Vacuuming—it’s probably not a foreign concept to you. Even those of us who hate cleaning and housekeeping, most will probably still break down and run the vacuum cleaner when it starts getting really bad! Running the vacuum cleaner is not rocket science; however, it is something that could still be done better by most people in order to be more efficient and produce better results. Here are a few of the most common vacuuming mistakes that I see being made every day.
Not Going Around the Edges
Vacuuming the main area of the floor is great, but please don’t forget about the edges. So many times I see people have vacuumed the main area of the carpet but they have not taken the crevice tool around the edges of the carpet. Their floor still looks dirty! With the activity taking place in the middle of the carpet a lot of the dirt travels to the edges where, especially if it is a carpeted room, the dirt lodges between the wall and baseboard. If you do not vacuum the edges with the crevice tool, it will stay there. This is why if you vacuum the main area of the carpet but fail to go around the edges your carpet can still look dirty. Little by little the dirt will bounce its way out of the crease between the wall and onto the main part of the floor.
If you have hard floors, I always make the joke that you could just take the crevice tool around the edges and call it a day because most of the dirt will float to the corners and build up there, meanwhile the main part of your floor doesn’t look too bad!
Rollers on Hard Floors
Most vacuums today come with at least two options, a hard floor setting and a carpet setting. Some vacuums even come with three settings: hard floor, low carpet, and high carpet (these are my favorite type vacuums). Please be aware that you don’t want to use the carpet setting on a hard floor, especially a hardwood floor, because it can scratch your floor. While it is generally okay to flash on the roller setting for a second to help suck up a big mess or little particles (such as kitty litter or glitter), you do not want to use this setting all the time on the hard floor.
Picking up the Cord
Have you ever vacuumed a floor, especially a hard floor as opposed to carpet, and turned about and saw more dirt where you just vacuumed? More than likely you were letting your vacuum cord lay on the floor and it caught some of the dirt as you went along vacuuming. A better approach is to loop the cord so you are holding as much of it as possible, vacuum a small area, then turn and release the cord so the cord is laying in a clean area that you already vacuumed. Then proceed to vacuum ahead of where you are walking.
Vacuuming Out of a Room
This is more of a detail but who doesn’t like seeing those neat lines in the carpet from the vacuum? In order to leave the carpet looking freshest, start on the side of the room furthest from the door and vacuum your way out of the room so there are few footprints on the carpet and you can enjoy the room looking even crisper for a little bit!
Conclusion
I hope these tips help to solve any frustrations you may have been battling with your vacuuming! If you have any additional questions or topics you’d like me to cover please shoot me an email at: alainascleaingservice@gmail.com. Until next time!
In 2025 it was one of my goals to read several classic works. While I didn’t yet make it through Wuthering Heights (I’m going to try again this year!) I did manage to read several classic works… Given that I have not made it through Withering Heights I was concerned that reading any of the classics might be a bit of a slog. What I found was that I actually really enjoyed the classic titles that I read! I may have fallen short of my goal to read 12 classics- but hey 2 of the ones I read were 1000 pages so I think I should get extra points for those!
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
It shouldn’t have surprised that a work that has been around for nearly 100 years would be as gripping and compelling as it was but it did surprise me! Though this title is 1000 pages it kept my interest (i did listen via audio book) and really enjoyed the story as well as the observatioins of the human condition.
If you aren’t familiar with the story, this is a work about Scarlet, the spoiled daughter of a wealthy plantation owner growing up in the deep south just as the civil war begins. Scarlet is in love with Ashley but he does not return her affection, and he marries Melanie, a sweet, kind woman, who Scarlet scorns. At the behest of Ahsley, Scarlet must fight to keep Melanie safe through the course of the Civil War. One of the ways she does this is through the help of Rhett Butler, a handsome but scandalous man who has made his fortune through what is rumored to be dubious means. Though she resists, Scarlet needs Rhett’s help and eventually grows to have affection for him.
Always wanting what you can’t have and not desiring it once you do have it… This is where Scarlet O’Hara lives most of her life, whether she realizes it or not. This story is not only insightful into human nature, but also a captivating telling of the turbulent times of the wealthy in the South through the civil war and during the time of the southern reconstruction.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
I was apprehensive about this one; I thought it would be a lot of talk in 1800s dialect about the moral ills of slavery and I was worried it might contain graphic scenes of people being mistreated due to the ills of slavery. I was pleasantly surprised that much more of the book was action adventure, running from and eluding slave catcher than it was moralizing about the evils of slavery, which of course I agree with- I just didn’t want to read 1000 pages of it!
