Day 12 Assignment
::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}
::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea, refer to your list of weekly goals, and make a list of no more than 5-7 specific things you want to accomplish today.
::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}
::Set the timer for 15 minutes and vacuum the main living areas of your home.
::Clean your microwave, stove top, and/or oven.
::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.
Note: If you work outside the home or have a really busy week with little time for extra projects, just do the bolded project above.
At around 9 p.m. EST tonight, I’ll be posting my progress and pictures, along with a link-up for you to share your progress and pictures, too. Here’s to our productivity today!
Lo and behold, my stove top is white. So is the inside of my microwave.
DONE!~
And I have to say, this morning my husband called me after the trio got off to school and said “So what does Crystal have you doing today?” I said “cleaning the oven and microwave”….his reply…”awesome.” Thanks for keeping me on task 😉
😉 Too funny!
Got rid of half a bag of odd glass jars yesterday! Yippee!
Done!* What a great feeling!
*Except that I decided a few years ago that life is too short to worry overmuch about drip pans, so they are “good enough.” I wouldn’t be embarrassed if you came over, but they’re not sparkling, either.
I also tackled the silverware drawer, which I missed the other day. So long, giant pile of twist ties!
Hi!
This is a link to an easy, very low cost (if you have ammonia and freezer bags you are ready) and very effective way to clean the grates on a gas stove. Mine are soaking right now, I can’t wait to see the clean version tomorrow morning!
Lori
http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/2011/10/i-saw-it-i-tried-it-cleaning-the-grates-on-your-gas-stove/
My oven was cleaned not too long ago, so I decided to do my pizza oven!! I don’t remember the last time I cleaned it, but wow what a job! It took me 3 hrs on and off! I had to take breaks because my hands were getting so sore from scrubbung:( I didn’t get it perfect, but it will have to do!
Not sure why you’re apologizing for this one….I’d take this any day over cleaning the baseboards (which I still haven’t finished)!
I haven’t finished my baseboards either. Would rather scrub the oven.
I adore this series! I’m leaving my job at the end of this week to stay home for a few months and this is whole series is a perfect guideline for me to use to finally get my home in order (and clean!). I might be a few weeks behind, but I’m totally doing this from day 1 (even if I have to combine a few days).
ok I’ve been slacking with my visiting your blog duties:{ I’ve had quite a bit of company and more coming!!! Oh the joys of living in sunny Florida!!! I want to catch up on this 4 week adventure!!! Is there a downloadable version of this? Or do I have to go to day one and start there? let me know thanks!!!
We’ll have a downloadable version available at the end of the challenge.
Yay!!!
I am giving myself permission to skip the stove and microwave—gasp! They are clean enough and I have 75 flower pots and flats and flats of flowers that have to go in them this week. Here’s to dirt under my fingernails and the happeist time of the year for this gardener! Wish you all could come and sit on my deck and have a glass of sweet tea with me in a few weeks when everything is looking beautiful out there. 😀
Sounds lovely! We just finished our front flower garden last week. It looks so pretty and makes me smile every time I see it!
I spring cleaned my oven not too long ago.http://snailpacetransformations.com/2012/04/03/trying-to-clean-oven/ However if you view the post you will see it did not go too well. So I will try once again and do the microwave too!
Oh how I’ve been dreading this one! lol
I did my oven the first warm day of spring we had a few weeks ago-but even when the self clean was done it “carmelized” some lines and spots onto the glass door and still was dirty. I used goof off and a paper towel and plastic scrapper and it looks just like new! It worked so AMAZING to get off the really baked on. Today I already took out the turn table to wash since I thought it looked a little dirty-going to do the vinegar and water. I once babysat for people who had 6 kids and the worst microwave I have EVER seen-they must have never wiped it out-ever… I will never let my micro get too dirty-it swung me the other way.
Ewwww, my microwave is pretty gnarly right now. Thanks for the reminder to clean it! 🙂
My microwave is pretty clean as I clean it every week. But my oven is another story. It is a self cleaning oven but my timer is broken so I have to clean it by hand. My husband or myself cleans the stovetop each night after dinner so it looks pretty good too.
