Friday, January 20, 2012

Swiffer WetJet Money Saver-Tutorial

I know it's not spring yet, but after the Christmas decorations come down, the house always feels so bare and bigger somehow!  It makes me want to move things around and clean all the nooks and crannies that have been neglected for too long!  So, even though my decorations are all down and packed into their totes and boxes, I'm still waiting to get them up into the attic.  It's been waaay toooo cooold to spend time up in the attic getting everything up the ladder and put away neatly.  Plus, I'm afraid the totes might crack with it being so frigid. So, until it warms up a weee bit, they are still piled in a corner of the living room and out on the deck (where the attic entrance is).
But, I still have this urge to clean and organize....just like spring cleaning fever! So, in the spirit of the whole cleaning frenzy, I'm going to show you how I am able to use my Swiffer WetJet, but not pay the outrageous price of buying new pads and cleaning fluid for it!  Here goes!
First, obviously, you need a Swiffer WetJet....I LOVE mine!  It is so handy for spot mopping, cleaning up spills and of course....washing the floor!  The problem is, everytime you use it it uses up a new cleaning pad, which, by the way, I am not a fan of.  As far as I'm concerned, the pads they make don't seem to clean all that well .  Not enough 'scrubby'. Luckily, I found that the pads from my steam cleaner fit perfectly on the Swiffer!  So, I use those instead.  But, as most of you probably won't have the same steamer as I do, or may not have one at all, here is a link to a site where you can make your own re-usable pads! Jennifer, over at Sewplicity does an awesome job at showing you how to sew your own pads....so why improve on the wheel!? Thanks Jen!
Now, as for those bottles!  If you are like me, you have tried to twist the lid off, thinking you could just re-use the bottle. Hmmm...they don't budge!  Why? you ask.  Well, Swiffer has done what they can to force us to have to buy their new bottles, instead of doing the 'green' thing and making them refillable.  They could have made a refillable bottle and sold 'refills' in big bottles, but, for some reason they chose not to. So we have, as earth friendly, frugal consumers had to be creative and get around this. Ta da!! Here is the answer!
First, here are thing things you need to round up....
The bottle I used here is the small one that comes with the WetJet.  I did purchase a larger size to cut down on having to refill quite so often.
Now, using the pliers, grab a hold of the lid and hold the bottle tight with your other hand...now twist!!!  The lid will come off with a bit of effort.
So, now you have the lid off! Yay!!!!
Next, look inside the lid and you'll see all these little 'fins' that are the reason you weren't able to unscrew it with your bare hand.  The little rascals! Take those nail clippers and snip off each and every one of those things!
Now, try putting the lid back on and then take it off again!  Easy, huh!!
Next you're ready to add whatever kind of floor cleaner you like.  I use a concentrated one from Armstrong called Once and Done.

Here's a recipe for a homemade floor cleaner that I like as well....




Frugal (Cheap!) Homemade Household Cleanser
1/8 cup Dawn dish detergent
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 cup water 
1 cup vinegar
This will clean more than just your floor!
Happy cleaning!!

  



Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Glass Containers

I've always had a 'thing' for glass.  Not just any glass though.  I love the look of clear, clean, shiny glass containers!  I'll buy something just because it comes in a pretty glass jar.  If I can use the jar for something  after the product is gone, I consider it a huge incentive to 'need' it!  Once the initial product has been used up, the jar gets a thorough cleaning, and sometimes de-scenting as well.  Then it's on to a new use, like holding cotton swabs in the bathroom.  I also scour the shelves in my favourite Salvation Army thrift store looking for containers that will suit my needs as well as appeal to me.  On my last trip to town I found this lovely jug type jar which will be the new home for my barley.  It cost all of  99 cents!  I love the greenish colour of the glass and that it has a flat area where a label once was.  It will be perfect for pouring the barley out of!

Here are a few others I've collected over the past couple of years.  I'm always on the lookout for something that can be used to hold things. 
I'm not sure what this was originally used for, but it has a nice wooden lid that seals...perfect for popcorn!

This one is a pickle jar from Vlasics. It was a really BIG jar of pickles! The pickles were delicious! Now it holds rice.

My kitchen counter with an assortment of jar/glass containers.

I like the look of the grains and seeds in the jars. I even keep Zoey's doggie treats in an old candy jar handy for when she gets her daily 'chewie.'  Keeping the items I use regularly close at hand and having them look nice is important to me.  Plus, it feeds my glass addiction!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Brrr!

Rufus and Tucker enjoying the sun.
 The past few days have been cold everywhere!  My in laws in Dease Lake, BC are experiencing -54C with the wind chill factor!  When you try to drive your car in temperatures like that the tires stay frozen in the shape they were when you parked them!  So lots of bump, bump, bumps!  Plus, you need to plug your car in so it will start. Warming it up and then only driving a short distance is hard on them.  Plus, there's always pipes that can freeze up!  Not so much fun if you aren't prepared.
Here at the Little Shack we've only been down to -20C so far this year.  the forecast is for -22C tomorrow though.  We've had plenty of new snow to shovel and try to drive through.  But when the sun came out for awhile today I couldn't resist going out to take a few pictures..it was so pretty!
The yard.


Osprey Lake valley.
The horses got extra hay and big servings of beet pulp today, while the chickens were confined to their coop...too cold on their feet!  Unfortunately, I had to fill the horses water trough today, which involves dragging out 50 feet of hose which gets very stiff in the cold and is not fun to wind back up and then drag back inside!  Stay warm!