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Deep Cleaning As Important As Regular Maintenance

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For anyone who has ever watched some of the television shows about hoarding, it becomes very obvious that cleaning a house is just as important as doing regular maintenance.  When cleaning is neglected, dirt builds up and begins to rot away things like wood floors, carpeting, and walls.  Not only should a house be routinely cleaned and straightened up to preserve its integrity, but a good, deep cleaning should happen at least twice a year.

If you aren’t sure about how to deep clean, visit D and R Tabb’s post featuring 18 Ways to Deep Clean Your Home,

4. Dust all fan blades.

5. Wipe down all cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Lots of grease and fingerprints build up on these.

6. Wipe down or dust all light fixtures (chandliers, lampshades, etc.)

7. Touch up any spots on the wall with paint that need it. Stir the paint really well first.

8. Recaulk any areas that need it (especially around the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub.)

There are a lot of great tips for anyone who has never been taught what deep cleaning is all about!

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Cooking Corn on the Cob

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Have we all seen the easy way to de-silk corn? You microwave the corn for about 4 minutes, then cut off none-stem end.  Shake it a little and it should slide right out.  Like this video of Ken demonstrating.

I tried it and it didn’t work.  I think my knife was not sharp enough so it had cooled by the time I was ready to shake it loose.  I’ve gone back to the old way of just pulling the leaves down and picking the silks the best I can.

However, if you are a fan of corn and always looking for corn ideas, this looks like a great way to cook a LOT of corn in a short time.  It’s cooler corn!

Then my sister, a capable Maine cook with years of camping experience says “let’s do cooler corn!” Before I can ask “what the [bleep] is cooler corn?” a Coleman cooler appears from the garage, is wiped clean, then filled with the shucked ears. Next, two kettles-full of boiling water are poured over the corn and the top closed.

Then nothing.

When we sat down to dinner 30 minutes later and opened it, the corn was perfectly cooked. My mind was blown. And I’m told that the corn will remain at the perfect level of doneness for a couple of hours.

I plan to try this next time I have a big party and lots of corn!
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A Fairy Garden

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If you are looking for a family garden project that is fun, cute, and easy even for the youngest kids, building a fairy garden could be in your future!  From The Magic Onions,

Make sure the plants you choose all like the same amount of sun and water. If you are going to be using moss, remember that moss likes sun to part shade and lots of water… choose other plants that like the same. If you are going for a desert garden look, pebbles, rocks and various cacti look wonderful, but do make sure that too many prickles won’t deter your little ones from playing in their magical creation.

This is a superb idea – a great way to build a lovely focal point for your yard and a good way to bond with your family.

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A Handmade Drink Holder

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If you are the creative type and love entertaining in the summer, this is a great little craft for outdoor parties.  Make your own drink holder from an old aluminum can, a few pieces of hardware and a little bit of creativity.  From Positively Splendid,

We have a big front yard that we are currently outfitting with new chairs, a fire pit, outdoor poofs and other fun items in order to make this space the go-to spot for the whole family. While I was strolling through a local market recently, I stumbled upon the neatest idea for outdoor drink holders and knew they were just the thing for our outdoor seating area! Instead of buying them, I decided to give them the good ol’ DIY try, and here’s how mine turned out!

I. Love. This. So. Much.

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A Bottle Wall

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I adore bottle trees.  I’ve seen broken glass used for gorgeous art work.  Old bottles can be made into drinking glasses and vases with a glass cutter.

But this … this is perhaps the pretties thing I’ve seen made from empty bottles.

To make a bottle fence or wall, simply drill a hole in each bottle and run a rebar through it. Can you imagine how stunning it would be when the sun goes through it? Hopefully the reflection won’t set an ant on fire!

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Making Mosquito Repellent from Scratch

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We have mosquitoes about the size of birds in my part of the country. I love sitting outside, but at a certain point each year I’m driven indoors because of the pesky blood suckers.  I might have to try this homemade mosquito repellent,

Here’s what you’ll need: essential oils (citronella and lemongrass are musts, I also like lavender or you could use tea tree oil or geranium oil for tick protection), 14 oz. bottle of witch hazel (available in grocery stores & pharmacies usually close to the rubbing alcohol), a spray bottle (or two–one for home and one for the diaper bag/car), a jar for mixing, and a funnel.

Click through to read all the directions!

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