Category: housework

2018 · domestic engineering · housewife · housework · life · motherhood · mothering · parenting · preprep · tips · video

6 tips to avoid rushed chaos in the morning. 

JustBindyLeave a comment

Hi friends!

In today’s post I want to share some great tips to make your mornings less frantic. A big question I am often asked is how I get out the door on time in the mornings… LuLu has kindy 5 days a fortnight and this term + 1 morning of pre-prep, so lots on for us! So these are the things that work for us…

  • Preparation is the key to success. It truly is! Like the saying “those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail” goes – I truly believe being organised early as possible is how to be successful. The evening before we pack the lunch box, fill the water bottle and set out her bag – making sure it is packed with everything she needs for the following day – excursion/free dress day money, notes are signed and in bag etc… I also lay out her kindy clothes. Making a small effort in the evening means less stress in the morning.
  • Get sleep! Having a good nights sleep makes you more productive in the morning and well rested kids are easier to deal with!
  • Wake up at a reasonable hour. This should be a no brainer. I tend to be up around 6am’ish. This allows us time to calmly get through our morning routine.
  • Get things done as early as possible. As soon as we are done with breakfast I am busy, I put laundry on, LuLu knows to brush her teeth & get dressed, I go and get myself ready for the day and then I dress Tommy and do LuLu’s hair. Usually we then have some time to chill out in the playroom before going to kindy.
  • Set age appropriate jobs for your kids. LuLu knows to put her breakfast bowl in the sink, she often goes out to take the dogs coats off and she brushes her teeth and gets dressed on her own.  This helps me in the morning, while she is doing those tasks I can be doing others.
  • Know your time frames. Know how long it takes to get to the school and know when you have to be out the door, we like to get to kindy a few minutes early so we can chat to the teacher or other parents and calmly see LuLu off… I feel this sets her up for a good day as her morning has been calm and not flustered.

Our morning routine on a kindy day is fairly straight forward, I find having good routines with young children really is beneficial for them. They know what to expect and it isn’t chaos for them…
If you would like to see a kindy morning/day in action please check out my latest video HERE… 
But this is a basic look at how an average/ideal morning runs for us…

6am’ish I wake up with Tommy, LuLu occasionally will be awake at the same time or may wake a little later…
6:15am Unpack dishwasher and start organising breakfasts. The kids enjoy cereal and I have toast and a cup of tea.
6:45am LuLu is usually awake by now and having breakfast or our breakfast is done for the day. I tidy the kitchen, put away the toaster and wipe down the benches and if I need to get meat out of the freezer for dinner, I do it now.
7am I put the laundry on and make my bed.
7:05am I do my hair and makeup and get ready for the day. While I do this LuLu cleans her teeth and gets dressed for the day. I usually straighten her bed for her and then she sets up her snuggle toys neatly.
7:30am I dress Tommy.
7:35am I do LuLu’s hair, sometimes it is just a pony tail, other days she likes more detailed styles…
7:50am I may do a quick vacuum or some light cleaning while the kids play in the playroom.
8am I hang the laundry on the line.
8:10am We hang out in the playroom.
8:30am’ish We leave for kindy.

And that is a very rough guide to our morning. Some days flow smoothly and occasionally we have rushed mornings, but we all really dislike those so we strive to have calm and organised mornings.
How do your mornings go before kindy/school? What is your biggest tip for having a successful morning? I would love to know, comment below or on my social media!

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2018 · housewife · housework · motherhood · mothering · Uncategorized

Motivation to get stuff done when you would rather not. {VIDEO} 

JustBindyLeave a comment

Hi friends,

Do you ever have those days where you are so absolutely exhausted you can barely brush your teeth, but #mumlife doesn’t stop, does it?
I have those days (unfortunately more often than not thanks to THIS) but anyway, my point with this post is to encourage you for those days.
I filmed a “day in the life” video the other week – you can watch it HERE… On that particular day I was filming I felt so awful, my head was pounding and my body was not happy. I would’ve loved to kick back for the day but I knew if I didn’t take advantage of getting my jobs done while Trent was home to help out with it all, then the following few days I would be even more exhausted.
Some days we need to rest and have no other option or it’s a luxury we can do, but on other days it just really isn’t realistic. If I had left the groceries and ignored the lunch box well then I would be doing that on my own and with 2 kids. The lunch box is fairly easy but I try to avoid grocery shopping with kids because, STRESS!
So Mumma’s here are My top 5 tips for getting through those days when you would rather sleep!

