Hot Topics

If the holidays seem stressful to you, imagine what they can do to your home. Thinking ahead and stocking up on emergency supplies can save you frustration later. Here are some suggestions:

Batteries, fuses, surge protectors and extension cords.

 You'll likely use more electricity than usual, so keep extras on hand.

Major appliances.

 Check household appliances that can affect your holiday plans, and make sure they're in good working order. For most people, these include the oven, dishwasher, heating system, washer/dryer—even your blender or mixer.

Drano® Prevention.

 Don’t let unexpected clogs ruin your holiday spirit. Use Drano® on a monthly basis leading up to the holidays to prevent build-up from forming in your pipes and to help keep your drains running smoothly.

Fire extinguisher.

 Have one readily available in the kitchen and in rooms that have fireplaces or lots of decorations. Then make sure everyone in your family knows where the extinguishers are stored and how to use them.

Hurry up and wait.

 Pre-treat spots and stains when they occur with Shout® Advanced Ultra Gel and wash up to one week later. You’ll save by waiting until you have a full load rather than washing several smaller loads.

Keep it cold.

 Water costs money to heat, so unless labels specify otherwise, wash your loads on the cold cycle.

A lot of hot air.

 Dry your loads back to back so the dryer doesn't have to cool down between cycles. And make sure to clean your lint filter between loads to keep your dryer working as efficiently as possible.

Less is more.

 Some people swear by using half to three-quarters of the recommended amount of detergent. And to save more money, you can cut dryer sheets in half, as member Lisa O. suggests.

Sort by weight.

 Lightweight sheets need far less time in the dryer than heavy towels, so grouping similarly weighted items will cut down on dryer time.

Here’s a great timesaving suggestion from member Kriss M. of Idaho Falls, ID. She uses Ziploc® Fresh Shield® Double Zipper Storage Bags to individually store and organize all her sewing and crafts projects. When you keep all the pieces together with the instructions, you can quickly find the project you want to work on.

But don’t stop there! Take advantage of sturdy, clear Ziploc® Brand Big Bags to make gift-wrap kits with wrapping paper, tissue and greeting cards for each occasion. Store the extra buttons and yarn that come with new clothes along with needles and thread for convenient repairs. Make a kit for your luggage with stamps, stationary and a pen for quick notes home. Even pre-pack paper plates, napkins and plastic utensils for on-the-go lunch kits.

For bulkier items like game pieces, manicure supplies or small baking tools, use Ziploc® Brand Containers with Snap 'n Seal Lids, available in a variety of sizes.

Fans are a tried-and-true way to cool a room, and are more cost effective and efficient than running your air conditioner. But to run optimally, they must be clean.

Sabrina Fierman, vice president at New York’s Little Elves, a high-end, full-service cleaning company, notes that all fans—whether floor, table or ceiling—“must be kept dust free” to keep dust from overtaking the room when the fan is on. Fierman suggests dusting the fan weekly with something dry, soft and nonabrasive like the Pledge® Multi Surface Duster, whose angled handle and all-around grabbing and trapping fibers work easily to navigate between crevices, casings and blades for optimal dust pickup.

If your fans have caked-on grime, Fierman recommends wiping down their surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner like Nature's Source® Natural All-Purpose Cleaner.

Finally, Fierman suggests placing roach baits under the bases of floor and table fans because “roaches gravitate to dark, warm places.” (Try Raid® Double Control Large Roach Baits).

First thing in the morning, spend 15 minutes tackling a specific task—gathering the laundry, wiping down the bathroom or vacuuming the house. Then take 15 minutes before bed to check another task off your list. Iron a few shirts or clean out the refrigerator in the cool of the evening.

Right@Home™ member Cathi C. of Marietta, GA, takes this one step further in order to enjoy more free time during the summer. “Twice a day, in the morning and again at night, I do a quick sweep of the house to clear away clutter and spruce up the most used rooms.”

To maximize your time, choose versatile products like Windex® Original Glass & Surface Wipes and Pledge® Multi Surface Cleaner , which you can use from surface to surface and room to room.

With just a little planning—a basket packed with essentials and a fridge stocked with picnic favorites in Ziploc® Brand Snap 'n Seal Containers—you’re always ready for a relaxing outdoor meal.

“Most of my family’s meals during summer are out of doors,” says member Deborah B. of Carson City, NV. Rather than cook from scratch every time, she’ll “make big batches of pasta or potato salad and put them in smaller containers to use for different meals.”

Deborah also believes in keeping it green. “Whether it is a local park or a national campground, I always follow the camper’s motto, ‘Leave it better than you found it.’”

That means stocking your basket with a trash bag and—in place of disposables—reusable plates, flatware, bottles and cups. Just wash the items when you get home and put them right back in the basket so you’re ready for your next impromptu outing.

