Spring Cleaning Goes Hi Tech - 3 Must-Have Free & Low-cost Apps To Make Homekeeping a Breeze



Homekeeping & Organizing Apps

I must be on a roll here.  Two blog posts about spring cleaning in a row.  First it was 7 Secrets to Making Spring Cleaning Less Painful and More Productive and now this one.

Housekeeping with Kids is a Constant Battle With Clutter
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

I've got some more advice for you in this department, having just discovered some great new mobile apps -- ranging in price from Free to just $1.19 to download.   Perhaps, before you dive into your big spring cleaning spree and drag the old vacuum cleaner out of the closet, you might want to take a look at these.

Three simple apps to make spring cleaning & organizing a breeze:

1. House Maintenance Schedule, FREE for the Android
House Maintenance Schedule is a calendar application that's easy to use to log dates of routine maintenance done to your home -- such as changing the water filter in your refrigerator at set intervals. This is also helpful, reminding you when the next maintenance needs to be done.  Additionally, it  has an easy-to-follow basic month-to-month guide for home maintenance work.  To top it off, this app is Free, so why not give it a try?

Download House Maintenance Schedule, for the Android HERE
 
2. Clean Freak Cleaning Schedule, $.99 for the Apple iPhone
Designed by working parents, this app uses the divide-and-conquer approach to keeping the home clean.  Just like I suggested in my last post, with this you can use this to break down your chores into bite-sized tasks to do a small part of the bigger job each day.  Check each completed item off the list as you go.  Clean Freak shows you how many days since a task was last done, while completing all items advances the rotation.  It's also a snap to configure less frequent tasks on your to do list in the "every 2/4/8 rotations" sections.

Download Clean Freak for the iPhone HERE 

3. Organizing Your Home, $1.19 for the Android
Let's face it:  cleaning and organizing at home is a painful process for many of us.  With Organizing Your Home, chores become so much easier to tackle.  This app is the go-to source for practical tips and strategies to clear out the clutter that is in every room in your home. Better, yet, this app also help you keep organized once you've finished the initial job.

Download Organizing Your Home for the Android HERE

Definitely comment on what you think of these apps.  Also, would love to hear about other apps that you recommend that help with spring cleaning, organization, and/or home maintenance.

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation related to this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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Top 7 Secrets to Making Spring Cleaning Less Painful & More Productive


Spring Cleaning



 It's that wonderful time of the year again.  Oh, joy, it's time for the annual spring clean, one of my all-time fave ways to spend my time.
 
Cleaning w/ kids is lots of work, MommyBlogExpert.com

Misery loves company though, so I'm going to shout it from this blog post.  Please join me in screaming aloud that all-too-familiar refrain "I hate spring cleaning!" Ah, I feel a bit better.  Don't you?

Yes, it is now officially spring.  On top of the fact that I'm preparing for Passover, so clean I must, whether I like it or not.   A clean house always feels good after the work is done, doesn't it?  But, I'm sure you'll agree, getting it looking sparkling in the first place can be a real grind.

That's why I created this list of the best ways to make your own spring cleaning ritual a little less stressful and a lot more efficient.

Secret 7 Spring Cleaning Tips
  • Start your spring clean up about a month early and do a little bit each day, instead of trying to get it all done at once.  Let's face it, all that grime in your house took a year to get this bad, so it's going to take a little bit of time and effort to get rid of it all.
  • Clear out at least some clutter from each room of your home, before you even start cleaning.  Remember to look inside all your closets, cupboards, and other hidden interior storage spaces which are so easy to conveniently "forget" to deal with.  Don't overlook the outside, either, checking the garage, garden shed, dog house, or other exterior structures you may have for junk you no longer need or want.  Load up all your bags of unwanted stuff into those grocery bags that are also cluttering things up. Then donate all your treasures (recycling those pesky market sacks at the same time) to your local thrift store, killing two birds with one stone.
  • Begin cleaning only after all that excess stuff  has been taken away.  Start by working in the smallest room or in the easiest area to tidy up first, progressing to larger rooms and bigger messes.  That way you're not as likely to give up before you've started, if you are seeing at least some improvement and are feeling a sense of accomplishment early in the game.
  • Get all the kids to help: as young as toddlers and as old as teens and young adults still living at home.  Spring cleaning is a family affair and everyone should participate to the best of their abilities.  Assign small appropriate tasks for younger children to do alone or give them the opportunity to work side by side with an older sibling or parent doing part of a larger job.  Big kids, too, should be reminded that they are expected to contribute to the family effort.  Be sure to reward children after they complete each task, not only by praising them in front of the family but also by giving them a special treat they'll appreciate, like getting to stay up 30 minutes later that evening -- or in case of a teen, maybe letting them go out with friends on a week night.
  • Avoid running out and buying every cleaning product and tool under the sun.  Hot soapy water, vinegar, a few other things and some basic tools that you probably already have around the house will get the job done.  An added benefit to the monetary savings from not buying unnecessary cleaning agents, you'll also be a little kinder to the planet if you limit the supplies you use to those that are eco-friendly.
  • Do a little of cleaning each day as you tackle one room at a time, working in a logical fashion.  For example, the kitchen can be overwhelming.  So, don't clean your refrigerator or cupboards out all in one day but just do a shelf at a time working from top to bottom.  This way it will be a whole lot easier to keep clean what you've already finished working on as your cleaning campaign presses onward.
  • Play music while you work, and whistle too, if you are so inclined.  It worked for the Seven Dwarfs, so why not approach this year's annual spring cleaning extravaganza by making it a little more fun?
Clean a shelf at a time, MommyBlogExpert.com
Let's get real. I doubt you or I will ever really love spring cleaning.  At the very least, though, I think we'll both hate it a little less if there's less pain, but more gain.