  1. Set achievable goals… I pick 3 tasks I want to do that day & if I only get those 3 done it is great but I know usually I’ll do more and then it makes me feel better about myself.
  2. Reward yo’ self! On this particular day I treated myself to cheeseburger, because sometimes you need to eat the burger! If you are dreading doing the groceries, say to yourself if you get it done then you can grab a magazine or chocolate at the register for later or a coffee from a drive thru on the way home. Sometimes a tiny little treat can perk us up!
  3. Ask for help & accept it. We don’t have “outside help” or really anyone that comes and gives us a hand, but Trent and I work really well as a team. His final day off each run he knows it’s him and the kids so I can get “my jobs” done… He helps out during the day with whatever I ask him to do, but I mainly like him to just spend time with the kids because he does work such big shifts so they do miss him.
  4. Do not over do it. I suck at this, but try to do what you need to do and don’t burn yourself out. Stop and give yourself grace. You do not need to do it all. Doing those 3 main tasks you picked is enough and will start you on the right foot in the morning/ for the coming week.
  5. Eat well & drink lots of water… Yes, in this video I eat Maccas, so who am I to preach about nourishing our bodies? Ha. But in all seriousness, the fuel we give ourselves truly impacts how we feel. And sometimes how we feel can be a reflection of our diet. I love to drink really cold water, I find it just boosts me up – don’t know why, but it does. But the same with a good & healthy meal. Eating a good lunch maybe what you need to give you that motivation to get you through a long day. But then again, maybe a chocolate will too. It’s all about balance and what works for you. (But in the long run, the healthier option is the best…)

So friends, I hope you found this motivating or a little encouraging. I truly understand how hard it is just to get through a basic day sometimes and then when you add in extra jobs, it truly can feel like too much. But life doesn’t stop.
I hope from these tips you can pick one or two that may help you.
What is your biggest tip for getting through a day when you are absolutely exhausted but have lots to do?
Please comment below or on my social media!
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* I did want to add that Trent does help me out a great deal around the house and all these jobs he would gladly do for me, I’m just a control freak and like to do things myself like a crazy person! So he just helps out where and however he can. 

2017 · domestic engineering · giveaway · housewife · housework · youtube

Domestic Goddess box {GIVEAWAY}

JustBindy2 Comments

Hey friends,
Today I would love to show you all a brand new subscription box service that one of my favourite bloggers & dear friends, Anne from Domesblissity has created…
The “Domestic Goddess” subscription box…  For more info please read HERE.
This box is full of hand selected items by Anne that are targeted for a certain theme each month, the month of November is “doing the dishes”…  Each box also includes special & indulgent products for the “domestic goddess” of the home!
To check out my unboxing video please click HERE.

If you would like to purchase a box or subscribe for a monthly parcel please click HERE and you can use the coupon code of ‘SUBSCRIBE5’ for $5 off your first box!
I also have a December 2017/Christmas subscription box to give away! So if you would like to enter please head on over to my Facebook & Instagram, find the image and make sure you enter!
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Good luck friends!
Please check out Anne on Facebook HERE, Instagram HERE & her blog HERE.
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2017 · domestic engineering · housewife · housework · life · motherhood · mothering · wife life

1952 housewife wisdom.

JustBindyLeave a comment

Good morning friends,
I come to you today with some motivation I discovered from 1952…
I stumbled upon a few old magazines I bought years ago, they range in age from 1952 – 1984, so they are absolute gems! I love looking at the advertising from the 50’s!


