Healthy Housekeeping

You might be surprised at the diversity of characters you can run into when it comes to something so simple as a sponge.  The reality is, though, that most sponges you’ll come across aren’t worth buying.  At Healthy Housekeeping, we’ve worked with every sponge on the market, and here are a few profile sketches of the most common culprits:

PRETTY SPONGES

Pretty sponges, for the most part, are ornamental only.  The most common pretty sponges I see are the pastel colored ones from a brand called O-Cel-O.  They have soft cellulose sponges and ones with an abrasive side, but the soft ones fall apart pretty quickly and the abrasive ones aren’t very functional.  If you’re looking for a super cute and trendy sponge, go for these ones.  Just don’t expect them to hold up well if they have to get their hands dirty!

THE MAGIC ERASER

I love the Magic Eraser.  I love it so, so, so much – and then it disappoints me every time.  You see, the Magic Eraser can clean up just about anything – it just doesn’t last.  Even the ones that are advertised to be sturdier are still only a one-clean-stand.  Durable or not, though, I still buy them, and I still use them.  Even the short-lived affections of such a powerful cleaning tool are worth it to me.

BLUE SPONGES

Lysol and Scotch-Brite both sell blue sponges with a “Non-Scratch” abrasive side.  Some of them are curved in shape and some of them have waved contours.  In my opinion as an experienced professional cleaner, “Non-Scratch” abrasive sponges are useless.  They just don’t work well.  I’d much prefer to use a baking soda paste with a rag or the non-abrasive side of a better sponge.  I also have another beef with these blue characters – the blue color tends to bleed when used with certain chemicals.  Now, granted, I don’t use many chemicals at all with my green cleaning, but all the same, it shows a shocking lack of consideration on the part of the manufacturer to distribute a cleaning tool that can bleed on and even stain certain surfaces when used with common cleaning agents!  I avoid these on principle.

“GREEN” SPONGES

Scotch-Brite now markets a “Greener” sponge.  At Healthy Housekeeping, we’re all about green products and conservation.  There are more things than “green” manufacturing to take into consideration, though, when it comes to conservation.  We also need to consider our budgets and the amount of effort required to compensate for potentially less-effective products.  Scotch-Brite’s “green” sponges are simply not as effective as other abrasive sponges.  They accumulate and retain grease and oils much more quickly than regular abrasive sponges and their scouring capabilities are limited at best.  To make these “green” sponges effective, I have to use more work and a lot more of my scouring cleaning solution to compensate for their lack of scouring power.

SCOURING PADS

Scouring pads are good for a few really intense cleaning projects, but for the most part, they’re overkill.  These hardcore cleaners scour and scrape not only the surfaces they’re cleaning, but also the person using them.  They also get bogged down quickly with grease and oils and lose their functionality.

MY FAVORITE:

My very, very favorite sponges are the yellow cellulose ones with the green scouring backs.  Scotch-Brite makes them, but so do most off-brands.  Most of them are just as good as the name brands – just be on the lookout for shoddy knock-offs.  You can usually tell the sorrier ones by a more washed-out, teal colored scouring pad.  These sponges are durable and functional.  The soft side is good for cleaning more delicate surfaces like granite, glass and brushed steel, and the scouring side is wonderful for ovens, microwaves, tubs and sinks.

They’re also marketed to be washed in the dishwasher and re-used.

Don’t do it.  Just don’t bother.  When a sponge is too dirty to use, it’s just plain worn out.  No dishwasher can resuscitate it.  It’s not going to do the job like it used to.  Let it go to pasture where it belongs and start on a new one.

Here’s something we hear pretty often at Healthy Housekeeping: “I’d love to hire you to come and clean, but my house is just such a mess and I don’t even know where to begin!”

We understand.  Your Healthy Housekeepers are no strangers to the daunting task of de-cluttering and organizing.

It should be noted, however, that we’re really, really good at cleaning around clutter.  So, if you’re holding out until it gets organized – whenever that may be – you’re probably underestimating our capacity for cleaning in just about any condition.

The de-clutterization process isn’t necessarily as grueling as it may sound, though.  It’s hard work and it takes a lot of consideration, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.  A tidier living environment can make a world of difference.

It is so easy to just get used to stuff lying around.  It may be useless, misplaced, broken or meaningless, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering anyone, just sitting on the back of the counter…right?  Well, maybe, but wouldn’t life be better if it went where it belonged?  Don’t get complacent!  Your home is your haven!

So… you don’t know where to start.

My number one tip for the temporarily or chronically disorganized is this: IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU START AS LONG AS YOU START SOMEWHERE.  Anywhere.  Where are you right this second, reading this article?  At your computer desk?  On the sofa?  Start THERE.  Consider the area directly within arm’s reach.  What’s there?  Does it belong there?  Does it need to be tossed?  Put away?  Donated?  Repaired?  Just do it!

Often, the most crippling factor in the organizing process is over-thinking.  Over-thinking leads to under-doing – or not doing at all.  Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of thinking about how boring/unpleasant/strenuous/overwhelming the chore will be.  Just start doing it.

Now, it is entirely possible to get the job completely done by doing a little bit here and a little bit there, day by day.  I don’t recommend this, though, for a couple of reasons.  First, when we don’t have a real game plan, we tend to just do the easiest things and the more challenging tasks get put off for another day.  If we’re in it to finish, then ALL of it has to get done.

Secondly, the motivation that can come from having completely cleared or organized a single drawer, shelf or tabletop without leaving any loose ends should never be undervalued. Set a goal and get it done!

It isn’t easy to go through stuff.  And getting rid of things is even harder.  It’s super important when organizing to try to consider every object with a fresh outlook.  Don’t let yourself overlook it or think about how used to having it around you are. Try to look at it as if you’ve never seen it before and ask yourself:

-  Does this thing serve a purpose?
-  How often do I use it, if ever?
-  Do I have something else that serves the same purpose?
-  Do I need to keep it?
-  If it has sentimental value, just HOW much sentimental value does it have?

-  Could someone else use it?
-  Is it garbage?
-  Does it belong where it is?
-  If it isn’t where it belongs, does it have a home?
-  Can I find a place for it?
-  Does it need to be replaced or fixed?

There are a ton of other things to consider, depending on the object.  I’m a huge proponent of the household purge – if you’re not sure about an object, just take the risk and get rid of it.  You won’t miss it nearly as much as you think you might, and if you do, you can probably replace it later on.  It’s just stuff!

I find it helpful to have a few things close at hand when I begin a major tidying project:

1.  A garbage bag
2. A box for Goodwill or Salvation Army
3. A paper and pen for a list of supplies I might need to get whatever I’m working with organized or functional

Another common complaint I hear about the de-cluttering process is how easy it is to get distracted and lose focus.

A cleaning buddy can be a huge help with this.  There’s another way to cope with this issue, though.  It’s not pleasant but it usually works.  Set an alarm clock or the alarm on your cell phone for ONE MINUTE IN THE FUTURE.  Whatever device you use, just make sure it’s near enough to be really obnoxious.  And when it goes off, don’t turn it off – hit the snooze button, and keep hitting it every time it goes off.  Each time your alarm screeches at you, remember this: it’s reminding you to stay on task.  This way, every ten minutes or so you’ve got an automated drill sergeant squawking at you to keep focused.

But whether you’re a pack rat, a neat freak, or anything in between, remember that your Healthy Housekeepers are 100% ready to clean your house!  Happy de-cluttering!