Warning: Disaster Area

Is your house a wreck when you come home from a trip? I came home Monday from a quick trip to the land also known as "Hotlanta", and my house is a hot mess. For example, the suitcase hasn't been unpacked but we've been taking things out of it as needed, laundry everywhere, etc. It wasn't a mess when left, but I haven't been on my household maintenance game this week. So here is quick tip before I attempt to get this place in order: invest in a timer. Nothing fancy, just a simple digital timer that you can probably get from somewhere like the Dollar Store. Set the timer for about 15 minutes and pick a room. Look here girl, this ain't deep cleaning. This is straightening, clearing surface clutter, making the bed (no, I didn't make the bed today). You will be amazed at what you can do in 15 minutes, and it helps build cleaning momentum because you know you are only working for short periods of time. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

Magic Fairy Dust

Here's a little cleaning tip. The next time you come face to face with a hard to clean pot or pan, wet the surface and sprinkle on some baking soda (a little dish detergent won't hurt either). Then scrub away. This trick works wonders. If the pan insists on putting up a fight, pour on some white vinegar. You might feel like a mad scientist at this point, but you will get the job done. Please note, I've tried this on stainless steel and glass cookware, but I don't own any non-stick pans, so I don't know if this will damage teflon coatings. Proceed with caution.