Natural Cleaning Series: Salt

As I struggle with my daily cleaning routine, I am also very interested in using natural, safe and eco-friendly products. Although there are many excellent environmentally-friendly commercial products available, I have found many cleaning uses for basic every-day natural products that also save me money. In the first of the series “Natural Cleaning” I am sharing a few ways I have learned to clean with Salt:

• Make your own scouring cleaner by sprinkling salt on the surface to be cleaned and rubbing it with a cloth dipped in lemon juice or distilled white vinegar.


• To freshen up the inside of the refrigerator, apply a weak solution of ordinary club soda and a little salt on a soft cloth and wipe shelves and compartments.


• To clean up oven spills, sprinkle with a mixture of one-part cinnamon and 6-parts table salt. Allow oven to cool and wipe up mixture. This will not only absorb the spill but will help to remove burnt food odor.


• To clean copper bottoms on pots and pans, sprinkle a little salt and vinegar OR salt and lemon juice, rub lightly and wash as usual.


• Clean the INSIDE of your cast-iron cookware by sprinkling salt and wiping it clean. This helps keep food from sticking when frying.


• Remove stubborn egg stains on flatware by rubbing with a mixture of table salt and tomato juice.


• Clean drains regularly by boiling a solution of salt and water, and then pouring this down the kitchen drain. This helps prevent a build up of grease, grime and bacteria.


• To get rid of rust, cut a lemon in half, dip it in salt and rub it over the rusty area. Wipe this off and allow the area to dry.


• Remove tea and coffee stains from countertops by rubbing with a soft cloth dipped in a mixture of white vinegar and salt.


• Coffee Pots: Clean by boiling water with 2 to 3 tablespoons of salt added to the pot.


• Onion and Garlic Smell on Hands: Rub hands with a mix of salt and vinegar to remove smell from hands.


• Wicker: To whiten yellowing, white wicker furniture, scrub it with a brush moistened with saltwater. Dry in full sunlight.


• Remove watermarks on wood furniture by mixing 1 teaspoon salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Gently rub the paste onto the ring with a soft cloth or sponge and until it's gone. Follow with furniture polish.


• Wine Stains on carpet or cloth: Blot as much of stain as possible then cover stain with salt to absorb the residue. Rinse with cold water.

There are many more uses for salt and I will be adding to this list as we go on with our series. How do you use Salt for cleaning? Please comment below and share with us how you clean with salt or any other household uses for salt.

When Housework and Social Media Collide: The Story of #HHC

I hate housework. I have hated housework for a long time. And I was ashamed. I thought that it was embarrassing to openly admit that I actually hated housework. My mom, grandmothers and aunts all found such pride in the tasks of keeping a home clean and, in my opinion, worked their butts off to do it. I guess the gene for loving housework didn’t get passed down to me. But, through social media via Twitter, I have found that I am not alone in my housework hating.

I signed up on Twitter in April 2009 knowing nothing about social media and just barely enough about computers to be dangerous. I was more interested in the “social” aspect rather than the “media.” After “tweeting” with numerous followers on Twitter who shared my “lack of passion” for housework, I began the Housework-Haters Club (#HHC).

It truly started as a joke with tweets like, “We should start a Housework-Haters Club.” Before I knew what hit me, I received many tweets from people all over the world and from all walks of life that wanted to join—women and men! As a newbie on Twitter, my followers and fellow-#HHC Members helped me to learn more about social media and I continue to learn something new every day. In April, I knew nothing about SEO, API, RT, LOA, or hundreds more acronyms of which I had no clue of their meaning. Heck, I could barely figure out how to retweet the excellent tweets of my friends and keep it under 140 characters. It is now August and I still know very little about most of those terms, but I have learned how to RT and I can tell you this:

“I love my followers. I did not pay for them; then they would be products. But they are people-super great people who have become my friends.”

My Sincere 140, @Decotta

Connecting with members on Twitter has been an awesome experience. In addition to sharing tips and opinions about housework, I have also developed strong friendships with Members of the Housework-Haters Club. From consoling and uplifting someone who just lost their job; congratulating a grandmother who just saw the ultrasound of her soon-to-be-born granddaughter; praying for a Member whose husband just had brain tumor surgery—to me, that is what social media is all about. Twitter has allowed me to reach out to others and develop relationships that I would otherwise be unable to do.

But my Twitter account wasn’t enough. I had to find a way to keep up with the members and we needed a “home” where we could come together and share ideas and offer suggestions. Thence, this blog was born and our Club has continued to grow daily.

Although many Members jumped at the chance to join Housework-Haters Club, I received a few tweets and messages of concern:

“But if I join, who’s going to clean my house?”
I want to take a moment to clarify that I do not encourage “not” doing housework and we are not planning a revolt. We are simply a group of like-mind people coming together for the purpose of sharing opinions, ideas, products and resources, all in an effort to make housework a little easier and enjoyable. You are eligible to join Housework-Haters Club if you sincerely hate housework (whether you do it or not). And if you like housework, you are still welcomed to join us……I know a bunch of people who would love to hire you or ask you for helpful tips. *hehehe*

Does a maid come with membership?
So sorry—the answer is No. However, we have received many inquiries and requests for product and service reviews on our blog. If a maid service calls me, you can bet I’m going to ask if they will sponsor a giveaway contest to our Members for a free cleaning!

