The Deep Clean Challenge: Small Project Week

woman holding hammer

Welcome to Week 11 of The Deep Clean Challenge. Last week’s project was a two-parter. Which, by the way, that smudge hunt was pretty satisfying, wasn’t it? Especially if you have kids of any age living at home. It’s kind of impressive how much just getting rid of that stuff we don’t typically notice can …

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Spring Cleaning Clutter Clearing Kick-Off

Sorry, my oldest son has been playing football for twelve years. Sports references now slip in whether I want them to or not. It’s been one heck of a year, and we are not quite done with everything COVID has to throw at us, but that light at the end of the tunnel is getting …

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Overwhelmed by Mess

If you’re overwhelmed by the process of cleaning your home, quit worrying about finding the best option. Stop trying to learn everything and start doing something. We all know that in a perfect world we’d make our own ecologically sound cleaners—not all homemade cleaners are, you know—always reach for a rag to clean, and never …

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Wash the Walls, Really?

Washing walls before painting helps the new paint adhere better, saving time and effort

Dear Home Ec 10, My living room desperately needs to be painted and I’ve rounded up a few friends willing to help sell their time for beer and pizza.  I really want to do this right, is it true that I have to wash the walls before I paint? Signed, Short-Cut Shelby Heather says: Look at it …

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Chores, Adults, and Respect

dealing with adults and chores

Dear Home-Ec 101,Really enjoying the website, and my house is getting cleaner every day thanks to all the tips and the chore schedule. Now my current issue is HOW to get my hubby and our long-term guest to at least KEEP it clean. What rules should everyone follow to keep the house clean for longer? …

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How Long Will it Take to Clean My House?

Dear Home Ec 101,How long will it take to clean my house?Signed,Curious in Corpus Christi Heather says: Well Curious, what is your favorite color? Blue? Ok. I’ve plugged that variable into the top-secret Home-Ec 101 House Cleaning Algorithm, and I’ve determined it will take you exactly 18.36 hours to clean your house thoroughly. Oh. Wait. That doesn’t make …

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Dry Wall Dust and Other Fun Construction Clean Up

Save your vacuum! Do not just suck up dry wall dust after construction. Here's how to handle the dusty mess without ruining your expensive HEPA vacuum.

This reader question came in via email titled: A kitchen cave-in. Dear Home-Ec 101 Yep. That’s right. Lost the ceiling in my kitchen – drop ceiling, light fixture, older (plaster?) ceiling above it, and about 18 inches of blown insulation. I am in the process of getting it fixed. I have shoveled and scooped more …

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