You already know about the four daily routines I use to keep my house Clean Enough, but I have a secret little ritual that takes house cleaning from something I would rather avoid to something almost pleasurable. Want to know what it is?
My secret ritual
First, I make myself a tasty delicious smelling coffee, next I grab my favorite Mrs. Meyers cleaning products, light a candle, turn on some tunes, and THEN I start puttering around the house getting things clean.
So why does that ritual work for me?
Most of you who read my blog regularly might remember that I adore Alexandra Stoddard. One of the things I appreciate about her is she understands how important involving all of our senses is in the process of daily rituals.
In one of my favorite books of all time “Living a Beautiful Life” Alexandra wrote:
“Being happy and peaceful, especially at home…is the goal: stimulating the senses is one way to start. I’ve learned to tease myself into doing necessary and useful tasks by stimulating my senses as I go along.”
I agree totally — I have to TRICK myself into enjoying daily chores like cleaning or laundry. If I put on some music, light some candles and only use products that smell great and look pretty I can actually enjoy the process!
Awhile back my husband brought home a counter cleaner and proceeded to clean the counters for me. Nice, huh? But suddenly I couldn’t STAND the smell of my house! It reeked! My counters actually smelled like spicy Italian sausage. Gah, who wants their counters to stink like SAUSAGE when there is no Italian food anywhere in sight? ANYONE? I was appalled that anyone would make a product that was so stinky!!
I rummaged around to see what in the world he had cleaned with and it was some product labeled with the scent “basil.” Well, while we will NEVER again buy THAT product, I can tell you the Mrs. Meyer basil scented products smell DIVINE. You want your home to be “squeaky clean, not STINKY clean!”
Mrs. Meyers products smell SO good that I catch myself thinking about cleaning just so I can get out my pretty bottles and smell the wonderful scents! I’ve been known to want to strap a good smelling candle to my nose all day, that is how much a good scent means to me!
The other day I had a lavender scented candle going when my daughters came home from college, and they marveled over how great our house smelled, it was HEAVENLY! I also love lemon verbena and geranium too!
Aren’t they adorable in my laundry room?
Mrs. Meyers is a sponsor of The Inspired Room this month and also of today’s post but all that really means is that she paid me to enjoy using and smelling her products and tell you honestly what I really think of them. I know, it is a TOUGH job but SOMEONE has to do it. It might as well be me, right? Heh heh, I do love my job and I love sharing what works for me!
Quick little faux-cleaning tip for you.
Take your counter spray and spray a little whiff of it on your door frame. Your house will smell divine every time you walk through or open and shut the door. And your husband will assume you’ve been cleaning today instead of reading blogs. Yes. You’re welcome.
{The coupon offer has now expired so I removed the coupon that was here}
Have you used Mrs. Meyers’ products?
Which are your favorites (I haven’t tried them all so I’d love to know what to try next!)
They had a peppermint vanilla scent a coupke of years ago that was divine at this time of year! And of course my FAVE…geranium.
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oh my word, that sounds DELISH!
I’ve never tried them because they aren’t sold in our Walmart–however, with everyone raving about them I need to get on the train!
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Okay, I want your coffee maker!
Ha, it is pretty awesome I have to admit
But sometimes I am just as happy with powdered Cafe Vienna 
do a post about your coffee maker. I’m looking for “special” coffee maker and need some help. Would love to know what you think of yours!!
I love mine…it is actually my mom’s but she had two, so she left one at my house for us. It makes DELICIOUS coffee and I am completely addicted to my machine now!
a few years back when they came to a store here in RI I tried the geranium and LOVED it. Now we use the basil, but I want to go back to the geranium after that
I love Mrs. Meyer’s products! My favorite scent is the lemon verbena! You are so right about pleasant scents making housecleaning more enjoyable – I actually look forward to cleaning when I can use a Mrs. Meyer’s product! One other trick I like to use is to put a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball and vacuum it up – it really freshens the air while vacuuming! I also use a little lavender essential oil with water in a spray bottle as an ironing or linen spray. It’s a pleasure to make the bed up with a little lavender linen spray!
BRILLIANT TIP! I Love that. I’m totally going to do that.
Love Mrs. Meyers products, usually find them at our local Target (although limited selection) and Whole Foods. Will check out Walmart! The products smell divine.
Love Alexandra Stoddard too. I have had her books for years and refer back to them often.
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I love Mrs. Meyers too. In fact I was part of a “favorite things” link and Mrs. Meyers was on my list.Geranium is my favorite scent but I also have a small amount of gingerbread left that only use in December.
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Oh thanks so much. Will definitely try them and you’re right – - the bottles are pretty enough to decorate with. But the best part is buying more blog time! Thanks.
I so agree with tricking yourself! AND I scored big this weekend at TJMaxx – two – yes TWO of the Iowa pine cleaning kits! My husband just shook his head that someone would get excited over cleaning products. Oh well, it’s the little things in life that make it wonderful, right?