I got my list made so I am off to start my day.
This is great, I might finally catch up. I cleaned my oven two weeks ago and got the stove top/fingerprinted outside clean this weekend, leaving just the microwave to do. Had a clean silverware drawer last week too.
glad I seen this before I had to leave…setting the self cleaning cycle now 🙂 will scrub when i get home
Luckily my oven is self-cleaning and I anticipated you were going to assign this, so I did it over the weekend! Great tip for the microwave with lemon juice and vinegar, I’m going to try it!
My oven self cleans, but how does it work? Do I just push the button? We bought it used, so there was no manual. Do I need to add some sort of cleaning supply too? And is the self-cleaning method healthy to use?
Nevermind. I did some research. I think I’ll skip the self-clean option.
http://mommyfootprint.com/self-cleaning-ovens-toxic-for-humans-or-only-birds/
I don’t know about it being toxic, but when I did it, it created a lot of smoke. You might want to be home and open windows/set a fan.
You should try Googling your oven brand and model and see if you can find a manual online (I’ll bet you can). But here’s what I do with mine (an LG dual-convection oven): Take out all of the racks and set them aside. These have to be washed by hand. Push the button that says “Clean.” Then push “start.”
My older oven had a lever in the front that swung from left to right to lock it shut, then you pushed the “self clean” button or something. It will stink up the house for a few hours, so it’s best if you can open some windows to release the smell. The oven gets super hot and basically burns off the drips inside, so that’s why it smells bad. When it’s all done and cool (the oven won’t open while it’s hot), just wipe everything clean with a damp cloth and put the (clean) racks back in place.
I had a friend whose house caught fire when she set her oven to clean overnight, so it’s safer to do it when you’re awake and alert.
Good luck!
Just so you know, most self cleaning oven manuals say to never use any type of chemicals to clean the oven and if you have used oven cleaners in the past the manuals say to not use the self cleaning feature.
I don’t have any oven cleaner in the house – what else can I use? I haven’t cleaned the oven in……*whispers*…. a few years….eeek!
Don’t worry, Anna. I’ve had my oven for going on five years and I’ve never cleaned it! I do use it, but I just don’t spill. It looks like only about 6 months of “dirtyness”, not 5 years! Maybe one of these days I’ll finally do it!
http://www.cleaningcleaner.com/ovencleaner.html I found a good cleaning solution 🙂
This was my mom’s trick – works like a charm!
* Take out the racks.
* Sprinkle banking soda on the bottom of the oven.
* Soak several paper towels or an old cloth towel. Ring until wet but not dripping.
* Lay on the baking soda
* Close door and turn on the light
* Let sit for 4-5hrs or overnight (If you need to – put tape over your “on” knob or button so you don’t accidentally pre-heat!)
* Wipe up. And either toss the paper towels or wash the cloth one.
Leave the racks out overnight on the grass and then wipe clean with a rag. Or scrub with with the brush for your bbq grill.
Works great – even if you have a big mess – like the apple pie I had boil over the other day – yick! In that case – let cook, pick up the “big stuff” and follow the tips above. Still works great!
Happy cleaning!
Lea
thank you! ive been using the baking soda so far, and it’s working well, but i think i will try again later tonight and leave it overnight with the paper towel idea. it’s already looking so much better! 🙂
Hooray! I struggled through this a few weeks ago. (Can’t see me doing a happy dance!). I was thrilled to not have used that terrible oven spray on it too. It was probably harder, but worth it. No toxic smell afterward.
my microwave is clean almost all the time! i learned long ago it’s easier to clean if you wipe down messes right when they happen (wish i could learn that about the rest of my house!!). 😉 i’ve even had friends compliment me on having a clean microwave when they’ve been over for parties… i guess it is a rare thing! 🙂
now my stove top… that’s another story… always, always has crumbs or more on it!!
