Rachael Ray

I don’t usually write about fashion in this blog but I must say, the world of aprons has finally evolved.  What used to be limited to the same old, unshapely butcher’s apron with maybe a logo or a funny saying like “kiss the cook,” has grown into something more, well, fitting.  Take a look at Jesse Steele’s products like the apron above or these decorative rubber gloves, for under $10 no less! Jesse Steele also has a line of professional aprons for chefs but also coated ones for stylists and hair colorists. I love the retro look and the fact that you can wear these while cleaning and cooking and look good!  I am one to wear an apron all the while [...]...

On the Cleaning Lady Blog we talk a lot about natural cleaning products (vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are the stars) but we haven’t actually covered how to quickly and effectively handle a laundry stain. Hot water or cold water? Apply soap or leave it alone? Here is a how-to on what to do when you spill on your favorite top. The most important thing is to move quickly! Blot up any excess liquid with a clean white cloth, paper, or other towels. Remove excess solids by gentle scraping or chipping with a dull knife or metal spatula. If the spill is a thick substance like mud, removal may be easier after the stain has dried. Excess can be brushed off [...]...

Dear Cleaning Lady: I have had my trusty 9 x 13 brownie pan forever and I am noticing some rust spots. Is this dangerous? Can I clean off the rust or should I toss it? Thanks! Brownie Baker Dear BB: Don’t toss the pan but definitely get rid of the rust before you bake with it again. Here’s how: 1. Rinse the pan and shake it dry - do not wipe with a towel because you want it to be slightly damp. 2. Dust it lightly with baking soda (it should stick because of the remaining water), making sure you cover the spots that are rusting. 3. Leave the dusted pans for about half an hour. 4. Clean the pan gently with a scourer making sure you get rid [...]...

I love big jewelry - particularly necklaces - and I have accumulated so many necklaces over the years that they started to take over the very valuable and limited real estate of the top of my dresser. I have these cute necklace hangers/trees that were meant to be decorative yet eventually mine were overflowing with necklaces, to the point I couldn’t even see what I had. I resorted to keeping the necklaces (and bracelets and earrings) in little zippered bags on my dresser as well so then I really had no idea what I had. I ended up skipping wearing jewelry altogether. I knew there had to be some kind of jewelry organizer out there similar to an over-the door shoe organizer [...]...

A computer is a significant investment. It’s amazing how it looks so beautiful when you first bring it home and yet how quickly the screen can accumulate fingerprints and smudges, especially if you have kids. Most monitors now are LCD, or flat panel monitors. You would think you could spray some Windex or other glass cleaner onto the screen and be all set, but put down the spray bottle as this can significantly damage the monitor. Here are some tips on cleaning your computer monitor: 1. Turn off the computer or display. 2. Dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or paper with water only. The softer the cloth the better. 3. Wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen. You may [...]...

In the world of bed bug infestation, it’s important to take a look at your mattress and consider its lifespan and care. First, when you buy one, you should buy a protective covering that you can take off and wash periodically or if something spills on it.  This should be waterproof. You should rotate your mattress every 6 months so it gets even wear and tear. Vacuum your mattress to clean it, don’t use soap and water unless there is a stain. Here’s a sort of disgusting statistic but one that is important to know.  After 10 years, your mattress DOUBLES in weight from years of absorbing your body oils, dead skin and dead bugs!  This according to Men’s Health magazine, made me think [...]...

We live in a very old house and periodically have had to deal with mice. How can we tell they are back indoors? They nibble holes in bread left on a counter, or bags of flour have clearly been invaded. We have tried old fashioned snap traps with peanut butter with some luck but the only way to get rid of mice for good is to prevent them from getting indoors - all holes, no matter how tiny (mice are smaller than you think - 1-2 inches, including the tail) - must be sealed. A friend told us they hate brushed wool or copper so sealing all holes with that (available at the hardware store) seemed to do the trick. A [...]...

Periodically you need to clean certain parts of your home that collect dust and dirt and that are close to some kind of high heat source.  Here are a few of those places that if not cleaned regularly, could pose a fire hazard to your home. The clothes dryer You must clean out not only the lint trap, but the hose that spits the hot air outside from your clothes dryer.  This hose, all the way up to the lint trap collects excess dust and lint and over time can not only hinder performance and make it take far longer than it should to dry clothes, but it could be dangerous.  This little project is a huge pain in the butt, as [...]...

I couldn’t sleep last night and I was up browsing CNN.com at 4 am (sad) when I came across this unsettling story on the top “germiest” places in the mall. It’s enough to make you not leave your house. I frequently tell myself that we (”we” being people who grew up in the 70’s and earlier) survived, if not thrived, before the creation of anti-bacterial products and Dateline NBC specials featuring the germs on the bottom of your purse. However, the article is an eye opener and if nothing else, a reminder to stick a travel size Purell in your bag. Now that I think of it, a scarier special may be the germs residing on my family’s computer keyboard….. The [...]...