What spring cleaning chore do you hate the most?  Feel free to vent it here so we can all share each other's house cleaning frustrations.  Now, you have the floor (pun intended)... so please comment.

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation related to this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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Kids' Cartoon Network Firebreather Now on DVD & Blu-ray - Movie Review & Giveaway - ENDS 6/10/11



Kid Movie Review

See Entry Details below
Giveaway ENDS 6/10/2011


Firebreather DVD Box
Photo by Cartoon Network

Firebreather, the animated kids' feature film that premiered on Cartoon Network last fall with much ratings fanfare, is now in stores.  The film is brought to home video by Cartoon Network Enterprises and Warner Home Video.

Based on the comic book series by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn published by Image Comics, the new release is available on Blu-ray and DVD.  This is the story about a 16 year-old kid named Duncan as the new kid at school with some rather extraordinary challenges.  The CGI movie was a hit at our house, particularly with our eighth grade son who watched the DVD that we received for review.

The animated film was directed by Peter Chung (Aeon Flux), written by Jim Krieg, and executive produced by Julia Pistor (Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events).  Jesse Head (Summerland, So Little Time) voices Duncan, while Dana Delany (Tombstone, Desperate Housewives) speaks the role of overprotective mom and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show, Ben 10 Ultimate Alien) is the voice of dear old dad.
Scene from the film Firebreathers
Graphic by Cartoon Network

In the movie, Duncan's divorced parents certainly mean well.  Mom wants him to lead a normal life in contrast to Dad, who wants him to take over the world, literally.  The problem is that this parental discord -- and the fact that the lad is half human and half-Kaiju Dragon -- makes everything go haywire in this teenager's life.  

Come to think of it, how many moms and dads -- whether divorced or married -- don't have widely varying parenting styles that add to the drama of their children's upbringings, even when 100% human teens are involved?  Also, what tween or teen doesn't want to be more in control of what's going on around him or her at home, at school, and in his/her social life? 

With all this, not to mention the very cool animation artistry and blood-pumping energy, I could clearly understand why kids, particularly those in the 6-14 age range, might like this.

MommyBlogExpert's 13 Year-old Son
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas
MommyBlogExpert.com

My 13 year-old's take on the movie was decidedly different, which doesn't really surprise me because he's a kid and not a parent.   

He says, "I really liked Firebreather because the plot centers around one teen who has the power to decide the fate of two entire races.  The animation was utterly amazing, too -- I just loved how they turned this comic series and its main character into a fast-paced movie."

He adds, "I particularly enjoyed the chase scenes where Duncan is depicted as being very agile.  It's not only because the action itself is so exciting, but also because the computer-generated animation creates some really awesome simulated camera angles when he is running."
Duncan shows his agility in a scene from Firebreather
Graphic by Cartoon Network

This action-filled movie attracted 3.7 million persons, beating all other television networks by double digits and winning the night when it first aired on Cartoon Network on November 24, 2010.  

Just as impressive: It was the #1 show with Kids 6-14, Boys 9-14, and Tweens/Teens 12-17 versus programming on all broadcast and cable networks, according to Nielsen Media Research.  Since it was so well-received when it first aired, I think it might do well on video store shelves, too.

Firebreather DVD
GIVEAWAY CONTEST
Ends 6/10/2011
Firebreather DVD Box
Photo by Cartoon Network

HOW TO ENTER
Leave one or more comments below this post. Contest ends June 10, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only.

For the Required (Mandatory) Entry
Simply leave a comment below this blogpost with your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info so we may contact the winner.  In the event that you are the lucky one, MommyBlogExpert will contact you for your shipping address.

For Additional Chances to Win
Get extra entries for following MommyBlogExpert and/or Cartoon Network on Twitter and/or Facebook and for subscribing to this blog.  Remember: Be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each individual action you do to confirm them so we can record all your extra chances to win.

Follow MommyBlogExpert (1 or 2 extra entries)

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In ADDITION to doing any or all of the extra entries above, you can earn one extra entry each time you Tweet the message exactly in the paragraph immediately below (limit 3 separate tweets for 3 extra entries per day).  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link to right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for all your RTs.

Firebreather @CartoonNetwork Review & Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/4j6lxuc #GIVEAWAY #kids #movie #CGI #animated #comics RT 2 WIN

About Firebreather
Firebreather on Blu-ray and DVD is now available for the suggested retail prices of $28.99 and $19.97, respectively.  In English, with English subtitles, the original movie from Cartoon Network has a run time of 68 minutes.  Both the Blu-ray & DVD include a variety of bonus materials including deleted scenes, 2-D animation test, animatics, and a visual development featurette.

About Cartoon Network Enterprises
Cartoon Network, currently seen in more than 99 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD.  The network offers original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families.

About Warner Home Video
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace.  Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video, and New Line Home Entertainment.

FTC Disclosure:  I received an advance DVD of Firebreather from Cartoon Network to facilitate this movie review.  In addition, Cartoon Network is providing the prize for the associated giveaway.  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation related to this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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