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I don’t know about you but my life is sooooo busy that sometimes my housekeeping gets behind.
I have a quick fix that I have used for years to make my rooms sparkle.
I found out about it when I used to clean condos on the weekends when I was younger.
Should I make my life sound more glamorous?
Nahhhhh……
So, this morning….I used that secret and thought, what the heck….I should share it.
I like to be germ and cootie free….as much as is possible in my house.
But there are times that i don’t have time for a deep clean.
And never fail….when I do skip the deep clean……my family or whomever comes by, makes a comment about how clean and “sparkly” the house is.
It always makes me laugh……
Inside.
Outside, I just act like it is super clean and I always keep it that way.
Then I laugh.
Inside again.
Because….honestly?
I know that I just gave everything a wipe down.
BUT it’s what I’m using to wipe them down with that makes the difference.
I literally had about 20 minutes before I left for work today.
So, I grabbed the old familiar and did my quickie “shine”.
Want to know my secret ingredient?
Are you ready ?
Seriously.
I used this upstairs and a Walmart generic brand downstairs.
No difference between brands but the multi-surface of each is my favorite.
If I have time to do my deep clean….well, I even use “Windex” after to give everything a “sparkle”.
Use it on your stainless steel sinks, faucets etc.
Even your tub after cleaning…..
It’s freaking you out, isn’t it?
But it’s the truth.
Want everything to sparkle?
Well….I grabbed these photos after my quickie clean…..and if I do say so myself….it *sparkles*.
It’s a house keepers secret.
For real.
And before you get all cranky about using this on my floors.
My floors are seventeen years old.
I am a hardwood floor-ologist. I am picky about cleaning my floors. I have used EVERYthing….from special cleaners down to vinegar and hot water. I can’t stand film, streaks or water spots.
So, I don’t say to spray this thinking it is a hardwood cleaner. Use at your own risk but know that my floors have survived for over 17 years and look pretty, dang good.
And before you judge me on how we must take extra special care of our house to look this “sparkly”.
Our house has been and is, HEAVILY lived in.
Tons of pool parties…sleepovers….boyfriends, neighbors, cousins…..you get it.
Shoes on the floor.
Walkers.
Snake boots.
Flat irons.
Hot pots.
You name it.
We’ve lived it and live it.
So….convinced?
Or just scared to eat off my counters now?
I would love to know.
Do you need quickie ways to make your house *sparkle*?
Talk to me people.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
Love,
Me
PS. This is NOT an ad! Walmart and Windex are not impressed with my house keeping skills. I just thought I would share it with ya’. XOXO!
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Your house is BEAUTIFUL!!! I have used regular windex on everything for years and years. It works great if you get a stain on your carpet too, no kidding. It’s one of the greatest products EVER!!! Oh and by the way, I have been a horrible follower and not been here since the blog revamp. It’s awesome girl…love it!!!
I have been a horrible follower as well! You know what a friend (Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage) said. When we are working hard on our blogs we are awful at following other blogs. So, it’s a good thing and a bad thing. It always fun to catch up! I have yours come to my inbox which helps but do not take the time to comment! Thank you so much for taking the time and sharing that we are kindred “Windex sisters”. Now you can post about your secret stain remover! ; ) Then post it on my Monday party next week! We will take the world by Windex storm! LOL! Love, Me
**mouth hanging open here**
Now that I am working I feel overwhelmed, and I find myself doing a lot after dinner , but I am never pleased with the results. But this tip is sweet!!! Luv the ‘sparkle’ on your surfaces. Sooo using this!
I luv a clean house
Thanks for sharing. Watch out surfaces… good buy multiple cleaning supplies!
Cheers, Gee
So gonna try this! Thanks for the tip. My tip would be wipe down with baby wipes before company. Use it to wipe toilets, floor and sink. But does not do the sparkle! Super excited to try!
I love the baby wipe tip! I use that with Lysol wipes when I want to rid of germs quickly. Now you can add shine and wipe down at the same time! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! Love, Me
I use the same stuff Rebecca!!! And I totally agree that it makes everything super sparkly. I feel so “in the know” now. LOL! Your floors are gorgeous too by the way.
