Cleaning my DIRTY STOVETOP with my SHAMPOO

My STOVETOP, gets used people, A LOT. I have yet to see someone use their stove, and have it still be clean. Ok, don't actually go showing me your freakishly clean stovetops (MOM), lol. 
I swear that woman can cook a 10 course dinner, and her stove, is still clean. She's not normal, I tell you, he he. 


Anyway, here is what I did to clean mine, WITHOUT any expensive,  or harmful chemicals. 


I will let you all in a little secret about our washing habits. We don't use shampoo. I have switched to using 


Dr. Bronners 18-in1 castile soap. I've included a link with a small sample size, I seriously URGE you to give it a try, YOU WILL LOVE IT!!


Yes, I use this for my facewash, bodywash, I shave with it, and I clean my bathrooms, and kitchen with it. It is AWESOME on grease, and clearly, cleans yucky stoves too. Oh, and no I'm not crazy, I'm just honest, when I say I love this stuff. Ask me anything, and I will tell you all about my experience with using it, including some things, that might scare you, at least initially!


Ok, lets get to this stovetop, shall we?

Oh, wait thats not a nasty dirty stove, no, that my dear is some roses my hubby, and son got for  me. I din't have a vase, so in the pickle bottle they went, lol. I love it!!! Oh, and a month later, these babies are still looking BEAUTIFUL, I will take a pic and show you guys tomorrow.

Ahhh, there's the shamefull thing, shameful, I tell you. 

Here's my original bottle, I have since tried the lavender, which is in there now, BUT, I got a large bottle, and just filled this one. There's my baking soda, in an empty yogurt container, gotta love that too, he he. 

I do have those tray thingies, that are supposed to prevent your stove from getting all yucky, but clearly gunk has a way of finding itself under there. Think, overflowing tea, milk, soup, yeah you get the picture.

My front two burners are clearly the worst, and need a good scrubbin.

So, simply squeeze some face wash on there, careful it's very concentrated, and take your wet sponge, and dump a bunch of baking soda and start scrubbing. I wanted to save my fingers, and nails, you know what I'm saying, so I used a butter knife instead. Worked a MILLION times better, and your fingers will thank you. 

Oh you'r finished scrubbing, OK, take a wet cloth and rinse, and wipe. 

Ummm, OK, I admit having mirrors above your stovetop that you use A LOT, is not a good idea, BUT, you just see how naked it looks without them. I love my DOLLAR STORE mirrors, so there. BUT, dang they are DIRTY. 

See what I mean, NAKED,,,, ewwwww,,,, BUT, omg, look at that stove. I told you shaving cream will do the trick. 

Ahhh, all clean!!!

This is damage from LONG ago, when we tried cleaning it with OTHER stuff, and it got scratched up so badly. My method, will not damage, DEF plus. Oh, and this stove is a good 8 years old, NOT bad, for being abused daily, don't you think?

Hello little fat man, I love you. Now see how much better it is with the mirrors up, I just love it. Plus I get to check myself out when I'm cooking, WHICH is all the time, so I guess I do a lot of checking myself out, lol. NOT, but it is perfect for having eyes in the back of my head, if you catch my drift!

What do you think, do you like fat man???

It's all clean now, but oh man LOOK at that mess in the mirror. Does it ever end?

I'm seriously happy you stopped by to see me. Make sure to LINK UP to this weeks party, and you might be featured on my new FEATURE SPECIAL SIDEBAR SECTION, for a WHOLE WEEK!!!

REMEMBER I have a GOAL of reaching 100 link ups, will you be the one to make it happen? Maybe a little special gift to the lucky 100th link, lets see when it happens, shall we?

Please visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)

             

My Rugs are Clean, it's a miracle, no it was just Ecos.

The other day I shared with you guys how my dear little one, Dino D, smeared hair gel all over out bathroom rugs, as seen HERE.
As promised I said I would share how I got the stains out, if at all, lol. Luckily they did come out, like they were never there, I was seriously amazed. I used my detergent, which happens to be Ecos. Baking Soda, and Vinegar. Magic solution, can't say, BUT it worked for me. 


 About 30 bucks, for 400 loads of laundry, try to beat that. I'm serious it's awesome!!! While I have been getting mine at Sams Club, seeing the price above, hello, I know where I'm getting it from now on, plus of course free shipping. Cha Ching.