You don’t need an artistic bone in your body to create a unique work of art for your home. All you need are your books—and a little imagination.

For example, artist Chris Cobb turned the Adobe Bookshop in San Francisco into an art installation by arranging all 20,000+ books by the color of their jackets—instead of by author or by category. He wanted to create something amazing and beautiful for the store’s customers.

Organizing books by color is an inexpensive way to brighten up a child’s room. Or try it with your cookbooks, since they’re on display in the kitchen already. You might be surprised at how easy color makes it to find a favorite recipe!

Dust your reorganized books often with a Pledge® Multi Surface Duster. It has a fluffy 360-degree duster that’s great for cleaning shelves and books—even in those hard-to reach corners.

With only 50 percent of Americans recycling aluminum cans, enough aluminum is thrown away every three months to rebuild our entire commercial air fleet. Because sorting and storing recyclables seem to be two of the biggest obstacles to actually recycling, here are some easy tips to make the process more manageable.

Place your recycling bins in kitchen cabinets close to the sink, because many
recyclables need to be rinsed. If you’re hesitant to give up cabinet space, then rethink your storage. Move rarely used pots and small appliances to an overhead rack or another cabinet.

You can fit a four-bin pullout into a 27-inch base cabinet. A corner cabinet with a lazy-susan-type rack may be awkward for kitchen utensils but perfect for recycling bins. For small kitchens, store bins on the lower shelf of a mobile work cart.

Between pickups, clean out your recycling bins with Antibacterial fantastik® All Purpose Heavy Duty Cleaner to remove any residual grime and leave a fresh scent.

With so many options in the shopping aisle these days, consumer confidence is waning and it’s hard to know which products are right for your family and home. The options can be overwhelming, especially when keeping a family healthy may be as simple as knowing what is inside the products you use every day. Wouldn’t it be easier to know what you’re getting by simply reading it and not finding out the hard way? We agree and believe in your right to know what’s in the products you use to freshen and clean your home.

We’re happy to introduce the new What’s Inside SC Johnson website at www.WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com. Get a closer look at the ingredients inside SC Johnson products and what that means for you and your family. Search by brand or by product use and learn more about the ingredients. New products will be added to the site over the coming months, so be sure to check back regularly. You may learn something new— or you may just leave What’s Inside SC Johnson knowing that when you reach for an SC Johnson product, you can feel good about it.

"Under the bed is an ideal storage space," says Lisa Zaslow, a New York professional organizer who owns Gotham Organizers. "It can free up closet and floor space."

The trick is to use a mapping strategy, instead of just throwing things under there haphazardly. Zaslow recommends the middle for "occasionally used items like gift wrap, tools, guest linens or outfits and accessories for special occasions." Keepsakes and memorabilia can go there, too.

Put seasonal or frequently used items, like sweaters and footwear, on the perimeter of the bed so they’re easily accessible. Shoes in particular are "perfect for underbed storage," says Zaslow

Lastly, help protect items from dust by storing them in Ziploc® Brand Flexible Totes. They’re soft-sided so they don’t take up extra space. Plus, an easy-close zipper keeps dust away, and built-in handles mean you can pull out the totes easily when you need them.

Start by videotaping or taking photos of each room in your home and making a list of your possessions. Describe each item — where you bought it, the make, model and serial number. For clothes, make a list of what you own by category—jackets, pants, shoes—and make special note of valuable items. If you don’t have a receipt, you may be able to find the purchase in your old credit card statements — even if you don’t have the hard copies, you can check online.

Use Ziploc® Brand Storage Bags to store the receipts, printed photos, videos, appraisals and warranties for each item. Be sure to back up digital files (still photos or video) to a CD or hard drive and store them with your other information.

Once your inventory is complete, keep it in a safe deposit box or other secure location that’s away from your home—but easy to access when needed.

Pet hair can build up in areas where your pet spends a lot of time, like that comfy couch in your living room. And if the color of your furniture is close to your pet’s hair color, you may not even see it. But when guests sit on your couch, they run the risk of getting all that hair on their clothes.

Skip lint rollers–they’re too small for big surfaces like sofas, and you’ll use them up fast. A better solution is the Pledge™ Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair. Simply slide the sweeper side to side in short strokes to pick up pet hair from soft surfaces like upholstered furniture, blankets, pillows, bedspreads—even the soft surfaces in your car.

And to help keep pet hair at bay, groom your pets at least once every two weeks. Brushing removes loose hair and produces a smoother coat, free of snags, which will make grooming a more pleasant experience for your pet.

No one likes a supermarket trip that takes longer than necessary. But starting with a well-organized shopping list can speed your trip, says Jeanne Besser, a food columnist and co-author of The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook.

