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Domestic Goddess
Posted by etipton – September 19, 2008 7:50 AM
If you are looking for a nice hostess gift these oil cloth aprons and gloves from Gloveables are precious. Gloveables Fashion Cleaning Gloves and Aprons make everyday chores more fun.
The apron is made of stain and soil resistant oil cloth and is protected with a clear, waterproof finish. The apron features an adjustable strap and front pocket for comfort and convenience. Wipes clean with warm, soapy sponge.One size fits most. The apron is also available in Children's sizes. The apron is priced around $25.
The Fashion Cleaning Gloves are made of natural latex rubber with a decorative and functional oilcloth fringe. They are equipped with a handy hang tab, so you'll be able to hang these gloves out of the way - but they're so adorable, you'll want to keep them in sight. The gloves are priced around $15.
It's a clean thing.
Posted by etipton – August 6, 2008 2:42 AM
If you are looking for a nice hostess or house-warming gift, consider the Martha Stewart Collection Dish Soaps. The liquid soaps are available in lemon grapefruit or honeysuckle melon scents. Both scents are light and refreshing, and the grease-cutting detergent is mild on the hands. The soap comes in a nice glass dispenser with a functional pour spout. One-quart soap refills are also available. The Martha Stewart Collection Dish Soaps are priced around $20.
Click here to view all of Macy's Martha Stewart Collection.
Living inside the box.
Posted by etipton – July 24, 2008 9:02 PM
It is almost August. In no time at all, thousands of kids will be moving off to the dorm. This 15- section cubby is a great room addition. It works for shoe storage, mail sorting and a wide variety of other items. It is a versatile storage solution. The cubby is made from white laminated wood. The slotted dividers assemble in seconds. This shoe, mail or miscellaneous item cubby is priced around $50. 
Outdoor Cleaning.
Posted by etipton – June 21, 2008 2:22 PM
We are not lucky enough to have a utility sink in our home. When my parents built their house, they put the sink in the garage. When you are cleaning outdoor items, have muddy shoes, or are dirty from planting flowers, you do not have to mess up the kitchen sink cleaning up. Many utility sinks are in laundry rooms. It seems like a great idea at the time, but laundry rooms are not always convenient to your mess. Someone decided the best place for a sink is outside. This ReelSmart™ Sink Station with Automatic Hose Reel is perfect for all of your outdoor cleaning chores. The roomy 24” wide sink has swivel faucet, water control switch, sink stopper and filter. Two fold-out shelves cover the sink to provide a large, flat work surface. The station also offers a sturdy shelf for storage of supplies as well as a water powered self-winding hose reel which stores up to 150’ of 5/8” hose. Simply unhook the hose, and you don't have to worry about winter freezes. This outdoor utility sink is priced around $150.
Cleaning with style.
Posted by etipton – May 28, 2008 7:40 AM
While cleaning is one of the most unglamorous jobs I do in a day, these sponge gloves make it a little more fun. They are made of latex with durable sponge hands. Get an extra pair for the kids, and they might even want to help with the dishes. Priced around $15.
April showers bring mud.
Posted by etipton – February 22, 2008 9:31 AM
Spring is right around the corner. With the April showers and the May flowers, my car stays dirty. I found this heavy-duty liner that protects the entire cargo area of your SUV, station wagon, or minivan. It is made of rugged, vinyl-coated nylon that’s skid- and stain-resistant, waterproof, and washable. The product information says it is easy to install and remove with Velcro®-type fasteners. You can choose from gray or beige liners. Prices start at $160.
Practical Christmas
Posted by etipton – December 14, 2007 1:47 PM
Regardless of how hard you try to stay safe, bad things can still happen. The best way to make things go more smoothly is to be prepared. Save yourself some stress with this Valuables.doc kit. It is specially-designed to catalog and keep track of all your valuables room-by room, item-by-item. If natural disasters or burglars ever strike your home, you will have all of your documents, papers and receipts stored in one place, as well as forms that will help you capture critical policy details in case you ever have to file a claim. Contains eight sections for documenting everything from jewelry to artwork to your grandmother's china. Be sure to put this book in a safety deposit box or fire-proof safe once you fill it out.