I would love to join but I use a cleaning service……is that allowed?
Heaven’s Yes! Did you stop hating housework just because someone else was doing it? Nah. I didn’t think so. I have always tried to have a little help around the house and last year I hired a good friend of mine (Lisa) to come once a week to help me clean. She apparently doesn’t mind housework since she does it for a living. (I cannot even imagine doing it as a job! Uggh!) And she does a GREAT job! Lisa will also be involved with our Review Board to help me test products for review. Here’s a sneak peak at Lisa, an honorary member of the #HHC Review Board.

I am proud of my home and family, and I want both of them to be happy and healthy. I love a clean house and cannot stand filth or clutter (although I really have to work at the “clutter” issue). I enjoy working hard. I just do not want to work that hard at housework! I prefer to spend my time, energy and efforts with things and people that might make a difference in the world.

I’m so happy to be involved in something I have a passion for—Sharing, helping and connecting with real people!” I feel very privileged and honored to lead our Members and am blessed with the support and dedication of many great people. The respect, help and love I have received from our Members still amazes me, warms my heart and motivates me daily to learn and do more than the day before.

I am excited about the upcoming plans for the #HHC. I invite you to subscribe to this blog to receive updates of future posts about reviews, giveaway contests and news from the Housework-Haters Club. I would also love for you to follow me on Twitter at @Decotta. Once a member joins, they can also follow @HouseworkHaters on Twitter to receive tweets solely for Members only.

To our Members and Twitter, I sincerely thank you for this opportunity!

“Hate Housework….Not People”

With sincere appreciation,
Decotta, Founder
Housework-Haters Club

Featured Member - August 2009

We would like you to meet our Featured Member for August 2009. (Don't forget to congratulate her and leave her a message in the comment section below.)

Amy

Twitter Name: @pillpushera

• I have been married for 21 years to my husband Kenny. We have 2 children; Kylie who is 19 and a hair stylist, and Price who is 15 and a Freshman this year.
• I am a pharmacist.
• We love pets at our house. We have 4 dogs (Mango, Marley, Lexi and Halle) and 2 cats (Precious and Ebony).
• We live in Wichita Falls, TX.
• My favorite pastime right now is Twitter. In fact, I'm addicted to it.
• I also love shopping, going to the movies, reading and music. I've recently discovered Blip.fm and am enjoying being a DJ.
• My nightly pleasure is wine. It's what preserves me.
• I am fun-loving and a real girly girl. I love makeup and all things of beauty.
• I despise housework and do as little as possible.
• I'm a GODDESS, just not a DOMESTIC GODDESS

___________________________________________________

Note from Founder:

Amy earned the title of "Featured Member for August 2009" by referring the most new members during our Membership Drive. - Congratulations Amy! And thanks for your awesome support and dedication to the Housework-Haters Club.

"Alice Complains About Housework" - Video

Alice Complains About Housework
Uploaded by chuckchillout8 - Independent web videos.


So happy to share this vintage video with you!

Review Board Applications Being Accepted

I am currently accepting applications for product review volunteers for the Housework-Haters Club “Review Board.” This is an important position that will require special skills and dedication. We are beginning to get requests for product reviews on the #HHC blog. I will be primarily responsible for all product reviews; however, as requests increase I would like to see other members review the products as well. This method will allow members to participate and give different and/or multiple opinions for the benefit of all #HHC Members as well as consumers in general.

Only serious requests will be considered and active participation in the #HHC blog (http://www.houseworkhatersclub.blogspot.com/) will increase your chances to be included in the Review Board. We will not receive compensation for reviews other than the products themselves.

The Review Board will be expected to review products for at least a predetermined period of time and then report their honest opinion and results in writing and pictures. Our product reviews should be something of value to our Members, readers and general public.

If you are interested in occasionally receiving and reviewing a product (including taking pictures when appropriate and giving your review in writing for submission to the #HHC blog), please send an email to HouseworkHatersClub@gmail.com and include the following information:

1. Your name, Twitter User ID, valid email address, full mailing address and telephone number. (This information will be kept private and only used for official Review Board business.)

2. Why you want to be a Member of the #HHC Review Board.

3. Do you currently promote, sell, distribute or market any product, service or business of any kind whatsoever (including storefront, internet, etc.).

4. List any prior product reviews you may have published. (Prior review not necessarily required but your experience will increase your opportunity for first available reviews.

5. List your current occupation, including any personal and professional group affiliations.

6. Provide any additional information that would help us to choose you for the Review Board.

I am looking forward to working with the Review Board to bring real, honest and professional reviews to the Housework-Haters Club Members and blog readers.

Thanks and best wishes to everyone for your participation and support of the #HHC.

Very sincerely,
Decotta Brooks
Founder
Housework-Haters Club

Members' Favorites - Tools/Products

Is there a favorite tool you use while cleaning or doing housework? Maybe a favorite product you couldn’t live without? Anything that makes your housework a little easier or more bearable?

Please share with the Members of Housework-Haters Club by telling us about your favorite tool/product in the Comments section below. Be sure to provide your name and Twitter Username so our members can follow you on Twitter. And please remember our rules about language…keep it clean! Thanks!

Membership Drive - August 3-15, 2009

The Housework-Haters Club (#HHC) will be doing their Membership Drive August 3 through 15, 2009. Members are asked to invite their friends and followers to join #HHC if they sincerely hate housework. The #HHC Member that refers the most new members will be our Featured Member for August.

Remember….We are not alone….There are many Housework-Haters out there. Help them to find their way to our group where others understand what they are feeling! Referrals must reply to @Decotta to join and include the name of the member that invited them.

Good Luck!