One of the things that has been stressing me out the most regarding my apartment is trying to keep it clean. I try not to track dirt in, but it’s a near impossible feat considering this is New York City. I’m also not used to having so much space that’s ALL my own. It’s completely my responsibility to clean it. No roommates to blame, no moms to pick up after me, and definitely no cleaning ladies showing up twice a week.
I’m not even a messy person, but I feel like I’m constantly trying to make the apartment cleaner and cleaner. Part of it is that I feel like NYC in general is just not that clean and I want to make sure my apartment is super clean to counteract it! The other part is that this is my apartment…. that I’m paying for entirely on my own; I want to completely respect my space.
One major issue I have is that I don’t really have the time to devote to solely cleaning. But I’ve come up with some solutions that are QUICK and EASY and GET THE JOB DONE.
White Board Calendar | I have a calendar in my apartment that has events coming up (and it’s where I brainstorm blogging ideas). I also schedule days when I’m going to clean. While I clean on a daily basis, I schedule once a week where I go through the whole apartment and give it some proper TLC. I also include little marks to remind me the days of trash pick up and when to put out my recycling. It’s a good idea to come up with a schedule… and stick to it. It’s way too easy to simply say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”
Windex + Paper Towels | The guy in My Big Fat Greek Wedding was spot on. Windex is the solution for just about all my problems. (Maybe not everything… but it seems like it!) It’s great for wiping up messy and sticky spills, dirty windows, smudged mirrors… you name it.
Febreze | Love the smell of this… but only in small doses. I really limit the amount of this stuff I use, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. This may be completely weird, but I like to spray it as I leave my apartment. I actually walk backwards spraying as I go and leave the can by my front door. When I get back from wherever I was, my apartment spells amazing. (And it’s so not strong anymore since I gave it time to “settle.”)
Swiffer Vac | This. Is. Brilliant. My apartment is small and I don’t have any carpet, so the Swiffer Vac is just perfect. I tend to use this at least twice a day. The vacuum is pretty great (although it’s no Dyson). And whatever doesn’t get picked up is magically captured by the actual Swiffer part!
Clorox | Sometimes bleach is necessary. I know, I know… it’s not the “greenest” of products… but it cleans. Like really, really cleans. The wipes are perfect for cleaning down all sorts of surfaces. I always start with the door knobs and sink faucets and dials. I feel like those are the dirtiest of all places and often get left out of the cleaning routine.
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I'm like you! I usually clean as I go (I'm a messy cook!), but at least once a week, mostly on Saturdays, I scrub and vacuum and spray and wipe everything down. I feel stressed when my place/stuff is a mess, so cleaning is a great way for me to relax and feel proud of my space!
I live in a kind of strange dorm room where I have my own bathroom and fridge but I have to wash dishes in the bathroom sink… odd I know! And I LOVE the clorox wipe (Or lysol) I always use them when I am done with dishes to wipe the sink and counter. Alo because I don't have much storage I use Pledge multi surface instead of windex because I am a serial duster. 🙂
The Swiffer Sweeper Vac is one of my favorite products of ALL TIME! I have dark wood floors, two white cats, and a very messy toddler and it does a great job for me. I use it all day long.
The Swiffer wetjet is a great thing to have as well! If you live in an apartment with a tiny kitchen, pulling out the traditional mop to clean the floors is WAY too much work and way too messy. I use my WetJet every other day to clean up sticky messes and just clean the floor in general. It smells great and was only $20!
I've had a lot of success with GreenWorks products. I try to balance being environmentally friendly and using as few chemicals as possible, with getting the best clean. Definitely something to check out. I wish I had enough time to completely make my own, but alas that is not a possibility. Thanks for the tips and giveaway!
Not really in the mood to be in photos right now, but I keep telling myself I’ll want to look back on these moments and remember them. (Right?!) when I look at these photos in 10, 20, 30 years…
I hope I remember Jack “rescuing” Rory from a windy tent, not how I stood in front of my closet with tears in my eyes.
I hope I remember watching Jack roll down hills and play hop scotch and scoot down the sidewalk with his besties, not that I caught a glimpse of my reflection and didn’t recognize myself.
I hope I remember sitting outside with my friend happily watching our kids play (while watching the minutes until bedtime tick by), and not that I spent too much time zooming in and examining every new wrinkle on my face.
I hope I remember the pure joy of these early warm days with my little family whom I love so much 🤍
The weather is warming up and I’m feeling slightly more comfortable in my skin every day ☀️ Here’s what I wore last week as a mom of two. I have a two and a half year old toddler and a two month old so I need outfits I feel good in, can chase a little guy around in, AND that I can breastfeed easily while wearing. 🔗 Leave a comment with “OUTFITS” to get links to every outfit I wore!