Priced around $25.
One trip at a time.
Posted by etipton – December 11, 2007 6:42 AM
Christmas gift spoiler alert: I'm hoping my family isn't reading this post. If you are part of MY family, STOP READING NOW! Someone in my family lives in a big city without a car. After visiting a few times, all I could think was “how can you tote everything you buy home?” I mean, after you have dragged it across town, you still have to get into a secure building and climb flights of stairs with all your purchases in tow. When I saw this bag holder I decided to get one for Christmas. The One Trip Grip is a shopping bag holding hook that eliminates multiple trips from car to kitchen, up stairs and more. It has a super soft handle, so even those traditional paper bag with the raffeta handles won't hurt you. This hook has a 50-pound capacity, so it should handle even the best of shoppers. Priced less than $5.
Pass room inspection.
Posted by etipton – August 20, 2007 10:33 AM
I am continuing the dorm list this week. For your desk area, enjoy a space-saving printer stand. You can stash paper, ink cartridges or other school supplies in the compartments. This keeps them out of the way to store more important stuff - like pizza boxes. Priced less than $80.
Stop fighting cords with a powerstation. Between cameras, cell phones, ipods and all the other fun stuff you have a maze of cords and wires. Charge up to holds three devices at the same time. Priced less than $25.
Come and knock on our door.
Posted by etipton – August 17, 2007 3:16 PM
Adjusting to roommates is not as fun as they made it seem on Three's Company. When I left for college, I had shared a bathroom with my sister, but that is not the same as sharing one with a perfect stranger.
A shower caddy is the first thing you need when sharing a bathroom. The kind you need depends on whether your bathroom is down the hall or in your room. If you are going to put a caddy in the shower, it will need to hold everyone's stuff, not just your own. Look for an over-sized caddy like this one. It has enough space that it can hold multiple shampoo bottles so that everyone can use it.
Priced less than $15.
This mesh shower caddy hangs from the shower bar.
Priced around $10.
No matter which caddy you pick you will have to wait until you move in to make sure you picked the best fit. Browse through our entire collection to find the best shower caddy for your situation.
The extra touches.
Posted by etipton – August 16, 2007 12:50 PM
When I lived in the dorm, one of the first things we did after moving into the dorm was head out to the local hardware depot and get four cinder blocks to raise our beds. At the end of the year everyone threw them away because they were too hard and heavy to store. I suspect that the maintenance staff used them to add onto their homes every spring. Someone decided there had to be an easier way and created these bed risers. By raising your bed a few inches you get more valuable storage space. Be sure to check with your university, though: some schools no longer allow cinder blocks or bed risers for “safety reasons.” Priced less than $30 for the set.
Most dorm rooms only have two or three electrical outlets, and with all the new gadgets you need multiple surge-protected plugs. The Powersquid gives you the flexibility to plug in large items without losing valuable outlet space.
Priced around $20.
TOGA! TOGA!
Posted by etipton – August 14, 2007 1:04 PM
When something looks or smells like a fraternity house, visions of Animal House come to mind. Keep your living quarters from smelling like a pig pen with this dorm odor eliminator. It contains volcanic, 100 % odorless minerals that attack undesirable smells, keeping air fresh and pleasant. It lasts for years! Which is good news since that is how long you plan on staying in college. Priced less than $10.
Dorm Life Laundry 101
Posted by etipton – August 13, 2007 9:24 AM
As the kids get ready to move to college, there are a few things they need to know. The first class you need once you move off to school is Laundry 101. Laundry is more complicated than it sounds. If you have never done laundry here is a link to wikiHow's How To Do Laundry. If you are not careful you end up with pink shirts and pants that are two sizes smaller than they started.
You will need a way to get all those dirty clothes to the washing machines. You can use a nice canvas laundry bag like this two-tone canvas laundry tote. It holds one load of laundry. Priced less than $15.
