Top 3 Cleaning Tips When Your Taxes Are Done

Traditionally, today would have been the deadline for filing last year's tax return. However, since April 15th falls on Sunday this year, we get two additional days. Hopefully you've done your taxes or had them professionally prepared by now. If not, you only have until the day after tomorrow. Some post offices may be open late so that those who truly have waited until the last minute can still get their return postmarked and not have to file an extension.

Don't you wish housecleaning was like taxes? You have all year to prepare for it, then the deadline approaches and if you're still not ready, you can just file an extension. Well unfortunately, when it comes to cleaning house, it's not done until it's done. And if you continue putting it off (i.e. filing extensions), it only gets worse. While you won't have any penalties or interest, things will pile up, overwhelm you and get out of control.

Here are three things to do after your taxes are done:

File It
Since tax returns should be kept for a while, it's a good idea to keep them organized and protected. File a copy of your completed tax return along with all paperwork in a fire safe container in a cool dry area.

Save It
If you prepared your tax return electronically, be sure to save it in an accessible format on a CD or backup media instead of your computer's hard drive. You may also want to consider saving other important files/documents as well. This will secure your important documents if something happens to your computer.

Shred It
Periodically shred old bank statements, bills and other papers that contain your personal information. This can protect you from identity theft as well as ensure you have adequate space to keep your current important documents.

For more cleaning tips, purchase your copy of R U Looking? 31 Things To Look For When Cleaning Your Home today!

A Clean House: It's Not A Top Priority

We as women (and men too, because a lot of men are at home now) wear many hats and have many roles that we have to fill in life. How we do this sets the tone for our lives and that of our children. If you're wondering, “What does this have to do with cleaning?”, we'll gladly tell you.

We have talked to several women over the last month and the one common theme we heard was, “Oh, housecleaning or keeping a clean house is not a priority.” Some of the comments included: “I don't like cleaning and my kids won't do it, so it won't get done”and “I don't clean because I like spending time with my kids or I don't have time.” In these cases, remember our children are watching us--what are we really teaching them? (It's not a top priority).

Two other comments were, “I work all the time and when I get home I'm just too tired” and “I've been so busy, I haven't swept my kitchen floor in a month.” (It's not a top priority). We even heard “Why should I clean up for other people. They are coming to see me, not my house” and “It wasn't until I moved that I realized how dusty my apartment was because it was so dimly lit.” (It's not a top priority).

If we do a little soul searching, we'll find that when we don't have our priorities in order, it leads to other problems. When we have different emotions going on inside, we have to take the time to work through them, get them out, find the root cause(s) and come up with a solution. Coming home to or getting up to a dirty home can cause some of these emotions. What you're feeling on the inside shows on the outside and because of this, you try to keep it in so people won't see who you really are. Who are you? Are you the one that closes the door behind you hoping no one will see the mess you have inside your home. What's on the inside will soon come to the outside and you will have to deal with it. Let's see the real you!

Everything we do reflects who we are and the way we deal with situations is what really counts. If anything is bothering you, even something as simple as housecleaning, we would like to suggest the following:

1. Admit that you have a problem.
2. Write it down.
3. Talk to someone about it.
4. Create an action plan.
5. Put your plan into action.

We think that housecleaning should be a priority and when we begin to do first things first, we'll have time for everything else. It just works out that way. One final comment that we heard is one we do agree with and it is, “Thursday is my cleaning day and I get up early (before work) to start cleaning and do laundry so when I come home on Friday, I have a clean home and I don't have to spend my weekend cleaning.”


R U Looking? has more tried and true tips like this, and if followed you will have a cleaner home and just maybe peace of mind! R U Looking? Are you seeing what's really there?

Wannie and Lillie

Spring Is In The Air

Spring is in the air! If you live in the south, you've already had a glimpse of the warm weather that's in store for us. As the season changes, you smile as you hear the birds singing and enjoy longer days. As you look around your home inside and out, there are so many things you want to do or need to do. Where do you start?

If you start inside your home, R U Looking? recommends that you start by decluttering your home room by room. Having too much stuff in your home makes it difficult to find things and it also makes it harder to clean. It can hinder movement throughout your home and it prevents you from seeing the corners in your home. Spring is the perfect time to go through your home and discard items that may be broken or things you're not using or those things you just don't need anymore. This is also a great time to check and/or change filters especially since pollen and other allergens are in full force.

R U Looking? suggests that if you cleaned the halls before you decked the halls, you may not have much to do.  Some of the "spring cleaning" items include:

1. Cleaning and/or painting baseboards and checking corners for trash accumulation especially in the kitchen and bathrooms.
2. Moving and cleaning underneath large furniture and appliances including the stove and refrigerator.
3. Washing windows and window sills.
4. Having air ducts professionally cleaned including the dryer duct.
5. Stripping the floors and applying a new coat of wax.

R U Looking? has tried and true tips not only for spring cleaning, but for maintaining a clean home at all times. Get your copy today!

Wannie and Lillie

10 Often Overlooked Areas of Dirt in Our Homes – The Seen and the Unseen

Sometimes, we have to go the extra mile when cleaning our homes. This simply means those areas that we forget to clean, don't want to clean or thought we did not need to clean may need some extra attention. But don't be alarmed, as stated in R U Looking? these overlooked areas don't have to be cleaned on a daily basis. In fact, some will only have to be cleaned twice a year. But once you do them, they will have a tremendous impact on the appearance of your home. These “dirty” places fall into two categories: The seen and the unseen:

The seen:
1) Clutter
2) Light fixtures, wall hangings and ceiling fans
3) Basements and laundry areas
4) Windows and window sills
5) Corners and baseboards

The unseen:
1) On top of the refrigerator
2) Behind furniture
3) Underneath appliances (stove and refrigerator)
4) Throw rugs and area rugs
5) Clutter

For more detailed information regarding these areas, get your copy of R U Looking? today!

Wannie and Lillie

3 Ways to become a Chaste Keeper of the Home

What is a chaste keeper of the home? The word chaste means clean, immaculate, neat or classic. A keeper watches or guards. As a chaste keeper of the home, we are to set a guard over our home and keep it in order. We set the tone and we lead by example because we are the first “teachers” in the home. We are being observed closely by others and imitated as well and whatever we do affects everyone in the whole house.

Proverbs 31:26-27 says, "when she speaks, her words are wise and kindness is the rule when she gives instruction. She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not bear the consequences of laziness." Remember, you should know everything that's going on in your home. Become the chaste keeper!

1. Choose each day how you want to live
2. Make your home a place that you want to come home to
3. Know what's going on in your home

Get your copy of R U Looking? for more ways to keep your home clean and see what's really there!

Wannie and Lillie