5 Ways You Make Cleaning Harder Than It Needs To Be

Everything you need to know about screenshots, the best way to cut whole pineapple, and more. August 17, 2021 [View Online]( Good morning! Keeping your house clean (or in my case, acceptably semi-clean) is hard enough, so it’s natural to be annoyed when someone makes cleaning even harder. But sometimes that person is actually us, so don't be your own worst enemy—Today’s Good Thing will help you stop the self-sabotage. Ever wondered how to take a screenshot on your phone (or what a screenshot even is?) I’ve got the scoop for you in today’s Tech Tip Tuesday. Enjoy! Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING 5 Ways You Make Cleaning Harder On Yourself [Photos of various cleaning tips.]( If you do any of these things while cleaning, you might be making it harder than it has to be. 1. Scrubbing Carpet Stains. When you scrub at carpet stains, you risk accidentally forcing the stain deeper into the fibers, and you can even damage the fibers themselves. Instead, apply a carpet stain remover to the stain, then blot it with a wet towel to gently lift the stain out. 2. Wiping Windows In Circles. For windows and mirrors that are truly clean and free of streaks, don’t wipe them in a circular motion, since that can leave behind swirl marks. Instead, wipe the surface in a horizontal motion first, then wipe it again in a vertical motion. 3. Using The Wrong Cleaners On Carpet. When removing carpet stains, avoid anything that wasn’t meant for carpet. For instance, laundry stain removers need to be thoroughly rinsed out, so if you use one on carpet, it’ll be nearly impossible to rinse out without the help of commercial cleaning equipment. You’ll get better results and do less damage with cleaners meant for carpet. 4. Being Impatient. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about cleaning over the years, it’s that a little patience can go a long way. That’s why I specify waiting time in many of my cleaning and laundry tips. Waiting gives cleaning products time to penetrate into messes and grime so they’re easier to clean up. 5. Soaking Cast Iron. While most dirty dishes will benefit from a soak before being washed, that does not apply to cast iron pans. A little bit of soapy water isn’t the end of the world for cast iron, but a full-on soak will almost certainly cause your pan’s seasoning to dissolve, making it harder to cook with and more likely to rust. [2 More Ways You Make Cleaning Harder]( [2 More Ways You Make Cleaning Harder]( Related • [This One Simple Thing Makes Cleaning Easier And More Effective]( ⚡️QUICK CLICKS⚡️ • If your wedding dress has been gathering dust in your closet for years, consider these 8 ways you can put it to use. [Read more ➜]( • Remembering to drink water throughout the day can be hard, but these 23 tips make it easier to stay hydrated. [Read more ➜]( • Avoid turning your kitchen into a sweat lodge by using these 7 cooking methods that won’t heat up the house. [Read more ➜]( TECH TIP TUESDAY Take A Shot At Taking Screenshots [An image of someone taking a screenshot on a phone.]( Taking a screenshot is the easiest way to save just about anything on your phone. Did you know you can capture a photo of exactly what’s on your phone screen at any given time? Taking a screenshot makes it easy to quickly capture recipes, error messages, high scores, text conversations, and more. You can even use it to capture a photo of a FaceTime call with a loved one (after asking permission, of course). To take a screenshot on an iPhone: • If your phone has Face ID/no home button, press both the side button and volume up button at the same time, then quickly release them. • If your phone has Touch ID/a home button, press both the side button and home button at the same time, then quickly release them. • If your phone has a top button, press both the top button and home button at the same time, then quickly release them. To take a screenshot on an Android: • On most Android phones, briefly press both the power button and volume down button. Once you take a screenshot, a thumbnail of the image will appear in the bottom corner of your screen. You can tap on it to open, edit, or share it, or you can leave it alone and the screenshot will save to your photos automatically. COOKING How To Cut A Pineapple [A photo a pineapple being cut.]( Intimidated by the thought of cutting up a whole pineapple? This method makes it easy. Buying pre-cut pineapple is certainly convenient, but I've found that whole pineapples tend to be more flavorful than the pre-cut stuff. And while they can look a bit intimidating if you’ve never actually cut one, I’m here to reassure you it’s a lot easier than you might think! Here's how to do it: 1. Remove The Top And Bottom. Lay the pineapple on its side, then use your sharp knife to slice off the top and bottom ends of the pineapple. 2. Remove The Skin. Stand the pineapple upright and, starting from the top, carefully cut the outer skin off of the pineapple. Follow the natural curve and try to avoid removing more of the flesh than you have to. 3. Remove The Eyes. If larger “eyes” remain in the pineapple, cut them away with a small paring knife by making shallow, diagonal cuts. 4. Remove The Core. Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise, then cut those in half lengthwise to make 4 long sections. Cut the fibrous core away from each section. (If I want to make grilled pineapple rings—which are delicious and I highly recommend them—I skip Steps 4 and 5. After Step 3, I lay the pineapple on its side and cut across it to slice it into rings.) 5. Cut Into Pieces. Cut the remaining pineapple flesh into whatever shape, size, or quantity you desire. [Learn How To Store Pineapple]( [Learn How To Store Pineapple]( JILLEE'S PICK Too Much Tudor? No Such Thing [The cover images of several books by Philippa Gregory.]( I initially discovered Philippa Gregory's books many years ago, before her novels The White Queen and The White Princess were adapted into television miniseries on Starz. It was actually her novels that got me hooked on all things Tudor in the first place! I thought I'd read the entirety of her series [The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels]( but I recently realized that somehow I'd missed quite a few. I’ve gotten as far as the eighth book (Three Sisters, Three Queens) and I’m currently reading that, so I've still got seven to go. If you want to dive in as well, I recommend following the author's suggested reading order below. (It's not the same order they were published in, but rather it places the historical events in the books in chronological order so they're easier to follow.) 1. The Lady of the Rivers 2. The White Queen 3. The Red Queen 4. The Kingmaker's Daughter 5. The White Princess 6. The Constant Princess 7. The King's Curse 8. Three Sisters, Three Queens 1. The Other Boleyn Girl 2. The Boleyn Inheritance 3. The Taming of the Queen 4. The Queen's Fool 5. The Virgin's Lover 6. The Last Tudor 7. The Other Queen [See The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels on Amazon](. WHAT IN THE WORLD WIDE WEB Family Feud + Google = Google Feud [An image of a laptop displaying the Google Feud game.]( Ready for your internet distraction of the day? [Google Feud]( is a Family Feud-style game based on Google search results. You'll be given a prompt (like "why do people"), and then attempt to correctly guess the top ten most-searched phrases that start with that prompt (like "why do people yawn," "why do people snore," etc.) You only get three strikes per prompt, so guess with care! This game is actually a pretty fun way to kill some time, but it's especially fun to get the family involved. A FEW MORE THINGS... It’s National Thrift Shop Day! I’ll always have a soft spot for the St. Lawrence Thrift Store here in town. It was a lifeline back when I was trying to keep our four growing kids clothed on a shoestring budget, and I still shop there to this day! Celebrate your favorite thrift store today by stopping by or giving them a shoutout online. Would You Rather? “Would You Rather” questions can make great icebreakers, lead to memorable conversations with loved ones, or they can be an interesting thought experiment just for you. Here’s one to try: “Would you rather be a genius who knows everything, or be amazing at any activity you tried?” LOVE OGT? SHARE IT! If you’re enjoying the OGT newsletter, it would mean so much to me if you'd share it with your friends and family! When you share it allows me to continue sharing the tips and tricks you love with you! 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