How to clean your tub/shower - Soooo exciting! ;)

We have lived in this house for just over 20 years now.  I just cleaned the bathroom.  I would have preferred to write that I clean it every week, but I don't always do that.  I was thinking about that as I was down on my hands and knees washing the floor and I decided that I've probably cleaned that bathroom about 500 times in the years we have lived here.  That's a lot of times.  Not remarkable, except, that I have finally, as of today, come up with the Best Method Ever for cleaning our bathtub/shower.  It is one of those molded fiberglass units, very smooth and nice, actually. Unfortunately, like all such things, it gets a build up of soap scum and grunge on it.  I have tried many ways to clean it - "scrubbing bubbles", Commet cleanser, Bar keeper's Friend, baking soda, borax, and probably some I don't even remember.  All of them were okay, but nothing to get too excited about.  But NOW!!!!  TA-Da!!!  Eureka!  I have discovered something.  You are going to be amazed and shocked! 

Here is the scrubber thingie I've been using for a few years now, and I love it.  It does make the job easier.  These sorts scrubbers are available all over the place.  Just look in the area where they sell rubber gloves and toilet bowl brushes.  Here is one available online.

Now comes the secret -  Get the scrubber wet first.  Then, squirt a smallish stream of cheap shampoo in the bottom of your tub.  Then scrub as usual.  Voila!  Clean!  Easy!  Sparkling!

It makes sense... I mean, we use that stuff to wash our hair and it removes oils and other things.  It Really Works.  I used Suave (because that's what I have on hand) but I'm sure any regular shampoo would work.  There is no need to use anything expensive.

Try it and see what you think!

It's here! - Sort of...

Here is our mobile home, out in the road yesterday.

And here it is in place.

There is still a lot of work to be done to get it set properly, and install all of the utilities.  But, at least it is here!

More Rag Rugs!

See this mess??

My kitty likes it.  As you can see, my dining room is not exactly ready for company.  That is because we are preparing to move into our mobile home after it gets here.  I am trying to make some braided rag rugs to put by the bedsides in our new bedroom.  I found THIS tutorial, and am following it. 

I went to our local Goodwill store and purchased 3 bed sheets.  I began working on the braid and suddenly something occurred to me.  My sweet cousin, a number of months ago, redecorated her guest bedroom and she gave me the bed comforter, curtains, lamps with shades, pillow shams and sheets that she was done using.  When I bought the sheets for the rugs, I was not thinking AT ALL about trying to match them to the decor in our bedroom.  But, I got up from where I was working and brought out one of the lampshades.  As you can see, my rugs will match perfectly!

This really made me smile.  Here is the shade atop the fabrics:

Nothing short of amazing!

I tore all of the sheets into 2 inch strips:

And, I've been braiding them into a long long braid.  Instead of joining them as she did in her instructions, I am sewing them like this:

Then I trim off the excess:

and here is how that seam looks:

The rug will be smoother and I think maybe a bit more durable?

When you are braiding, you need something to hold onto the completed braid while you work.  My husband made this really cool thing for me. 

The part hanging down below wrapped in duct tape is metal and very heavy.  All I have to do is push it up and advance my work.  Pure genius!  He saw me struggling with a clamp and knew it would make my hand sore after a while.  I do love that man.  I will, hopefully, post pictures when I get the rugs done.  This is fun :).