If you are not a "laundry tote" kind of person, the wheeled laundry hamper is a good alternative solution. This hamper holds two loads of laundry, and makes it easy to roll your clothes to the basement laundry room. Priced less than $50.
Locker Mom.
Posted by etipton – August 9, 2007 9:10 PM
While kids do not care how their lockers look, moms hate the thought of shoes and gadgets flying all over the place when their child's locker is opened. Look at these neat locker baskets.The strong wire-grid frame is great for ventilation, protection of items, and is easy to carry. It comes complete with an ID/label holder and notch to slide basket out with ease. Built to last, created to make your life easier. Size: 8" tall x 9" wide x 12 3/4"deep. Make sure this basket will fit in your locker. Priced less than $10. 
Back to school.
Posted by etipton – August 8, 2007 10:05 AM
Back to school at our house when I was a child meant getting new clothes. My mom would sew labels that had my name on them. She wanted to make sure that my navy blue sweater made it back to our house. Daycares and preschools require everything to be labeled. If I send my daughter to school in something not labeled, it comes back with her initials in sharpie on the tag. I do not like sharpie in my sweater, but at least that keeps the sweater from ending up in lost and found. These Write-On Garment Labels by Original Heart Company are the best way to alleviate that problem. The labels are designed for use on most fabrics, including cotton, polyester and blends. These easy to use labels include a non-toxic permanent and laundry-proof clothes marker. The easy iron on design allows you to label your child's clothing in less than 30 seconds. The 15 labels are made of 100% polyester and are marked Belongs To in blue, green and red (5 labels of each color). Once the ink is dry, the labels can be washed over and over. If you prefer, they can also be sewn on. These labels are great for use on jackets, sweaters, t-shirts, uniforms, underwear, bathing suits and so much more! Design of labels may vary. The 100% polyester labels are washable. They iron or sew on. This set includes 15 labels size 1" tall x 2 1/2 "wide (each label).
Priced less than $5.
It's not easy being green.
Posted by etipton – August 7, 2007 11:27 AM
My friend Jenny emailed me the other day and said "Somewhere, magazine, catalog, your blog?, I saw a set of 3 or 4 tote bags made for recycling. I think they were made out of old plastic bags, and they were different colors — green, white, pink/red? There was one for newspaper, PET plastics, aluminum, etc. Does this ring a bell with you?" Not only did it not ring a bell, I didn't have a clue what she was talking about. I started doing a little research, and I found all sorts of recycling uses for plastic bags (here is a pattern for some cute crochet purses), but nothing that looked like what she wanted. Then I found these really cute recycling bins from Design Within Reach. Low and behold these were the exact bags she was had seen.
The product information from their website:
A softer, more yielding version of traditional recycling containers, our set of four Recycling Bags can function as hold-alls for recyclables, as well as reusable shopping bags and gardening totes. Made of industrial-strength tarpaulin, a heavy double-warp fabric that is plastic-coated, the bags are waterproof and can be quickly washed out in the sink or outside with a garden hose. Each bag is color coded to provide easy visual cues when separating cans from bottles from papers. A fourth bag can function as a compost holder. Velcro tabs enable the bags to be ganged together in a row; handles make for easy carrying. Four interchangeable printed labels are included for use in the plastic window on the front of each bag. $22 for the set of four.
Wash on Monday.
Posted by etipton – July 9, 2007 8:55 AM
When I was a child I had these hankies that said: Wash on Monday, Iron on Tuesday etc. As an adult, I still do wash on Monday, but I do not always iron on Tuesday. It is amazing how dirty a family gets over the weekend. My washer and dryer are in the garage. I know I am very lucky to have a washer and dryer in my home - a lot of my readers have to go the building basement or the laundromat to clean clothes - but we are house-hunting, and my next house will have a laundry room. It is high on my priority list. Here are a few of my wish list items for my new laundry room:
I want a three-bin sorter. I know there is nothing wrong with my current system - three piles on the floor in the kitchen - but it would be nice to not trip over the laundry while waiting for loads to finish in the machines. Starting around $40.
