Most of us dread cleaning the microwave.  It would seem to be such an easy task, but reaching your arm into a small space and wiping off old food is not going to very fun.  That is why we need to keep our microwaves clean to start with.  When you microwave food always place a napkin or kitchen towel over the top of your food, this way it will not spatter all over the microwave.  Also, try not to put too much food in the microwave at once, this can lead to spillage and to uneven temperatures.  If you do make a spill or spatter in the microwave, wipe it down right away, this makes cleanup much easier.

If you have neglected to do any of the above and your microwave is caked with food particles, fill a microwave safe bowl with water, add one teaspoon of white vinegar and microwave on high for about 5 minutes.  This will give your microwave a steam bath and the food will wipe off very easily.  No need to use chemical cleaners. (Note: You can add 1 teaspoon of dish soap, baking soda or a slice of lemon to the water instead of white vinegar.)

A note on microwave safe bowls: If you are unsure if your mug or dish is microwave safe, here is a test you can do to find out.

1. Fill the mug or dish with cold water.

2. Microwave on high for 40 seconds.

3. Test the water, if it is still cold, the mug or dish is NOT microwave safe.  If the water is warm the dish IS microwave safe.

• Dishwashing Less>More
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Mopping is one of those chores that is boring, yet relaxing and is necessary to keep your floors sparkling clean.  I try to mop as least as possible and I do this by making sure that everyone in my family takes their shoes off at the door.  Doing this keeps the floors much cleaner for much longer and therefore, less mopping. YAY!  But, then the day comes and I get out my handy Clorox ready mop and within less than 10 minutes I have a sparkling clean floor again.

If you do not own a Clorox ready mop or a Swiffer ready mop you are missing out!  This is one of the best inventions and it makes your mopping so much easier, faster and cleaner.  Now, I am partial to the Clorox ready mop for several reasons, however both mops will do a great job I am sure.  I bought my Clorox ready mop at Stop and Shop a few years back and it is still working like the day I bought it.

When you get a Clorox ready mop it comes with a few cleaning pads and 1 bottle of cleaner.  Believe it or not that 1 bottle of cleaner and those few cleaning pads can last you a long time, and here is why.  When you are done cleaning your floor, just flip your cleaning pad over and use the other side.  It will be perfectly clean and ready for a new cleaning.  And, when your cleaning solution is all gone, just refill the bottle with your own.  There is no need to buy more cleaning solution bottles and waste more plastic and money.

If you have hardwood floors just add a few drops of Murphy’s Wood Cleaner, Pledge Wood Cleaner or good old Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap and fill the bottle to the top with water.  As for those cleaning pads, you can buy the knock off version for a few buck less and they work fantastic.  Or you can buy some cloth reusable cleaning pads that you throw in the washer between uses.  Either way, you will save some money!

If you register at the Clorox website, they will send you special offers via email, including a $5 coupon for your ready mop purchase.

• Do you hate cleaning your tub/shower?
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Are you thinking of getting rid of the roll of wax paper that is collecting dust in your kitchen drawer?  Well think again.  I know it may not come in handy all of the time, but when you read about the different ways your wax paper can come in handy you may start using it more often.  I was told recently by my sister-in-law Tabitha that she uses wax paper to line a cupcake tin when baking cupcakes.  No need to go out and buy special cupcake liners anymore.  Just tear off small squares or circles and stuff into each cupcake hole and spray with a little non stick spray, and viola, your own homemade cupcake liners.

After you have baked and decorated a beautiful cake, do you want to risk writing a message with frosting right on the cake and possibly messing up?  A no fail way to write a message on a cake and have it look perfect is to write your message on a piece of wax paper, freeze for 1/2 hour, loosen lettering and place in your cake.

Make dusting easier and place wax paper on the tops of bookcases, kitchen cabinets and shelves that are high up.  Every 2 months or so just fold up, dispose and replace with new.

Ball up some wax paper and wipe it along the bottom of a snow tube, snow slide or a shovel.

Press leaves between wax paper, melt to make a bookmark.

Frugal Tip: Use the plastic bags that hold your cereal as wax paper.  When your cereal is gone, just rinse, cut and reuse as if you were using wax paper.  Cost $0.

When freezing meat patties, fish steaks, chicken strips or any other meat, you can place a piece of wax paper between layers to help the meat to not stick together.

Rub a piece of wax paper along your shower curtain rod.  This will make your curtain glide back and forth, no more sticking.

Place a piece of wax paper between wet art projects, wet pages in a book or magazine.  Let dry.

Trace a pattern using wax paper.  You can copy an image from a book or even off of your computer screen.

When storing candles, wrap with wax paper. This way the colors from the candle will not bleed onto fabric or anything close by.

Wrap a sandwich with wax paper instead of a plastic baggy when packaging a bag lunch.

Wrap a gift with wax paper, add some ribbon and a bow. Watch video here.

Use wax paper when making candy, chocolate, cookies and more.  Lay some wax paper on the counter before rolling out cookie dough to make cleanup a breeze.

• Is it dishwasher safe?
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