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Monday

Welcome to Monday! Today, we're chatting about:

• The trick to quickly clean your home when you have surprise company

• How much laundry detergent you actually should be using

• An easy way to stay informed everyday

• The differences between “best by,” “sell by,” and expiration dates

How To Quickly Clean Your Home When You Have Surprise Company

It’s happened to many of us. You get a call that an unexpected guest is about to stop by. You glance around your home and begin to panic as you feel it’s a disaster.

Pause, take a moment, and breathe.

We’ve got some tips to help you speed-clean when unexpected company gives minimal notice they’re going to drop in.

• Focus on what they’ll actually see: Guests don’t need to be in your bedroom or your closet, so focus on the areas where they will actually see.

• Tidy up the big things — and stash if you have to: If there’s laundry or other clutter scattered about, gather them into a box or bin. If you have time to put them away, great! If not, put them somewhere your guests won’t see where you can put them away later.

• Focus on light-level cleaning: If there are areas that truly need to be scrubbed, wiped, swept, and vacuumed, focus on that. Sweeping the kitchen and quickly cleaning the bathroom can have a big impact — and while it might not be as clean as you’d like, it will work for a pinch!

• Lean into the illusion of cleanliness: Light a candle, artfully arrange your pillows, and use simple ambiance ideas to create the illusion that you are more ready for company than you appear!

Most of all, give yourself grace! You’re human, and it’s okay for your home not to look perfect 100% of the time.

Are You Using Too Much Laundry Detergent? (The Answer Is Likely Yes)

If we’re starting a load of laundry, many of us toss in a complete cap full (or more) of detergent. However, experts say that many of us are likely using far more laundry detergent than we need.

For a standard load of laundry, all that’s needed is roughly 1.5 ounces or a shot glass’ worth.

However, this can depend on a number of factors, including:

Load size: Naturally, a smaller load will require less detergent than a larger one.

How dirty your clothes are: If your clothes are dirtier or stinkier than normal, it’s a good call to add a bit more detergent.

If your washer is HE or standard, and top or front-loading: HE or high-efficiency washers use detergent that is much more concentrated, and you can use less. Top-loading washers also use more water, so may require more detergent.

Whether your home has hard or soft water: Hard water will not clean your clothes as easily as soft water, so may require a little extra laundry solution.

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The Differences Between “Best By,” “Sell By,” and Expiration Date Labels

When rummaging through your pantry to cook dinner, you might be disheartened to pull something off the shelf only to realize the “Best By” date was a week ago.

You may sigh and assume that means it has to be tossed. However, not all dates are created equal!

It turns out, dating can have different meanings depending on the accompanying language:

Best By: This means that a product will taste freshest when used by the date on the label.

Expiration: This is more of a hard-and-fast rule when it comes to certain products. If something is expired, it’s best to toss it out — especially when it concerns dairy products and produce. However, shelf-stable products may not be of peak quality after an expiration date

Use By: This is the last day a product is recommended to be used for optimal quality.

Sell By: This is more for store use and is used to indicate when a product should be sold by.

If a product is a little past the “best by,” “use by,” or “sell by” date and doesn’t show signs of spoilage, the USDA says “a product should still be safe and wholesome if handled properly until the time spoilage is evident.”

To check if an item is good, the USDA recommends looking for signs of spoilage, including abnormal flavors, smells, or textures. Even if a product has not reached its “best by” or other date, if it shows signs of spoilage, it’s always better to toss it than risk consuming it.

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: Homes are roughly 30% larger than they used to be. While that's 30% more space, that's also 30% more cleaning!

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Remember that no one is perfect, and it's okay if your home doesn't feel that way when company arrives!

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!