Hi everyone! I don’t do spring cleaning. I do Fall/Winter cleaning instead. I’m too busy in the “spring” with my garden to do any deep cleaning at that time . So what I do is spread it out over the fall, skipping Thanksgiving through Christmas and picking it back up in the middle of January. I’ve given up on the notion that my entire house will be clean at the same time! That’s never going to happen unless I hire a cleaning crew and they do it all in one day!
Which you know isn’t going to happen! So this week I started doing a few things. One of the things I did yesterday was to clean all the mirrors in the house (I have a lot of mirrors!!) and since they look so sparkly I took a few pictures to share with you. You know the pictures enlarge when you click on them.
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I make my own mirror cleaner. Here’s the post I did on making your own cleaning products. Save Money With Homemade Cleaning Products. Here’s a glass cleaner recipe- plain vinegar works great on mirrors. Try putting a teeny amount of dish washing soap in the vinegar spray first to get the chemicals and wax from your old cleaner off the glass otherwise you might have streaks the first time.
But I was ready Woman’s Day (isn’t that a great magazine – it has a little bit of everything) and they suggested using just one wet and one dry microfiber cloth.
So when I went to Target this week, I found a microfiber cloth for windows. You just wet it, ring it out and wipe your mirror. It worked surprising well. At first you see the wet streak but it drys streak free. Supposedly you can wash and reuse it so we’ll see if this was a good investment after I wash it!
I know cleaning your home may not be as much fun as decorating your home, but it’s something we all have to do. If you have pets and children you probably have to do it more than someone who doesn’t! Here’s a little excerpt from “A Woman’s High Calling” by Elizabeth George that I find encouraging and hopefully you will too.
“…if there’s anything I must do or have to do, I try to do it with passion. I try to give it my all. I try to be the best at it. Rather than wish it away or begrudge the fact that it must be done, I try to learn how to do it and how to do it well. I own the assignment or the task or the work….Shouldn’t our work be done willingly and passionately? Shouldn’t our labors be labors of love? As King Solomon, a wise master home builder, wrote to us queens (Queen of Your Home), “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10)!”
I hope each of you has a wonderful weekend! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Thanks for the tips on mirror cleaning. My home needs a good going over. I would love to be able to hire a crew to come in and do it all. Guess I can dream. 🙂
Great post! Thanks for the tip about the microfiber cloth. Good word from Elizabeth George…thanks for sharing!
Enjoy a fabulous weekend!
~Michelle 🙂
(Treasure the Moment)
I have microfiber cloths that have been washed many times, so I will try cleaning my mirrors this way. Thanks for the inspirational quote, too. Have a great weekend.
Hi Manuela. I use vinegar all the time. From mopping to cleaning mirrors. I didn't know about the teeny amount of soap though. I'll have to do that next time. The boys' bathroom is the one I'd like to try it out. Thanks for sharing with us.
Blessings,
Sandra
Great post and thanks for the mirror cleaning tips. I really don't enjoy cleaning in my home but I sure enjoy it afterwards. So clean and fresh!!!!
Believe it or not but I love to clean! I know that sounds a little crazy but I do! Your mirrors look so nice and clean and now it makes me what to go and clean all the mirrors in the house.
Have a wonderful weekend!
You're so full of good information, all the time about so many subjects! Thanks for the motivation!
XOXO
Joni
Thanks for the cleaning tips! And thank You for that scripture verse! It's just what I needed to read today! 🙂
Pattie
Stephanie bought me a few microfiber cleaning cloths since I was skeptical they worked like she said. I've had mine for a couple years now and use them all the time for glass, mirrors, and even smudges off of doors and such.
She also has a microfiber mop that she says works great. Her oldest child is extremely sensitive to chemicals so even floor cleaners would cause him to get ill. This works with just water. I'll have to try it someday.
Great post.
I need to look into those micro-fiber cloths. I have some cleaning to do between this evening and tomorrow for the reatlor's open house for our house tomorrow afternoon. I am going to try the vinegar today. I do love a sparkling mirror and with the clouds and rain we're having, a little sparkle would be nice!
Thanks for the microfiber cloth tip! Now, where in Target did you find it? I've been using the vinegar/water/dish soap, but I want to try the plain water and cloth for my mirrors. Oh yeah, I have to constantly clean with two young children at home! 🙂
Don't you just love to clean your home. It makes me feel wonderful.
And your home is so lovely. I've enjoyed visiting you blog for some time.
If you have the time, please stop by The Old Parsonage, I love company.