This detergent is super concentrated, and of course green, biodegradable, and all the good stuff, without any of the bad, just the way I like it. Anyway, that's what I've been using for at least the past year, and love it. Even my mom starting using it, for no other reason that, it was THE best price, compared to all the others, and she was all excited to tell me she was using a green product, it was cute. Going green, can typically cost a bit more, at least up front, BUT in this case, it is seriously cheap, even cheaper than what you are using now, for real, I should know, and I love that.


I put my rugs on the ground, poured some detergent on them, on the hair gel spots, sprinkled TONS of baking soda on that, and then threw them in the wash. Put like 1 more cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of vinegar, and no more detergent, since I already added more than the 1 ounce recommended for HE washers. 


This is how my rugs turned out, and this isn't the first time I've been successful at getting stains out. 

Check out how I took lipstick stains off a load of laundry that was mainly ruined last year. 

Here is the post.


My princess has fallen sick, she has bee running a fever all day, and throwing up. I might be stuck laying in bed with her all weekend, she doesn't want me going anywhere, and wants me by her side, as all kids do when they are sick. I will be taking this opportunity and try to work on my blog design, again. I want it to look different, so bare with me, as I work on it. If you see changes, and things look weird for a few days, thats why. 


Thanks everyone!!!


DON'T forget to LINK to the party, I'm serious, it's not too late, anything you've worked on feel free to come back daily, if you want, and LINK up, my party is open all day, every day, and only ends when the new one starts, which happens to be Tuesdays. This weeks giveaway is sponsored by TARADARA and her Etsy shop, so while you are linking up, make sure to enter for a chance to win, some free moolah at her shop, ENTER HERE.


Please visit my Link party Directory

PARTY HARDY EVERYDAY

For the coolest parties, I participate in. 

Feel free to add yours, if you think I'd like it :)

             

Amaze me August, a BRAND NEW linky party!!!!

**Quick update: This is my first linky party, and although it will usually take place on Tuesdays, this one will be ongoing for the next 2 weeks, as I need a major kick in the butt, and I'm sure some of you do too, if you like my blog, (I hope you will) please consider joining the party at the bottom.**

Here's a quick look at some things I hope to achieve for the rest of the month.

It's already Tuesday August 17th, and with only a little more than 2 weeks to go let me be realistic with my goals. I hope to do a VERY LATE spring cleaning, to purge my home of all things not needed, and to get a clean slate going for all my future projects.

I don't know about you, but I can't cook in a dirty kitchen, and can't exactly think about projects when I have stuff all over the place. I feel like I'm going crazy, so before I can do a redo, I need to tidy up first. I know it sounds weird, but that's what I HAVE to do.

So I will challenge myself to go through every room in my house, (thank goodness it's only a small 3 bedroom) and get RID of anything I don't need. Put away all things required for future projects in a way that I will actually use them and do a quick clean up.

Then I can get to the nitty gritty, and start this darn home makeover, I am constantly thinking about.

Tonight I am clearing out the pantry, and fridge. Not a pretty redo, just cleaning up. Still a sight to see, so please watch as I get under way, and wipe one thing off my list.

Here's the lovely list so you can follow along:

1. Pantry, Fridge (both of them)
2. Kitchen drawers, and cabinets
3. Shoes in garage, clean microwave, and toaster oven
4. Door hanging organizer thingies
5. Coat closet
6. Piano, cookbooks
7. Desk, paperwork, bills
8. Take down dino decorations, collect all dead plants, RETURN
9. Big B closet, including sorting through winter and summer clothes
10. Big B desk, including old school work
11. Princess M closet, including clothes that need to be sorted
12. Dino D, dresser and linen drawers, plus all his toys, and books
13. My dressers, and closet, including tons of boxes of paperwork
14. Bathrooms under sinks
15. Office library books, videos, dvds.
16. Deep clean everything, probably take a day or two. 
17. Almost forgot my deck, I need to clear that place up for sure.
18. My very neglected garden will get a very quick peek, if weather is cooler, and I feel up to it, otherwise sorry to say you will be next on my TODO list. 

So with just about one thing to do everyday, I think it's very manageable. I hope to get these things done by the end of the month, so I can start on some fun, and ever prolonged projects I've been waiting to do for years now.

Please join me in challenging yourself with things you can do this month, to amaze not only yourself but others as well.

I will be highlighting several neat posts I've seen throughout the next few weeks, so  keep your eyes open, you might be one of them. Also don't forget to link up to the party, as it will be going on until the end of the month.

