24 Hours of Progress: The 11th Hour

About 24 Hours of Progress:

So often, the only projects that get "done" around our homes is dinner (and no, takeout doesn't count) and the laundry. Out of necessity though. There are so many little nagging projects that linger for most of us. Yes, we can live with a little clutter here or there, but it sure feels good to get those little things out of the way!

Spring is a natural time of rebirth and shedding the layers that has descended upon our house over the winter. The Holly at Nap Time series 24 hours of Progress is designed of 72 household projects that will take on average about one hour to do. Pick one project each Monday, Wednesday and Friday to work on from now until April 1st. By the end of the session, you will have made 24 Hours of Progress towards the home you deserve!

The Eleventh Hour:

Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets: Regularly cleaning your wooden kitchen cabinets will keep your kitchen sparkling, and prolong the cabinet life as well. I prefer using wood-safe sanitizing wipes to wipe down all the initial food splashes, handprints and gunk. The gently polish with a furniture cleaner. I prefer to use Murphy's Oil Soap, which is also good for hardwood floors.

Get the Tough Spots: Sauce splatters on my stovetop, spilled oatmeal that has cemented itself onto the counter tops, crayon lines that were accidentally drawn on the dining room table, marks on the wall from where a toy or chair bumped it and shoe scuff marks in the entryway. My house has plenty of "tough spots" that just don't get cleaned up right away. They are no match for a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser though! Because I'm easily distracted and need to do only one thing at a time while cleaning, I like to take my Magic Eraser around the house and get all the tough spots at once.

I cannot fathom what cleaning was like before the Magic Eraser was invented.

Microwave Steam Bath: Cleaning out your microwave can be the biggest pain in the butt if you don't know how easy it could be. Give your microwave a steambath and leave it smelling lemony fresh!!

Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a microwave safe dish and mix with 1.5 cups of water. Microwave on HIGH for 5 minutes, allowing the steam to loosen all the gunky junk you've got going on in there. When it's finished, carefully remove the bowl (it's HOT!) and you should be able to wipe down the interior with paper towels with hardly any effort at all. (Of course, your husband doesn't have to find out how easy this is. Let him think you slaved your afternoon away!)