When it comes to maintaining a clean and organized home, the wisdom of generations past holds immeasurable value. Mothers around the world with their years of experience and practical knowledge have been passing down their go-to cleaning hacks and advice for centuries and continue to be relevant even in our modern age.
In May we celebrated Mother’s Day to honour Mothers, motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of Mothers in society. So, we wanted to share all the gems of advice and words of wisdom that have worked well for us. Let’s face it, Mums are usually right!
One of the most enduring lessons from our mother’s is the use of natural ingredients for cleaning. It is like we have come full circle and are once again realising the effectiveness of simple, eco friendly, cheaper alternatives. Lemon, vinegar, baking soda and essential oils have been dependable in the cleaning arsenal, from removing stains to deodorizing. These natural ingredients are safer and certainly offer a more sustainable approach to cleaning. Yes, they had it right all along!
We all love a cleaning hack and even better if it has been trialled, tested and not to mention passed down from generation to generation. Here are a few of our favourites.
- Use old undies for dusting, the soft material picks up dust particles.
- Socks are great for cleaning blinds, Pop them over your hand and wipe away.
- Eucalyptus oil/olive oil is perfect for removing adhesive labels.
- Leave the washing machine lid open to air and avoid mold.
- Store sheet sets together folded into the corresponding pillow case.
- Everything has a place and everything in its place.
- Never leave the sink full of dirty dishes overnight – you will regret it in the morning.
- Clean as you go!
- To dry a damp load of laundry quickly in the dryer, add a dry bath towel.
- To remove stains and smells from your cutting board – Run the cut side of a lemon over it.
- To pick up small fragments of glass, press a piece of bread onto the affected area.
- Remove pet hair with rubber gloves – Simply put on gloves, wet, shake off the excess then run over the furniture surface. Fur will accumulate into a ball and can be discarded easily.
- Steam clean your microwave by placing a small bowl of lemon juice on high for 2 minutes. This will produce a steam that will not only give off a citrus scent but soften any stuck debris
- Your dishwasher is a multipurpose tool! Ideal for plastic toys, sneakers and even your light fixtures
- Baby wipes, apart from cleaning baby bottoms, are an absolute staple in any home as they have gentle cleaning agents and dry quickly.
- Wait before you tackle a muddy floor, dry dirt is easier to clean up than mud!
- Iron clothes when they are damp, the moisture helps release the wrinkles.
All our Mothers have given many words of wisdom over the years (even if we did not always appreciate them at the time), however, they become clearer in later years.
- Invest in a good bra!
- Always wear clean underwear – You never know when you may be involved accident
- Always take your makeup off before bed.
- You cannot please everyone.
- Cook with love.
- Always sleep on a big decision
- Small habits and changes yield big results.
- Treat them mean, keep them keen
- Beauty comes from within
It is funny how those “Mumisms” you heard growing up have a way of creeping into your own adult life! How many of these have you caught yourself saying?
- “Unless there is blood or fire, I don’t want to know.”
- “There are children starving in the world.”
- “You kids are driving me up the wall!!”
- “Don’t make me get up and come over there”
- “Because I said so.”
- “What did your last slave die of?”
- “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
- “Did you flush?” Followed by, “Did you wash your hands?”
- ”Helllloooo, Am I talking to a brick wall?”
For those of us lucky enough to have had timeless reminders of wisdom and practicality passed down from women in our lives whether it is your Mum, Grannie or even your neighbour, May we share the knowledge and keep it going for generations to come.
Shona Sarquis
Lifestyle Blogger
Extra Hands with Extra Love
Lifestyle Concierge Services
www.extrahandswithextralove@gmail.com
0492 958 039