean house. I really do. I just have “more important” things to do. Or I’m already exhausted from a long day of hard work being a mom and I can’t fight yet another battle with the mop and a dirty floor.
I know you’re feeling my pain right about how. And, as much as I would like to inspire you with a “here’s how I fixed it” moment, I just don’t have one. I’d love to start cleaning Ruth’s way with only 10 cleaning ingredients for the whole house. But she says not to start using those products until you’ve used up what you have. And I have years worth of cleaning supplies.
What a tangled web we weave…
So, in leiu of inspiration today, I’m just going to hang out with all the other mamas with dirty houses and a stockpile of cleaning supplies. We may not be the awesomest at cleaning. And we may think we’re making progress when we buy that new scrubbie. But we make a darn good pie. Not your thing? No. Me either. I bet we are killer organizers. Me neither. But!! I do make the awesomest sheet fort you’ve ever seen. Even if there are fuzz bunnies in the corner.
There’s no judging here. You’re totally not alone. As long as you promise I’m not alone, either.
I love this idea! I’ll be telling my hubby about it tonight. I’ve been trying to find a good credit card we could use the points for something like vacation or Christmas presents. The Disney idea is awesome!
I just use a spray bottle full of white vinegar for most cleaning. ๐ I also have baking soda and some other stuff to mix it with in case I need more cleaning power. Just grab a plastic spray bottle from Target, fill it with vinegar, and get started! I don’t think you have to use everything up first. Just start with one homemade cleaning supply and see how it works.
Hey Katie! What do you mix with the white vinegar for more cleaning power? I just feel like plain vinegar never really gets the yucky stuff things clean enough. ๐ I’d love some help! ๐
You can add some lemon juice or essential oils. ๐ I think lavender and tea tree oil have good cleaning power. Here are some recipes from another blogger:
http://livesimply.me/2015/11/02/how-to-make-homemade-all-purpose-surface-cleaner/