Jerri at Simply Sweet Home

Our Lives, Digitalized: The Hard Copies of Yesteryear VS Data Today

June 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

If you grew up in the 90s, you probably still remember a lot of things like family pictures being hung up on the walls. Such old school ways of doing things have changed a lot. Sure – there may still be pictures on the wall, but chances are they were taken on your phone, printed out on your computer, and hung up in a matter of minutes. But life didn’t use to be this way. Even now, we can see that there are a lot of things fading away (like hard copies of books). It’s likely that in just a decade or two we will see even more of our lives become data on a digital screen rather than hard copies we keep with us or around the house.

There are a lot of things younger generations probably didn’t realize had hard copies. Here are just a few:

Recipes

You’ve probably seen recipe books in your grandma’s kitchen, and maybe even had one yourself at one point. But with the convenience of increased technology, most people have opted to keep all of their favorite recipes on their phone, computer, or iPad. It’s actually pretty awesome, especially if you have the data backed up elsewhere in case your favorite recipe gets a little out of hand next time around.

Photo Albums

Keeping your photos in the digital realm is an amazing way to preserve older photos and heirloom pictures. It can even be a great way to spread the photos around to family without having to give up the original. Most people back up photos rather than risk losing them when the computer finally breaks down. But there was a time when the only way to keep a picture around was to meticulously wedge it into protective covers and keep them on dust-free shelves.

Manuscripts

This may not sound like a big deal but think about those huge old volumes, gigantic novels, and even serial shorts. All of those used to be kept, single-copy in boxes. And in case that doesn’t sound impressive, consider that manuscripts have to be double-spaced, printed on one side only. The condensed, 1000+ page tome you already consider huge was easily double that size before publication. Which is why so many authors were relieved when you could finally digitize your manuscript. Even for those who post their stories or poems on a blog, you can use a WordPress backup to protect your posts. Fewer supplies and a lot more free space around the house!

Games & Movies

While it’s still very common to see folks buying games, DVDs, BluRay disks, and CDs, much of our entertainment is digital. You can pay to download your favorite games, movies, shows, songs – the list goes on. When you don’t have a physical copy, it can be easy to overlook how valuable your collection in. So keep in mind that some people are suing over Steam accounts during divorces! That’s why you should always keep backups of your downloads. You spend real money on real products, don’t risk losing it and having to pay again if your preferred device breaks!

There are tons of things that used to be done solely or mostly in hard copies. And while hard copies are super cool and can add an eclectic flair to your home, the fact is digital is a lot more convenient. With the right data back-up, you don’t have to worry about losing what’s already yours. What did you grow up with that switched to digital? Do you think it’s better or worse?

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Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 428

June 7, 2018 6 Comments

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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Filed Under: Friday Favorites

Create a Perfect Accent Wall for Any Room

June 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

Do you often sit and daydream about creating a fashionable, on-trend space within your home? Do you equally as often reconsider that dream based on prohibitive costs or the time-consuming nature of interior design projects? Good news! Our team is here today to give you a simple five-step plan to give any room an affordable, stylish facelift in just a few hours. All you have to do is follow this simple guide to achieve a quick makeover that’s an instant hit with visitors and your family alike.

One: Choose a Color

The great thing about this single wall room refresh project is that you only need to pick one color because you’re just painting one wall. You can choose a color that already exists in your household palette or opt for something completely different. Going the “completely different” route gives you an opportunity to make a real style statement – consider choosing Pantone’s 2018 color of the year, Ultra Violet. This project is so simple you can just paint it again in a few months if you really can’t live with whatever color you go for, after all.

Two: Select a Display Piece

The point of this project is to create an easy, elegant display for a piece of artwork in your home. There are plenty of ways to craft a home gallery for family photos, snapshots or even your favorite pieces of school art – but we’re focusing on one specialist piece today. For a truly unique and engaging display, choose a custom star map print. The idea behind these high-contrast, detailed images is to highlight a special date or event in your life with a 100% accurate image of the night sky as it appeared at that time. This presents your visitors with a unique image they’re unlikely to see anywhere else; an image that can start exciting conversations for years to come. What’s more, the high-contrast black-and-white nature of such prints will bring an elegant touch to the vibrant wall you’re about to repaint.

