De-Scaling Day

I have been wanting to do this since we got our Keurig coffee maker last October. For those who don't know, it is a magic coffee machine that makes one cup with a press of a button. And it's hot. And we love our K-Cups from Starbucks.

The reason we got one was because we (mostly I) didn't like to waste coffee after making half a pot in a regular coffee maker. And it was somewhat difficult to regulate the strength. Plus my husband was literally addicted to Starbucks espresso. I knew my husband would not give up Starbucks. So in order to entice him to spend less at SB, I got a Keurig with Starbucks K-Cups. We still occasionally indulge in the 'real' Starbucks treats, bit not nearly we used to.

Okay, enough of Keurig rant. You got my point. So what did I want to do since October? Clean and de-scale the machine! I did not want to dig out the user manual, plus I am more visual person. Hence Youtube to the rescue. I was totally expecting a cumbersome process of taking the whole thing apart. To my surprise, it was not. I washed parts by hand as I don't trust my dishwasher with the job. (What if something broke and we were left without our mighty Keurig even for a day?! Oh no, emergency state.)

And while I was at it, I used the same method for my kettle. Ah, that feels better. I am totally picturing these words from Esso car wash when I exit after luxury wash of my car.

What have you cleaned that you have been putting off for while? Any tips?

Household Savers

It is not easy being fab and young if you devote your life to the house. There is so much stuff I would rather do instead of cleaning, scrubbing, washing, cooking, loading, un-loading... Don't get me wrong, I love a clean house and love to cook and bake. But I also love doing crafts with daughter, spending time outside, reading, or simply relaxing with hot chocolate and watching romantic comedy.

Here are my top household savers...

1. Black & Decker Multi-Use Rice Cooker

This little pot does so many jobs for me. User manual even includes recipe. I make soups, rice, grains, stew, even meats (aka goulash). It is simply multi use, and what a deal for only $20. Plus it is super energy efficient, you don't need to use your heavy duty stove. The only downside - the volume is on a small side. But for now it works for our family of three.



2. The H2O Steam Mop

This house saver was recommended by one of my friends. It is so convenient. Nothing turns me off more than a mop and a bucket of water. I feel totally like a cleaning lady in my own house. It all changed when I got this cleaning friend. This magic mop cleans my tile, vinyl, even hardwood floors! All with water only and no harsh chemicals. I even cleaned my rug with it, which worked really well. My dear H2O, where were you all these years?



3. Cordless Vacuum

This little sucker goes and works everywhere. Working with broom is so inconvenient. I use this vacuum in the kitchen (to pick up all little crumbs and pieces of food), bathrooms (to get rid of lint, hair, etc.), and car - for a quick vacuum job. It is always plugged and charged so it is ready to go when needed. The big vacuum cleaner in our house is used for big jobs on big surfaces (i.e. rug, carpets, bedrooms). I also love it because it is energy efficient, quiet, and super lightweight.

4. Cleaning Supplies Organizer

I have a version of this with handles. All of my items are kept in one caddy. So all I need to do is to pick it up and move from one bath or room to another. Oh, best part - I got my "organizer"at Dollarama for $2. See my post on green and eco-friendly cleaners here.

5. Cascade ActionPacs

Over the years, I have tried so many dishwasher detergents. I honestly cannot stand any detergent that takes 5 seconds or more to put/pour into dishwasher. Some leak, some you have to measure, some you have to use scissors to open each individual pack. I am sorry, but this is too much for me. With these, you take one, put into compartment, and press start. The whole pack dissolves. I buy them in bulk at Costco - really great deal.

These are my top 5, but I most likely have others around the house. They truly make my life much easier, and more fab!

Do you use any of these? What other house savers you cannot live without?