Happy cleaning!
Twitter: makeroomfor
says:
You and the Nester are making me want to clean–which is a strange feeling for me
I have my basic routines, but rarely bust out with a cleaning desire. I need some Mrs. Meyer’s in my life.
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I saw the Iowa Pine cleaning kits at Marshall’s last week. I bet they aren’t still there now. I should’ve been impulsive and gotten them.
I haven’t ever tried those – but if they smell good enough to make me want to clean – perhaps I will have to!!
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Living a Beautiful Life is one of my favorite books too! I am looking for Mrs Meyers cleaning supplies and may have to buy them online while there is free shipping. I would have thought our Walmart would have them (we are the capital city of Virginia!) but so far, no go. Thanks for this post. I love cleaning posts (it’s like reading Shape magazine and feeling fit afterward!)
LOVE. Mrs Meyers! I have been a faithful user for years. I use the Lemon Verbena on an everyday basis but fell in love with the Iowa Pine last year. Still on the hunt for it this year so i guess I am heading to Marshalls!
Mrs. Meyers sounds like a wonderful product. However, I just visited the Mrs. Meyers site and the prices seem a little high to me. Baking soda and vinegar are great inexpensive cleaning supplies even though their aroma is not as appealing.
I love Alexandra Stoddard too!! I think we should all enjoy our homes more. I will be on the look out for Mrs Meyer products. Right now I am stuck on Fabuloso in the orchard scent. It makes me want to clean and that is a GOOD Thing as Martha Stewart would say!
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Who me?…reading blogs instead of cleaning?…your faux-cleaning tip cracked me up this morning.
{shifting eyes}
I got the basil dish soap and until it ran out, I’d fill the sink full of hot soapy water each morning, (after the dishes were done) just to have the smell in my kitchen and to use to clean up the little messes that occur all morning.
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I love, love Mrs. Myers products…with Lemon Verbena being my favorite. I was sad when she quit making her linen spray…always loved my linen clothes ironed with Lemon Verbena. I couldn’t believe it when I saw her products at my Wal-mart…I always had to order it or get it at my local Fresh Market. Mmmmm…I think I need to go clean my counter tops!
LOVE this idea. I’m going to check out WalMart for sure.
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I love the smell of Mrs. Meyers. However, I was using the counter spray on my countertops and would notice a buildup developing. I would try to resolve by watering it down but it still was building up. Does anyone else have this problem or knows how to fix? I can get my kids to clean the kitchen with no whining when I let them use that spray.Thanks.
I have shiny black granite? why? and noticed when I used the counter top SCRUB that it left a little cloudyness–I wiped it with plain water twice and it went away.
I bet if you use the concentrate bottle of all purpose cleaner and use that to make your own countertop spray you won’t have that problem. If you read the side of the bottle on the counter spray it says they add a little bit of some kind of oil in the counter spray, I wonder if that’s what makes it not as shiny? Make your own and leave out the extra oil?
Just a thought?
Thanks Nester.
Yes, I bet it is the oil. I have shiny granite that gets that way with certain products but using a concentrate and mixing it at less strength has helped too…we could ask Mrs. Meyers. I bet she would know.
I use lemon verbena, but I think I’m going to have to branch out and buy some more now that I know they might be at my Walmart!
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Good morning Melissa. Just had to tell you that my morning devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries (crosswalk.com) was all about scents too. Check it out. Isn’t it great how God works? He must want me to have good smells in my life today! (: Have a gloriously good smelling day today.
How cool? That is awesome!
I printed my Mrs. Myers coupon!!
Could you please tell us about your coffee maker? I’m serious – I’m in the market for a new one but can’t afford a Miele!
I read your about your devotion to Mrs. Meyers and thought, oh, how good can it be?!?! I bought the counter spray, because I had just run out of Sparkle, and LOVED it!! It took off grime above my oven that I had been trying to get off for months! And I used it on the counters, stainless fridge, faucets, and mirrors! LOVE it!! Thank you for raving!
I love the lemon scent too!
Okay, so I’ve NEVER heard of Mrs. Meyers! What’s up with that? I must find some soon!
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Haven’t tried Mrs. Meyers products…but will look for them now. DH and I split the housecleaning and always have. He goes in one direction and I go in the other…except that I am the kitchen nazi as he calls me…have to wipe down the counters at least 20 times a day…lol I hate vacuuming so he does that and he hates dusting so I do that. I learned a long time ago to not criticize him when he makes any type of iniciative around the house…and it works
If he’s doing something differently than I would do it…I simply leave the room…what you don’t see doesn’t hurt you right? I love Alexandra and her philosphies for living a beautiful life and own all of her books as well. Thanks for sharing today. Fondly, Roberta
Ha, that is so funny. My husband didn’t like the way I folded laundry so now I let him do it
I’m happy to let him and I agree totally, I just keep quiet about his methods because I’d rather see it DONE than done by him than done my way by ME! lol!