Three: Clear Your Space

Now, we realize that so far you may’ve thought there was no real work involved in this process at all, and clearing a living area might seem daunting. Before you’re put off the idea entirely, consider this: you only have to clear one wall. Take down any art or photos you have hanging already, remove the curtains or Express Essex blinds, move furniture that’s situated against the wall and your quick clean up is finished. It’s a great idea to brush down those cobwebs and dust any trim work that’s in the space as well, and if there’s any masking that needs to be done, get that out of the way.

54313023 – close up of professional workman hand holding dirty paintroller

Four: Paint the Wall

Painting the wall is going to be as simple, or as complicated, as you make it. The amount of paint you need will depend on the size of the wall you’re painting, and the choice of roller type similarly so. However, the general idea is you can quickly apply the right amount of paint for the main portion of the wall in just a few hours. Similarly, the need to go over trim depends on what your wall and room detailing is like.

Five: Finishing Touches

This really is the home stretch for your quick-and-easy room refresher project. Once the paint is dry, remove any masking and be sure the finish is just right on all surfaces. As soon as you’re confident it’s ready, you can make preparations to hang your wonderful new piece of art. Consider the physical size of your artwork, as well as the type of hanger on the frame when choosing the height for the star map print you’ve selected.

The precise location along the width of the wall should be determined by a blend of your stud spacing, aesthetics, and the frame’s fixtures.

That really is all there is to getting a fresh new look for any room in your home. Simply pick a color, choose an image to frame, clear the space, paint it, and hang your artwork. We hope this simple project outline gets you well on the way to a fresh look for your favorite space.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

The Crucial Ingredients For A Perfect Barbecue

June 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

As June begins to flower in earnest we’re well on our way for a summer to remember. While many of us will already be planning family vacations and buying tents in anticipation of a family camping trip somewhere picturesque like White Mountain or Assateague Island, a lot of us have our sights squarely set on the home this summer. Since most of us have already engaged in the time honored institution that is spring cleaning, now’s the time to open up the house to guests. All through spring we’ve put in the hard work, deep cleaned each and every room, rid the home of distracting clutter, brightened up paint work that was starting to look a little forlorn and added a few pieces of statement wall art that are sure to be great talking points so now that summer is upon us it’s time to reap the social benefits.

While house parties, dinner parties and cocktail parties are all great ways to celebrate the newly clement weather and give our social calendars a much needed bump, nothing says All American summer like a good old fashioned barbecue. Over the coming months, many will be inviting friends, family and neighbors alike to enjoy our homes and gardens as we cook a cornucopia of flame grilled delights for their delectation. But there’s a universe of difference between a few beers and burgers with friends and a social gathering that the neighborhood will use as a yardstick by which all future engagements are measured. Here are some tips that will add your garden n grill soiree that little extra magic that will ensure that the event goes with a pop and leaves guests thinking and talking about it for weeks to come.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Impromptu parties can be a lot of fun, but if this is to be a party for the ages, you must plan in advance. Issue invitations and try to get as many RSVPs back as you can prior to the event so that you don’t end up buying too much. Make sure that you buy a little more than you need so that nobody has to go without, and be sure that you have plenty of soft and alcoholic drinks as well as the ingredients to make the summer cocktails that will go down perfectly in the sunny garden setting. Many like to impose a theme which will determine the decor, the food and drink and (if you’re feeling extra adventurous) the fancy dress code.

Prep the night before

If you’re putting this much effort into throwing the perfect social event it’s only fair that you’re actually able to experience it rather than slaving away in the kitchen or over the grill. Thus, it’s essential that you prepare everything the night before so that cooking your prepared food is quick and easy, allowing you more time to mingle with your guests.

Transform your garden

Sure, your home will be a talking point, but if your guests will be spending most of their time in the garden, this is the perfect opportunity to transform your soothing and serene garden into an adventurous wonderland. Often a sense of theatricality and adventure can be the difference between a good barbecue and a great one. You’d be amazed at the difference some LED fairy lights, rope lights, curtain lights, lawn ornaments and candles can make to your garden. If you’ve chosen a theme for your event, the way in which you decorate your garden will really make it pop!

