geraldinemcampbell

Borax is making a comeback as a "natural" cleaner, but there's one thing you should know before you add it to your arsenal.

There are two key differences.

This quick cleaning task will instantly inspire more relaxation, promise.

Prepare to be amazed by how much more effective your spring cleaning will be after completing this one overlooked task.

Why didn't I think of this earlier!?

Do you do this too?

Do you do this, too?

Do you have one in your arsenal?

It's time for an upgrade.

Whenever I pick up a new bottle, I started doing this one tiny, brilliant thing that has helped me banish unwanted smells from my refrigerator.

From gardening to ice packs to thank-you notes.

Most of my housekeeping habits come from my German mother. She is the queen of clean and the reason my home is mostly spick-and-span. (Although it will never be as tidy as hers, ever.) Still, I have to give credit where credit is due: My favorite trick for ridding rugs of dirt, dog hair, and whatever else ends up embedded in my treasured carpets comes from my dad (who is Irish and English, if that matters). To say that my dad has a penchant for nice rugs is an understatement.

Here’s the thing about knife blocks: We don’t really recommend them. They can dull the blades of your knives as you drag them in and out of their holders, they’re often sold as an expensive set with knives that you really don’t need, and they can harbor some serious mold (and maybe even bacteria) in those dark, hard-to-reach slots.

I grew up in a pristine home. I don’t mean to say that it was fancy — it wasn’t — but it was spotless from the fan blades down to the baseboards. This was no easy feat, considering our house was a century old and so had the unique ability to create dust after you had just wiped down that surface (whatever that surface happened to be).

Let me begin with a caveat: I do not always do the dishes straight away. I do try to, because I think it’s always easier to just deal with the mess instead of letting it pile up. Why not put that coffee mug in the dishwasher or give that chef’s knife a quick rinse and dry and put it safely back on my magnetic strip? The alternative is that I don’t do those things and I just leave it all out on the counter.