Guys.....I'm so excited to share with you this personalized book that I got for Justice's first birthday! I actually thought for a long time what to give him for his first-year milestone. I wanted to get him something meaningful and something he can treasure when he grows up. And I came across this lovely personalized book from Hooray Heroes! I had so much fun personalizing our names and make the characters of the stories look like us. Gifts that are personalized always win my heart because growing up I could hardly find anything with my name on it. 

"Justice, You'll Always Be My Little Boy"

Nothing beats capturing our mother and son's memories into beautifully written stories. Not only the illustrations are vibrant and cute, this book really captures all those fond memories of watching my little boy grow up. When you order your book, you have the options to choose your own stories that match your everyday moments. From heading off to school for the first time to splashing in the pool, this keepsake has it all.

Personalize Story Book with Hooray Heroes

Hooray Heroes offer many personalized stories for different occasions. I think they'd make the perfect gift for both Mother's Day and Father's day that are coming up. They even have stories aimed at family as a whole, for couples and even for grandparents!

Once you're on their website, simply enter your little one's name and select the eye colour, hair colour and skin tone that best match your child. Choose up to 10 stories for a standard book or add more for a little extra. A preview of the book will be generated automatically within seconds. This is your chance to preview all the details and confirm everything before production. 

I added a little dedication message to Justice in the book as well. Personal dedication is such a thoughtful touch to include in these books and I'm glad they have the option to include that. Plus, they even have suggestions for you in case you don't know what to write!

You also have the option to choose between a hard or softcover. I personally prefer hardcovers because they look more prestigious and last longer. 

As an add-on, you can also have your book come wrapped as a gift! And boy, even their gift boxes are so creative and interesting. Come on, a gift box that doubles as a board game... How brilliant is that?

This is a sponsored post by Hooray Heroes. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

When Justice was born, it was during the peak time of Covid. It sucks that a year had passed and the pandemic is still not over yet. With the lockdown in place, we didn't get to celebrate his first birthday with all his family and friends. So I went all out and tried to make it special for him. 

It took me a while to nail down the party theme. I wanted something cute and fitting, just like his golden pineapple 100 days milestone celebration party. Then, it hit me. What's more fitting than leveraging his name and turn it into a theme for his own milestone? I mean his IG handle is @Sueper.Justice after all.

 

I can't believe my baby is 1-year old already! He's achieved so much in his first year and I'm so proud of him!

DIY Superhero First Birthday Party

For his party, I went for the DIY route (again). I love to stretch those creative muscles and get all crafty. After the success of making a balloon garland last time, I'm in love with having it as party decor. This time, I actually made it with a balloon kit I got from Olive and Hare. And boy, it was a lifesaver! I didn't have to search high and low for balloons to match the decor. Everything came packaged nicely and ready for me to assemble. The balloon arc decorating strip that came with the kit really helped to assemble the garland a lot easier. You can also buy the strip separately here.

To save me some time and be more environmentally responsible,  I reused the backdrop that I made for my gender reveal party. All I did was swapping out the pink streamers from it with the yellow and it instantly looked like a completely different backdrop. Glad that I kept it in the storage for a year! 

DIY Balloon Garland and Streamers Backdrop. Superhero banner made with my Cricut.

DIY Superhero Party Outift with No-Sew Cape

I couldn't really have a superhero-themed party without having Justice be the superhero. It might be easier if I just buy him a superhero outfit to wear for the party but I wanted customization. I enjoyed having total creative freedom like designing his Super J logo. I first, designed the logo using Illustrator then cut it out onto some HTVs using my Cricut machine. Then I ironed it onto a blue toddler t-shirt that I purchased from Michael’s.

And, of course, a superhero needs his cape! I found this nice red fabric with a nice sheen from Walmart for less than $8. I trimmed the fabric with a fabric cutter and traced a neckline using the bottom of a trash bin. My original idea was to sew two pieces of fabric together so that it'd become a doubled layered cape. But because my sewing machine broke, I ended up using heat tape to bond the two fabrics together. It worked perfectly and way better than using a hot glue gun! I then finished off by sticking velcros with adhesive backings to the ends. My no-sew superhero cape was done!