Anyway, I was sitting down last night flicking through the Women’s Weekly from April, 1952 and I stumbled across an interesting little piece…
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I totally agree with this and I actually do that!
My mornings run like clockwork (when Trent is at work that is – I tend to be a little more relaxed when he is home), but most days my routine is firm. I get so much done between when we wake up until Tommy’s nap time at 9am’ish. I recently filmed my spring morning routine which you can watch HERE…
I thought I would share that little pearl of wisdom with you in hopes to encourage someone… I am very regularly asked how I stay on top of jobs especially with 2 small children… I just work hard, that’s the honest answer. I don’t like sitting around doing nothing, it drives me crazy… My days are usually very busy and I strive to get a lot done in them. But my mornings are the busiest and my theory behind that is if I get all my main jobs out of the way first thing in the morning, well that gives me free time to play with the kids, give a friend or my sister a call, have a visitor over for lunch, take it easy in the afternoon or get extra jobs done…
My top tasks that I do every single morning without fail are;

  • unload the dishwasher.
  • put at least 1 load of laundry on & peg it out. (It is folded & put away every evening)
  • vacuum the floors (with my Dyson stick vac. I usually vacuum 2-3 times a day, but bare minimum is once a day)
  • spot mop/mop the kitchen, if I didn’t do it the night before.
  • tidy up from breakfast. Stack the dishwasher, put toaster away & wipe down benches.
  • make the beds. (LuLu is starting to make her own)
  • Get the 3 of us ready for the day.

With those jobs done, I feel good about my home & if nothing else gets accomplished during the day that is ok. During most days I go about either dusting, cleaning bathrooms, tidying, baking or whatever other task needs to be tackled in between tending to the kids and playing. (Dusting & polishing is more fun when you are jumping around singing like a fool to get your kids to laugh…) I try to have most jobs done by lunch time or early afternoon, so I can rest, play & organise dinner.
I really love my productive mornings.
What do you do each morning? Do you have set jobs? What do you think of this little snippet of wisdom from 1952?
Let me know in the comments below or connect with me on social media.
(Also let me know if you would like me to do another blog post on some of the content from these old magazines)
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2017 · day in the life · housewife · housework · mothering · video · youtube

Spring morning routine. {2017}

JustBindyLeave a comment

Hey friends!
For today’s video I have my SPRING MORNING ROUTINE. You can watch it HERE.

Spring Morning Routine

Now, my routine evolves with whatever is going in our life & also with the seasons… The days are starting sooner now & the mornings are so beautiful & warm so we are able to get out and enjoy time outside before the heat of the day.

This routine is when Trent is on day shift, when he is on days off & night shift the routine may change slightly… But when he is on days on, this is pretty much what I do every morning up until around 9:30am. I get a lot done between when we wake up and until Tommy has his first nap. I get my jobs for the day out of the way as fast as possible so the children and I can enjoy our day.

My typical morning looks like;

  • Wake up anywhere between 5:30am-6:30am… Then snuggle in bed!
  • I start my diffuser, I use doTERRA essential oils... (If you would like more info on them please feel free to message me or click HERE.) In this particular video I am using grapefruit, litsea & easy air. I find this blend uplifting & motivating and easy air helps with sinus!
  • I unload the dishwasher (I always run my dishwasher each night)
  • I make our breakfast.
  • The kids go in the playroom to play.
  • I clean the kitchen, wipe down benches, take rubbish out and clean the highchair.
  • Make my bed. My bed has to be made each day!
  • I get myself ready for the day, I like to do really basic makeup & fix my hair quickly, that way I just feel a little better about myself.
  • Put on a load of laundry.
  • Dress the kids, clean teeth etc.
  • Vacuum & mop.
  • Then we all head out into the backyard to water our gardens.
  • We go for a walk around our local area.
  • Peg the laundry out.
  • Come inside, wash hands.
  • LuLu has quiet play time while I cuddle Tommy to sleep.
  • LuLu and I have some fruit together.