Ok gals, AMAZE me ALREADY!!!

Ok gals Quick TIP.
NEVER throw away your lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit. After you eat it, save the rind.
If you are after the juice, like I was for my fresh salsa, save those lemons, and FREEZE everything.
Just toss, leftover lemons, peels, whatever, in a bag, and pop in the freezer.
Then when it's time to clean, pop some in your microwave with some water, takes off all the gunk.
I use mine frozen in the garbage disposal ALL THE TIME, works wonders, and smells yummy.
Use to wipe your cutting boards, or even shower doors, and sinks. I use baking soda, and vinegar for most everything.
Next time you think about trashing your citrus, DON'T, remember my advice, and take it.
P.s. you could always compost it, too, something I want to start soon, for everything else of course.


For a complete list of all the parties I participate in go here party hardy.
Im linking up to these parties with my lemon tip, and new linky party:

Rules for entering are so simple.

• Become a faithful follower of my blog :) add my button if you'd like, it took forever to make. 
• Comment on at least three other blogs.
• Create a link back here, so others can join in the fun.
• Post as many Amazing things you've done or are getting ready to do. 
• This time ANYTHING goes. 
• Also you know the rules, link directly to your project not your home page. 
• Although I love etsy, please no selling, no business, just free fun for the taking.

Don't forget to follow me, and please share this great party with your friends. Remember I'm new, so I need all the kindness, I can get, of course ONLY if you mean it! ***Have fun ladies.***



As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

For a complete list of all the parties I participate in go here party hardy.

Im linking up to these parties today:

How to remove Lipstick stains from clothes.

I know you guys have been there. Pulled out a load of laundry, only to discover a crayon had stained all your clothes, or a pen, or in my case today lipstick. Yes, since I had nothing better to do, I couldn't resist ruining an entire load of laundry with red lipstick.

 I about freaked when I started pulling all the clothes out. I thought no way, what in the world happened. I looked for the culprit and sure enough my empty tube of lipstick was there. I normally separate whites from darks, and so on. But you know how it is when you only have a few of each, I just threw them all in there for this last load, to get it done.

I had a pair of my hubbies jeans, all his white under linen (underwear and undershirts), all my white hand towels for the bathroom, several of Big B's kinda new school shirts, and many other clothes that I don't want to think about. :(

I quickly started browsing the internet for ways to remove these stains, and all the places I looked said that once the clothes have been dried it's almost impossible to get it out. My heart sank, but I knew I had to try.

So check out these pics, I only put some of the most ruined of clothes. Some items actually got sparred, while others were house clothes to begin with so, Im not too upset.

Just a few of the ruined clothes. 

The BAD lipstick, and hey I found a dollar in the wash.
Probably mine anyway, but still. lol

One of Big B's fav shirts, he was going to wear this,
and the other gray shirt below, for first day of
school, so I really had to try and get the stain out.

Bad lipstick again, and my cleaning supplies.
Oh PLEASE let this work. 

Ok, ok, come on baby. This is only rubbing alcohol, and
a dab of the laundry detergent. 

Woo hooo, Success!!!

The other shirt I was talking about, man I would have
been in trouble if I didn't clean this. 

Fingers crossed, and hey check out my mehndi again!!
Not bad for a first time hugh?

Came out with a bit more scrubbing than the other shirt,
T shirt material is way harder to clean, it's so stretchy.

I had like 7 of these hand towels in the wash.
Lets see if it's worth the effort of cleaning them.

Even though I think the stain came out, I DO NOT think
it's worth the time, and broken fingers, trying to get
these all clean. I think I'll live if I go get some new ones.

All in all I'm glad I tried, and really glad to be able to show you guys that EVEN in you dry your clothes, there's still hope. If some really expensive or favorite items were in there, I would def try to get all those clean. With most of the laundry being underwear or house clothes, I only worked on a few items and luckily had great success.

So moral of the story

• Do not wash clothes with crayons, pens or lipstick. 
• If  you do, do not believe other online people who say it wont come out once dried. (Mine did)
• Also please notice that I DID NOT use any nasty chemicals, you can do this with only rubbing alcohol, and a little laundry soap (mine is all natural, give it a try guys, you will love it)

Hope you guys are having a great weekend, and let me know if you have any ideas that worked for you when you had stains. Check out my Blogfrog community, and let me know all about it.

Bella