Besser keeps a shopping-list template on her computer, organized by her route through the supermarket. The template is filled in with items she buys weekly and has space to add anything additional. Family members use a kitchen notepad to jot down requests plus items they’ve run out of. These get added to the shopping-list template before the weekly shopping trip. Check out FreePrintableGroceryList.com and choose from a variety of lists.

Besser also clips coupons for only those things she uses regularly. For easy access to your own coupons, stash them in a Ziploc® Brand Snack Bag and clip the bag to your shopping list.

Every day, choose one task: a paper-strewn desktop, a messy drawer, a disheveled closet. Now set your timer for 10 minutes and sort, toss and organize until the buzzer sounds.

The goal isn't to finish the job in one session but to chip away at it in short, focused bursts known as "power organizing." Once you learn that, it won't be long before you notice dramatic results.

Keep Ziploc® Brand bags and containers on hand while you work so you can stash clutter culprits like pens, toiletries, gloves, hats, etc.

Invite a friend to join you so you can keep each other on track and swap daily progress reports.

Avoid distractions: no phone calls, e-mails or television!

Pennsylvania-based artist/author Barbara Lane calls this simple concept life changing. "I realized I could do anything for 10 minutes," she says. Nagging piles no longer hold her back. "I feel freer and lighter, and the creativity just flows now."

When school's in session, your kids can log many hours at their desks. Give them a clean slate by helping them get organized. "Keep it simple," advises professional organizer Monica Friel of Chaos to Order™. "The desk is a work surface, not a storage area."

When a desk gets messy, declutter, clean and organize it. Remove everything, vacuum the drawers and dust surfaces off with Pledge® Multi Surface Duster. Before you replace anything, throw out what you can and decide what you should store for safekeeping (such as report cards).

Get your kids involved. Let them test pens and throw out dried-up markers. Arrange supplies using drawer dividers or Ziploc® Brand Snap 'n Seal Containers. Sort paperwork into file folders. Says Friel, "Kids, like adults, can be more creative and do better work if they make better use of their space."

If your insect control program isn't the right one for the job, you may end up feeling frustrated—or even embarrassed. That's why the more you know about unwanted insects, the better prepared you’ll be to send them packing.

For example, did you know that yellow jackets, a type of wasp, can be controlled by setting a trap for the queen in early spring? That mosquitoes can breed in as little as a tablespoon of standing water, making repair of leaky faucets a summer must? Or that warm summer temps can bring about increased insect activity—including critters you may have never even seen before!

Get this kind of information, and much more, with the Raid® Solution Finder. This helpful tool shows a complete lineup of household pests so you can easily identify them and learn their habits and weaknesses. You'll also find helpful solutions for managing the insect pests that show up in your home and yard—and the events you host in them.


Hot Topic August 2008

Clean outside glass doors with Windex® Outdoor Window & Surface Cleaner—its sheeting action means you won’t need to wipe the glass dry afterward. Then use Windex® Original Glass Cleaner on the inside glass to cut through any grimy smears and leave a brilliant streak-free shine.

Keep doors sliding smoothly by using a flat-head screwdriver to clear caked-on dirt from the bottom track and to unclog small “weep holes” near the floor. Once the track is cleaned and vacuumed, lubricate it with whatever silicone spray product the door manufacturer suggests. While you’re at it, take a close look at your locks to see if they need to be cleaned or lubricated. If doors still drag, their wheels may be uneven. Insert your screwdriver into the small hole near the bottom of the door, lift the door slightly and turn the screw to raise or lower wheels evenly.

All that’s left to do is pour yourself a glass of lemonade, sit back and enjoy the view!


Hot Topic for July 2008

When your guests can’t stop talking about how smoothly your party went, you’ll be glad you took the time to plan ahead to prevent common problems—such as clogged drains, smelly bathrooms and even ruined party clothes from your special-event salsa.

Don’t let clogged drains become an embarrassment at your party. Keep your drains running smoothly and prevent clogs before they become a problem by using Drano® Prevention on a monthly basis.

Likewise, keep your home smelling clean and inviting for guests with Oust® Surface Disinfectant & Air Sanitizer. Use it on toilet seats, countertops, doorknobs and other hard surfaces to kill bacteria like staph and salmonella. It also eliminates odors by killing odor-causing bacteria in the air.

And when something unpredictable happens—like salsa stains on pretty party clothes—your guests will be glad you thought ahead and considerately placed a basket of Shout® Wipes in the bathroom. These convenient stain-absorbing cloths instantly lift and remove the types of drips and spills on clothes that are bound to happen at any party.


Hot Topic for June 2008

That’s pretty common. Every year more than 50 million people in the U.S. help care for an older, disabled or chronically ill family member or friend. Often people who need that support, especially women who take pride in the homes they’ve created, have trouble asking for it.