I also baked him a 2-tier carrot cake and decorated using homemade marshmallow fondant and handmade cake toppers. The top tier was for his little cake smash. But no epic smashing happened, he much preferred bending over to chow down the cake on the table instead. Check out my post on how I made the marshmallow fondant here.

Homemade carrot cake with marshmallow fondant and handmade cake toppers

Handmade cake toppers made with my Cricut

His little "cake smash" with the top tier

I'm so happy with how everything turns out and he had a blast! His first birthday party is not only a celebration for him but also for Will and me as parents! We survived our first year! Woot! Looking forward to many more parties to host and DIY in the future! 

I have so much fun creating these Easter bunny chocolate bombs and want to share how I made these with all of you! Although Justice is still too young to understand the meaning of Easter and appreciate those egg hunts and adorable bunny decor, I still want to please my inner child so I made these chocolate bombs for fun.

In case you didn't know, chocolate bombs are made of melted chocolate and are tempered into sphere form. They are filled with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows inside. You then pour hot, steamed milk over the chocolate bomb in a cup so that the milk will melt away the chocolate and releases the stuff inside, creating a somewhat "bomb" effect. They were huge last year. You might have seen them everywhere on Instagram, Tik Tok and even Facebook Marketplace! Yes, people were making these at home and selling them as a side gig. Though I did hop onto the bandwagon a little late and only made a cheat version using Kinder Surprise for Christmas. I wanted to finally make these chocolate bombs from scratch this time. To make these more fun, I turned them into cute little bunnies for Easter!

Here's what you'll need, this Little Bunnies Candy Deco Kits! Can you believe that I actually got these from Dollar Tree? I love finding cute stuff like this.

 

1. Melt your chocolate bars in a bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds increments.
2. Once chocolates are melted, pour them into a silicon sphere mold. 
3. Pour out excess off the mold and scrape off chocolates so that the edges are clean and levelled.
4. Carefully flip out the silicone mold so that the chocolate spheres come out clean.
5. Pour hot chocolate mixture into the half spheres, add marshmallows and sprinkles.
6. Dip the empty half sphere into your remaining melted chocolate.
7. Place the sphere on top of the filled sphere and press gently to seal. 
8. Dip bunny ears, teeth and eyes into the melted chocolate and glue them to the spheres

Have a happy Easter everyone!

Check out my other Easter tutorials!

Easter Bunny Cake Pops

As your little one starts crawling and walking around the house, it may be time to think about how to baby-proof your home. Even before your baby is able to crawl, they may encounter some hazards in your home, so it's always a good idea to plan ahead how you can protect them. Here's a list of the different ways in which you can prepare your home without needing to splurge on all of the expensive gadgets available on the market.

Make Sure Your Baby Sleeps Safely

One of the most immediate risks may not actually be so obvious since cribs and baby toys are made with the safety of your little one in mind. Nevertheless, the size of the crib you buy needs to match your baby’s age since a tall-sided crib can make for quite a rough landing once your baby is able to launch themselves over the side. Also, be mindful of placing anything in the crib, including any cute and cuddly-looking toys, since they can all lead to a breathing or choking hazard. The crib should be kept as plain and simple as possible, with nothing inside apart from your adorable little baby who will be completely content without the use of even a pillow or duvet. I used a swaddle for Justice and transitioned to a sleep sack once he learns to roll over himself.

Pay Attention at Bath Time

The bath and any small body of water can pose a risk to babies. No babies should be left unattended alone during bathing. Secondly, always check if the temperature gets too hot; it should be just warm at around thirty-five degrees, which can be tested with a thermometer until you get familiar with this temperature. You may also want to look into other good to have items such as soft covers for bath spouts and taps and a bath seat for your baby to sit in. However, all of these should not replace your attendance at bath times with your little one.

Look Out for Heavy Objects

This is more of something to look out for once your baby is around nine months old. This is the age at which they will start to enjoy playing and moving around on the floor and pulling at various objects. At this stage, it is advisable that you get on the ground with them and explore the room from their perspective to gauge whether you think any lurking objects may pose a threat to your baby if pulled off or over. This can mean removing any heavy objects, like books from a bookshelf or house plants from a sideboard or perhaps even moving your television from a stand to a wall mount.

