All Purpose Cleaner Put to the Test

Today I discovered a recipe for an all-purpose cleaner I've had tucked away on my computer for who knows how long.

 

It's recommended for general cleaning in the kitchen and bathroom: for countertops, toilets, mirrors, etc.

 

Because I'd rather save money by making my own cleaners, I decided to give it a try and put it to the test.

Here's the recipe:

 

All-Purpose Cleaner
2 cups water
1/4 cup vinegar (distilled white)
1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid (like Dawn)

 

Mix well and pour into a spray bottle (like an old Windex bottle).

 

I made one batch and used it in the kitchen on the stove, over the stovetop, on the kitchen cabinets, appliances and counters.  I also tackled the top of my fridge which, for some reason, is a favorite hangout for dust bunnies.

 

In the bathroom, I used it on the mirrors, counters, toilet, cupboards and baseboards.

 

First thing I noticed? No chemical smell. In fact, it really doesn't have a scent at all.  Maybe just a hint of a mild, clean scent. A good thing if you're trying to, well ....clean!

Trish's Take:

• This stuff works great.
• It gives a great shine to all surfaces.
• It cleaned up all the baseboards in my bathroom, so I know it would be effective on floors too.
• The most surprising thing was how well it worked on my bathroom mirrors. It left no streaks or smudges.
• It didn't work well as a degreaser for over my stovetop. I also don't think it's the best cleaner for tubs and showers because it's not strong enough to handle resistant soapscum or hard water stains.

I'm glad I decided to go through my old computer files to come across this easy-to-make cleaner.  I will definitely be keeping it on hand for general cleaning needs.  Can't wait to find what else is hiding in the dark corners of my hard drive.

End of Read-A-Thon Update: Better Late than Never

I haven’t blogged since the Read-A-Thon and with good reason.  The Read-A-Thon is the most blogging I’ve ever done in one day!  I need time to recover.  

The day after the Read-A-Thon feels sort of like a book/blogging hangover (for me anyways).  I just need some time.  Perhaps when I am a more seasoned veteran to blogging, 24 hours of reading/blogging won’t have such a profound effect on my brain.
I am in awe of  the many book bloggers who jump right back in to their TBR pile the morning after the Read-A-Thon.  You are truly amazing.

Although the Read-A-Thon is long over, I never filled out my End of Event questionnaire, so here it is:

End of Event Meme
1. Which hour was most daunting for you?
Hour 22, when I couldn’t keep my eyes open if you paid me.  I lasted longer than last year by an hour and a half, going to bed just 1-½ hours before the end of the Read-A-Thon.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
In general, shorter reads to give a sense of accomplishment
Specifically:  anything by Shel Silverstein, J.K. Rowling and from what I hear, (I need to get on the bandwagon and read the Hunger Games series) Suzanne Collins.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
I just wish I could do all the mini challenges, but it’s impossible if I want to keep reading.  I only struggled with a couple challenges because I was not technologically savvy, (ex. the Wordle).  I had no idea how to get a screen shot of it on my blog, so I had to spend a bit of extra time figuring that out.  Maybe some instructions for us newbies?  I will get the hang of blogging.  Hopefully, by the time the next read-a-thon rolls around, I will be an old pro.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Everyone participating takes time to visit other blogs as much as possible.  It’s amazing given all the blogs involved.  I wish I could visit every single, solitary blog participating during the actual even but it just can’t happen if I want to get any reading done.  The thought alone of everyone reading together (all over the world) is a really cool thing.  And I always have the list of blogs to browse after the read-a-thon, and I’m thankful for that.
5. How many books did you read?
Two (2).  I always have such high expectations for myself.  But then, all my picks were rather long.  Next time I am going to include a few shorter reads.
6. What were the names of the books you read?
Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
Alice I Have Been
8. Which did you enjoy least?
The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder; only because I liked Alice I Have Been a smidge more, and this was the only other book I read.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
Love the rhyming cheers.  No advice; the more the merrier.  It really helps.
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
I will definitely participate again.  I will be a reader next time as well.  I have too much fun not to.

Read-A-Thon Update: Onward Through Hour 21

I'm still awake!  Barely, but still awake!

I was reading on the couch a bit ago and woke up disoriented with my book open draped on my stomach.  I had fallen asleep!  I looked at the clock.  Only 20 minutes had gone by and I had officially taken a catnap!  I picked up my book and read some more.