We will stick together with our “traditional” style and Windex secrets! ; ) Thanks about the floors. We actually used the “stuff” they use on gym floors when we built the house. Has definitely kept them pretty hardy! Thanks for stopping by! Love, Me
Love the idea. I love sparkle and bling bling……Thanks for sharing.
Hey Toby! I love comments but I ESPECIALLY love comments from old friends! What a fun way to re-connect! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Me
Does it Make the floors slick?As a young bride I used Pledge to shine the bedroom floor.I still get a chuckle remembering how my husband looked flat out in the doorway after he came home from work.Married 48 years.
That is a great question and nope. I actually did the Pledgeon MY STAIRS!!! Big mistake!!! Thank you so much for asking that. I just use for quickie shine, not to clean btw…….So glad you are here! Make sure to subscribe so you can stick around! Love, Me
My Big Fat Greek Wedding! Windex cures everything! Beautiful shine on those floors and countertops!
My name is Rebecca and I have never watched the Big Fat Greek Wedding. The end.
I buy windex in the largest refill size I can. I use it on almost everthing.
Yay! A woman after my own heart! Love, Me
Oooh…I am gonna get me some of that! I wish it would do the dishes too!!!
That would be a post in itself! ; )
Actually, people do use Windex on dishes
I go to a lot of antique fairs, and the venders that sell the old glassware and dishes swear by Windex to keep their wares looking sparkly and pretty for the buyers!
That is a great way to keep them sparkly. I can’t imagine if I were eating off of them. ; ) XOXO!
So how exactly do you apply/wipe up the Windex on the floors? I absolutely hate the streaks I’m getting from most wood cleaners, so I’d love some specifics so mine can shine again!
Thanks for the post!!
Jeannine, I just saw this comment was from you. Sorry it is taking me so long to get to all the comments. Tell me about your floors first. I have lived hardwood nightmares! Let me see if I can help. Do you know what yours are coated with?
My floors are engineered hardwood, but I’m not exactly certain what their top coat is. I’m not concerned so much with that they truly “shine”, but more that they not be streaky!
Literally stopping what I am doing to go try this right this second…
Do you hardwoods have a shine to them? I’m just curious. Love, Me
Verdict in…
I used 409 multi-surface cleaner. Definitely cleaner, but not the sparkle like you have in your pictures. I’ll have to get the windex brand and see if it makes a difference. Tried it on my wood floors (100 year old house and probably not sealed like they should be) and linoleum floor (clean but not shiny).
Thanks for the inspiration! Will get some of the other product and try it out. : )
I think my poly makes mine shiny. My windex (or generic) just makes them sparkle. Good luck and let me know how it works! Love, Me
Love this post. So informative. I love to “quickly” make things sparkle. I have something that I do every time I do dishes that most people don’t do but it keeps my faucet looking like new. I wash it and then dry it with a paper towel after I finish the dishes. It sparkles and there is never a water spot. I didn’t realize that someone had picked up on me doing this until one day my brother-in-law was doing my dishes after a special dinner we had at the house. I saw him dry the faucet off (something they don’t do at their house). When I asked about it, he said I know how you like your faucet to shine and I didn’t want to leave the job unfinished. I just chuckled.
#1 you have a thoughtful bro-in-law. #2 you sound like a woman after my own heart! I love a sparkle! I am funny about that with chrome or stainless faucets. I always wipe with a dry towel too! We might be dangerous together! Love, Me
Well now I must go out and get some!~ How pretty and so sparkly clean yes:)
And quick! : ) Love you stopping by to comment! Love, Me
Just curious what you use when you deep clean your wood floors ~ thanks.
Hey Karen! I use Bruce’s hardwood floor cleaners for Polyeurathane coated floors. Mine were covered with what is used on gym floors. My sister and I both used it because of it’s durability. She used it first and then we did. You have to use gas mask etc. Strong stuff but it holds up. Poly coated floors are tough to clean. Lots of stuff leaves a film or just a dull look, even though they are durable. After much searching I found a group of people with same issues and Bruce’s was a favorite. I have used and never looked back. LOVE it! I hope that helps! Love, Me
I just moved into a house with 17 year old hardwood floors…so I bought me a bottle of Windex multi surface and I will give it a try!!! Thanks!!
