Homekeeping

I really enjoy this time of year when the focus is on cleaning and organizing. It's surprising what a difference a tidy home can make in your life. A clean home really is a happy home.

My mom used to drive me crazy when she was assigning chores. She'd go on and on about how beautiful the dishes were and how much she loved to clean and make those colors sparkle. I remember thinking, If you love it so much, why don't you do it?!

And although I won't profess to love cleaning, I have found lots of ways to make the most of it and I do love the results.

Coming this January, I'll be sharing some of my favorite homekeeping tips with you.

Here's a few to get you started:

• Did you know that by overusing bleach, you can actually yellow your whites? My favorite whitener and brightener is from Rit and is called just that: Whitener & Brightener. It's great to use for soaking a load of whites a couple of times a year.

• Cooking oil stains on laundry? Wet the stain with cold water and cover the area with cornstarch. Allow to sit overnight and then launder as usual. The cornstarch will absorb the oil.

• And speaking of laundry, try giving your laundry room/space some extra attention, no matter what size the space. Cheer it up and make it an area that looks so nice you don't dread the space you use so often. My favorite laundry room pick-me-up? Wallpaper! Even a little laundry closet can use some.

Stay tuned, I'll be back soon with more tips.

....and with a little homekeeping, she'll change the world.

P.S. my love of Rit is personal. I was not paid to endorse their product.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Comments

[Indiana Lori]

Thanks for the RIT tip! I'm a huge RIT fan, but I hadn't thought of using it in my whites, and I use a lot of bleach.

I put up all white shelves, hung a fancy chandelier, and wallpapered by laundry room: best decorating decision I ever made. Once I realized how much time I was actually spending in there, getting it organized with baskets and keeping it nice was a fantastic use of decorating funds.

[Paula Parrish]

Hello Serena,
Hey, your Mom and my Mom must be related because growing up my Mom also spent a lot of time cleaning our house and assigning household chores. Thanks for the tips and the laughs.
Smiles, Paula

[Samantha]

This is so funny - I've just taken a quick break from scrubbing the beadboard and cupboards in my kitchen! And I come across your post on spring cleaning! It's so true - as much as I love the house decorated for Christmasas soon as Christmas is over I can't wait to start cleaning and clearing out. My mind is currently occupied with paint colours and furniture rearranging!
Happy New Year!

[Cindy]

Can you use that rit dye to whiten a shirt with stripes, or only on pure white things?

[Stacey@ A Sort Of Fairytale]

Great tips, thank you! I'm afraid there is no hope for pretty-ing up my laundry room...it's in the utility area of the basement :(
I would love a really cute laundry room though! Maybe someday...

[Gumbo Lily]

Thanks for the Rit Tip! I didn't know it had a whitening/brightening box. I'm ready to clear and clean at my house too. January is the month I like to deep clean and sort. I'm looking forward to your upcoming tips.
~Jody

[Lilly M]

I LOVE a clean house!!! Growing up my Mom did just about all the cleaning and still does but I appreciate her hard work and now I am known as the "Clean Freak" and I'm okay with that. I can't wait to see what other helpful hints you have to share with us.

[Sherri B.]

Great tips! I must admit that I've forgotten all about Rit and knew nothing about the whitening one. Looking forward to more tips...we can use them in the New Year to start this right!

[Stacie]

Good to know about the Rit. My dish cloths look so dingy right now. I never use bleach, don't have it in my house. So I wasn't sure what to do. I'll give the Rit a try.

[Melody]

All year I meant to spruce up my laundry room, I'm taking this blog post as a sign. It has ugly wallpaper that can't really be replaced, but I will find a way darn it. :)

[Deb]

Thanks for the RIT tip. We have a lot of iron in our water and I don't even buy white shirts any more because they turn yellow; maybe this will help. I"m going to try the cornstarch/oil tip too, one of my favorite aprons has an oil stain.

[Jennifer Johnson]

Funny that you bring up making the laundry pretty just painted my cement walls a bright yellow and covered the shelves with oilcloth in a creey pattern! It maybe in a dull corner of the basement but I won't dread going down there anymore!

[Val]

LOVE Rit dye!

[Kristin]

Thanks so much for the tips! Looking forward to more :-)

[Kathy (Addie Grey)]

Love this! Whites are always a dilemma.

[Myra Hanson]

I agree a clean home is a happy home. My daughters (2yr. & 3yr.) & I sing songs in English/Spanish when it's time to clean up their toys...they love it. Can't wait to read more of your homekeeping tips.

[Juli P]

I will give the RIT whitener and brightener a try. My favorite used to be Mrs. Stewart's Bluing, but that doesn't work in a front loading machine. So, we've been struggling with nice bright whites.
Have any tips for getting out the pit stains on white tee shirts?

[teresa]

I need all the help I can get- Thanks
Have a wonderful week!