So that is exactly how I'm making it through the read-a-thon in these final hours: catnaps.  I've had 2 already and amazingly have woken up within a half hour each time.  The second time I was face down, on a big pillow in my living room floor, a book open in front of me.  I don't know why I woke up and didn't sleep through the rest of the night, as tired as I am, but it is only proof that my mind wills to finish this thing!!

It's now 2:20 A.M. PT and I am really hearing my bed calling my name.  I am SO close to finishing The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder which I have been reading for most of this day.  (*Ever get nearer to the end of a book and scream inside, Let's finish this thing already!!  I have.)

Total Pages Read so far:  460
Mini Challenges entered: 7
Challenges won: none

I feel like I could be doing sooooo much better than I am.  Although I did take a nice break for dinner and some time to watch a most important hockey game, I feel that I should have long ago finished the one book I've been reading all day and moved on to something else.  I feel that I should've read more pages so far.  Hmmmm...something to think about as 3:00 A.M (the 22nd hour) approaches.

Read-A-Thon Mini Challenge: Wordle

Wordle Mini Challenge Hosted by 

Reading Through Life

Thank you for the fun challenge and nice break from reading!

Because my blog is rather new, I decided to do a wordle based on the whole blog to see what it boils down to.  Here is what it came up with:  

I love how reading is one of the largest in the bunch!

Read-A-Thon Mini Challenge: Title Word Scramble

Mini Challenge : Title Word Scramble
Hosted by Sheery at Sheery's Place (thank you for hosting this fun challenge!)

My unscrambled titles follow.  I went a step further and bolded the books I have read in this list:

1. Firefly Lane
2. East of Eden
3. Water for Elephants
4. To Kill a Mockingbird
5. The Great Gatsby
6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
7. The Art of Racing in the Rain
8. The Time Traveler's Wife
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
11. A Wrinkle in Time
12. The Polar Express
13. Love Walked In
14. Where the Wild Things Are
15. The Shining
16. Goodnight Moon
17. Interview With a Vampire
18. The Secret Life of Bees
19. The Search
20. The Help

Read-A-Thon Update: Halfway!

Halfway done?!  Where has the time gone!

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells.  I am loving it as I knew I would.

2. How many books have you read so far?  I have dipped into three different books, only finishing one - Alice I Have Been.  I'm almost halfway through the one I'm reading now.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I am most looking forward to finishing The Crowning Glory and starting back into The Canterbury Tales.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? not particularly!  My girls join in when they feel like reading and are generally keeping themselves busy.  They even baked a batch of brownies!  My husband is down with a hurt back so it would've been a mellow day anyways.  

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?  Only interruptions so far have been from my kids but I welcome them!  

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?  How extremely FAST the time goes by!  And how hard it is to do mini challenges when you are trying to read.  I want to do them all, but just can't.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? no suggestions.  I think it's great the way it is!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?  As a reader, I might throw some shorter reads in there amongst the longer ones so it feels like I accomplished more!  

9. Are you getting tired yet?  yes I am...but not horribly.  This is the time of day when I usually brew up a pot of coffee anyways, as 3:00-4:00 PM is my sleepy time for some reason.  So I'm used to feeling sleepy around this time...and a pot of coffee is not far away!   

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?  Cheerleaders, you have no idea how your cheers help us readers!  Really.  Love coming to my blog to find you cheering me on...it helps.  It really does.  Readers, something that is helping me is checking in every hour to see where I'm at.  I don't post every hour, but I check follow up comments, etc. and look at a few other blogs for a break.  It really breaks up the monotony  and keeps me connected to other participants.

Read-A-Thon Update: Onward Through Hour 11

I can't believe the Read-A-Thon is nearing it's halfway point.

I really wish I was keeping track of exactly how much time of spent reading, because I know it hasn't been 11 hours!  I've had many breaks!

So far:

• only 134 pages read...still reading The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder ~ and what a read!  I've cried...a lot!  It's made me really think of my relationship with my girls!  
• I've attempted no more mini challenges.  I want to, I just don't feel I have the time if I want to get any reading done.  Although, 134 pgs doesn't seem like a lot!  
• I've been noshing and probably not all too healthily: cookies, brownies, sugary cereals.  I did have a turkey and ham sandwich though. 
• And as promised here is my granddaughter joining in for the Read-A Thon:

See how intently she reads?!

Here she is, totally immersed!  :D
A reader after my own heart.