Create opportunities to cool off

Your guests will likely really appreciate the opportunity to sun themselves in your garden, but they might reach a point where the sun has gotten a little too much for them (especially if they didn’t remember to pack sunscreen). Since you may not relish the idea of your guests roaming around your home as you slave over a hot grill, it’s a good idea to dedicate a space as a “cooling off area” in which guests can enjoy a cool drink in the shade or beneath some large outdoor ceiling fans if you have a porch or sunroom that will accommodate them. Ensure that your cool room is well stocked with both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. If people are going to have access to alcohol all day they will need to stay well hydrated.

Don’t forget the veggies!

In today’s increasingly environmentally conscious world, at least some of your guests are likely to abstain from meat, dairy and other animal products for health or ethical reasons. Thus, it’s vital that you have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options (plus, let’s face it, they’ll probably go down a treat with omnivores, too). Fortunately, it doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination or preparation to bring mouth watering vegan food to your grill (just be sure to cook far enough away from your burgers, sausages and ribs that they won’t get splashed with meat juices). From cauliflower steaks and barbecued eggplant to veggie kabobs and barbecued tofu, who says that meat eaters should have all the fun at your barbecue?

Side note

While the delicious meats and veggies being prepared on the grill will undoubtedly be the stars of the show, don’t forget to spare a thought for the side dishes. You could be forgiven for underestimating the importance of sides but these can really help you to keep the costs of your barbecue manageable. If your guests load their plates with plenty of sides they’ll be less likely to return to the grill time after time, meaning that you’re less likely to run out of the good (and expensive) stuff. Plus, they’re great for guests to snack on long after the flames have died down on the barbecue itself.

With a little imagination and a whole lot of forward planning, your barbecue will be the stuff of legend and a gauntlet that you throw down to the rest of the neighborhood. You’ll enjoy months of pleasurable dining in their gardens as they try (and fail) to emulate your superlative soiree.

Filed Under: Home/Garden

Making a Statement: How to Pack Some “Oomph” Into Your Home Décor

June 1, 2018 Leave a Comment

Everybody wants their home décor to not just be pleasant to look and comfortable, but also memorable for their guests. However, it’s not always easy to pull off something design-wise that will appeal to everyone. To help give your home leave a lasting impression, here are some suggestions on how to add some “oomph” into your décor. *

Install a fountain in your home. When it comes to really making a statement with your interior decorations, indoor water fountain is on top of the list. Not only do these water features look absolutely amazing, but they also carry with them added benefits that you may not expect. For one, the soothing sight and sound of running water that a fountain projects can help you relax and de-stress, which is always a good thing. The circulating water also makes the fountain a natural air purifier and humidifier. Just make sure to pick a model that suits your décor; there are various models to choose from, such as a desktop fountain or an indoor wall fountain.

* Exhibit something striking that speaks about your personality, hobby, or main interest. We can talk all day about color theory or interior design themes, but one of the most effective ways to add make a statement with your home décor is to inject a bit of your own personality in it. Think about your interests, hobbies, or just your personality in general. Do you collect memorabilia or toys? Exhibit a choice specimen from your collection and display it in prominence. Do you paint? Do you love movies or sports? A painting, a poster, or a team jersey in the right spot can do wonders and make things feel more authentic. Just don’t overdo it, no matter how tempting it is. You want to make a statement, and that statement isn’t “I am a hoarder in need of intervention.”

* Look into a proper set of curtains or drapes. Windows are always important, in that they allow light as well as air into your home. They can also serve as a great way to make a small room look and feel bigger than it actually is. However, as they take up quite a lot of space for being literal holes in your wall, they need something going on – otherwise, they’re going to really bring down the look of your home décor. A great way to remedy this is to have window treatments installed, such as drapes or curtains. With a great set, you can frame your window and make it a part of your décor rather than be a glaring blank space that aesthetically serves no purpose. If you’re not into cloth-based window treatments, though, blinds are also an excellent choice. Try Roman shades or perhaps bamboo blinds.