I think this cart looks great. I have three different stain products: fabric softener, bleach, detergent, a more gentle detergent. The stuff really piles up. Depending on the available space, this might fix everything. It has an attached canvas bag, and is heavy-duty quality. It is slender enough to fit nearly anywhere - 32 3/4tall x 30 1/4wide x 8 1/4deep. Priced less than $25.
Nice bras are super expensive and don't last long if you do not hand-wash them. Check out the Bra Baby. MORE...
A Clean Slate.
Posted by etipton – June 22, 2007 10:16 AM
Do you know about Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser? If not, this may change your world. I received a sample in the mail a year ago. I was very skeptical of the product name and marketing. How could this product be any better than my other cleaning products? Boy, was I wrong!
My counter tops are white and spaghetti is my worst kitchen enemy. Every spill becomes a red stain on my counter. It takes a lot of elbow grease to remove these stains. I decided to put the Magic Eraser to test and the stains easily disappeared. I couldn't believe it. It removed the scuff marks off the kitchen floor. It cleaned the bottom of my textured bath tub. It got marks of doll faces, and made tennis shoes look like new. It even cleaned the old writing off a dry erase board. I highly suggest you read the product instructions and try it somewhere inconspicuous first. Let me know what you have used the eraser to clean.
Priced under $10 for 4.
After seeing how great this product worked I began telling all of my friends. My friend, Lisa, is quite incredulous about the product. I cut my erasers in pieces, and she took one to try. She had a mark
Cape Cod Metal Cleaner
Posted by etipton – June 21, 2007 8:44 PM
I love pewter products. I made a resolution to use my serving pieces more this year and really enjoy them. About two weeks into this new project, one of my trays got a stain on it that damaged the pewter. I think something acidic like spaghetti sauce or salad dressing must have spilled on it in the sink while waiting for hand-washing. After searching the internet for solutions and not finding a satisfying answer (and discovering this piece was discontinued,) I decided to e-mail Arthur Court and ask them if they had any suggestions. Shawni in customer service suggested I try Cape Cod Metal Cleaner. I had never heard of this product, but I was willing to try anything. A few days later my cleaner arrived. I was pretty skeptical that it would work, but I followed the directions and a lot of the stain went away. It is not perfect, but it no longer looks damaged. Thank you Cape Cod Metal Cleaner!
The website says you can use it on other things besides pewter. The pre-moistened cloths polish and protect silver, gold, brass, copper, nickel, pewter, aluminum and stainless steel. The cloths are reusable and can be stored in the foil packet after use. The delectable vanilla scent will leave you wondering why you've been using those smelly alternatives all these years. (It did smell great, but I was more concerned with its function than its smell.) Silverware and platters may be washed after polishing without reducing the shine or protection.
Priced less than $3.99 for two cloths or $16 for 12. 
A few things for dads that tinker.
Posted by etipton – June 5, 2007 8:37 AM
Here are a few ideas for any dad that spends a lot of time in the garage.
Nice storage shelves
These Steel Garage Storage Cabinets protect your equipment and your car. There are roll-away doors that lock tight and won't swing out to dent your cars. The fully adjustable garage storage shelves hold 110 lbs. each. The durable powder-coat finished steel endures for years. The smooth rounded edges keep you safe. Assembly is required. Priced under $600.
Figure out what is wrong with your car with your own car reader. Starting at more.
For dads that are always in their cars.
Posted by etipton – June 4, 2007 8:00 AM
Back when I was growing up, most employees had an office. Today, many people work from home and their office is their vehicle. I have been on the road as part of a sales team for most of my professional life. Here are a few things that might have helped to make my job easier.
Nokia allows you to have internet access anywhere.
Priced less than $275.
Receipts, mileage and other important information are always right at hand with this receipt organizer. Priced less than $10.