That’s our usual routine and I feel having predictable days is so good for kids, they know what’s happening and are more at ease.
What does a normal morning at your house usually look like?
Let me know in the comments below or connect with me on social media…
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PS: Want to win an elf door from Kmart?? Check out the posts on Instagram and Facebook!!

2017 · cleaning · domestic engineering · housework

Tips on how to declutter & make money. 

JustBindy5 Comments

Hi friends,
Happy Monday – how was your weekend?
Mine was busy and productive.
I was motivated to start spring cleaning and decluttering our home… thanks to that sudden urge to “move the clutter” I made around $400 in 2 days!

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I just sold a few items we no longer use and voila a few extra hundred dollars in my pocket!
So I thought in this post I would encourage you to do the same. Go through your wardrobe, your cabinets, your home – sort out what you don’t use anymore or what you don’t really love and pass it on. You can make some extra cash and at this time of the year extra money is a good thing to have – we always find the end of the year is the most expensive!
I highly recommend when you are sorting through items you use the method of looking at the item and deciding do you actually use it, do you love it or is it very precious/sentimental? If not sell it.
If I haven’t used, worn or even picked up in an item in around 6 months, I really have a good think about it – unless it’s a seasonal item, I usually sell it. I am trying to become less emotionally attached to items as well and let go of the guilt and expectation that I “should be keeping” items just because they were given to me. If they aren’t being used or enjoyed I think it’s absolutely sensible to either donate or sell them. There are certain sentimental items I will probably never part with, but I am trying to let go of many things. My sister is a great motivator for this, she seems to lack the sentimental emotion so she gets rid of most things very easily, where as I tend to hold onto them – so if I am struggling with parting with items I just call her! So I suggest having a support person you can call if you are on the fence about an item.
(When I’m decluttering I donate some and sell others.)

My tips for selling on buy, swap and sell sites (Gumtree, Facebook etc.) are…

  •  Take clear photos.
  • Be as descriptive as you can. Include sizing, measurements & state any flaws.
  • Price your item fairly. If I’m hoping for a certain amount (say, $20) for an item I will add on an extra $3-$5 so then I have negotiating room.
  • With pricing I normally do a quick google search of similar products to see what the average price is. That way I know I am pricing my item fairly.
  • Advertise the item in multiple local groups – even try surrounding towns groups.
  • Check your accounts regularly so you can reply to comments/messages in a timely manner.
  • When arranging inspections/pick ups, be wise and safe. I don’t normally give out my address until I know for sure the person is a serious buyer & I usually only have people come when Trent is home or I let someone (my sister, Trent etc) know that a person is coming to purchase an item. I also don’t let people in my home, I meet them on the drive way with the item or even better is to meet in a public place.
  • Don’t expect an instant sale. I just had a pair of boots for sale for 2 months & then just this weekend they sold. Sometimes it takes a little bit of patience.
  • Expect & accept that some people want everything for nothing, especially on buy, swap, sell sites. Honestly some offers are insulting – take it for what it is and just politely decline.
  • I would suggest not holding items for more than a day, because people are notorious for messing you around. I usually do first in best dressed. There is nothing worse than holding an item and then the person ends up being a no show.
  • Keep your post visible. Leave comments like “make an offer – must sell” regularly under your post, maybe once a day around a time many people might be online.
  • Don’t try selling something you are emotionally attached to, be prepared to let it go. If you still love the item you may not negotiate sensibly with it & this result in it not selling.

What are your best tips for selling your unwanted goods? I would love to know, comment below or on my social media.
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I’ve just created another Instagram account @MWL31preloved where I will be listing some of our preloved items, mainly LuLu’s clothes this week (hopefully, once I get a chance to dig through my baby boxes and photograph all the items. LuLu has so many beautiful baby clothes and the chance of me ever having another baby is incredibly slim thanks to the fact I just don’t do pregnancy well, so I thought I should start thinning out my baby clothes collection!) If you are interested please head on over and follow or share with a friend that maybe interested!

