This Grout Cleaner Went Viral, But It Is Worth The Hype?

PLUS: A brilliant cleaning hack for tough messes, 3 ways to find more joy in the journey, and more. PLUS: A brilliant cleaning hack for tough messes, 3 ways to find more joy in the journey, and more. April 11, 2022 [View Online]( Good morning! As nice as it was to take some time off to relax and recharge, I’m glad to be back in your inbox this morning. Today's newsletter is brimming with bright ideas, so let's dive right in! A particular brand of grout cleaner has been trending on social media recently, so I put it to the test to find out if it lived up to the hype. Check out my honest review of the latest viral cleaning product in Today’s Good Thing. And in a new Monday Motivation, I’m sharing a few exercises for practicing one of life’s most valuable skills—finding joy in the journey. As Albus Dumbledore says in one of my favorite Harry Potter movies, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING This Grout Cleaner Went Viral, But It Is Worth The Hype? [Before and after photos of grout cleaned with Zep Grout Cleaner.]( Another day, another cleaning trend—here’s my honest review of the grout cleaner everyone’s talking about. Ever since its inception over ten years ago, the purpose of my blog (and, more recently, my newsletter) has always been to share the sort of information and know-how that can save you time, money, and effort around the house. So when I learned that a product called Zep Grout Cleaner had been causing a stir on social media recently, I knew I had to find out if the latest trendy cleaner was actually any good or not—especially since I know that many of us dread the often time-consuming process of scrubbing grimy grout. I picked up a bottle of the cleaner at the Home Depot in town for around $7, then put it to the test on the dingy grout lines of my kitchen’s tile flooring. And after seeing the results with my own eyes, I’m ready to share my full and honest review so you can decide if it’s worth trying for yourself. You can check out my full review, and see the original viral video about the grout cleaner, by following the link below! [This Grout Cleaner Went Viral, But It Is Worth The Hype? ➜]( Related • [Here’s How To Clean Grout So It Looks Like New]( • [I Tried The #1 Vacuum On Amazon, And Here’s My Honest Opinion]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Not only does this homemade powdered coffee creamer taste great, but it’s really inexpensive to make too. [Read more ➜]( • Looking for a better way to remove a stubborn sticker or label? These are the most effective methods I’ve tried. [Read more ➜]( • Dyeing Easter eggs with the family this week? These 15 creative egg decorating ideas will get your creative juices flowing. [Read more ➜]( CLEANING Use Plastic Wrap To Solve A Common Cleaning Problem [A photo of oven cleaner covered in plastic wrap.]( This brilliantly simple tip can help cleaning products break down tough messes in less time. Tough messes are often easier to clean when you apply a cleaning product and let it sit for a while, but it can be really annoying to realize that the cleaner dried out while you were gone and it all re-solidified into into a crusty mess. Luckily, I recently learned about a brilliant way to avoid this obnoxious outcome, and all it takes is a piece of plastic wrap. Simply apply your cleaning solution to the surface you want to clean, then cover the area loosely with a piece of plastic wrap. The plastic wrap will prevent the cleaner from drying out while it works on breaking down the mess. I’ve struggled with this problem in the past while attempting to remove some serious limescale buildup from the front windows at the OGT Studio, so I plan on trying again with this tip ASAP (and I'll be sure to report back on how it goes!) STAY SAFE OUT THERE Poor Credit? Beware Of Crooked Credit Repair [A photo of the website for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.]( If poor credit is affecting your finances, turning to a shady credit repair company can make things worse. Having a poor credit history can make it hard to recover from financial setbacks, get a car loan, buy or rent a new place, and more. But trying to improve your credit history can do more harm than good if you put your faith in a crooked company or scammer. Shady credit repair companies often lure you in with false promises of removing bankruptcies, liens, or bad loans from your credit history. They may even claim they can "erase" your credit history or give you a "new credit identity" that will be attractive to lenders. But in reality, there are no quick fixes for poor credit as long as it's based on accurate and timely information. Plus, credit repair schemes have been known to rely on illegal practices, like phony Social Security numbers and false identity theft claims, that can lead to serious legal consequences. If you suspect your credit history is lower than it should be, you can request a free credit report from the major credit reporting bureaus once a year at [AnnualCreditReport.com](. If you spot an inaccuracy, you can file a dispute with the bureau(s) in question at no cost. For help finding a trustworthy credit counselor, check out the website for the nonprofit [National Foundation for Credit Counseling](. JILLEE'S PICK Little Chefs With Big-Time Skills [Various screenshots from the TV show ]( I’ve always been a big fan of cooking shows, and while I wouldn’t say that I’m a huge fan of competition shows in general, I often make an exception for cooking competitions. The challenges on shows like Chopped and Top Chef have a way of highlighting the skills and creativity of the competitors that I find fun and exciting to watch. And I recently started watching a cooking competition with an interesting twist on the standard weekly elimination format: Top Chef Junior. Featuring young chefs between the ages of 9 and 14, this cooking competition showcases kids with serious culinary skills. Not only do I appreciate that Top Chef Junior lacks the hyper-competitiveness of many competition shows, but I'm genuinely impressed by the young chefs and what they're capable of. They are so passionate about their craft and it’s inspiring to watch them shine. [Top Chef Junior is streaming on Peacock](. MONDAY MOTIVATION Find Joy In The Journey There’s nothing wrong with having goals or things you're working toward, but don't make the mistake of hinging your happiness on them. It’s not always easy to find joy in the here and now, but it can be an invaluable skill to have during life’s inevitable storms. Here are a few ways you can practice finding joy in the journey, regardless of your current circumstances: 1. Practice Gratitude Daily. When I was in rehab for substance abuse, one thing we had to do every day was write down 3 things we were grateful for. Some days it was a huge chore, but it taught me that gratitude is a powerful antidote to despair and self-pity. 2. Look For The Good. Life is rarely, if ever, all good or all bad. Make an effort to look for the good in life in all its forms, like the sunshine coming through a window, listening to your favorite song, or getting a phone call from a friend. Joy isn’t hard to find when you're keeping an eye out for it. 3. Cherish The People You Love. Our relationships with others are so important to who we are. When you surround yourself with people you care about and continually nurture those relationships, that support system can sustain you when you need it most. Hardship is all but guaranteed in life, so don't we also deserve to soak up every precious ounce of joy we can find along the way? A FEW MORE THINGS... Tax Day Is Near: For those in the US, the deadline to submit your 2021 tax return (or file for an extension) is April 18, one week from today! If you’ve been procrastinating doing your taxes or have just plain forgotten about them, be sure to get them submitted sooner rather than later. Pamper Your Pet: It’s National Pet Day, celebrated on April 11 to highlight the unconditional love that pets bring to our lives and encourage adoption of shelter pets. Make sure your furry friends feel extra special today! (I have it on good authority that extra treats make the perfect Pet Day gift.) 🤔 Wordle: [Solve today's 5-letter word](. What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! [facebook]( [instagram]( [pinterest]( [youtube]( If you have thoughts, comments, questions or a tip or trick you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you! My inbox is always open, so just hit "reply" and let me know what's on your mind. See you tomorrow! Sending you bright ideas and simple solutions to help you create a home and life you love. My mailing address is: One Good Thing by Jillee 841 S. Main St. Heber City, UT 84032 If you're not happy please reply to this email to tell me why. Update your email preferences or [unsubscribe]( [here](. View our privacy policy [here](.