All Photos By Gail
If you live in a NYC apartment, then you understand that the phrase Spring Cleaning doesn’t so much refer to a yearly ritual as it does to an ongoing process. Some type of deep-cleaning in one room or another is really necessary every couple of weeks in order to combat the dirt and grime that sneaks into the home from the street. Because it really is a jungle out there. Ugh. Don’t even get me started on the Sisyphean task of keeping the dust off of every interior surface, because it’s a pain in the butt.
The upside of tackling the dirty jobs — which exist everywhere, not just in the kitchen and the bathroom — is that the dirtier things get, the more satisfaction there is to be gained in seeing them return to their natural, albeit too brief, state of cleanliness. And nothing makes cleaning easier (and dare I say, even a little bit fun) than having the right tool for the right job. Recently, I attended a Press Preview for the IHA-sponsored International Home + Housewares Show, and came home with bag of gadgets, cleaning tools and home products that might just give you the inspiration you need to get started on your own Spring Cleaning — before summer hits!
Check Out All of These Goodies I am Going Tell You About.
When it’s time to clean up from meal prep, I never put my hands in water without wearing a good pair of dishwashing gloves; but honestly, nearly all household chores should start with protective gloves to keep your hands safe from chemicals, minor cuts, or burns from hot water. Mr. Clean (a trusted brand for decades) has introduced Bliss latex-free gloves, which are ideal for all types of household cleaning, and safe for individuals who are allergic to natural rubber latex. Bliss gloves maintain the feel of latex, so they fit great, and they are lined with a pillow-soft plush material that helps to keep your hands soft and dry. Take a look:
Pillowy Softness
Bliss gloves also have an embossed palm grip, to help you hold on to soapy-wet, slippery dishes — because who hasn’t chipped a plate or broken a wine glass because it slipped from your grasp and dropped back into the sink?
Another new tool for dishwashing time is the Dawn Scrubtastic Duck!
This uniquely-shaped scrubber has what is called a Thermal Scrub Technology for customizable cleaning. When used in cool water, the scrubber becomes firm. In warm water, it becomes softer. Amazing!
Its shape is also extra useful for cleaning utensils and drinking glasses. The wing cut-outs are perfect for cleaning dried food off a spoon, and the area behind the Duck’s neck folds over the rim of glasses and bowls to clean with ease.
Not mention, but you can see I am about to, the Duck shape pays homage to Dawn’s longstanding efforts to help save wildlife!
Hands down, my least favorite household task in clean the shower. Here is an are where have an excellent scrub brush can really cut down on clean time. Sometimes it seems you need at least two different types of brushes to get at both the flat surfaces and into corners, so this new Clorox multi-purpose Flex Scrub Brush provides an excellent cleaning solution!
First of all, it has an easily removable handle, which lets you move the brush into difficult to reach areas.
The brush fibers are also made from an antimicrobial material, to protect against odor, mold, and mildew, which love to lurk in the bathroom!
The bristles on this brush are excellent for scrubbing mold out of grout. They get right in there!
Look how clean! I want to take a shower right now!
Now that the shower is clean, let’s move on two two areas you might not think much about . . . until you have a clog; those areas being your tub and sink drains. I have very long hair, so when I have a slow running drain, a hair clog is usually the culprit. Why not save yourself a call to the Super or, worse, the plumber, by using the TubShroom or SinkShroom?
The TubShroom and SinkShroom strainer / drain stoppers (from Juka Innovatios Corporation) are a revolution in drain protection. Unlike regular plugs that go over there drain, the TubShroom fits inside, neatly collection hair around it. Like This:
Just remove the SinkShroom, clean it off, and use again and again. It’s easy to install in seconds and comes in a variety of colors and finishes to match any decor! You can find them in any home improvement or hardware store!
Here’s something else that comes in lots of colors, that you need for your purse or desk drawer right now; the Lint Flip compact lint roller (from Evercare)!
Lint Flip is super compact, so it’s perfect for traveling, and always there when you need it to keep your clothes free of hair, pet fur, lint and fuzz.
Just Flip, Roll and Go!
And now, let’s talk about a way to maybe keep more dirt from getting into your home in the first place: with a stylish entry way rug. My apartment door opens right onto a busy street, so it’s absolutely necessary to wipe your shoes on the mat I keep outside the door before entering the Chickpad. This year, Spring Cleaning meant replacing that well-worn mat entirely with a gorgeous new multi-colored Hearts-patterned Studio 67 Designer Floor Mat!
This rug is a real dirt magnet! Its plush nylon fibers brush and trap dirt, moisture and allergens, so it’s are perfect for the variable weather we have here in New York City. Studio 67 Designer Mats and Rugs come in a variety of patterns to complement your decor. This one is so beautiful, I almost hate to wipe my shoes on it! Fortunately, it is machine wash-and-dry-able, so just pop it in the machine with a Tide Pod and you’re good to go. Each rug or mat is backed by a five-year warranty.
A skid-resisitant rubber backing keeps the Studio 67 mat in place.
Check it out: the mat fits perfectly in the space between my security door and front door, and it has a low profile so the door closes smoothly over that extra inch of mat.
Welcome to the Chickpad! I just cleaned up for you!
Thanks to Butler Home Products, Studio 67 Designer Mats, TubShroom / SinkShroom and the IHA for the Products Reviewed in the Post!