Help your loved ones with their cleaning tasks, and you’ll help them continue to feel comfortable and cozy in their own homes. Try lending a hand with window washing or anything that requires reaching or stretching. Clean hard-to-reach spaces that might be difficult for someone with back problems or creaky knees. Shine up the bathroom surfaces, shower and tub. Windex® Original Glass & Surface Wipes make it convenient to shine up glass, mirrors and other surfaces throughout the house in one easy step.

And help your loved ones even when you’re not there by installing a Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner. A daily touch of a button is all it takes to maintain a spotless shower!


Hot Topic for May 2008

Judging from the creative green tips you’ve shared with us, you’re already a big part of this exciting change. It’s also clear you’re interested in using effective household products that are better for the environment.

To help out, SC Johnson created Greenlist™, a patented process in place since 2001. The Greenlist™ process helps the scientists at SC Johnson make choices that protect the planet and its people while maintaining the high performance of familiar products like Windex®.

The Greenlist™ process rates the raw materials that go into SC Johnson products and packaging for their health, safety and environmental impacts. As new products are developed, or improvements are made to existing ones, each raw material is evaluated and SC Johnson’s scientists aim to make the best possible choices. And those are the kinds of choices we all can appreciate.


Hot Topic for April 2008

Before you shop, consider your needs. Hard-surface flooring? Choose a versatile canister vacuum with attachments that use brushes or metal bottom plates. The plates should lift high enough so they don’t scratch your floors.

Powerful uprights are great for carpets because carpeting requires more suction to get the dirt out. Make sure the height can adjust to handle a variety of carpet piles. If your home is on more than one floor, weight may be a factor. And look for a cord that’s long enough to use in your largest room without having to unplug the vacuum.

To help fight the dust that can cause allergies, get a vacuum with a filtration system. HEPA filters claim to capture 99.97 percent of all particles.

A good vacuum cleaner can be expensive, so consider buying a refurbished model. You can find a bargain—just be sure to ask for a warranty. And don’t forget to keep your bargain running in tip-top shape by referring to the owner’s manual for information on regular maintenance.


Hot Topic for March 2008

Did you know most women wear only 20 percent of their clothes 80 percent of the time? That’s reason enough to see what’s hiding in your closet!

First, take everything out of the closet; then put back clothes you’ve worn in the past year, that look and feel great on you, are complete outfits (not waiting for the “right” pant, shoe or top) or mix and match well with each other, and suit your lifestyle right now. Find new homes for the rest. Donate them to a favorite charity or maybe have friends over for a swap party.

Now organize your clothes the way a boutique does, by type and by color. You’ll quickly see if you need more jackets or if you own five identical black skirts. When organizing, put the hangers in backwards on the rod. Then, when you’ve worn an item, put it back in the closet with the hanger facing forward. At the end of a month, you’ll really be able to tell which clothes you wear frequently and which clothes—yes, there may still be more—you can give away.

Store seasonal items in Ziploc® Brand Big Bags with the Double Zipper Seal tucked into the back of the closet or a spare room.

Now make a shopping list for the missing pieces and get ready to shop for the items you really need—clothes you will love and wear!


Hot Topic for Febuary 2008

Walking past a store, you spot the perfect chair for your bedroom—and it’s on sale! But will it complement or clash with your bedspread and curtains? If you have a home notebook, you won’t have to guess. You’ll know!

What’s a home notebook? It’s simply a place where you organize the home
essentials: things like floor plans, room, door and window measurements, ceiling heights and architectural details. It’s also a good place to keep samples from each room: fabric and carpet swatches, paint chips, wallpaper scraps and the finish on your hardwood floors. For times when you need inspiration, you can create pockets in which to stash photos from catalogues and magazines or favorite articles you’ve printed from Right@Home™.

And with this information close at hand, you’re almost guaranteed having everything you need to confidently grab that bargain chair, repair a wall or just give a room a fresh, new look. Once you start using a home notebook, you’ll wonder how you lived without it!


Hot Topic for January 2008

Jump-start your imagination and get creative. Instead of buying ready-made costumes, raid your family closets to assemble costumes that are truly one of a kind. Make the accessories at home, too—wands, wizard hats or whatever—and go for eco-friendly, nontoxic paints and makeup.

Keep it safe, organic and fun, advises Tim Sanchez of the Center for a New American Dream, a nonprofit Washington, DC, organization designed to help Americans be responsible consumers. Throw a backyard party. Bob for organic apples. Quench your thirst with “gremlin grog” (organic fruit juices and seltzer, ghoulishly spiked with natural green food coloring).

After the party, brush away sweets with a cheery, colorful recyclable toothbrush. Preserve makes 100 percent recyclable ones in regular or kid-size versions (available at major retail outlets). Just mail them the used Preserve toothbrushes, and then sign up for their automatic replacement program ($13 for 4 brushes). For more info, click here.


Hot Topic for October 2007