Speed Cleaning Your Kitchen!

When I am feeling overwhelmed by an overload of housework, I always start in the kitchen.  Our kitchens are the hearts of our homes, and usually serve as "command central", so they see the most activity & traffic.  If my kitchen is neat and orderly, I always feel as though I have a better grasp on things.   Even if you don't have time for a full deep cleaning, sometime a quick run through can make all the difference.


Let's go over some tips for a 10-15 minute Kitchen Speed-Clean to get you on the right path...

1. Start with a clean sink.  

Deal with the dirty dishes.  Are you familiar with The Flylady?  She is the expert when it comes to getting a grip on organization and cleaning.  She teaches that the first step in the process is to shine your sink.   I adapted this practice a few years ago, and it's amazing the difference it makes!  Last thing I do at night... make sure the sink is shining!  It makes getting up so much easier when you don't have to face a dirty sink!  About once a week I sanitize with bleach, as our kitchen sinks are breeding grounds for bacteria.


      2.  Clear off the table & countertops.


If your table & countertops  are  free of dishes and clutter, you're well on your way!  Take any clutter and put it in its proper place,  put bills and mail in the office, or designated spot. and  clear all dirty dishes.  Wipe down the table, and add clean placemats, or a fresh tablecloth.  Remember, less is more when it comes to what is on your countertops.


       3.   Store any food or leftovers.


Put away pantry items, and put refrigerator foods away.  Make sure leftovers are stored properly for safe storage.  When you put the foods away, look for anything in the fridge that needs to be tossed.


       4.  Look for strays.


Take a look around and check for any items that don't belong in the kitchen.  Use a laundry basket to collect the items,  then take them and put the in their respective places right away.  It doesn't help to move items from one out of place location to another "wrong" spot!


      5.   Make a garbage run.


Be sure the garbage cans are emptied.  This eliminates any foul odors.  Be sure the outside of your waste-can gets a wipe down with anti-bacterial spray.


      6.  Floors.


Give the floors a good general sweeping, and then a quick run over with your mop or Swiffer.  (I use my Swiffer Wet Jet for these quick clean-ups, and a Shark Steam Vac for a thorough cleaning.)  Remember you're not deep cleaning or sanitizing your floors right now, just making sure that they are "clean" as for anyone can tell from glancing.


      7.  Don't get distracted.


This one can be hard for me sometimes.  I can intend to do a 10-15 minute speed-clean, and next thing I know I'm cleaning out the plastic wear, or alphabetizing soup cans!  Stay focused, and if need be, follow a check list.  It really can help!


Summertime is no time to be cooped up inside doing housework!  Use this simple guideline for a daily "speed-clean", then your rainy day deep-clean will be much easier, and take less time.


My love of cleaning supplies is similar to my love of office supplies!  A little weird, but fun!  Here are a couple of my favorite cleaning products...

Pine-Sol

This has been my favorite cleaner since I was a little girl.  I love to smell a house that has just been cleaned in Pine-Sol!  When I was pregnant with Princess #1, I literally craved to smell this stuff... I cleaned like a mad woman, but THAT story is another post!

J.R. Watkins All-urpose Lemon Cleaner

This product has great fresh smell, and does a good job with quick clean-ups.  I use it several times a day for quick clean-ups like wiping down cabinets, countertops, and light spills.  It's perfect for the kitchen because it's an all-natural product.

Greased Lightning

I used Greased Lightning for everything from a laundry stain-remover, to cleaning the microwave and grill!  Love this product!

Now, hit me up with some comments, and tell me your "can't-clean-without-it" products!  I may need to go shopping for some new cleaning supplies!  ;-)

Keep Shining!

The Woo-Hoo Gal

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

WOO-HOO! We have a winner! Vol. 2

Congratulations to Jana in Texas.   

She is the winner of the $20 Target giftcard!  

Enjoy a little shopping spree on the Woo-Hoo Gal, Jana!

(Jana was chosen by randomnumber.org as #9)

Thanks to everyone who entered!  There will be another giveaway when we reach 200 followers on Facebook, so post a link to our page and get your friends to "like" us!  I am so happy to have you join me!


Keep Shining!


The Woo-Hoo Gal


Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

I really appreciate your concern...

Some of my blogger friends have me interested in exposing my family to fewer chemicals.  In the hope of not having to use a drain unclogging product, I decided to try a more organic method I read about this week ... Pour 3-4 tablespoons of baking soda into the drain, and then follow with a kettle of boiling water.  Easy-peasy, right?  Let's do it, cause I've been looking at this nastiness for several days now...


The girl's bathroom tub has had standing water, and since they, and my Main Man, are away this week, I've just overlooked it.  Well, last night I decided to tackle my problem head on with this great "home-remedy".


Did I mention it has been this way several days?  Did I mention that I had planned to call a plumber friend to check things out because really, a drain shouldn't be THAT clogged...


Well.  Let me tell you another great, all-nautral, chemical-free, easy-peasy way to solve the problem of a tub that's holding water...  

OPEN. THE. DRAIN. 

Unplug the stopper.  Push the little thingy down until it pops up.  Pull the chain up.  Whatever terminology blows your dress up.  Yep... I did...seriously.  I worked on unstopping a bathtub that had had water standing in it for days, and the stinkin' drain stopper was down!    I am worried about me.  I could be whack-o .  Makes me wonder about the two lawn mowers and television that didn't make it to days end working properly.  What in the world? ... Not sure yet.  I appreciate your concern.

Trying to keep shining, 

The Woo-Hoo Gal  ;-)

I refuse to post photos of my stagnant water-filled tub.  