Be Wary of Electricity

This is more of a precaution to take when your baby is around one year old. However, the sooner the better when baby-proofing electricity in your home. Firstly, ensure that all electrical sockets that aren’t in use are fitted with outlet covers to prevent your baby from sticking anything inside. Secondly, keep all electrical cords hidden and unplugged appliances out of sight. Since you will probably be using these appliances on a daily basis, it's best that you get an EICR report. Getting an EICR report from Trade Facilities Services will provide you with information about whether or not there is a risk of electric shock and if all electric circuits are in good condition and safe to use in the form of a report. Using the information from this report, you can protect your new family from any faults that may be present in your electrical circuits and appliances.

 

Don’t Forget Your Car

Now that you are informed about some of the ways that you can baby-proof your home, you should continue this practice wherever else your baby might end up. The car is the second place your baby will encounter after the hospital, and therefore it also needs to be prepared to a safe standard for welcoming your newborn. You will need an approved rear-facing car seat in the back seat of your car before you can even consider bringing your baby home from the hospital. Make sure to check your car seat manual on how to properly install it in your car. For safety, you can also get it inspected by a local certified child passenger technician. Next, you must remove any small items that could pose a choking hazard, such as coins or pens, and install stick-on sunshades if the sunlight in your area is particularly strong.

Once you have applied these baby proofing techniques to your home and car, you can focus on the excitement of bringing your newborn into your life, knowing that he or she will grow up in the safest environment possible.

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I want to share with you my latest paper cut creations for the most important woman in my life! Growing up, I'd always handmade birthday cards and Mother's Day cards for my mom. And I love receiving cards with a handwritten message as well. I think that the effort and thought that someone puts into choosing a card or making a card are so heartwarming. Believe it or not, but my mom loves my cards so much that she still has them displayed in her office! It's so cute.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create this papercut Mother's Day card so you can show the woman in your life how much you love her. So let's get crafty!

How to Make Paper Cut Mother's Day Card

You'll need:

• Cricut or any cutting Machine or Exacto knife 
• White cardstock
• Coloured paper of your choice (I use lavender and violet)
• Adhesive tape or glue stick

Instructions:

To create this card, you'll need my SVG file to use on your cutting machine (I use a Cricut). If you're a regular Cricut user, then the process is no surprise to you. Simply upload the file to Design Space and make sure that the size is set to 8.5"x5.5" (A2). You can also choose to scale up to create a larger card by dragging the corners of the artwork. Otherwise the artwork is ready to go as is!

Since any shades of purple are my mom's favourites, I made the card in both lavender and violet colours. The paper cut design pops a lot more against the voilet insert but the lavender is so graceful and elegant. I still can't decide which one I'm going to give her...maybe I'll just give her both! But you can pick any colour you wish to make this card in. I recommend using white cardstock for the outside and a coloured paper for the insert. 

Trim the coloured paper to 8.25" x 5.25" (for A2 card) and fold in half. Apply adhesive to the back of the insert along the side of the fold line and attach to the white cardstock. 

If you choose to cut this by hand...good luck! It can definitely be done with time and patience. I find using an exacto knife and trace along the outline is easier than using a pair of scissors.

I hope you like this Mother's Day card! Check out my other papercut collection here. If you give this a try, be sure to share your pictures with me on Instagram and tag @tingandthings_ or use hashtag #diywithting. I'd love to see your take on it!

Happy crafting!

Check out my other Mother's Day printable:

DIY Happy Mother's Day Colouring Printable

Make Your Own Mother's Day Coupon Book Printable

Floral Mother's Day Card Printable

Check out my other posts for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day Colouring Card Printable

Mother's Day Coupon Book Printable
Floral Mother's Day Card Printable
Ways to Celebrate Your First Mother's Day with Baby

Going on vacation is a great way to kick back and unwind, but it is often not without stress and complications. You may find that if you are not super organized when it comes to your vacation planning, that some aspects of your trip do not go as planned.

Finding ways to make the process of travelling simpler and easier can go a long way to helping you enjoy yourself more!

Check out the following travel hacks to help you with your vacation.

1. Save money on your booking

One of the best ways to feel great about your vacation is to save yourself some money on your flight booking. Not only can this make your vacation feel more financially manageable but it will also leave you with more cash to spare when you are on the trip.