* Reduce clutter. Unless you’re very strict with your purchases or you like things to look as spartan as possible, it’s likely that your home will have a bit of clutter in it. While that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, too much can make things look messy and disorganized, to the point that whatever you may have been trying with your home décor gets completely buried. Remedy this by straightening things out. Put stuff you’re not keen on displaying too often in storage or relocate them to other parts of the house. Give your room space to breathe. It will make for a more cohesive and coherent home décor.

With these suggestions, you’ll be sure to inject some much-needed excitement and life into your home décor. When in doubt, consult a professional decorator. But your gut and your personal taste should definitely shine through.

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Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 427

May 31, 2018 2 Comments

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Cleaning Up with Rejuvenate® Click n Clean™ Multi-Surface Spray Mop System

May 31, 2018 Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Rejuvenate Products.

As a new mom I’ve found that keeping a clean home is more important than ever, but it is also more challenging. Yes, there are more items to clean and a whole new person to clean up after, but what is even more difficult is finding the time to actually clean. Think about it: Who wants to wash dishes and clean floors when there is a baby to play with? Nevertheless, the housekeeping show must go on! Our son is now 6 months old, which means it is almost crawling time, and that means we MUST have a clean floor for him! This is why I am excited today to talk about the Rejuvenate^® Click n Clean™ Multi-Surface Spray Mop System.

This mopping system is a mom’s dream. The Click n Clean is the only mop that cleans surface-to-surface and delivers professional results for under $35. It is very easy and clean to use: no mixing up chemicals, no wringing out a mop by hand, and no heavy lifting or getting out multiple cleaning appliances. With this system, you can literally clean every surface in your home from hardwood and laminate to tile, grout and even carpet. The Click n Clean mop system allows you to click, clean and go ― no matter the job size. Check it out!

The Click n Clean comes with a microfiber bad that is especially for dust mopping (dry mopping your home). As a pet owner I can tell you this really comes in handy for daily cleaning up of animal hair and other particles. There’s also a scrub pad for wet mopping with the Rejuvenate cleaner of your choice and a super scrub pad for those hard to remove spots. Additionally, one thing that sets this system apart is that it comes with a grout brush attachment. We have tile floors in our bathroom, and this brush is great for that!

Another thing that sets this system apart from other mopping systems is that Rejuvenate has a line of liquid cleaners for every surface in your home:

No Bucket Floor Cleaner (for wood, laminate, and other surfaces)
Luxury Vinyl Floor Cleaner
Marble, Granite & Stone Floor Cleaner
Tile & Grout Everyday Cleaner
Grout Deep Cleaner

The cleaners easily attach to your mop with a bottle adapter (3 are included), and they also come with spray nozzles for easy and convenient spot cleaning.

The cleaning pads are very easy to attach to the mop’s swivel head and are very durable and machine washable.

Once the cleaning pad or grout brush are attached, all you have to do is place a bottle adapter on top of the cleaning bottle of your choice. Then turn the bottle over, and it easily slides on to the mop.

After the cleaner is placed in the mop, simply click a button and the cleaner will be released on your surface. Then just mop up!

Our vinyl floor can be a challenge to clean with all the cooking and grilling (and spilling) we do. (And did I mention we also have kids and pets!) So I am especially excited about using the Click n Clean in this room. Here’s a before and after picture of my results (dirty spots and all).

The results were great! We also tried this in other rooms in our home. The grout brush definitely worked wonders on our tile when combined the Click n Clean mop on the floor. And most of all, I LOVED using this on our hardwood. Most liquid cleaners and mops are not safe to use on hard floors, so the Click n Clean is a life saver for that!

Check out this demo video:

Rejuvenate^® Click n Clean™ Multi-Surface Spray Mop System is available at The Home Depot for $34.97. If you are looking for a way to clean your floors quickly and effectively, you should definitely give it a try!

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden, Videos

Keep Safe When Cooking In The Kitchen

May 29, 2018 Leave a Comment

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the most used room in any house. As the most important room for any family there is no reason for the kitchen to be a dangerous and costly place. Aside from ensuring our HVAC is functioning properly, how can we keep the heart of the home a welcoming, and safe place for all?