There was just one passage that I felt got a little long discoursing on the philosophical side of slavery, the rest of the book was pretty fast paced and I again realized why this book has been in print for over 150 years!
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I again was familiar with this story; I have seen movie adaptations of it, and listened to abridged audio versions of it but reading the unabridged version in its entirety was a special treat! This is such a sweet cozy story! If you are ever in need of a feel good read that pulls you vividly into its pages I would greatly encourage you to pick this one up! Even if you are familiar with the story, I think you will enjoy the unabridged book as its own unique experience as I did!
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I endeavored to read more of the classics last year; and while I have been familiar with Little Women from an early age, I had never read it unabridged. This was one of my favorite stories as a child (I had the 1994 version of the movie, as well as Focus on the Family’s Radio Theatre Edition on audio), and I greatly enjoyed hearing the whole story.
For anyone who doesn’t know this is the story about 4 young daughters in the March Family; Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and their lives as they grow from young girls during the American Civil War, to grown women years later. While this book covers day to day life for the girls- it is not boring!
I think of the preconceived notions many of us harbor about the classics is that they are boring; but as far as all the classic titles go that I read last year- this hasn’t been true! The other thing that has stood out to me is the good moral teaching tucked into the pages of each of these. It may be hidden moral teaching (Gone with the Wind), it may be a bit more bold and front and center (Uncle Tom’s Cabin), or somewhere in between as with Little Women, but each one has been edifying and kept my attention! I really enjoyed the classics I read last year and I encourage you to pick one up if you have been meaning to!
Conclusion
If you have been toying with the idea of adding some classic titles to your reading list this year I encourage you go to for it- I think you will be pleasantly surprised with gems hidden inside these old pages!
I remember when I first discovered the Magic Eraser. It worked like, well, magic! There were tough scuff marks on the bottom of the fridge in the pizza place where I worked. I had been trying to scrub them off and wasn’t getting anywhere until my boss tossed me a Magic Eraser and told me to try it. I was amazed when it worked! From then on I believed in magic!
However, over the years of using them, I noticed times when the Magic Eraser (and by Magic Eraser I am talking about any of those white, dense sponges that are intended to take spots away- not a specific brand) didn’t quite work the way I wanted it to. I used it on some laminate countertops and it looked like it had scuffed the surface. Another time I used a Magic Eraser on a painted wall to get a scuff mark off; I liberally scrubbed all around the area, wiping down the wall with the Magic Eraser. After it dried, I noticed the paint looked lighter in that area than the rest of the wall. “What in the world?” I wondered.
How Magic Erasers Work
The thing that I didn’t know then about Magic Erasers, that I now know, is their magic power comes from them containing a small amount of bleach. The bleach, in conjunction with the sponge, can etch the surface you are using it on.
When to Use a Magic Eraser
Now I am not here to bash Magic Erasers—I think they are great and, most assuredly, have their uses. You just have to have some understanding of what and how you are using them. If you have a scuff mark on a wall and use a Magic Eraser very carefully on that spot—it will take the mark away and you’ll never know it was there—just don’t get crazy scrubbing all over that wall.
If you have something white or made out of a very hard, non-porous surface, say a porcelain toilet, you’re safe to use the Magic Eraser. Another one of my favorite uses for the Magic Eraser is to scrub the textured bottom of a fiberglass shower or tub that was gray from discoloration! As mentioned above, they also work great to remove scuffs that somehow always get on the inside of fridges!
Where I Wouldn’t Use a Magic Eraser
I tend towards the conservative side when it comes to cleaning, meaning the last thing I want to do is damage anything and I’d also rather have it look slightly less clean than use it on something that it might slightly damage and cut down on the life of the surface. This is a personal preference.
I wouldn’t use a Magic Eraser on surfaces like natural stone countertops, especially quartz countertops—way too easy to etch! I have also heard about using it on glass shower doors to remove hard water buildup, but I’d be very careful if you go this route. I think the Magic Eraser will take the marks off but, again, it will penetrate the coating covering your glass that makes the water bead and roll off. If you use a Magic Eraser you will remove some of this coating allowing the hard water to penetrate deeper and potentially stain it worse if you do not keep up with it.