Saving money on your flight does not have to be hard to do. Simply take a look around at the different comparison sights to find the best offer. Some websites offer you the option to sign up for email alerts so that you can get a notification in your inbox when the price of your desired route drops.

You can also keep your eyes open for any last-minute deals and special offers from a range of different airlines.

2. Get to grips with Google Maps

There are few things as frustrating as getting lost when you are on vacation. If you do not speak the local language and you find yourself confused about where you are, then this could leave you feeling pretty stressed out.

Technology exists to make your life easier and this is especially true of Google Maps. If you are not already familiar with Google Maps, then take some time to understand how it works ahead of your vacation.

It is a good idea to download maps of the local area to your phone before you leave your hotel. This means you will still be able to find your way around when there’s no Wi-Fi to connect to.

3. Plan your route to and from the airport

Worrying about missing your flight can be the most stressful part of getting away from home!

If you are an anxious traveller then planning your route to and from the airport is definitely worth giving much consideration to.

If you drive, then taking yourself to the airport can be a sensible way to reduce some of this stress. You can load up your car the day before your trip, and then get yourself to the airport three to four hours before your scheduled flight.

The majority of international airports will have extensive parking options so that you can confidently leave your car there while you are away. If you are travelling from New York, then jfk airport long term parking options are in place to help you keep your vehicle safe.

4. Learn some simple words and phrases

If you are taking a vacation to a foreign destination, then it is a good idea to learn some phrases in the local language before you go.

Very basic words to learn are, hello, goodbye, please, and thank you. Additionally, there are several different phrases that you may wish to master. Sensible options are those that refer to asking for directions, as well as to different food and drink options.

Remember, if you do get stuck then you can always quickly find a translation on the internet if you are able to connect to Wi-Fi!

5. Pack your bags strategically

It can be easy to pack more than you need when you are going on vacation, but this can mean heavier bags and no space to bring home souvenirs and gifts.

Doing a practice pack a couple of days before your vacation can help you to only take what you actually need. Try packing your bag and then finding five or more items that you do not really need to take with you. This can be a fun challenge and force you to think about what you really do need to take with you.

There are likely a number of items that you can buy when you get there, such as toiletries, so try to assess what truly deserves a space in your suitcase.

6. Read reviews in advance of booking

When you look online to book your accommodation, you will usually be spoilt for choice, with so many seemingly great deals on offer. It is not difficult for a hotel or hostel to appear amazing, when in fact this might not be the case.

Spending some time reading what past travellers have to say about each place is a worthwhile pursuit before making your decision. If a large number of people have made negative comments about a place, then it could be a good idea to acknowledge these warning signs.

Do not be tempted by super cheap offers if there are more negative reviews than positive ones. You might save some money, but this could end up ruining your vacation.

7. Get adequate travel insurance

This is often the least exciting part of planning a trip, but it could save you a lot of money and stress in the future.

So many people forego travel insurance because they do not want to pay out for the initial expense. If your trip goes perfectly then that’s great, but it is worth having some peace of mind in case something does go wrong.

It is usually quite simple to make a claim and it is possible to get a good deal, so shop around for comprehensive cover before you take your vacation.

Making Traveling Easier

There are so many simple ways to make your vacation easier, and it is always a good idea to give some time and energy to do this.

The more research and preparation you put into your trip, the more likely you are to have a wonderful time.

If you are travelling with other people then this can be a lot to think about, so it is sensible to plan your vacation as a group with everybody having set tasks. Not only does this help to reduce the amount of work you have to do, but it can also be a fun bonding activity for you all before you go!

Nothing compares to traveling, but if you want to see the world, you don’t always have to hop on a plane. There’s so much to explore in your own country, particularly when you live in North America.

If you’re looking to get away from everything for a few weeks – or maybe even a few months – it’s worth considering a road trip. Before you do this, though, there are a few things you ought to do to ensure that you’re prepared for the adventure ahead.

Pack The Essentials

If you’re going to be away from home for a long time, you’ll want to make sure that you have everything with you that you could possibly need. This means packing all the travel essentials, alongside things to keep you clean, warm, and entertained throughout your trip.

