When GoodHousekeeping.com asked me to stop doing housework for two weeks, I was terrified. For starters, we're your typical, busy Midwestern family with two teenage sons and two dogs. My husband Alan is a tidy and fastidious civil engineer, and I am the proud owner of a Merry Maids office and the founder of the Don't Look Under the Rug blog. The two of us divide the chores (Alan washes dishes, cooks, and vacuums; while I handle laundry, grocery shopping, and monitoring general clutter) and the boys are expected to pick up after themselves. That said, I do feel I handle more than my fair share of housework after a day at the office.
I don't think my standards are unrealistic. I love things to be clean, but I also enjoy living in my home. We do have a mail pile and a "take it up the stairs" collection. So, eventually, I felt cautiously optimistic about taking a two-week hiatus from housework. My boys are well-behaved, helpful, and only slightly sloth-like when it comes to picking up after themselves — how bad could it be?
With sports season comes a whole new level of stinky shoes around my house! Every tennis practice provides a new battle to keep my son's shoes fresh! -- Try these easy tips to get fresh sneakers for the next practice:
#happycleaning, Amy Bates!
Sports season is upon us and so is the constant battle to keep sports uniforms clean! Whether you have soccer, football, or baseball pants, grass stains and dirt leave their mark. I'll share the best types of cleaning products to use, and a pre-game method to help prevent stains from sticking!
VIDEO BONUS: Watch the video through to the end to learn about a surprising location to clean uniforms and dirt-stained pants!
#happycleaning, Amy Bates