Food Poisoning In Your Kitchen

48 million Americans get sick annually from food poisoning with 3,000 of these dying; a quarter of a million citizens are hospitalized. Food poisoning is a deadly, and costly problem in our homes – but it is completely preventable. It is a much bandied about statistic (but a truism nevertheless) that the average cutting board has 200% more bacteria on it than the average toilet seat. Bacteria, like all living organisms, need food to survive and without it they cannot live or reproduce. In the kitchen, food spreads over every surface, providing a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. A simple but effective cleaning regime combined with effective food handling and storage procedures would completely remove this threat from your kitchen.

Don’t Wage Chemical Warfare Against Yourself

America loves bleach and other cleaning products, and we often associate the chlorinated smell of the chemical with cleanliness. Bleach and other household cleaners are, however, by very definition deadly. The purpose of these chemicals is to remove stains (often biological in nature) or to kill living organisms. We fall into both of these categories, so it is hardly surprising that we can be harmed by the very things we use to keep us safe. Make sure that chemicals are properly labeled, used correctly and are stored securely. Never use chemical cleaners near food and make sure all food-handling utensils are properly rinsed.

Hazardous Tools That Can Bite Back

A kitchen is filled with lots of implements and tools that potentially could be extremely dangerous. Modern pressure cookers are supposed to have multiple safety features but they can still fail causing hideous burns. Always use the steam release features carefully and if in doubt run your cooker under cold water before opening. Knives are responsible for countless injuries every year in American homes yet these are almost always avoidable. A sharp knife is a safe knife. The less effort you have to put into cutting, the more in control you are. Never put your knives in the sink with other utensils, wash them carefully alone. Take great care when walking with knives, even to just walk across the room hold them point down by your side.

Fire Is Always A Danger

Fire is a very real danger in your home and no more so than in the kitchen. Cooking fires alone have caused well over a quarter of a million callouts annually for US Fire Departments. Fires can start almost anywhere in the kitchen but your cooker is the most likely ignition source. Never, ever leave the room when you are cooking. Accidents can occur so quickly and spread much faster than you could believe. Make sure all towels and stirrers are kept away from the cooker and that nothing hangs down in front of a hot oven or ring. Get a fire blanket and an appropriate extinguisher. Experts recommend that you actually get two of each and practice with one in a safe environment first so that you know how to use it should you have a fire.

Not The End Of The Story

Your kitchen should be joyous place but it needs to be respected. The risks highlighted are only the tip of the iceberg. Your microwave, blender and glassware all come with their own potential for harm and even something as simple as your humble refrigerator needs to be taken care with. Common sense is a poorly named thing as it is not all of that common; get some and use it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

5 Tips to Keeping Your Home in Tip-Top Shape for Your Family (and Your Cat)

May 29, 2018 9 Comments

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeandCleanLiving #CollectiveBias

Having a clean home is both a luxury and a necessity, and having a family makes this statement even more true. We all want for our homes to be a safe and clean environment for our family, but this requires constant, never ending work. Having pets in your home adds even more challenges to your housekeeping routine, but if you are like me, you love your cats and there is no challenge you won’t tackle for them! Lucky for us, Purina® New TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter is here to see us through! Today I’ve got 5 Tips to Keeping Your Home in Tip-Top Shape for Your Family (and Your Cat), plus information on the newest product from TIDY CATS.

Use a High Quality Cat Litter Product

Ever since I adopted Rebel 10 years ago, I have a been a TIDY CATS user. I currently have 3 cats in my home, and they prefer TIDY CATS.. (That is to say, they’ve never avoided or gone outside the litter box while using their products.) And I’ve been satisfied with how their products block odors when you scoop regularly.

Their latest and greatest product is TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter. This new product features Unscented Odor Control with the Power of Activated Charcoal. Obviously controlling odors is my number one goal, and I love that Free & Clean offers you the odor-absorbing power of activated charcoal plus TidyLock® Protection to lock away odors. (It gives you the clean you need without the extra perfumes, fragrances, and dyes).

The product is also 99.% dust free. This is also extremely important to me; I hate pouring litter in the box and seeing a cloud of dust! Plus, my cat Mina has allergies and other upper respiratory issues, so she needs a product that is dust free.

The product also features strong clumps for easy cleanup. As the person who usually scoops the litter box, this is definitely a plus. Not only does it make clean up easier, but it also means we don’t have to replace the litter with new product quite as often.

TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter is available for purchase at Target. Target is my favorite place to shop, because they carry all my favorite brands, and it is always easy to find what I’m looking for. The pet products and housekeeping supplies I need are also conveniently located right in the front of the store, which means I can get in and out of the store quickly.

Target also frequently has TIDY CATS on sale. Before making my Target run, I always check the Target app for their weekly ad and I look through Cartwheel is to see if there are deals on anything I am planning to buy. The other day I used my Cartwheel account to get 20% off the 35 pound container of litter.

Proper Litter Box Maintenance and Placement

Most cat experts recommend daily scooping of the litter box; however, we usually scoop ours every other day. We may scoop more often if company is coming over or if there just happens to be a special need. You should also be prepared to top your litter box with additional litter as needed and completely empty out your litter box, clean it and replace your litter with all new product. (I usually top ours off a couple of times a week, and we completely change out the litter and clean the box about every 6 weeks or as needed.)

To clean the litterbox when putting in all new litter, we start by taking the box outside for emptying, and we give it a good rinse with the water hose. I then use dishwashing liquid to give it an initial cleaning, and then I pour in a little vinegar and a few drops of essential oil like lemon or peppermint to get things smelling nicely. Then after it dries I usually sprinkle in a small layer of baking soda on the bottom of the box before adding all new litter.

Litterbox placement is also important. Your litter box should be placed in an area of your home that is easily accessible to your cat, and it should not be placed in a high traffic or noisy area of your home or any place your cat may be anxious about using. If possible place the litterbox in an extra bedroom or small room not in use. Alternatively, it can placed in a laundry room, small bathroom, or mud room. Do NOT place the litterbox near food and water bowls.

Quantity. Experts also say you should have one litterbox for each cat, plus an additional litterbox. As for us, we have just one very large litterbox. It is actually an under-the-bed storage bin that we’ve repurposed as a a litterbox, and our cats are fine with sharing. (But if your cats fight or have other issues, you should get more litterboxes.)

Floor Cleaning

Another way to keep your home looking and smelling fresh is with regular floor cleaning. I like to sweep up and clean up the room where we keep the litterbox about once a week. (This room is carpeted, but I keep a large vinyl mat in the room for easy cleaning. It just needs a little vacuuming and a little mopping or spot cleaning with a little all purpose cleaner and rag.)

It is also very necessary to clean the floors in the rest of home quite often (otherwise we’d be overrun with pet hair and litter rocks). I like to vacuum our carpets and all hard floors once a week. We also mop all the hard floors; this makes them look shiny and bright, and it also leaves a nice refreshing scent.

I also keep carpet cleaning spray on hand for the occasional pet stain on the carpet and I spinkle the carpet with baking soda or fabric refreshing before vacuuming when I want things to smell really great.

Deodorizing Your Home

In additional to proper litter box cleaning and maintenance, you should find other ways to deodorize your home. One way is with a good essential oil diffuser. There are a lot of oils that are specifically for getting rid of odors and refreshing your home. I like peppermint or anything from the citrus family, but you have to be careful as some oils can be irritating to your pet or other people in your home with allergies. We also use scented oil plug-ins when we want things to smell really great.

Additionally I sprinkle baking soda on our carpets, rugs and upholstery before vacuuming to absorb odors, and I occasionally spray these areas with fabric refresher.

Pet bedding can also be the source of odors, so you should wash your pet’s blankets and other bedding on a regular basis, as well as keep toys clean and replace toys and bedding as needed with something new.

Surface Cleaning and Other Household Maintenance

You should also remember that pets are not the only ones who can make a mess or make odors in your home. Take garbage out regularly and immediately take garage outside that maybe contain leftover foods, packaging from raw meats, and anything else that may smell bad.

Also, avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink, as well as food containers or dishes on your countertops and stove top, and wipe down all counters and surfaces daily.

If you any tips to help refresh your home and especially your pet area, I’d love to hear them! Please join the conversation by commenting on this post.

And if you are looking for a new way to refresh your cat’s room try new Tidy Cats Free & Clean Unscented litter at Target!

Filed Under: cats, cleaning, Home/Garden, Pets Tagged With: cat litter, housekeeping, Tidy Cats