Some stuff you can pick up during your travels, such as food and water. Items like towels, books, and pillows are best to bring along for the ride, though. Then there’s your license and registration, spare tire, car manual, and other vehicle essentials that you’ll be lost without in an emergency. Prioritize these over everything else because you don’t want to be stuck in a situation without them.

For a comprehensive list of what to pack, you can look here. Just make sure that it can all fit in your car, and that the vehicle can still drive efficiently with all that stuff inside.

Have Your Car Serviced

Your vehicle is your greatest companion when you go on a road trip. If it breaks down along the way, it can really throw a spanner in the works.

Obviously, accidents happen sometimes, so there’s no way you can entirely prevent things from going wrong. However, you can ensure that the risks are minimal by getting your car serviced before you go anywhere.

By having a professional look over your vehicle and fixing anything that could be problematic, you ensure that it’s in the best condition possible for your trip. If anything does go wrong, it won’t be because of something you could have prevented before you left home.

Wash Your Car

Not only is it worth getting your car serviced before a road trip, but it’s also beneficial to have it cleaned, too. After all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in this vehicle, so you want it to be presentable.

You might think this is pointless, given it’s bound to get dirty again on your travels. However, washing it now means that the dirt should come off a lot easier when you return home. Plus, just imagine how grimy your car will be at the end of your trip if it’s already a mess now.

You can utilize Sundance services for carwash and laundry services if you live in Lancaster County. Whether you drive a car, truck, or SUV, you can get your vehicle spotless, so you’re ready for the road. It’s up to you if you do the job yourself or use their automatic washer, but whatever you go for, the packages on offer won’t disappoint you.

Research As Much As Possible

Thanks to technology, you don’t have to look at maps or follow road signs to know where you’re going anymore. GPS trackers and smartphones can tell you everything you need to know so that you get to your destination in one piece.

However, while that might be the case, that doesn’t mean you should skip the research before you travel. It pays to have an idea of where you’re going, even if you have a device to direct you. Should anything go wrong, it’ll stop you from feeling quite so lost.

This goes for all elements of your road trip, including accommodation and places of interest. While you might not want to plan everything out to the last second, it’s worth knowing the ins and outs of where you’re going. Researching accommodation is particularly important because the last thing you want is to stay somewhere sketchy.

Ensure Your Home Is Protected

Going away for weeks or months at a time can be a fantastic way to unwind from the daily stresses of life. However, leaving your home for that long can be quite unnerving, and the thought of the property being unattended can cause a lot of anxiety on your travels. That’s why you need to ensure that your house is protected before you leave.

There’s plenty you can do to keep your property secure and give others the impression that you’re still home. Obviously, if there will still be people living there while you’re away, you don’t need to worry so much. If your house is going to be unoccupied, though, you’ll definitely want to consider putting these strategies in place to reduce the risk of a break-in or something going wrong.

Road trips can be a brilliant way to discover yourself and have some fun after what’s been an incredibly difficult year. Before you set off on your adventure, though, just make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead. That way, you won’t have any nasty surprises while you’re away.

Having a small kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to cook in a cramped, crowded space that’s uncomfortable.

With the right design and layout, you can enhance your small space and turn it into a home cook’s paradise. As cooking from home is on the rise owing to the pandemic, there has never been a better time than now to enhance your kitchen.

There are plenty of cute ways that you can turn a dull and drab room into something you can be proud to show off to your friends and family.

Here are some practical tips to help you make the most out of your small kitchen and transform it from a purely functional room into your dream cooking space.

Consider The Colour Scheme

It’s surprising how easily small factors, such as the colour of your walls, can change the way you view a room in your home. Darker walls can make your small kitchen look more cramped than it actually is, while lighter colours could make your room feel more spacious and airy. If you’re a big fan of dark colours and are eager to incorporate them into your kitchen design, then try using a darker signature wall. You can surround this darker signature section with lighter colours to give the illusion that your kitchen is lighter and brighter than it would be if it were painted entirely in dark colours.

Get Inventive With Your Kitchen Storage

One of the toughest challenges that small kitchen owners face is where to put everything. If you own a lot of pots, pans and bulky appliances, then it might seem impossible to store them all out of sight and make your kitchen appear roomier. That’swhy you should get creative with your kitchen storage solutions. There are plenty of innovative storage ideas for small kitchens out there, so you can find one that suits your space.

