Bedroom
Create a "natural" bed.
You can further reduce your laundry loads if you sleep on 100 percent cotton sheets; they are usually more expensive than those made with synthetic fabrics but they breathe and absorb moisture better. Sheets made of synthetics like polyester tend to turn damp and odorous faster from perspiration.
Freshen up sheets without laundering.
Fill a spray bottle with distilled water and a few drops of lavender oil and lightly spray your sheets to freshen them. You can also put a fragrant
lavender sachet under your pillow. The soothing scent of lavender will help lull you to sleep.
Bathroom
Decrease tub scrubbing.
Tubs tend to develop rings when dirty water doesn’t drain quickly. If you have a slow-moving or clogged drain, take the easy approach and try
Drano® Max Gel Clog Remover. Pour in, wait for 15 to 30 minutes and flush well with hot water. Your drains will be restored quickly to their free-flowing state, and you’ll save yourself the mess, time and effort of having to remove hair, soap scum and other gunky clogs. To help decide on the right product for your drains, check out the
Drano® Solution Finder.
Reduce mildew.
Mold and mildew build up fast in showers, especially during the humid summer months. To reduce that buildup, open your shower door or curtain after showering and let the interior air-dry. Hang up wet towels immediately after using; if possible, air-dry them in the sun.
One-stop rinsing.
Keep shampoo and conditioner bottles from getting gunky by rinsing (with lids sealed) in the shower immediately after using.
One touch shower cleaning.
Imagine waking up to a clean shower stall every morning. Start with a clean shower and then install the
Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner. After the last shower of the day, while the shower is still wet, push the start button and watch as the power sprayer sprays cleaning solution on all four shower walls and tub. With daily use, it’s a great way to eliminate buildup of tough soap scum and mold and mildew stains without scrubbing. Keeps showers clean from day one.
Kitchen
Cook and freeze ahead.
Plan your meals for the coming week and spend one weekend day or evening doing all the cooking. Then, divide into individual or family-size portions and freeze, using
Ziploc® Brand Freezer Bags, specially designed to protect against freezer burn. Label each bag by writing the content and date with black permanent marker on the outside of the bag. To maximize room in your freezer, press the air out of the bag as much as possible before zipping and lay each bag on its side and flatten.
One-pot meals.
If you prefer not to cook ahead of time, consider serving easy-to-prep one-pot meals that offer a mix of grains, lean protein and vegetables.
Mess-free meals.
Think no plates, no pots, no pans! Enjoy wraps filled with sliced meats and cheese or a summer-light treat like yogurt and fruit. Or serve this favorite hot-weather brunch: frozen waffles heated on a griddle, topped with freshly washed berries (no cutting required) and a small spritz of whipped cream. The waffles can be eaten as sandwiches, so the only cleanup is the griddle.
Laundry Room
Run a full load.
Especially in summer, when overloaded circuits can cause power outages, conserve electricity by running your washing machine only when it’s fully loaded and during off-hours (early morning or late at night). The U.S. Department of Energy suggests washing clothes in cold water, using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
Refresh the air.
To combat that unpleasant smell laundry rooms sometimes acquire, especially in summer, try the
Glade® Automatic Spray in Tough Odor Solutions Clear Springs® on a flat counter. The battery-operated unit automatically releases delightful, continuous fragrance that lasts for 60 days.*
*On 36-minute setting
Any Room
Effortless roach control.
It takes only a minute to set out pest-control baits, but they can make a huge difference, especially in summer months, when roaches and other pests naturally proliferate. Set them along pathways where pests commonly congregate, such as in corners, under beds and in the kitchen.
Car
No-spill trunks.
Avoid spills in your trunk after you’ve filled the gas can for your lawn mower at the gas station. Place it inside a sturdy plastic bag, close the bag tightly and then secure it firmly inside your trunk for the trip home. This should keep the container from spilling and save you from hours of cleanup, if it does spill.