Final Verdict
I love Magic Erasers! I just think it is important to know the downside if you use them indiscriminately. Like anything, when in doubt always test on an inconspicuous area first to determine if it will damage the surface!
Disclaimer:
All of these cleaning tips have come from my personal experience and that of the clients whom I serve. While the information here should be applicable and safe in most circumstances if you have any doubts be sure to check with the manufacturer for the product which you are cleaning and always test a cleaning product or procedure in an inconspicuous area first!
I have seen many different kinds of cabinets in my day and, as in most things in my life, I have developed very strong opinions about what kind are best and which kind of kitchen cabinets are easiest to keep looking clean! It should be noted before we dive in that perhaps the easiest cabinet to keep looking clean may not be the cabinets that are actually the easiest to clean—by nature of being harder to keep clean the cabinet may just be showing the dirt more.
Design
From a style and design point of view I think the two classics are white and wooden cabinets.
What Is the Material of Your Cabinet?
Before we get to the many different finishes of cabinets, let’s talk about what the cabinets themselves are made of. Few cabinets today are made out of solid wood, and you will pay a pretty penny for cabinets made out of solid wood. However, these do last the longest. Many cabinets are made out of a sturdy particleboard and then overlaid with wood to form the style of front that you want. Lastly, some cabinets are made out of particleboard, then overlaid with a plastic veneer to give them the desired finish.
All of that has to do with doors—there’s the box of the cabinet too. The box of the cabinet refers to what the doors and drawers fasten into. Here again, some are made out of solid wood, and others are made out of particleboard. Wood will definitely hold up better and be easier to repair if it gets damaged (think toddler denting it by hitting it with a toy block or a puppy chewing the wood) but particleboard is much cheaper. Weigh your options and factor in how often you plan to update your kitchen when making this decision.
Finishes
Now for the finish of the cabinets. There are several different finishes including: natural stained wood, painted wood, and plastic veneer overlay.
Wood
Wood is the easiest to keep looking clean. Since wood has natural movement in it, drips and stains blend in making wooden cabinets look cleaner than they often are. You still want to still check your cabinets regularly to make sure you don’t get any marks on them that stain the wood. Wood wipes off pretty easily but often requires soap and water rather than just a one-step spray to clean.
Paint
Painted cabinets are the hardest to keep looking clean. Especially white cabinets. I know, I’m sorry but it’s the truth! All painted cabinets show dirt as there is no variation in the color for stain and marks to blend in with. If you want painted cabinets go for it! I did paint in my own kitchen but beware, you will have to spend some time wiping down door fronts in order to keep them looking pristine.
Also do not think that only white and light shades of paint show dirt—they all do. In fact, a very dark shade of cabinet shows just about as much dirt as white since few materials tend to be very light or very dark, falling rather in the middle of the color spectrum. Painted cabinets tend to wipe down pretty easily, and depending on the finish, sometimes more easily than wooden cabinets.
Veneer Cabinet Finishes
Veneers come in all colors but what I am talking about here as far as ease of cleaning goes is how easy this finish wipes down. A veneer is usually a plastic coating covering the wood (or most likely particleboard) of the cabinet. Due to the plastic coating it is the easiest to quickly wipe down. Be warned though, tough stains such as coffee drips not wiped regularly or red wine marks can permanently stain this finish easier than some of the other finishes. On the plus side, this finish tends to be considerably cheaper than wood or paint so it is much more reasonably replaced if it doesn’t wear well.
One other thing to consider with a veneer-covered cabinet is heat exposure. Will a coffeemaker be sitting on the counter sending hot steam up the front of the cabinet? A toaster? An oven? A veneer can partially melt in the heat, discoloring or even peeling it off the frame of the cabinet door. Once again buyer beware…
The Style of Your Cabinet Front
The style of your door will affect how easy it is too clean. Take the most popular cabinet style, the Shaker style, in which all the edges are raised leaving a rectangular inset in the door-front. It looks like you glued wood in a frame around the edges of the door creating a 90 degree angle for the inset. What that means for you is that there is a perfect ledge where dirt can collect. If you slide your cloth from right to left or visa-versa you are going to end up with dirt wedged in the corner of your cabinet door which is next to impossible to clean. For my cabinets I opted for an inlay that had a 45 angle and is much easier to clean.