I think I have to build a ritual around my cleaning, too. Reading your post, I almost want to get up and clean. (But I will sit on the sofa until the feeling passes, hehe.)
I regularly put a bit of lavender on the floor before vacuuming. Whenever I turn on the vacuum it smells nice. It also works with a drop of scented oil on the filter.
I loved your faux cleaning tip.
Do you have a faux laundry folding tip for me, too?
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I love the Lemon Verbena! Everytime I use it my husband says “It smells good in here!”
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I love that – “your husband will assume you’ve been cleaning today, instead of reading blogs.” Bwah ha ha!
I have not tried them………but I keep spying them in our WalMart…I think I need to make a run to WalMart now! Thanks Melissa!
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Melissa….I LOVE your cleaning tips! And this…”And your husband will assume you’ve been cleaning today instead of reading blogs. Yes. You’re welcome.”
And, I LOVE Mrs. Meyers! Geranium is my FAVORITE, but a few years ago, they had Gingerbread! I cannot tell you how happy that made me!
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GINGERBREAD? Oh my…yum.
I used to use Mrs Meyers when I had a cleaning business when I was younger! Stuff smells ridiculously awesome! I sure am glad I didnt run into that basil scented stuff that Jerry did.. HAHA!
Great tips about how to get into cleaning, and you are right we need to involve our senses more. I need to get into that mood for myself this week when I have the time..
I love your tips-
trick yourself into doing the chores you hate (LAUNDRY)
and spray a whiff of scent on your door frame. Genius!
Off to Walmart to buy Melissa- thank you!
I’m putting this on my shopping list! WOW! Thank you for sharing this. I LOVE my house to be and smell clean. I can’t wait to try these!
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I will be going to Walmart!!! I LOOOOOVE lovely smells. That is why I started making my own candles and soap.
And Alexandra Stoddard is my favorite! I love how inspiring her books are. I have several of them. She’s my hero!
I do the same thing though when I have an unpleasant task (like cleaning or paperwork) light candles, put on music, make a cup of something wonderful. It sure does help.
)
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I checked my spam folder before dumping it, and there was “The Inspired Room.” What?! Then I saw the title of your blog post and had to laugh. Thanks for the tip. Anything that will make me WANT to clean is worth checking out. And I, too, love Alexandra Stoddard.
Have a blessed, beautiful-smelling day!
Ah, glad you got me out of SPAM!
Love these products! I’ve used them for years. Lavender is my all year favorite. But last year I found the pine scent at Target for Christmas time. I agree that we must trick ourselves and if wonderful smells can do it, then go for it. I treat myself to tea and a square of chocolate when I finish.
I have made washing dishes tolerable too but this method. I lather up my hands with lotion and put on gloves. Run the water hot as I can and add the Lavender dish soap. This may be a stretch – but it’s like a spa treatment for my hands!
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You are so lucky! Must be nice getting free stuff
I love Mrs. Meyers as well!
Love Mrs. Meyer’s! Basil is my favorite scent. I use it all the time and have recommended it to so many.
I have a bone to pick though…..I can’t find the seasonal scent, Orange Clove, anywhere. It’s sold out online, weeks ago! No stores around here have it. What’s up?!
Thanks!
love this post!
you’ve got me sold. Anything… a.n.y.thing to help make cleaning something i enjoy, I just googled Mrs. Meyers and am happy to report Canadian Tire offers her counter spray. I’m off to get me a little cleaning inspiration.
Thanks,
Dana
My favorite cleaning products are the farmhouse products. They have the best scents and the packaging is so nice, a little hard to find though.
i adore your blog, mrs. meyers, and alexandra stoddard. i want to marry you, we would have the happiest cleanest home around.
xo
I LOVE and ADORE Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products! Thanks for the coupon!
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I’m still laughing over the faux cleaning tip….
I just purchased my first Mrs. Meyer’s products last week and have been quietly kicking myself for not trying them sooner. I am totally a *mood* cleaner and the reward of her squeaky fresh scents makes me WANT to clean. I bought lemon verbena and LOVE it, but I look forward to trying more scents soon.
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I just picked up a cute little 4 pack carton of Mrs Meyers Iowa Pine. Found it at Marshalls for $10. Loved it all except for the dish soap. Not really wanting my dishes to smell like pine. But I love the counter spray!
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Such a fun post! Cleaning your house is good for the soul! I’ve tried several products and my favorites are Cucina Fruits and Passion spray cleaners (any of their scents), Method Lavender glass cleaner, and Mrs. Meyer’s Rose Geranium dish soap. I even added a Cucina spray to my list of “scrumptious gifts!”
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I haven’t used those products, but I’m always buying new cleaning products, LOL, so that will be next on my list. I do however, employ your tactics of music, and yummy candles while cleaning. It just seems to make everything go faster!
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I loved your quick little faux-cleaning tip. Cracked me up this afternoon! And…I’m totally trying it today:)