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

You can be a winner, too!

Being a winner is the best!  I'm not often the winner of games & contests, but a couple of weeks ago I won a great new book, Fade to Blue, by author Julie Carobini, over at my friend, Anne's blog, Stuff & Nonsense. 

Go check out S&N, because Anne is giving away another copy of this new release, plus you can read her interview with the author, Ms. Carobini.  
That win was just enough  to get me motivated that there are more winning possibilities out there for me! 

Recently, one of my "charter readers", LLCinNC won herself a $25 Philosophy.com giftcard.  On Tuesday, I'll announce the winner of my latest giveaway, a $20 Target giftcard.  Want to win that?  I love, love, love winning things, but it's so fun to host giveaways as well!

If you're new to the world of blog giveaways, I thought I would give you some tips on some great ones going on this weekend.  

1.  Erin over at the Humbled Homemaker, is having a giveaway for a wonderful all-natural product, Zarbee's Children's Cough Syrup.

2.  Donna at Funky Junk Interiors is having a giving away for a darling vintage light kit!

3.  The girls over at Mommy and Me Giveaways have several great giveaways currently going on, including a fabulous Schwinn Joyrider Jogging Stroller/Bike Trailer

4.  Chris at Mama Bird's Blog is giving away a lovely party bucket from Willow House.  Oh, I would love to win this one!

There's some great stuff out there, just waiting on you to win it!  When you stop by these other sites, please leave them some love and tell them the Woo-Hoo Gal sent you over!
Do you know of another blog hosting a great giveaway?  Tell us about it in the comments below.  Good luck, gals!

Keep Shining!

The Woo-Hoo Gal

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Easy-Peasy Target Giveaway!

Who doesn't love Target? best.store.ever

My rule is if I'm there to buy dog food and deodorant, it's Target.

If I'm looking for something for my house, or a great pair of shoes, it becomes Tar-Jay... you know, all French boutique sounding!

So, how would you like an extra $20 to blow at the fabulous Tar-Jay? Well, someone will win a $20 Target giftcard really soon! It's soooo easy to enter this giveaway, and you can have 3 entries...

1. Go to our Facebook page and "like", then leave me a comment here to tell me you did. Already liked? Tell me that too.

Click HERE for FB link!

2. Post a link to our FB page on your FB page (personal or business), and leave me another comment here and tell me.

3. Follow TheWooHooGal on Twitter, and then leave a comment here and tell me.

Click HERE for Twitter link.

See...it's that easy! You have 3 chances to win $20 for only a couple of minutes of effort. Sometimes life is good...

Rules: Comments must be left here to count as entries and entries taken until Monday, June 27th at midnight, est. Target card will be delivered via email as an e-card to the winner selected randomly by a number generator.

Keep Shining,

The Woo-Hoo Gal

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Mango-Pineapple Salsa!

If you haven't tried the amazing blend of sweet fruits blended with the flavors traditionally used in salsas, you're in for a treat! Make this today...seriously, it's that good! Best part of this recipe is that you can go from zero to eating in about 10 minutes flat!

Here's what you will need to whip up your own batch of Mango-Pineapple Salsa...
* One large, ripe mango
* fresh, cored pineapple (you will use about half) I suppooooose, you could use canned pineapple, but you would never do that, right?)
* bunch of cilantro
* one small white onion
* one lime
* half of a large bell pepper, any color
* one fresh jalapeño pepper
* Jane's Krazy Salt

Use a vegetable peeler, and peel the mango...

Slice into long strips, and then dice in small dices...

Yep, that's it! Just like this...

Next, finely dice the cilantro. It's difficult to use and exact measurement, but maybe about 1/4-1/3 of a cup. Of course, you can add more if you like, and less if you like. Shoot, you could even skip it all together, but why on earth would you do that? You love cilantro, right? I've found that with most people it's a love or hate thing...we happen to love at mi casa!

Next, cut your peeled, cored pineapple in half. Set one half aside (delish with your breakfast tomorrow), and then chop the other half into chunks and then dice. I used my handy-dandy little chopper dealio for that.

Next take a fresh jalapeño, and cap both ends. Don't be afraid of these, they are really not that hot, especially these larger ones. I like medium heat when it comes to spices, and these are just fine, especially when mixed with the sweetness of the fruit.

Cut the pepper longways and open it up...

Remove the pith and seeds...

Dice the pepper and to suit your taste...

Now, this is the part where you add a small, finely chopped onion...
What? Say you can't see the picture? Yeah, well, I forgot that part. Use your imagination! I mean seriously, you Reaaalllly need to SEE me do that? Sad.
Ok, moving on...
Squeeze in the juice of one lime, and add the Krazy Salt...

Mix together with a wooden spoon and you will have this awesomeness...

Serve with some blue corn tortilla chips and dive in! ¡Fabuloso!

Special thanks to my lovely assistant, Princess #3. Not only is she an amazing sous chef, she has some crazy good food photography skills for an almost 11 year old!

Keep Shining!

The Woo-Hoo Gal

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

In Praise of Purple...

It bothers me that I don't have a favorite color. Never have.
I have favorite colors! I love color. Like really, really love color... all kinds of colors!
One of my favorite colors is purple. I love all shades of...


lilac...

periwinkle...

eggplant...

orchid...

amethyst...

All of these shades are gorgeous to me. I thought I would share some of my favorite things in ONE of my favorite colors!

Here's the link to my Pinterest board, "My Purple Passion"
pinterest.com/woohoogal/my-purple-passion
Check it out and see what you think!

Keep Shining!

The Woo-Hoo Gal


Photo credits to Google