Real Simple Ways to Make Your House Shine

Real Simple - that's what I want homemaking to be! Homemaking is simple - yet SO difficult. The simple part is, in the time I type this blog I could probably have another closet emptied out. The hard part is finding the time, energy and discipline to do it!

So for me the complexity of keeping a home begins when I try to daily keep it orderly despite my little people who seem to be working against me! I have learned a few tricks to motivate myself - like setting a weekly schedule - that has helped me build a routine that keeps me disciplined. I have also learned that cleaning my home is not for company but for my family.

I remember a woman once said - "If you are coming over to visit my family - come anytime, but if you are coming to visit my house - call ahead!" This is true. My home is not a museum - it is filled with preschool drawings, legos and activity! BUT it is important to me that my children live in a clean home where they are free to play, laugh, love and worship God.

So guess what? I just received a copy of Real Simple Magazine for FREE! After I blogged about my spring cleaning and closet clean out this past Tuesday - I was contacted by Real Simple magazine and they sent me a free issue of the April Magazine overnight!

Now I want to say for the record - I have purchased their magazine before. As a matter of fact, I have one on my coffee table right now - so I do like the magazine! Also, I have visited their website multiple times and LOVE it. So, I can truly say from my heart (and not just because I received a freebie) that they offer real solutions to real homemaking problems and their tagline "Life Made Easier" is true about their magazine and website!

Their cover story this month is "78 easy ideas to make every room shine - fast" Awesome! I could use some help! So here's some tips for making your home shine! They suggest you use a lemon in your garbage disposal to clean it and make the kitchen smell lemony! Mmmmm... great idea - I love the fresh smell of lemons! Another solution: use toothpaste to polish your faucets and taps in the kitchen and bathroom, use toothpaste to remove scuffs on linoleum or to clean piano keys. Pour table salt on a spill in your oven and let the salt soak it up. Then once the oven is cool - wipe it off with a damp sponge.

That's just 5 of the 78 easy ideas to make your house shine! There's more solutions in their April issue. But if you want some cleaning suggestions today go to http://www.realsimple.com/ and click on the "home and organizing" link. Also, if you have not already created your own daily cleaning check list here's a link to one you could print out on their site! Daily Quick Cleaning Check List

Joshua 24:15b says "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The way we care for the people in our household and the diligence, joy and passion that we go about our tasks in the home, reflect who we serve. Truly mashed potatoes will taste differently if the woman serving them is smiling rather than grumpy. It's the same with your cleaning. The house will only truly shine when you as the mother are smiling and pleasant - and giving the warmth of God's love. We are blessed to have so many tools available to us to make things simpler! Take advantage of the resource Real Simple.

But most importantly...Walk with the King!

http://www.womenlivingwell.org/