Clean+istry spent part of the New Year’s holiday catching up on posts we missed last year like, for instance, this Consumer Reports Home & Garden piece about the growing scandal involving mold and front-loading washing machines.  Although the benefits of front-loaders are well documented (water and energy efficiency, consistently high ranking in performance tests), some owners have complained of mold developing around the rubber gasket of the door to which Clean+istry responds…’ick’.

Apparently, the problem has become chronic for certain machines.  Class-action suits are targeting companies such as  LG, Whirlpool and Sears. Unfortunately, solutions recommended by several of the companies ring lame:  Whirlpool sells Affresh tablets; Sears warns against using non-HE (high efficiency) detergents; LG advises running a hot water cycle with bleach once or twice a month.

Consumer reports suggests:
• When washing, use warm or hot water unless a load requires cold.
• Wipe the door gasket and glass dry once you’re done washing.
• Clean the detergent dispenser and any attachments once or twice a month.
• Run a dehumidifier if your laundry room is damp.

FYI, Clean+istry has successfully owned and operated a Bosch Nexxt 700 series (800 pictured above) front loader for several years.  Mold-free we are happy to report.

Start the new year with the Batlo colored faucet and the drop colored shower.  Inspired by the universal symbol for water–the bottle–designer Giulio Iacchetti has made stainless steel, at least for the moment, feel so 2008.

The faucet collection comes covered in a soft finish in bottle green, red coral and blue.

The Drop shower, inspired by a simple, single drop of water, comes in orange, black, white and blue.  Visit iB Rubinetterie of Italy for more info.

via trendir

“Wanted:  Compulsively neat, highly organized people to live in houses being marketed for sale. Must keep house suitable for showing at all times. Dirty dishes, used bath towels and stray newspapers strictly prohibited.”

When Clean+istry read this opening paragraph, we thought we’d stumbled onto our ‘dream’ job.

While not exactly a paid position, neatniks (Clean+istry’s tribe) are increasingly being recruited as home managers, or live-in stagers, as a strategy to sell lingering real estate–especially high end properties.  The theory takes the  freshly-baked-cookies-in-the-oven approach one step further: a lived-in, perfectly kept home with beautiful furnishings should attract greater attention than a stale-smelling, empty house.

Of course, to be a home manager, the house must be ready for showing at all times (shouldn’t be a problem for qualified applicants) and lease terms are strictly month-to-month.  But there’s an opportunity to live in beautiful surroundings for a fraction of the price.  Remember, during tough economic times contingency planning is always wise.

read the entire NYT article here.

At Clean+istry we are firm believers that prevention is the best approach to cleaning and maintenance. Therefore, we spend a fair amount of time covering tabletop protection and thus, our obsession with the coaster.

Anything modern-twist makes us weak in the knees.

Read more here and here and here.

“Runners”-up:

The new chilewich dot collection is great, particularly if your table is clear and illuminated.

And, in the disposable and pretty great pun category, there’s doily news.

There’s more with search.

Not to put a damper on your holidays, but Clean+istry was way in front of the current economic catastrophe with recession cleaning tips.  Even though 2009 looks to be a frugal year, there is no reason it should not remain clean.

1. weekend task: recession shopping guide
2. recession cleaning part 1: pH neutral dishwashing detergent
3. recession cleaning part 2:  windows, mirrors and glass
4. recession cleaning part 3:  make your own soft scrub

The pressure washer is our favorite new cleaning tool of the year.  We had no idea how much we needed one until…

related links:

1. people bond with pressure washers
2. spring cleaning:  pressure washers
3. decks look better and last longer with regular maintenance
4. cleaning the outdoor shower
5. fall clean-up
6. leaf stains

Just in time for the holidays, Real Simple online has introduced a new, interative guide to common stains and how to remove them.  Stains are organized as follows:

1. Arts & Crafts
2. Beauty & Health
3. Home & Nature
4. Sauce & Condiment
5. Drink & Dessert

Simply click on the stain and steps for removing them appear.  The guidelines look a bit “sponsor” driven, but we’re not complaining.  It’s a good resource and, yes, we’re a bit jealous.

visit RealSimple

What would vacuums be without vacuum attachments?  What would vacuums or vacuum attachments be without tips for using them?  Our favorite attachment for the year was the Miele CarClean Set Plus.  The turbo head does double duty when cleaning upholstery indoors.

The soft vacuum hose sock has answered the question:  how do I use my central vac without destroying the paint on corners in the house?

Our 2008 favorite tips (among many):

1. tip of the day:  vacuum the vegetable bin
2. comprehensive (and concise) carpet cleaning guide
3. cleaning Ultrasuade frabric
4. wicker cleaning basics
5. cork floor care
6. clean the vacuum brush
7. bamboo floor care and maintenance
8. ocd sunday (posted on monday): vacuum the oven?
9. spring cleaning:  general chores
10. o.c.d. sunday (posted on monday): vacuum the mattress
11. vacuuming 101: selecting the appropriate floor attachment
12. vacuuming 101:  frequency

This should get you started for the new year.

We spent considerable time with vacuums in 2008 because the vacuum may be the most important household cleaning appliance EVER created.  Nothing does so much to eliminate the dust and grim that will attack your furniture and floors.

1. raycop antibacterial vac (pictured above)
   
2. electrolux underbed bagged vacuum cleaner
3. iRobot, pet series
4. vroom
5. consumer reports rates top vacuums
6. electrolux EnviroVac
7. the first green vacuum cleaner

Storing wood indoors is tricky.  It needs to be 1) accessible to the fireplace, b) off the floor (unlike the example below) c) out of the way and d) attractively positioned.  Too few of US think about this in the construction process.

The next three pictures come from Remodelista’s Minimalist Fireplace Roundup.

Georgica Road House, Deborah Berke & Partners

Two more shots from Remodelista (who should, by the way, be awarded the ‘best taste on the web’).

Michaelis Boyd

Edinburgh Flat