I’m off to deposit my money in the bank, have a great day!
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PS: Bonus tip – keep hand sanitiser on hand to clean your hands after handling money. Money is gross and flu/gastro season is in full force!! Keep your hands clean!

2017 · cleaning · diy · domestic engineering · housewife · housework · how to · recipe

Homemade Laundry Powder recipe. {Video}

JustBindy6 Comments

Hi friends,
One of my most highly requested blog posts & videos is to do a “how I make my washing powder”…
So here it is…washing powder1.jpgThe video can be found HERE. 

The recipe I use is by Sister Mixin and you can find it HERE. (I change the recipe slightly by adding in 1 bar of sard soap…)

The reason I make my own laundry powder is simply because –
A) I can. I have the time & desire to do so, you may not & that is fine.
B) I feel it saves us money. 
C) I also believe it is more gentle & more effective product than standard washing powders.
Laundry powder is so expensive & often full of extra fillers & chemicals, so by making my own I know what is in it and it is very cheap. All these ingredients are easily available at Coles or Woolworths & are very affordable, I always have them in my cupboard, as I use them for other uses as well.
I make mine in my Thermomix – you don’t need one to make this recipe, but I feel it would be easiest… If you don’t have a Thermomix, I would suggest you either grate the soap bars or blitz them in a food processor and then combine all the ingredients in a large clear container (a clear container so you can check that all the products are thoroughly mixed together)

I have been making this recipe for over 2 years now and I find it removes stains very well & all of our clothing is clean & soft. I do use white vinegar as a fabric softener occasionally (always with towels) & if I am washing our bedding I often add in some lavender essential oil (or even eucalyptus if we aren’t feeling well)

As mentioned in the video, I do occasionally buy washing powder. I bought one box of OMO sensitive to wash Tommy’s clothes before he was born, but I  have been washing his clothing with this powder for months and he has never had a reaction to it – none of us have. The other product I occasionally buy is Bosisto’s Laundry Powder – I only buy it maybe once a year, if it is on sale… And it is the product I like to have as my “back up” in case I run out of this mixture or I use it if we are all very sick.

I like making my own cleaning products, I currently make my own basic disinfectant spray, occasionally dish washer powder & stone bench cleaner. I have trialled making a few glass cleaners, but I’m struggling to find one I love – so for now I use the Method glass cleaner & also their timber cleaner/polish, I find both of those products to be really good. But if you have a great recipe for either of those I would love to try it out!
Please let me know in the comments below or on my social media any cleaner recipe recommendations you may have, or if you make your own laundry powder – do you use a similar recipe to this? I would love to have a read of yours!
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Have a great weekend!
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domestic engineering · giveaway · housework

Domestic Engineering #3 Spring Cleaning. {FREE Printable & AirWick Give Away!}

JustBindy4 Comments
This post in sponsored by Air Wick. I only choose to work with brands I know and I am familiar with and personally use. Air Wick is a well known and reputable company, I regularly use their products, when they approached me to do a sponsored post with a giveaway for my readers I was on board. I like doing posts that highlight good products that I use and also give back to my readers! All opinions in this post are my own.

Hello!
Hasn’t the weather been absolutely lovely lately! So much sunshine and warm weather, it is like spring is getting an early start this year! And I am not complaining at all! I love Spring! 
As soon as the weather starts to warm up, I get so motivated! I want to get stuff done and I want it done NOW! 
The term “spring cleaning” really makes sense to me. I normally am on top of my housework but as soon as the weather warms up suddenly I have a desire to deep clean every square inch of my house! I make lists and I get so much satisfaction ticking each item off! I am currently decluttering our house and trying to own less pointless things. I want our house to only be full of things we need or love. 
I love nothing more than my house being freshly clean and then I go through my house and light new scented candles & put out new reed diffusers to match the season. 
The sign of my house being freshly cleaned is sparkly floors and a candle burning!

Ahh.. A clean kitchen bench and a new candle, BLISS!