[Holly]

I like that product too!!! I love to get cleaning and organizing after Christmas...so cleansing!!! (no pun intended!) Had surgery last week and off my feet for 2 months...patience isn't my virtue so I'd appreciate prayers on this one!!!!
The countdown begins to my favorite show of the year!!!!!!Can. Not. Wait!!!!!

[Kate]

Wish I had a laundry room that wasnt a hole in a shared basement! I only do it when I run out of panties! Will try the Rit for the whites, do love bright white sheets and stuff. Thanks!

[Diane J./Ohio]

Never knew about the Rit dye for whitening. Will definitely have to try that one. I do not have a laundry room. Mine laundry area is behind the furnace in the basement. I am trying to make it more appealing but it can be quite a challenge. I am one that loves this time of year with all of the cleaning & organizing. Great way to spend a long winter!!

[Sara Smeby]

Happy Wednesday! Thank you for reminding us that our homes are to be loved and that homekeeping should be more caring than cleaning. Your brightness is a gift to us all. I wish you many good things in this New Year!

[kathy]

bring it on Serena!

[Vicki K]

Thank you Serena! I look forward to all that you have to share on my favorite subject!!

[lori]

hope you hit your milestone today!!!

[Stefanie M]

I love cleaning tips!

[cheryl @ a pretty cool life.]

Thanks for the RIT tip. I use it on faded blacks, but never thought of it for brightening whites.

[Dawn Jamros]

I need a solution to keeping the washing machine smelling fresh! I look forward to more of your tips!

[Cara]

I love taking advantage of the slower days in January the get things cleaned and organized. January always feels so clean and fresh after the abundance of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[Nicole]

Thanks for sharing the tips! I look forward to what else you have to share. Lately, I have lost the inspiration to clean (I'm hardly home, so never take the time to do it). Any tips and advice will be appreciated!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1470685926]

Hi. I've never used RIT before, thanks for the tip!! By the way, I just want you to know that I LOVE your Christmas book!!!! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

Laura

[Cindi]

I'm going to check for this Rit product in the store! Thanks for the other tips as well. I need help organizing, so bring on the tips!

[Wendy]

I never knew that about the RIT dye. Your blog is so fun and you are a fabulous resource. Ü

[Stephanie Hooper]

I love that your mom had the team spirit when it came to chores. I just lovingly posted all that needed to be accomplished this week on our work wall. Luckily for my crew they get to choose their four favorites & the rest go under the "mom" column. Thank you for posting the cleaning tips. -S

[Pamela D. Olivarez]

Hi Serena,
I've spent my day reading every one of your blog entries. It took the whole day because I'm a wife and mother before I'm.....well, "me". I have followed you for awhile, but never really had the time to snuggle in, and read all about you. Today, I made a conscious effort to "find the time", and I'm so glad that I did! I'm intrigued by your childhood, and amazed by your talent. My eight year old daughter {McKenna J}, bought a copy of "The Farm Chicks Christmas" for me this year. I can't wait for January 9th to arrive. This is the day that I have marked on my calender to read it cover to cover! Both of my children will be back in school, and I'm taking a well deserved "Day Off"! Thank you for all you do to inspire this Michigan housewife!!

[Sharon Turner]

The cleaning tips are the best! I love your site and all the retro look artwork!

[Julie]

Bring em' on! I love cleaning tips. Now if only I loved cleaning!

[Dawn]

These are great tips. Maybe you should write an organizing and cleaning book. I had not heard of your first two tips. I think it is a great idea to make my laundry room more welcoming.

[heather @ new house, new home, new life.blogspot.com]

Can't wait to get back to a normal routine and actually have TIME to clean.

Love the RIT tip. Will be using it on all my white linens next week (when all the company is gone, the decorations are down and the hubby back at work).

[Heather]

Hey Serena,

Just wanted to pop in and say congrats on the 10,000 comments!! You have touched many more than that!! Keep talked' to us because you are such an inspiration!!!

Thanks, Heather :)

[Monica]

Yes, as the New Year rolls around, my attention always turns to getting things cleaned up. I think I feel more like cleaning this time of year than in the spring. I look forward to your posts. Happy Thursday to you :)

[Serena]

Cindy,
I've had mixed results with striped shirts. I think it really just depends on the shirt. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Happy laundering,
Serena :)

[Margo H]

I recently purchased some Rit for whitening purposes. I hate bleach for the laundry.
I have some ancient, lovely good cotton sheets that my great aunts gave to my mom and they need just a little brightening....so Rit it is!

[debbie]

Another way to brighten your whites is to use some type of water softener. I hate running it through my entire home so I just put it in my washer machine. It takes yellow stains out of baby clothes to from formula fed babies. Fill your washer machine with the clothes and 1 Cup of White King or Calgon. Then let the clothes sit for one day. Then just start the cycle and run it like a regular load of laundry. You will be amazed how much whiter your whites will be.