 

Clear Out Your Old Junk

When you start incorporating your creative storage solutions into your small kitchen, you should consider throwing out any old appliances, tools or ingredients that you don’t use regularly. If you bought an old appliance and haven’t used it in years, or you have old spices that you’re keeping ‘just in case’, then you should consider getting rid of them. Old food and ingredients can be thrown away or, if they’re still in date, but you won’t use them, you could donate them to a food charity. Old appliances and tools you could sell online, or you could donate them to a charity to sell.

 

Use A Glossy Finish

It’s a renowned fact that mirrors can make a small room look bigger, so consider incorporating mirros into the design of your kitchen. Not only will they make the room look larger, but they will also be handy if you need to touch up your hair or visage before a date night or a celebration and don’t have time to abandon your cooking! As well as mirrors, you could also consider using a glossy finish on your kitchen counters, cabinets and appliances to subtly make your kitchen look more spacious and bright. Matte finishes might be fashionable, but their dull surface can make your small kitchen feel even more cramped, so try going for a high gloss finish to turn your small room into a striking kitchen.

Photo credit

Add A Brunch Bar

A trendy brunch bar can easily turn any kitchen into a cute space, and they don’t take up much room, making these solutions ideal for small kitchens. If you’re already short on space and not sure that a brunch bar will fit, then consider making your brunch bar multi-purpose; you can keep the stools underneath it and consider using the brunch bar as a countertop when you’re cooking, then bringing out the stools when you’re ready to eat.

 

Work With Expert Kitchen Designers

Reimaging your kitchen and turning a cramped kitchen into a spacious-looking, airy space, might not come easily to all homeowners. If you’re not usually the creative type and you don’t feel that you understand interior design, then try collaborating with a professional team of kitchen designers. Kitchen Capital understands how to turn even the smallest of spaces into a beautiful, contemporary kitchen, so consider working with them to upgrade your small kitchen this year.

 

Think Outside Of The Box

When you’re trying to redesign your kitchen, it’s easy to get caught up in what other people do with their rooms, or how the kitchen was originally laid out. However, with a little imagination and innovation, you can transform your kitchen and make it feel much more comfortable and inviting. Work with your kitchen designers, if you’re hiring them, and don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of kitchen design to turn your small space into a kitchen that you can be proud to call yours.

At the end of every month, we all hold our breath as we wait for the bills to come in. Water, gas, the streaming services we all subscribed to during lockdown, not to mention rent and taxes, and of course: electricity. These costs all add up, and at a time when we are looking to tighten our belts and save those pennies, we should all be making the extra effort to cut those bills down. Now, we are all spending a lot more time indoors than we usually would, and when we are both working and relaxing at home, it can be hard to see how we can start to cut down on our electricity usage. However, with a bit more care and a little patience, we can see some savings.

Make Sure The Appliances Are Properly Switched Off

We know that nobody is perfect, and in the past we have all been guilty of simply closing our laptop, hitting standby on the television, or simply forgetting we left the speakers on. We all know that these actions have an impact on the lifespan of our machines, but they also have a big part to play in those hefty electricity bills. Yes, even when your appliances are in standby they are continuing to use electricity, with televisions and multi-room speakers named as the biggest culprits. So, if you’re not actively using these machines, make sure they are properly switched off either at the back or at the wall.

Switch To A More Energy-Efficient Lighting

We all know the rule that you should turn the lights off when you’re leaving a room. However, there are savings to be made even when you’ve got all the lights on in the evening. You may not realise, but LED light bulbs only lose 10-20% of their energy as waste heat, as opposed to traditional bulbs which can lose 80%. They also have a longer lifetime, so you’ll be cutting down on buying new ones too! LED light bulbs can be used for outdoor lighting, spot-lights and even bedside lights and lamps. So, the next time you’re looking to buy E27 bulbs, make the switch to LED and start saving. You can read more about why it’s time to switch and browse a wide range of bulbs and fittings at Any-Lamp.