Keep your car tidy with this litter bag and organizer. It has a leak-proof trash bag, and holds a standard sized box of tissues easily within reach. Tuck wipes or other items into the convenient mesh pockets. This organizer features fully leak-proof sealed seams. It wipes clean with a sponge or can be lined with a plastic bag. Priced less than $15.
If you do much overnight traveling, this Car Clothes Bar is really more
Oh where, Oh where did my little trowel go?
Posted by etipton – May 31, 2007 10:39 AM
Most of us have that corner in the garage where our tools set. There might be a few nails on a board where you can hang them, but it really isn't organized. A great gift for dad might be some garden racks. With this handy organizer, he can park his car in the garage with out getting hit in the head with a rake. The Garden Tool Organizer from Frontgate not just an organizer, but is more of a garden cart. It is a heavy-duty, rolling cart on locking casters. The grid center accommodates up to 23 long-handled tools, including spades, rakes, shovels, brooms, gloves, and seed packets. It also includes two removable canvas satchels with pockets for storing smaller items. Be aware, some assembly required. Priced at $129.
The Garden Rack & Basket by Schulte has a removable basket that carries to the garden and keeps your garden tools organized and accessible. Carry your hand-tools, seeds and other garden supplies with you - or use it to gather your garden produce! It attaches to the The Grid by Schulte or directly to the wall. more
Zip it good.
Posted by etipton – May 23, 2007 9:21 AM
Don't tell my daughter, but I went through her toys and greatly limited her selection over the weekend. We have an unbelievable amount of stuffed animals. She plays with them, but she cannot begin to play with the number we have accumulated. Now comes the hard part. Before donating them to someone else, I am going to store them somewhere out of sight for a while to make sure I didn't get rid of someone important. Plush toys can get pretty gross if not properly stored. These XL and XXL Zip Loc bags are great for storing awkward sized items. I currently have last year's blow-up swimming pool stored in one in the crawlspace. Our crawlspace is really disgusting, and not designed for storage. These bags allow you more storage options like the attic and crawlspace. The Zip Loc storage bags are inexpensive and do not require a vacuum cleaner as some brands require for use. I also have a queen-sized comforter, pillow shams and bed skirt in one bag in the linen closet. They are great for keeping all the pieces together, and keeping everything dust-free and organized. Priced under $10 for a box of three to five depending on size.
Father's Day Gifts for Dads that Golf.
Posted by etipton – May 22, 2007 10:04 AM
Here are a few ideas for Father's Day for Dads that Golf.
Stay Dry
Stay dry with this personalized golf umbrella under $30.
Store Your Clubs
Store your clubs with the Golf Rack & Basket priced under $50.
More gifts for dad...
Add a little less spice to your cabinets.
Posted by etipton – April 20, 2007 4:43 PM
My spice cabinet is too full! The other night I opened the door and a glass bottle fell out and landed on the knuckle of my second toe. Luckily my daughter did NOT learn any new words. Since then I began searching for a better way to store spices. One of our readers sent in this spice rack that fits in a drawer. What a great idea to put your spices in the drawer right beside the stove, instead of filling it with junk you don’t know what to do with. Now you will easily know if you have the spice you need for a recipe without wasting time digging in your cabinet only to discover no allspice, but three full tins of pumpkin spice.
This in-drawer spice rack is priced under $25.
Organization Project
Posted by etipton – April 20, 2007 8:40 AM
I recently tried to tackle organizing my daughter's toys. It is a never ending project. I purchased some totes,
like these,
for the smaller things, and I have tried to utilize some shelves on our entertainment center. We have pretty much just given up on the big stuff. I cannot wait until we get a house were we can have a play room, then the mess will be out of sight and out of mind. Have you found anything special that helps you keep organized around the house?
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- Domestic Goddess
- It's a clean thing.
- Living inside the box.
- Outdoor Cleaning.
- Cleaning with style.
- April showers bring mud.
- Practical Christmas
- One trip at a time.
- Pass room inspection.
- Come and knock on our door.
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