Handy Clean Up Helpers Make Housekeeping Easier

The first two weeks without any helper to do the housechores left me utterly disappointed, sorely aching all over, and frustrated over the mess, dirt, and grime I have had to deal with.  You see, our helper had to leave a week ahead of her scheduled trip and left the house in disarray.   A pail full of filthy doormats in the dirty kitchen and a topsy-turvy kitchen cabinet were among the many things I had to contend with. 

I was frustrated and disappointed not only at the mess but also at my seeming ineptitude when it comes to doing house chores.  Years of sedentary lifestyle have left me with utterly useless muscles which are sorely needed when doing manual labor.  After a week of cleaning and organizing the house, I complained of chest pains to our favorite doctor, my sister.  She dismissed my complaint with a curt explanation that I was just growing muscles and that the pain will go away in a few days.

The chest pains did go away in a couple days.  I wish I could say the same for the dirt and clutter though.  By the time I finish cleaning one part of the house, dirt would already have accumulated in another part.  It’s really a never-ending cycle.

Almost a month without any helper (except my husband that is – thank you, hon, for taking out the trash and helping around the house) and the house is still respectably tidy.  My back still aches on some days but I’ve already somewhat adjusted to our help(er)less state.  To keep our house habitable and fairly clean,  I’ve enlisted the help of Messy Bessy, Scotch Brite and Lysol.  Now my arsenal includes:

• Messy Bessy Tea Tree Mold and Mildew Spray.  It’s the only one that works on the molds that sprout on our cement floor. 
• Messy Bessy Disinfectant Aroma Spray.  I absolutely love cleaning with this spray.  The scent reminds me of the Spa and actually improves my mood while I’m tidying up.  It can be used as a cleanser or as a room spray.  Now our room is not only clean, it smells good as well.
• Scotch Brite Scrubs.  There’s one for the bathroom, a couple for the kitchen, and more for other cleaning needs.  Whatever your cleaning needs are, they have the exact  type of scrub you need.
• Lysol.  There’s just something about Lysol that assures me that our dirty kitchen is relatively germ-free.  The outdoor kitchen can’t be kept pest-free so I use Lysol to ensure that all germs are killed.
• CIF.  Tough cleaning with minimum effort – for real!  I use CIF on the stove and other kitchen surfaces.  It’s also great for removing stubborn dirt or stains.
• JOY Hand Care with Vitamin E.  I just started using this a week ago when my hands became horribly dry and wrinkled.  It’s gentler on the hands and has a wonderful scent also.
• Messy Bessy Aloe & Green Tea Handwash and Messy Bessy Vanilla Lite Hand Cream.  I use this duo after my chores are done.  I’ve always loved the scent of vanilla so this one will remain a favorite of mine.

How about you, what’s on your list?  I’d greatly appreciate it if you could share with me your favorite household cleaners and perhaps a tip or two on how I could keep our house squeaky clean.