Summer Cleaning Made Easier

We all know that summer is about having fun. That means that although my house needs some cleaning I like to keep it as simple and light as possible so I can spend more time enjoying my family. Today I want to share a few items that are worth investing in to help make your summer cleaning easier.


One of the first things I would invest in is a good mattress protector like the UltraGaurd. This Waterproof Mattress Protector has helped both my beds and my children stay cleaner. This may seem silly but my kids are always coming home with sand, dirt, grass, and who knows what else on them and it is much easier to wash a mattress protector then it is to clean a mattress (or six like we have at my house). A mattress protector is also a must have for the potty training years and is a great suggestion for pregnant mamas (take that advice from someone who's water broke in the middle of the night).

Another item that is a ton of fun to try to keep clean during the summer are towels. It seems like they are always the things that catch the most stink in the laundry and there is just nothing worse then going to dry off after a shower or wash dishes with a smelly towel. ICK! Thankfully I know have some Smelly Towel Cleaner that seems to be helping. It's easy to use - just add a capful to each load of laundry - and it does the maintenance to help your washing machine and your laundry stay clean and fresh all year long.

Another item at my house that seems to always be dirty is the carpet. We're currently in the process of replacing our dining room carpet (bad idea if you're thinking of putting carpet there) with hardwood which is going to be amazing but more on that later. Almost all of the remainder of our house has carpet flooring which means I have gotten really good at getting stains up. One thing I've learned is that there isn't much you can do without a good Carpet Cleaner. With a good cleaner you'll be able to tackle everything from pets to grease that may get on your carpet or upholstery this summer.

The final thing I want to suggest today for your summer cleaning needs is the Bamboo Air. These amazing products come in different sizes and naturally clean your air without any help from you. My favorite thing is that they absorb odors - that's right, absorb not cover up - and that means that my house is smelling summer fresh more often. Even things like burnt popcorn quickly become things of the past thanks to this handy tool. Trust me, you'll love it as much as I do! Happy cleaning!

What You Need to be Out and About with Your New Baby

One of the most important things to consider when taking your new baby out and about is their health. That is why I am planning on keeping Bert & Bratt's UV Sterilizer in my diaper bag to help keep my baby's pacifiers, bottle nipples, and small toys clean while I am out and about.

The Bert & Bratt Sterilizer is not only super adorable but it is also the perfect size for any mom on the go. It's fast, it's easy, and it's the size of a baseball so you can take it with you anywhere!

Another must have in my diaper bag is a nursing cover. I know this may come as a shock but the time I use it most is actually not when I'm nursing, but rather when I'm pumping. That is why I love the Booby Trapper! This unique nursing canopy has a duel-suspension design that allows you to see what is going on underneath without any hands. This is ideal for me because although I do use a double breast pump getting it started while sitting in the car is a two hand job and a good cover is required to make it happen without an "interesting" display.

Now that you know what two of my must have items are for the diaper bag what is on your list? Do you have an amazing product that helps you survive while you're on the go? If so, let me know. We want hear from you! Just leave a comment below.

Spring Cleaning With Children Task #1 - The Toy Room

It's spring cleaning time (and nesting time) at the Kerr house. The bad news, E is working or at school all the time so that means this year the household jobs are all left for me and four toddlers. The result, I've had to do some brainstorming on how to get the kids to help me, safely, get things done because at our house letting the TV babysit is not a oft used option.

So how are the kids helping? There are lots of ways so today I want to share our first, and most frequent spring cleaning job.

The first job I'm tackling this year is the toy room. Now see, normally I would leave the toy room for last (heaven knows we'll find more toys in every other room of the house) but in our current house the toy room lies in a place where I have to walk through it to get to my office so that means that this is one room that takes priority. Here are our before and after photos along with the top five Kerrific tips on helping your toddlers clean, organize, and maintain their toy room.