Find Other Ways To Dry Your Clothes

We get it, at this time of year when you come home completely drenched and freezing cold, you want to just throw your clothes in the dryer and get them nice and toasty as quickly as possible. But if you’re looking to cut down on how much electricity you’re using, then you are going to want to stop that impulse dead in its tracks. Laundry dryers are always found on the lists of electricity-guzzling home appliances, and if you have a well-ventilated home, you should always consider drying your clothes on a rack if possible. Remember: if you have to use a dryer, be sure to do one full load rather than several small ones.

Keeping your home clean and tidy is typically an on-going job. Every time you clean one room, it’s time to move on to the next as it plays out in a never-ending cycle. But how many times have you cleaned your house only to find it doesn’t look that fresh or renewed and that in all reality it probably needs a deep cleaning. Thankfully a deep clean isn’t something your home needs daily, but it should still be done on the regular.

So, let’s go over six deep cleaning tips that will provide you with the maximum results and have your home feeling and looking fresh and renewed.

Give Kitchen Appliances a Good Washing and Scrub

Your kitchen appliances tend to be the most-used appliances in the entire house. Often they are being used multiple times a day, which means dirt, grime, food, and spills will occur. It’s for this reason you should get into the habit of giving them a deep cleaning every few months.

Be sure to read the cleaning instructions for your oven, so as to do it properly. When it comes to the refrigerator, you’ll need to empty the contents – one shelf at a time – so you can scrub the shelves themselves and the sides of the fridge. As for the dishwasher, allowing it to run on a cycle with no dishes in it and instead, using vinegar as a cleaning agent will deliver excellent results.

Professional Deep Carpet Cleaning Produces “Like New” Results

Vacuuming your carpets on a regular basis certainly helps to keep them clean, but this isn’t going to help where deep cleaning is concerned. Dust, dirt, animal dander, and hair can all work their way deep into the carpet. Not only that but messes, spills, and stains can happen and spot cleaning doesn’t always do the trick. This is why professional carpet cleaning is such an excellent option.

When it comes to the best carpet cleaning services that offer professional results, Marks Carpet Cleaning, a Middleton carpet cleaning service, is a fabulous option. Its experts specialize in all types of carpets including oriental rug cleaning – which can be very delicate and requires experience and the right tools. Consider it a spa treatment for your carpet, as they will look fresh and new, and smell fabulous after the cleaning.

Wash Cloth Curtains If Safe to Do So

Another deep cleaning tip is to take down any cloth curtains in your house and wash them in the washing machine. Keep in mind that not all cloth curtains can be washed, so be sure to read the care and cleaning instructions first. This is a great way to get rid of dust that builds on curtains and helps to keep them fresh looking.

Grout in the Bathroom Tends to Get Really Grimy

Here's a spot that no-one loves to clean but the reality is that it can get really grimy and dirty if you don't keep up with it. Bathroom grout tends to be the first place that dirt starts to build. It’s clearly visible and makes lighter coloured grout look grey or even black. Simply spraying it with the typical tile cleaner and a quick pass with a paper towel won't do anything. Instead, it's going to require some elbow grease.

You can actually make your own high-effective grout cleaner using water, baking soda, and vinegar. You can put your cleaning solution in a spray bottle so you can direct it to the areas of concern. After spraying the grout use a bristled brush - even a toothbrush will work - and start scrubbing. If that doesn't get it clean, you can mix up a little baking soda in water so that you create a thick paste and then use the brush to scrub it on.

When you're finished cleaning be sure to give the entire tile and grout a good rinse with warm water.

Move the Furniture to Ensure a Good Cleaning

Then there is vacuuming, which on its own is fine but what about all those areas the vacuum typically doesn't reach? Furniture allows dust and dirt to become trapped and without moving things out of the way, it’s just going to continue to build.

A deep cleaning tip is to move all the furniture to the center of the room if possible so that you can properly vacuum. This also allows you to vacuum the baseboards, which are known for collecting dust.

Wash All the Bedding - Not Just the Sheets

This is also a great time to strip your bed of all bedding - this means the comforter, duvet, throw pillow covers, and throw blankets. All of these should be washed to ensure dust mites aren't building up. It will also get rid of any odours or stains that are lingering.

A Cleaning Job You Can Feel Happy With

By following these tips, you’ll be giving your house an excellent and thorough deep cleaning.