Lately I am loving the Air Wick Life Scents candles & the reed diffusers from the Home Signature Collection. These scents are so lovely and fresh for spring. These Air Wick candles are unique because the scent is constantly changing! 

I think the scents we have in our homes really can affect our mood and I love to change my candles depending on the season. In Autumn and Winter I love cinnamon & clove and warm scents. In Spring I love fresh & floral scents and Summertime calls for crisp & very clean scents like linen and rain. Air Wick has so many options, that everybody can find the perfect home fragrance. I actually am dying to try the new Air Wick Life Scent candle in Turquoise Oasis – it seems like a perfect summer home fragrance! 
I’ve teamed up with Air Wick to bring you all a give away to celebrate the start of Spring being almost here!

 Actually there is 2 giveaways in this post. The first is a prize pack that you can win from Air Wick – check out the entry form below and the 2nd is a printable I made for you!
So technically everyone wins! (I feel like Oprah right now, you get a printable, you get a printable and you! Ok, printable isn’t nearly as fun as car, but hey… it’s a start!)
The printable is my “Spring Cleaning Check List”. 

I’ve included every room and detailed how I would deep clean the entire house – inside and out! I even have a pets section & extra jobs, I’ve also listed a few tips & tricks! 
I know this may not be a super fun printable for some people, but I find lists incredibly motivating to help me get things done. I’ve tried to be very detailed and precise about what to clean in order to deep clean your home. 
I often find before I start cleaning I am always sitting around wasting time trying to write out a big list to get me going & then rewriting it because the list wasn’t neat enough (perfectionist much!?), so I thought I would type up a list of everything I would strive to clean in order to “spring clean” my home and I’ve included little boxes so you can feel the satisfaction of checking off each item as you complete it (I love that feeling!) 
Now some of the items listed are so basic, like “wake up & get dressed” – but seriously – wake up early, get dressed & be motivated. If you spend an hour lounging in bed you waste valuable time and start your day off slow, that is fine some days but not for the day when you want to be very productive. Decide the night before that the following day you will start spring cleaning, set your alarm, get up early and look forward to a busy & productive day! At the end of the day you will be exhausted, but you will feel so good when you look at all the items on your list ticked off. 
Before I tackle spring cleaning, I like to plan it out, I like to check the weather forecast and find a nice warm & sunny day – the best sort of day for airing quilts, pillows, blankets & doing lots of washing. These days are also great for giving pets their baths and washing their bedding. It is basic common sense but things will dry faster & easier on a lovely hot day!
This is also a perfect time to worm your family, if you do that (I know not everyone does). Worm everyone including furry members the night before at dinner and then in the morning have everyone change their clothes and place them in the washing machine immediately and make sure you wash all bedding. 
Back in a time before I was a Mumma I would easily knock most of this entire list over in 2 days by myself, easy. But now well, I will schedule about 1 week for myself to get this list done, plus a few days with Trent to work outside! My little shadow loves to help out and that normally doubles or triples the time it takes to normally get a task done!
I encourage you to print off this list and hang it on your fridge. There is no time frame, do it as you can. Do 1 room each day or every weekend, but do it! I always feel so good about myself and my home when I know it is very well cleaned. Doing 1 big deep clean per year or every 6 months is so good, it helps you declutter & keep a fresh and organised home.
The list is 100% free to use, you just click HERE and print it off! Think of it as a gift, a gift to celebrate spring and September almost being here – we celebrate September because it’s my birthday month – but mainly it’s just a little thing to say thank you to my readers. I will be starting this list in September, so feel free to tag me in your posts on social media if you use it, I would love to see your progress and give you encouragement and praise as we tackle it together! If you need more motivation to do this list, set yourself a reward for completing it and go out and treat yourself once you are finished the list! 
Now to enter the Air Wick give away, it is simple. Fill out the form below and you are in the draw to win! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.jsFeel free to share the competition on any social media and share this post with anyone you may think would love the printable.