Hey girl! Just make sure they have a seal on them! Mine do and I don’t want to make you think Windex gives them a polish or layer of gloss. It just shines up my layer! Are you going to think I am stupid for making that clear? ; ) I just wanted to make sure! I hope it does add some sparkle! Love, Me
I do mini quicky-cleans. I wipe down the counters while brushing my teeth, keep a broom by the back door and sweep the entry area a few times a day between vacuuming, I take something up when I go up, and down when the stairs to keep clutter in it’s place. Stuff like that. I love those little Clorox wipes. I use those for fast clean ups too. That way nothing gets really dirty in between “clean cleaning”.
Ok..what about the wooden cabinets? On those, too?
As a residental cleaner myself, was wondering if you used it on the kitchen cabinets? They look nice and sparkley also! I will look for the multi-purpose. Haven’t noticed that in stores..Thanks for sharing.
I have done the windex thing for quite awhile, I learned it from my mom. She used it for everything! She even had to convince a friend of hers to use it vs an upholstery or carpet cleaner for spot cleaning, after the demo her friend was convinced! Love having just one product that does so much!!!!
love this idea, going to try it tomarrow
great idea, going to try this tomarrow. i had a aunt, that had a very clean home every time you went there. when i got older i asked her how she kept her house so clean all the time and she said that she always walked around the house with a rag in her hand wipeing things when she saw something that needed to be wiped. i bet she used windex on that cloth!
Not only does the Windex work but if you really want some SUPER SHINY faucets….used green alcohol on them. For some reason the green is the only one that works but its awesome!
I will have to try that Missy! Thank you for letting me know! I wonder what it is in the green alcohol?! Thank you! Love, Me
Love this idea. Can’t wait to try. Love my house Clean. I keep Clorax wipes in bathrooms when I need a quick clean on the toliet. Also Keep baby wipes in kitchen to spot clean floor..
Just stopping by to invite you to My Wednesday Linky party. http://diycraftyprojects.com/2012/10/whatcha-work-up-wednesday-linky-party-6.html
Wow what a wonderful post about cleaning and Windex! I usually use 409 on everything. My jaw is still open just looking at your bath tub with wooden step up. LOVE IT!
Really?? You use Windex on hardwood floors?? I love the sparkle you’re showing here–I haven’t used Windex in a long time, but I’m going to get some! Thanks for the tip!
I don’t have hardwood or ceramic tile counters, but I do have manufactured marble in the bathrooms and granite in the kitchen & will definitely be trying this. I usually use a window cleaner called Sprayway, which is a foam cleaner that I get from Costco. It’s an excellent window cleaner, & I use it on my stainless appliances. I’ll be trying this on my counters.
you have made me excited to clean! i love it when my house SHINES! thanks for sharing your tip
(visiting from imparting grace)
That Windex product will be in my cart next time I’m at Walmart. Thanks!
The builder of our home recommended a ratio of 1:3 ammonia free Windex and water with Windex being the small number. I have done this for years and my wood floors look brand new!
You’ve convinced me to try it! Beautiful results. Hoping it works on my shower.
Visiting from At the Picket Fence.
Hi Rebecca, I live in Australia and we have Windex here too. I also swear by it for use on everything!!! Nothing else can make your home sparkle like this stuff. AND it’s super cheap! People think I’m crazy when I say I even use it on my nice wooden furniture, but it does the best job! I usually just do spot cleans on my hardwood floors. I was wondering how you clean your floors? Spray and mop? Your home looks amazing BTW.
x Julie @ Restyle Relove
So all you use is windex multisurface to make ceramic and wood shine?!
That is truly all I use. : )
Do you know if it is safe to use on ceramic tile??
I use it on my tile and have used for 15 years. Totally safe! XOXO!
Do you know if it would be safe to use on Granite Countertops?
I googled and it said it is safe on “sealed” granite. Good luck! XOXO!
Hi what if you are allgeric to windex? Is there something else you can use? And your house look great. Thx amelia
What is it that you are allergic to, that is in Windex? Narrow that down and then maybe find a good all natural window cleaner. Let me know. I will google away and try to help. : ) XOXO!