Dear Home Ec 101,So, twice this has happened lately thanks to little girls who don’t always flush when they’re supposed to. I have all the towels to mop up the water and um mess, from the toilet overflow itself. Then I have to wash the towels, floor, and toilet. And then I feel the need to …
Hi Home-Ec 101, I admit, I am a terrible housekeeper, but I am trying to improve, and I long for a house I can be proud of. We have lived in our 1957 Cape Cod home for 8 years. It probably came with a certain amount of wear and tear, but our 3 kids, 2 …
If you have been playing along since January, we have completed a full one-third of the year. Are you noticing a difference in your home? Is it starting to get a little easier to keep up with the Weekly Chore Schedule? Today we’re tackling the medicine cabinet—or cupboard, or closet shelf. We don’t care where …
Hi, I have hardwood parquet flooring. When we moved into the house the previous owners told us to use Johnson’s One Step No Buff Wax liquid on it. I have used it every few months (especially on the kitchen floor) since 2000. The kitchen floor now looks terrible — darker with grime and dirt kind …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I’ve scoured your site and haven’t found a post about cleaning an oven. Can you give me some pointers? I am 30 years old and NEVER cleaned an oven a day in my life, and now I am nervous. Signed,It’s Gotten Smoky in Here You don’t need to be nervous, You will …
Heather says; This week’s organizational challenge may arrive just a little too late to prevent some hassle. Was there a scramble this morning? Today go through your home and change all of your clocks to the correct time. No, you don’t have to play along if you’re in Arizona or another country that doesn’t participate …
Dear Home Ec 101, I just read your desperate help post. I see some great things with it. I need help badly. It is my daughter. She is 21 and has 2 children ages 3 and 7 months. Her husband left them about 2 months ago. She is struggling so badly with everything. She is …
How are those counters looking after last week? Do they need a quick re-visit? It’s absolutely okay if they do. Getting your home organized is a process, and it takes time. This week we’re organizing the junk or catch-all drawer. I like to browse Reddit TikTok (the world has changed a bit since I first wrote …
Dear Home Ec 101, I’m embarrassed to actually ask this, but what is the difference between boiling and simmering? A lot of your recipes say to bring it to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. What does that mean, and why does it matter? Signed, Baffled Beginner Heather says: Basic questions like …
Remember when we tackled the entryway in January, week 3, to be precise? Any free counter space quickly attracts all kinds of clutter if you are anything like me. What I quit stashing by the front door is likely to find a home on the kitchen counters. It’s a curse… If you are neurospicy, there’s …