*post sponsored by HomeRight (see full disclosure)
It's no joke that my house doesn't stay clean. For the most part, that's just fine with me as it means my family is here and happily living. However, when folks come over for a visit, I really don't need them to see that...er... love. ahem. The bathroom and kitchen are the most germy places and, unfortunately, most obvious spots to notice when dirty. So...what's a mama to do?STARTING
Well, Tip 1 in last-minute cleaning is to begin with the obvious. Tuck away those daily-grind essentials. Ya know, open that drawer and shove it in. haha! You can ask my kids that I don't really do that, but in a rush I will! I know I'm not alone.
Tip 2: Toss the linens in the wash so they can be getting clean while you're tackling the other stuff. Nothing worse than stinky towels and rugs in the bathroom. bluck.
Tip 3: Break out the HomeRight SteamMachine Elite!! No joke, the fastest, easiest, and chemical-free way to clean is with steam. Forget all the bottles of stuff that don't work and also make for a lovely aroma (dead giveaway that you were in a tizzy cleaning!!) I've shown you before how much I love my HomeRight SteamMachine, but guess what...they came out with a new & improved model! {{happy dance}}
Here's my video showing you how I tackled my oven cleaning (a most dreaded job otherwise), with my AutoRight steam machine.
While I still love using that, I'm so stoked to have this SteamMachine Elite. It's got all the bells and whistles of the older model, but with new accessories designed for most any job in the home. And, yes, I'm in love with the white color too. tee hee.
Now I my kids and I can double-team my house and cars!
DIY TIME
Okay, so you saw in my video how easy it is to set up. Just fill with distilled water using the included measuring cup and funnel. Put the cap on tight and wait for it to build up steam.
When plugged in, both lights will be lit.
However, when this bad baby is ready to go, the one light will click off and it's time for some last-minute cleaning fun!
I first tackle my kitchen with all it's daily mess loveliness. If you missed it, you can see my kitchen reveal HERE. We are pretty much here 24/7, cook all 3 meals plus snacks from scratch, so you KNOW this gets DIRTY.
Before I get started, I hang up the accessory holder and tuck in all my brushes and attachments. This makes it easy so I can grab them and go.
COOKTOP
The cooktop was my first frontier. I had yet to clean it with my older SteamMachine since our recent installation. Every night we do dishes and wipe this down, but it still gets dirty. Using my black nylon brush with nozzle attachment, I blast that grim away. Yeah baby! *a word of advice, I do wear hearing protection while using the SteamMachine as it gets kinda noisy. A worthy trade!
I only worked this cooktop for about 5 minutes and I am not kidding when I say I was floored that it took off some build-up that I couldn't get to with a toothbrush. SCORE! Even my oldest son standing nearby was stoked as he hates cleaning the cooktop.
Next on the last-minute cleaning list is the sink. Another of my cleaning pet peeves is the gunk that builds up around faucets. I normally pull out an old toothbrush to tackle it, but the SteamMachine nails it in a jiffy.
FLOORS
Last, but not least in my kitchen cleaning is my tile floor. I've never used the Steam Mop attachment before but my back was thanking me immensely. I didn't have to bend over to wring out a standard mop or deal with dragging around a bucket of dirty water. This Steam Mop also works on carpet. WIN!
I'm headed back to the bathroom for the rest of my last-minute cleaning fun. I grab my accessory holder and hang it on my bathroom door, then time to tackle the tub and tile.
I hit all the tile with my black nylon brush and wipe it clean. Next, I wanted to get rid of the spots on the bottom tub grips.
Scrub the spot while blasting with steam and it's gone.
My other favorite accessory is the Crevice Tool. It is perfect for getting into tight nooks and crannies that are a pain to clean.
Next up is the mirror. (get it...up? pun intended. you're welcome) I attached the squeegee and have a blast...literally!
FYI, the squeegee also has a cloth bonnet so you can use it to clean upholstery too. You can see how I used it in this post HERE.
CLEANING COMPLETE
Ladies and gents we are now DONE with our last-minute cleaning. {{applause}} There's still time to fold that laundry and whip up some grub for your guests. Why? Because your cleaning took about an hour to do. YES!! Bonus is that your home is now fresh and no funky cleaner smells to make it toxic too.
If you'd like all the details on our bathroom remodel, you can read that post here.
Add a few touches of fresh flowers along with your sweet smile and good food. I know your guests will be oohing and aahing.
GIVEAWAY TIME
Time for some sweet fun for YOU! HomeRight and I are all about empowering you to get the DIY job done right. One winner will receive this brand new SteamMachine Elite with all the accessories. Wahoo!! Easy entry: just complete the widget below for as many entries as you like (daily even for more entries). Open to U.S. and Canada residents 18 years of age and older. Winner will be notified via email and will have 24 hours to claim their prize. Be sure to check your spam! Do pin and share my last-minute cleaning tips because you know we're not alone in this entertaining world.
Up next, this vintage dresser is up for a new look. Head here to see.
To get these DIY tips & tricks in your inbox, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. PLUS, you will get your FREE Furniture Buying Checklist and special discount to my shop. Until next time!
Also, more last-minute cleaning tips & tricks:
