Spring Cleaning Day 2 - Dusting

Today Anna has us dusting.  Fans...I have many.  Many fans I have need dusting.  I have dusted many fans...and thank goodness I started last week!  Little did I know this would be on the list.  Guess I should have known, but it didn't cross my mind.  So the fans in the master bedroom and bath (yes there is a fan in the bathroom!) were done last week. 

Cabinets...oh boy!  That is not a favorite of mine.  I used a mixture of equal parts water,  vinegar, and Murphys Oil Soap on my floors and cabinets. (Mix directly in spray bottle and keep on hand)  It does a great job at breaking up the grime and the Murphy's leaves a nice shine. 

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I didn't realize how bad my cabinets were.  Its amazing how dirty they get around the handle.  My vinegar mix got it right off!  They shine now!

Picture taken with IPhone

Now...back to the fans.  I did not get to the fan in Bug's room as she was napping when I was attacking the fans.  I began a good work on this one, in the kitchen (yes, there is a fan in the kitchen too!).

Picture taken with IPhone

This is one mean fan to clean.  It looks nice and clean from this angle.  The top of the blades are a different story.  The top of the blades are sticky.  I am not sure why, maybe being in the kitchen?  Maybe the people before us failed to tell us about the slime wars that took place here.  I am not real sure of the why, but I know its sticky...and the dust is stuck to the sticky.  My magic vinegar mix was not magic enough.  Hubby is going to take down the blades so I can take them outside and scrub them.  The swinging action that started while I was attempting to scrub the top was quite scary.  Best take down the blades from the swinging fan huh?  Saving for the weekend....

DIY Tiered Jewelry Holder

Last year while planning Lil Bug's 1st birthday party, I ran into a problem with my "want" and what I could actually find in the stores at a price I was willing to pay for a party.  Those that know me, know, I love a bargain and if its not something I will use over and over and often...I refuse to pay full price.  I wanted a red tiered serving platter.  I couldn't find one.  Then I saw that you could DIY one and they were all over blog land.  It was perfect timing!  I made my own.

And then I made another....

Fast forward to present...I really needed to organize my jewelry.  I have cubby holes in my closet and one of them houses all my jewelry.  It was a mess.  I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do until I saw a picture of a tiered jewelry holder and decided I must make one. 

Photo via Better Homes and Gardens

I collected my supplies....3 plates, 2 candlesticks, and glue. 


You will want to turn the candlestick upside down so that the top plate gets the most surface area.
I glued my candlesticks (upside down) to 2 of the plates.  See how there is more surface area on the bottom ring?  Allow to dry for a good hour or so before moving on to next step.


Glue one on top of the other and again, allow to dry for a good hour or so. 


Then glue the last plate to the top. 


I used glass glue but found that super glue (dollar store) works better...its thicker and you can get more on the tiny rim of the candlestick. 

Spring Cleaning Day 1 - Draperies, Blinds, and Shutters

Anna @ Ask Anna assigned Draperies as Day one's task in the Spring Cleaning event.

 

How did I know she would choose draperies first?  I had it in my mind that I would paint the front porch shutters since I don't have any draperies that need cleaning.  The curtains I do have I recently made and hung.  (See post here about my sewing adventure!)

Here are my curtains. 

 

When I went to get the paint I thought I had in garage for shutters, I decided I no longer wanted that color.  Why?  I don't really know.  I just made that decision then and there.  So, now I have to go get new paint to attack the outdoor shutters...and the front door.  

I did, however, decide to take down the blinds seen in the picture above.  There is no need for them and I really like the sun shining through.  I also cleaned the tiny set of blinds in one of the bathrooms...other than that there are no more blinds. 

Off to start Task 2....Dusting!  I just dusted the fans in my bedroom...but there are oh so many more in this house!