Rules to enter give away & a few terms and conditions;

  1. You must be an Australian or New Zealand resident. 
  2. You must be a follower of this blog, either subscribe via Google, bloglovin or by email!
  3. You can gain bonus entries by following ModernWifeLife31 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
  4. 1 bonus entry is counted if you LIKE Air Wick Australia on Facebook! 
  5.  Another way to earn a bonus entry is to leave a comment below with your best spring cleaning tip!   
  6.  Competition begins on Tuesday 18th August 2015 and ends Wednesday 26th August 2015.
  7.  Winner will be announced on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter on the 26/08/2015.
  8. The winner has 48 hours to contact me with their postal address. If there is no contact within that time frame I will redraw another winner.
  9. The prize will be sent to the winner by a representative for Air Wick.
  10. I have no control over the postage of the item, but I have full faith that your prize will arrive in a timely manner once I pass your postal details on to the company.
  11. Prize is final and cannot be changed or exchanged for money.

Please feel free to check out Air Wick on Facebook HERE and YouTube HERE.  
I hope you all have a wonderful week and good luck!
Please leave me any feedback on the printable either in the comments or on my social media, I would love to know your thoughts and if you would like more printables. If by chance your printable doesn’t work please let me know and I can email you a copy!
Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Pinterest.

cleaning · domestic engineering · housewife · housework

Domestic Engineering; #1 Your questions answered!

JustBindyLeave a comment

Hello!
If you follow me on my ‘Modernwifelife31’ instagram (if you aren’t – um why aren’t you?) you will see I upload regularly about cleaning, keeping my house presentable & cooking. It’s kind of “my thing” – not everyone likes doing that stuff, but I do.
I really like it & I enjoy encouraging other women to be house proud & wanting to be “domestic” in a world where sometimes being “domestic” isn’t so widely accepted, in fact I have found that it is more commonly looked down upon – which I find ridiculous. 
When I post those images I often then get comments but more regularly messages from other women, friends, Mums or even just random people I don’t know that well asking me for cleaning advice – wether it be just how to clean something or how I stay so committed to a cleaning routine. 
I answer every message individually but I figure I should also write this in a blog post so that way it is just out there…
Basically, you asked so I answered… 
The biggest question I get asked is; “how do I do it all”…
Trust me I don’t – ever. And I am sorry if I paint that picture. I just really don’t  focus on posting not positive stuff online. Our life is just as chaotic, wonderful & not perfect as everyone else’s, but I tend to only focus on the joy. Everyone’s life is a mix of good & bad, anyone implying otherwise is pretty much lying. 
I have weeks that I fall behind, jobs pile up & I get really annoyed at myself for not getting things done. But I commit to a day or 2 of solid “getting shit done” and well, I get shit done. And then I vow not to let it pile up again – but it will. Because life happens, we get busy, we get sick & we get distracted. If things don’t get done, well it isn’t the end of the world really – it’s life & sometimes other things are more important than housework.

The next most commonly asked question is; “What is my cleaning routine”…
I don’t have one. I truly don’t. I have jobs I do every single day & I try to commit to 1/2 an hour at the very least a day to cleaning but schedules don’t work for me. I try to do them, but they just don’t fit into how I clean. Each week is different, I prefer to just see how the day unfolds and get as much done as I can.
Every single day I do at least 1 load of laundry, make the beds, I unpack dishwasher in the morning & pack it at night, I vacuum at least once a day as well as a quick vacuum around where LuLu eats her meals & snacks after each time she eats, I pick up around the house, take the rubbish out & wipe down the benches. 
They are my basic daily jobs – I aim to do them every single day – they are really standard. And please don’t think I drag my huge Dyson out to vacuum all those times, I have a handheld/cordless/stick Dyson thing that I use for those times. I use it more often than my bigger one, because it’s so convenient – I love it. 
During the week I aim to wash our bedding once, clean the bathrooms a few times, do a vacuum with the corded Dyson & steam mop at least once & clean/dust all the surfaces. I also try to mow the lawn once a fortnight or so, depending on the grass growing rate! All these tasks may not all always get done, but more often than not it all goes to plan.