Lastly, some cabinets have a bead board inlay. I love bead-board but think long and hard about whether you want it in your cabinet door. Why? Well, how do you feel about scraping dried spaghetti sauce out of each little line in the bead-board… I thought not too!
Glazes
Lastly, many cabinet doors can be finished with a glaze in which a dark paint is sprayed on then wiped off to leave a dark outline in any of the grooves of your cabinet. This adds some character to your door and is a great option to consider when going with a painted door as it helps to camouflage any marks your door may collect. It is usually an additional charge but I think it is well worth it!
I hope this helps give you a few things to think about when selecting a cabinet door! If you find this information useful please share it with a friend!
Disclaimer:
All of these cleaning tips have come from my personal experience and that of the clients whom I serve. While the information here should be applicable and safe in most circumstances if you have any doubts be sure to check with the manufacturer for the product which you are cleaning and always test a cleaning product or procedure in an inconspicuous area first!
Now that the holidays are over I always find myself needing a good book to curl up with that still feels like winter. I want to soak into this season- because it’s wayyyy too early here in Pennsylvania to start thinking about spring! Below are several gripping books that will let you sink into winter, if you like me need help to settle into this current season rather than rushing into a new one!
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
I LOVED this book! Ariel is such a good writer! This is the fictionalized account of a real historical figure. Martha Ballard was a real midwife in the late 1700s who delivered more than 1000 women in her career and NEVER LOST A MOTHER in childbirth! That’s amazing, but then add in that she was called to be a witness in a rape trial, when the accused rapist was later found dead in the river… This real life has all the makings for a compelling story and Ms Lawhon did it justice!!
Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald
This book is loosely based on a legend of a woman who disappeared from Grand Central station in the 1920s. She comes back not every year, but on certain years… Joe Reynolds is a young man working at Grand Central and he sees Nora Lansing when she returns, looking dazed and confused, and looking like she just stumbled in from a different time era. They fall in love but they have to find a way to keep Nora from disappearing again. Through trail and error they realized that Nora is somehow tied to the Grand Central Station terminal. Slowly they start to realize that while Joe continues to age, Nora doesn’t. She is stuck in time. What are they to do? Can their relationship make it? Is it asking too much of Joe to put his life on hold to live within the narrow confines of Nora’s life?
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford
This was such a delightful cozy story in which Olivia Ford did a great job keeping the storyline bright and cheery while spinning a secondary storyline that dealt with a really heavy subject. 78 year old Mrs Quinn is coming up upon her 60th wedding anniversary. She realizes that she doesn’t feel like she has accomplished much in her life- despite it being a full life. On a whim she fills out an application to be on Britain Bakes TV program and showcase her baking abilities- something she doesn’t tell her husband about right away.
When, much to her surprise she is accepted onto the show she has to confess that she kept this a secret from her husband- which reminds her of the other secret she’s been keeping from him…
The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister
It has been a long time since a book scratched the itch for me of keeping me hooked, having some meat to it, and giving me a glimpse into some less talked about, but no less interesting parts of history! The author pieced together this captivating novel about a fictional group of women who travel to the arctic to find a man who was lost (who actually existed). Our protagonist too is someone who really existed, though we have no evidence to believe that she actually trekked into the arctic, we do know that she was a member of the Donner party.
This story opens and our main character, Virginia Reeves, is on trial for the murder of Caprice, an affluent young woman who ventured with Virginia into the arctic but never returned. The story unfolds of the 13 women who ventured into the arctic in search of another woman’s husband, only 5 of whom made it back to be at Virginia’s trial… Will Virginia be found guilty and hanged, or will she be set free?
This book offers a very interesting look at how an undertaking of this sort was tackled in a time before we yet had all of our modern conveniences!
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Set in winter in Canada in 1867 a mother’s son goes missing the same day her neighbor is found dead. As any good mother would be, she is desperate to find her son and prove his innocence. But trekking across the countryside in search of her son in the dead of winter is a perilous task. A trapper teams up to help her find her son; but they must get to him before the law does- in the eye of the law her son is as good as guilty. Will they survive long enough to save her son?