Before 

After 

Five Tips To Maintaining A Clean Toy Room

1. Avoid Traditional Toy Boxes - Yes, these can be perfect for some things, we have one we keep doll clothes in in F's room, but they tend to be a gathering spot. The biggest tip for keeping things clean is to organize and that is very hard to do in these catch alls.

2. Label - I created my own labels simply by finding a photo of the set of toys and then lamenting and sticking them on the buckets with an outdoor strength double sided decorating tape. This has worked awesome! Not only do the kids know exactly where things go but I also know where I should find a toy when someone makes a request. I have also found that this is a great tool during clean up time because it is easy to hand each child a bucket and tell them to find everything that goes in the bucket and put it away. Sometimes the fasted cleaner, or person who fills the most buckets, gets a special treat too.

3. Don't be afraid to put things up high - If there are toys that tend to cause a fight, or are just too little to be played with without supervision (craft items are #1 at my house) then put them up high, with a lid, and teach your children to ask when they want to play with them. Not only does this help with the mess but it also gives you something that is "special" for when your kids need something that is out of the normal. More on this when I show you the cleaning of the kids' room.

4. Plan ahead - if there is a toy that your child really likes make sure you reserve room to grow when you choose which side bucket it goes in. Our car bucket, for example, was huge when we first got it 2 years ago but now it's three quarters full. So glad I got the big one to start with.

5. Make them do it again - cleaning a toy room can be hard work, just ask my kids. Just because it's hard doesn't mean it shouldn't be done right. If you want to keep a clean toy room that you don't have to do yourself then don't be afraid to be a mean mom. No, I'm not doing anything drastic but I do require my kids pick up the toy room once a day, generally right before bed, and if they don't do it right (aka put things in the correct buckets) I dump the buckets out and make them start over. It didn't take them long to figure out it was easier to do it correctly the first time. I'm not saying it's perfect but 90% off the time even my two year old can get things where they go and I know it is easier to teach him now than it will be in a few years.

What is your best toy room tip? Give me a shout out and let me know!

Tips for Keeping a Home Cool

When summer comes and that heat rolls in, it can be hard to keep your home at a comfortable, cool temperature. There are actually some things you can do besides getting air conditioning installation in Round Rock to keep your home at a reasonable temperature. As long as you play it smart, you can keep your energy bill low and still enjoy a comfortable home at all times. 

Keeping Your Home Cool

One of the biggest reasons that your home will heat up in the summer is the sunlight coming through the windows. The heat and light will come inside and cannot go back out through the window, so they will become trapped inside your house and heat it up. This is called the greenhouse effect. You can avoid this happening by getting tinted windows or covering them with a dark curtain. This will keep the unwanted sunlight and heat out of the home. Another thing to do is keep your house shaded. If you plan on living somewhere for a long time, you may consider planting large trees around your home. They will protect it and keep it insulated from the heat of the summer. Trees provide shade and a beautiful sight to look at, so you can’t go wrong there.

You may also want to set up fans in your home. They do not take the electricity that an air conditioning unit requires, but will still give fairly good results. As fans blow around the air inside your home, it will seem many degrees cooler in there. This can especially help if you are sitting right in front of the fan. Avoid opening doors or windows too often. As the door opens, the hot and humid air from the outside gushes inside your home, and any cooling you have done can go back up a couple of degrees. If people must leave the house, try to keep it quick and coordinate it so the door is not open too long. 

Air Conditioning

Even with these tips, you will still want to get air conditioning installation in Round Rock to keep your home at the right temperature. These tips will help lower your bill, but will not provide the cool air that your home really needs. Air conditioning can easily do this, if you get the right system for your home.

Sunday Project: Spring Cleaning

As I'm working on getting my family ready to move I am trying to get the spring cleaning done at the same time. I found some tips for cleaning up the clutter over at SCJohnson. Trisha tells you the 5 things to remember are 

1. delete
2. deliver
3. dollar makers
4. donate
5. dispose

I loved here article so as you get ready for your Spring Cleaning make sure you check out her great ideas HERE.