I’ve found Goo-Gone works well to cut the grease and sticky stuff without requiring too much extra scrubbing. And it doesn’t have as strong of a cleaning smell as the amount of spray cleaners I’ve had to use in the past.
Once I get everything scrubbed off, I wipe it down with warm water, baking soda, and vinegar.
Ha ha I just cleaned my stove top yesterday, so I guess I’m off the hook for that one today! I usually use a flat metal scraper to get off the burnt on stuff, wipe it down with a wet cloth, rub the fancy stove top cleaner on and let sit for 5 minutes, and then rub off with a wet scrubby sponge. I don’t know if there is a more frugal or natural alternative out there, I just haven’t taken the time to look into it yet.
Baking soda and a damp cloth works great!
Great assignments today! Goes right along with all the kitchen cleaning and organization I accomplished yesterday. I hate cleaning inside the oven, but it needs to be done.
I find that when I write up my ‘to do list’ the night before, I have fewer days where I don’t get them all done. I wake up, and review my list while drinking my coffee.. I can often even start on one or two of the items before the kids get up!
To clean a microwave… i do this often! Get you pyrex bowl / measuring cup. Fill with ~1 cup water. Add some lemon juice, or vinegar. Microwave for a couple of minutes. Enough to boil the water. When the timer goes off… leave it in there, with the door closed for 5 minutes to steam the space. Open the door, and wipe out with a cloth. Super Easy!!!!!!
Thank you for this hint. I knew about the lemon juice but I don’t have any right now. I do have vinegar.
i soak my cloth with vinegar/water/lemon juice and microwave it and leave it in (until cool enough to touch). works the same way! 🙂 i like your idea of writing the list the night before so it’s fresh in your mind in the morning!!
That’s what I do, but just with plain water. Had never heard of adding anything. It is very easy.
I recommend doing the wet cloth method rather than the bowl of water method! I used to do the vinegar-water in a bowl, and then one day it EXPLODED and flung my microwave door open, spraying hot water everywhere. I read up on it, and apparently it’s not all that uncommon for water to explode in the microwave (although I read putting a microwave-safe spoon or something in the water can prevent it…it has something to do with a film forming a the top of the water). Thankfully, no one was near it when it happened. But I won’t be doing that again!
I’ve found that if I microwave a couple sweet potatoes every week, they steam the thing up enough that I just wipe it down and my microwave stays relatively clean! Haha! 😉
What is the best way to clean a flat top stove ? It seems like I can never get the stains off!
Is it a glass top? Bar keeper’s friend or another cleaner made specifically for glass tops. It does take some scrubbing. Be careful to get a product made specifically for glass or ceramic cooktops because other items could scratch.
Another note: we were always told to be very careful that if any sugar got onto our glass cooktop to wash it off right away or it could ruin it.
Do you still have your manual? Many times they have good recommendations for cleaning the appliance. Sometimes the manuals are online or you can contact the manufacturer.
hum, I never heard about the sugar thing….who knows what could have spilled on it??? I do have the manual it is only 6 months old =)
I used to use a razor blade on mine. I don’t know if it is a good idea or not, but it got all the stuff off that I couldn’t get to come off with a rag or sponge.
Razor blade was my suggestion too. Works beautifully!
I didn’t have a razor blade, but I did use that little brown plastic thing that comes with pampered chef stoneware to scrape them and it did work pretty well, so thank you for the idea of scraping =)
Baking soda and coconut oil. Works like a charm.
I really need to buy some coconut oil I keep seeing things that you can use it for =)
Baking soda and a damp rag! Baking soda is magical 😀
Thank you for your response =) I did end up using the baking soda =) Now that you mentioned it being magical I wonder if they put some in those Mr. Clean Magic erasers?…lol
There’s a special cleaner that Home Depot and Lowe’s sells specifically for flat top stoves, Ceramabrite or something like that. It’s not too expensive and it works really well on our stove.
Thanks I will have to check it out next time I go to Lowes =)