“How do I find time to clean with a baby/toddler”;
I have been getting this one for awhile. When LuLu was new, I couldn’t juggle everything, so on Trent’s days off I would spend 1 or 2 days cleaning like a mad woman. Now she’s older, she is happy to either play on her own or just follow me around. She’s learnt to stay off the freshly mopped floors until they are dry & sometimes she likes to help me do jobs. It may mean the job takes double the time, but I love that she wants to help. It’s very sweet. So if you are a Mumma with a new baby, don’t even stress about cleaning – when you find the time & energy & desire to do it – do it. But don’t make it the number one priority – babies are only so little for such a short amount of time. Sometimes when she was little, I would strap her in the “bug carrier” (Maduca baby carrier) and clean with her.
I have always found that if I get my jobs done straight away in the morning it is a lot easier. LuLu is more happy to entertain herself with her toys or colouring while I clean, I aim to get everything finished 2 hours or so before lunch so we can play before lunch, eat & then I get her ready for a nap and then I can either clean with chemicals if I need to (I don’t do that with her around) or I give myself a bit of a break. And then we can do a craft or play in the afternoon. 

“What cleaning products do I use”;
It depends, it truly does.
Most of the time what I use I make myself.
I do have some store bought cleaners, but I am trying to use them up so I can use everything homemade. 
I like knowing what I am using and how it was made. 
I do like buying a shower cleaner, but I rarely buy the same one. It’s normally whatever “eco” one is on special at the grocery store. We have a grey water system – which is kind of annoying. I like every now and then to give my sinks, drains & toilets a good clean with bleach. I can’t really do that because apparently bleach or any harsh chemical is bad for the system – silly sensitive thing! I also buy an “eco” toilet cleaner.
I have been asked for recipes on my cleaners, I am trying to work that out – I kind of eyeball measurements so next time I make a batch up I’ll try & start writing down how much I use. But vinegar, bi-carb soda & oils are brilliant to clean with! 
Also if I have something to clean that I need to use chemicals with I aim to do that while LuLu is napping, the main reason behind me using more natural & homemade cleaners is that they are a lot safer to use around her.

“How do I find the desire or motivation to clean”;
Easy, I see it as my job. It has been a very clear set up between Trent & I since we’ve been engaged. It is a lifestyle many don’t agree with or wish for themselves. But it works wonderfully for us. He takes cares of us outside of the home & I take care of us inside the home. Sure he helps me if I need it around the house and I also “work” on my blog/YouTube. 
I love the feeling of having an organised & clean home. I get annoyed & mad at myself if I let it get out of order. So I always strive to stay on top of things. 
Basically I clean my house for LuLu so she has a clean space to play & live in, for Trent because it is my role & he goes to work everyday so I should work too & he works damn hard so deserves a well kept home & also for myself because I am so much happier & relaxed when my house looks beautiful. 

Seriously, freshly made bed, clear bench & clean floors – these are few of my favourite things… lol 

So they are some of the top questions that I regularly get messaged about & my answers. 
If you liked this post please let me know, as I can do more posts on this topic. Please let me know what you would like to read…
I was thinking of some posts like… how to set up a cleaning routine, how I clean certain areas of my home & keep them clean, cleaning tips, how to make your own cleaning products/my favourite products, a day in my life, how to stay focused on maintaining a presentable home, etc… Oh and the way I organise my grocery list was also interesting to a few ladies, so I was thinking of discussing that as well – if you are interested. 
Let me know what you want to read!
Facebook me, comment below, Tweet me or follow me on Instagram! 
Also if you have anymore questions on anything, let me know & I can do another Q&A post, questions can be on anything! 
🙂 
Thank you for being patient in between posts, like I said life gets hectic some weeks and April has been a busy month for us!! Being a wife & a Mumma comes first & I thank you all for being understanding about that!
I will do an April wrap up in a few days!