Spring Makes Me Want to Clean

I have to say, even as I typed that title I laughed to myself.  I'm here to admit that I am not the best at housekeeping.  Not for lack of trying mind you, it's just not something I have ever enjoyed. I love it when it's done, I just don't want to do it. Can I get an amen from anyone. It's okay, this is a safe place. 

See I would much rather be making a mess crafting or DIYing then cleaning one up.

But to my surprise the posts that get the most action on pinterest are the ones about cleaning. This post I did about cleaning baseball pants has been all over. It really is a great tip!! If you have a child who wears a white polyester uniform in the dirt you need to read about this magic soap!

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What's Been Happenin'

Okay, so no, I did not fall off the face of the earth.  Although some days it has seemed like it.  I wanted to share with you a photo diary of what's been going on around here the past few weeks.  It's been very busy with kids and family activities.  (I was going to add all these photos individually, but that would have been a long post - so I opted for the collage :)).  

First was a birthday party for my baby - eight 9 and 10 year old boys for a sleep over...

Then Bible Drill at church

Then our river fishing trip with my husbands family (where I did a lot of sitting by the water in my cute boots).

All during the past weeks we have had the craziest up and down weather.  One day we are sweating and turning on the air conditioner and the next we are freezing and switching the heat back on.  Ugh!

So, of course, one night we had a bunch hail.

Then somewhere in there we had prom :)

Lots of baseball which has led to the state playoffs!!

Lots of soccer - mostly in the freezing, cold wind.

Muffins with moms and piano contests with the two little boys.

And state Bible Drill

(and so many things in the cracks in between that I have missed because I am only one person, and I haven't figured out how to clone myself)

See I said we've been busy!!  Wow am I frazzled~~

And at the same time, I've been trying to wrap-up my last couple of weeks at my job, and "train" my successor.  So, ya.  Hopefully I'll be back soon with some fun, interesting posts :)

Blessings!!

Tip For Baseball Moms

This post is a little random.  But, as I was doing this laborious, but somewhat rewarding. chore the other day I thought maybe this might be a useful post for someone out there so here ya go.  I have been doing a lot of this lately

as with any other spring over the past 13 years - sitting and watching my oldest play baseball.  (Thank goodness it is getting warmer!)

For all of his little league career my son was blessed to have grey pants as part of his uniform - fairly easy to clean - spray treat, throw it in, done.  Then comes high school....WHITE PANTS!!!  Seriously what crazy person ever thought white pants would be good for a baseball uniform (or football).  White + dirt = headaches.  And, if you are fortunate enough to live in those areas that are blessed with lovely red clay rather than dirt like we are - even better.

Many of you mommas may be dealing with this, maybe for a long time, maybe you have your own tried and true method.  But, let me be honest and say, I was clueless and I did a lot of things wrong in the beginning.  And then one day I was chatting with some of the other moms, and one shared her secret.  A soap I had never heard of, but over the past couple of years I have seen it crop up everywhere.  I buy mine at Walmart, but I have seen it at several other grocery stores - it is located in the laundry isle and the best part is it only cost around $1!! 

So let me just show you first what I am dealing with about twice a week

This is a pretty average representation.

UGH!!  

So, let me tell you what I tried in the past that DIDN'T work.  All sorts of spray treatments; washing in hot, warm, cold - didn't matter; oxygen cleaning products worked fairly well but not completely; bleach - DO NOT BLEACH white polyester - turns in yellow.  {Can you tell I learned that lesson the hard way?}

What I do now that does work?

I throw a bar (or a half of a bar, or a piece of a bar, whatever is left at the time) of Fels-Naptha soap in my sink, and then fill the sink with warm-hot water.  Then I put in the pants (jersey too sometimes :)).  I let it soak - no particular time, just however long I have or whenever I have time to get back to it.  I would say at least 30 minutes, but it's never too long.

After they have soaked for a time, it's time for the magic.  Not kidding, couldn't believe my eyes the first time.  I had really resigned to the fact that his pants would never be white or even close to white again.  Take your bar of soap (which is quite squishy by this time) and rub over stained area; rub pants together in said area like you are washing by hand.  And then rinse - voila!!  Most of the stain is GONE!!  If it is a deep stain - ie. lots of dirt - you made have to repeat this process of couple of times, same goes for grass stains - may take a little more rubbing.  But in the end...

Then I DO NOT RINSE the pants.  I drain the water and somewhat squeeze out the pants - I say somewhat because they are dripping and heavy with water when I throw them in my washer.  Then I wash as usual.  {If there are grass stains that don't come out with rubbing, then I spray treat.}  I have washed on cold, warm, and hot all with the same results.

Here is a before and after side by side so you can get a better idea.  Pardon the after shot, I was rushing to take this photo before they had to packed up for the next game.  Unbelievable huh?  Ya I've been doing it this way for 3 years and am still amazed EVERY time I take them out of the washer.  (This is not a sponsored post - I just really love this soap and it really does work.)

Blessings to you and yours!!

Linking up with Kathy at Cornerstone Confessions for the