Enjoy!
Leann
Thanks for the tips about the microfiber cloth! Cleaning windows has to be my least favorite thing! It seems so futile. The minute I finish it always seems to rain! Even if it was sunny for the past two weeks!
Jane
Great post. I am cleaning too, thanks for the inspiration and tips.
I can relate! I'm a clean-a-holic and enjoy it so much Manuela. I enjoy organization as well and am constantly rotating things in and out of our home.
Thanks for the tip with the vinegar. I use it with warm water on our hardwood floors and it's amazing the shine that comes through afterwards. I never thought to use it on mirrors as well.
Blessings to you today my friend, ~Melissa 😉
Came over from "Poofing the Pillows"…love your blog! I am also a fan of doing Fall/Winter cleaning….I tend to want to nest at those times in a clean house. Funny that you started blogging again, I have too (after a several month break)….you do miss it!!!
I'll be back to visit soon 🙂
I will have to try that on mirror cleaning. You were quite inspirational. I almost got off my butt to clean…haha!! You are right, though. We need to do it wholeheartedly. I am always telling my kids that. I need to remind myself of that sometimes, too!! ;0)
it may not be quite as much fun as decorating but the house looks so good and smells so nice afterward that you don't even need to redecorate.
Yeah, I'd much rather spend my time decorating than cleaning, and usually do!
I'm a Fall cleaner, too. I'm just getting started – lots to do. Thanks for your tips. Sally
Well I like to clean, but not too much. I try my best. Our home is "lived in" and clean up to a point. I wish I could get on my hands and knees to scrub the floor, but I no longer can because of arthritis on both knees. I got to hand it to you, you do it all. Good job Manuela. Have a great weekend.
I have been doing my fair share of cleaning in the new house I bought. The previous owner hadn't cleaned in a while – if ever! Thanks for the great tip on the mirror cleaning!
Your mirrors look so clean! I will certainly try your method. I am one of those unusual women who actually likes to clean and I love getting tips to make it easier. My entire house is spotless tonight with the exception of the refrigerator that will have to wait.
Hi Manuela….My home could use you!! We have so many nick-nacks that never get even dusted….my husbands collection of miniature soldiers haven't been cleaned in years…..last time I dusted them when I put them back I mixed up the order and had the North and South fighting on the same side….
We got a package of microfiber clothes from costco in the auto/tool area. Package of 12 and we shared them with others Ours are at least 3 years old and have been washed over and over. Don't use any softner. One tip is to watch when you are line drying them..Try not to drop them in the grass. When they are new they pick up every liittle thing when they are wet. It is like they have little hooks in their loops! 🙂 After many washings doesn't seem to happen. We can't think of running our home now without these cloths! Jody
What a great idea for the microfiber cloth! I hadn't thought of that! I love to clean windows on the first SNOW day! I don't know what it is about it; maybe it the crisp air or maybe it is the magical quiet of the day. But, a snow day always inspires my window cleaning!
I discovered a great cleaning trick. Invite your MIL and your hubby will want to clean everything !!!! Clarice
Wonderful tips, Manuela on cleaning those mirrors! I am the same way I love to clean in the Fall! Not so much in the Spring…I enjoy cleaning the outside in the spring.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Nancy
Manuela, I also clean in the Fall….easier on me because of the Florida heat. My house will never be clean all at one time either. Ha. 🙂
Barb
Manuela, I'm in a women's organization and we sell microfiber cloths for one of our fund raisers. When those came into my life I was immediately sold on them. They are hands down my best cleaning tool! I use them on mirrors and glass. Fabulous for getting the dog drool off my french doors. Be sure not to use fabric softener or sheets when you wash them. Enjoy your sparkle 😉
~Lallee
Hi Manuela,
Great tips for cleaning the mirror.
A cleaning crew would be nice, but that isn't going to happen. I really don't mind cleaning that much, because the end results are so good.
Hope you are having a great weekend,
Rosemary
I'm with you about this. I don't have a very big house but being out 10 hours a day, I usually take it easy and I do one room at time. What I hate the most it's to clean inside the closets, no one will notice the difference between before and after!
Thanks for the tips! I love all of your mirrors!
Oh yes, microfiber cloths are the best thing that has happened to housekeeping in the last 20 years! Don't be fooled into buys ones for "mirrors", or "kitchens"…. they're all pretty much the same. One word of caution, they are dryer safe, but don't wash them with fabric softener or bleach… both will ruin them.
Happy cleaning!
ButterYum