This room is so very special 🤍 The little cars sprinkled everywhere (watch your step!). A tiny sock, never two, peeled off and tucked somewhere hidden away. Piles of books that grow almost as quickly as the little boy who sleeps here. Outgrown pants and shoes to grow into mingling in the closet. Often messy, and a little cluttered, but a little boy lives here. 🚘☀️🐶📚🧸
(Rory is still in our room, but eventually the boys will share. I can picture their little twin beds already!)
About ten days ago, I noticed that today’s forecast was looking WARM. I told Mike, “We’re walking into town and sitting outside and I’m getting a beer. Put it on your calendar.” It ended up being warmer than forecasted (almost eighty degrees!) and let me tell you, it delivered. Today felt like the beginning of The Season™: dinners al fresco, beers/fries/ice creams, and late bedtimes. Indulging in it all because the kids are only getting older and we’re the grownups (somehow) and we get to make the rules ✌🏻
Dress is @tuckernuck & sweater is @kiltecollection
@pennylinndesigns and I hosted a “learn to needlepoint” class this past weekend and it was everything ✨ Needlepoint has been such a bright spot in my life over the past five years- and it’s gotten me through some difficult times. Because it’s helped me so much, sharing this hobby with others has turned into a mini life mission of mine. To sit in a room (my beautiful office space designed by @clare.sull!) with pro stitchers and needlepoint newbies alike was one of my dreams come true. I loved seeing women chatting, meeting, and bonding over this beautiful craft 🪡 Honestly, the needlepoint world is (sadly) filled with a lot of gatekeeping and competitiveness; this weekend proved that it doesn’t have to- and shouldn’t- be this way! It’s for EVERYONE. Whether you’ve never picked up a canvas in your life or you’re working on heirloom stockings for your family, there’s room for everyone at this table.
📍 Leave a comment saying “needlepoint” and I’ll send you my go-to resources for getting started with needlepoint!
Motherhood is pure JOY to me– nothing makes me happier than being with my boys! I wear my @haverhillcollection personalized jewelry every day as a symbol of my love for them– it’s a constant reminder for me of my greatest purpose. To celebrate my first Mother’s Day with TWO boys, I sent in my Haverhill necklace to add Rory’s birthstone and initial alongside Jack’s! I also got a second bracelet to stack with Jack’s. Love that this personalized jewelry can be altered as our family grows. Haverhill’s jewelry is designed to be lived in (perfect for busy moms!) made from solid 14k gold with high-quality birthstones so I never have to take it off to exercise, shower, or sleep. Use code MOTHERSDAY15 for 15% off!
We got a mama-approved family photo of the four of us 👏🏻 I wasn’t really paying attention to our calendar while in the end of pregnancy/newborn bubble and realized quite late that Jack had some time off from daycare and preschool this week. Mike and I quickly decided to book a last minute trip to Florida to visit my family and enjoy the warm weather ☀️
I'm like you! I usually clean as I go (I'm a messy cook!), but at least once a week, mostly on Saturdays, I scrub and vacuum and spray and wipe everything down.
I feel stressed when my place/stuff is a mess, so cleaning is a great way for me to relax and feel proud of my space!
<3
kimberrleigh.com
I live in a kind of strange dorm room where I have my own bathroom and fridge but I have to wash dishes in the bathroom sink… odd I know! And I LOVE the clorox wipe (Or lysol) I always use them when I am done with dishes to wipe the sink and counter. Alo because I don't have much storage I use Pledge multi surface instead of windex because I am a serial duster. 🙂
The Swiffer Sweeper Vac is one of my favorite products of ALL TIME! I have dark wood floors, two white cats, and a very messy toddler and it does a great job for me. I use it all day long.
The Swiffer wetjet is a great thing to have as well! If you live in an apartment with a tiny kitchen, pulling out the traditional mop to clean the floors is WAY too much work and way too messy. I use my WetJet every other day to clean up sticky messes and just clean the floor in general. It smells great and was only $20!
I've had a lot of success with GreenWorks products. I try to balance being environmentally friendly and using as few chemicals as possible, with getting the best clean. Definitely something to check out. I wish I had enough time to completely make my own, but alas that is not a possibility. Thanks for the tips and giveaway!
Love these essentials, they are the perfect tools to keep any apartment clean. And I'm loving the whiteboard schedule, definitely going to do this!