Monthly Cleaning Challenge: Vacuum Magic's Tower

This month it's all about getting cleaning!  I know, so exciting.  Haha.  The first step was to create a list of the things I want to accomplish.  The next step is to accomplish them!  Here's the list of the things I have already accomplished:

1. Make cleaning supplies

2. Clean out microwave

I was supposed to post something the past two days.  And, while I did those cleaning tasks, I didn't get around to posting about them.  I've been studying for the last test to get my teaching certificate!  The test is Monday so that's #1 priority right now.  But I've still been chipping away at the list for this month.

For this post I took on the task: Vacuum Magic's Tower.

We have Magic's cat tower set up in the corner of our living room next to one of our couches, with a prime view of the window.  What a lucky little kitty.

Well he loves that tower and it gets a lot of use.  Meaning cat hair starts to build up, and sometimes catnip.  So we definitely need to keep it clean!  I completely forgot to take a before picture of this endeavor.  But I do have a during picture!  I took the brush attachment tool on the vacuum and gave the whole thing a good vacuuming.  Making sure to get in the crevices and everything.

Much better!  And Magic is still loving his perch by the window.  It's the perfect spot for him to watch the squirrels and the birds playing outside.

So let's see how many more things I plan to accomplish:

1. cycle clean appliances

2. clean out car

3. wipe down cabinets/appliances

4. wipe down trim/doors

5. clean out one drawer

6. vacuum furniture

7. vacuum mattress

8. clean oven

9. wash garbage can

10. wash windows

11. wash bath rugs

12. change magic's litter

13. change air filter

Monthly Cleaning Challenge: Clean Out Microwave

This month it's all about getting cleaning!  I know, so exciting.  Haha.  The first step was to create a list of the things I want to accomplish.  The next step is to accomplish them!  Here's the list of the things I have already accomplished:

1. Make cleaning supplies

I know.  What an extensive list!  But I've only just started.  And today marks another accomplishment: Clean out microwave.

The microwave is definitely on the list of appliances that get used a lot, and cleaned much less often.  Since most of the time we cook fast and easy microwave foods on a time crunch, there isn't really time to clean.  But it's definitely important!  If you don't believe me, check out the before picture.

Gross.  Since I take pictures on my iPhone I know it isn't the best picture.  One day I will invest in a camera that takes higher quality photos.  But, for now, the iPhone works.

So to clean it out I had two options.  1) spend forever scrubbing and scraping to get the gunk out  2) spend much less time and effort by steaming it.  Needless to say I went with the second option.

I grabbed a microwave safe bowl and filled it with one cup of water and one cup of vinegar.  Then I placed it in the microwave and set it for 5 minutes.  Then I just had to wait.

After five minutes I took the bowl out (using a potholder cause that thing was hot!) and wiped down everything in the microwave with a damp cloth.  I took out the spinning plate and wiped both sides of that, the sides, the bottom, the top - everything.  And the yucky stuff came off so easily!  I didn't have to scrape and scrub at all.  The steam from the vinegar/water mixture did the hard work for me.

Look how clean that is!  Now I don't cringe every time I open the microwave door.  It's a good feeling :)

So let's see how many more things I plan to accomplish:
1. cycle clean appliances
2. clean out car
3. wipe down cabinets/appliances
4. wipe down trim/doors
5. clean out one drawer
6. vacuum furniture
7. vacuum mattress
8. clean oven
9. wash garbage can
10. wash windows
11. vacuum Magic's tower
12. wash bath rugs
13. change magic's litter
14. change air filter

Progress is being made!

Monthly Cleaning Challenge: Make Cleaning Supplies

Since my Monthly Cleaning Challenge was inspired by Jen over at iHeartOrganizing it shouldn't come as a surprise that she also inspired me to make my own cleaning supplies.  So that was my first task!  I decided to start simple with an all purpose cleaner.

I gathered all my supplies together and was excited to get started.

I used a 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and distilled water.  And to try to cut the smell of the vinegar a little, I used a tbs of lemon juice.  Note: the vinegar smell is definitely still there, but because of the water and lemon juice it isn't as strong.

I picked up two spray bottles from Dollar Tree to house my new cleaner.

Don't you just love the pink spray nozzles?  I do!

Armed with my new cleaner and one of the un-paper towels I made, I wiped down all the kitchen counters and the kitchen sink.

It cleaned everything really well!  I was really surprised and very pleased.  And it's definitely easy on the budget :)

And, of course, everything is better with a pretty label!

I snagged this free download on this post from Jen.  Gotta love it :)

Does anyone else make their own cleaners?