Wednesday, April 22, 2009

My Magic Bullet Against Dust Bunnies


This, my friends, is my secret weapon, my magic bullet that enables me rationalize not dusting for extended periods of time. 

You know how icky the top of your refrigerator gets? No? Quick! Run and look right now. I'll wait.

Okay, so now you know what I'm talking about. What if I told you that you never have to clean it again? EV-er. Would you believe me?

I'm glad you're not that gullible. I believe me, so that tells you how gullible I am. But seriously, you will have to clean it one more time. Then when you get it squeaky clean, I want you to cover it with this GLAD Press 'n Seal whatever-it-is. Just lay it down, in a frustrating frenzy of sticks-to-everything purpose, so that it covers the entire surface of the top of your refrigerator. Then just sit back and watch the dust fall.

When it gets a good quarter inch layer of dust on it, peel it off and put a new layer on. You'll never have to dust again, just replace the plasticky magic.

I use the Press 'N Seal because it has magic bubbles that stick to the surface when you press down on it. It works great on the top of the refrigerator too.


For the tops of my cabinets, I lay down wax paper, one big long stretch of it from one end to the other, then I tape it down at the ends so it doesn't slide around. The wax paper is much more manageable to use, and I have a larger area to cover, so I use it instead of the more pricey Press 'N Seal.


Here's my old, dusty layer on top of my cabinets. I don't mind telling you that I get up here to replace this stuff once a year at most. It's not unheard of to go a year or two between replacing the wax paper.

It's not like my mother-in-law gets up here to make sure I'm keeping a clean house, you know.


Look, more dust. The biggest reason for lining the tops of my cabinets and fridge is the greasy dust that tends to accumulate in the kitchen. That stuff doesn't clean up with just a dust rag. It requires soap and elbow grease. I know you know what I'm talking about. It makes me gag.

I keep a couple fake sunflower garlands up top here as well. In order to dust them I just take them outside and blast them to kingdom come with Peanut Head's air compressor. It's extremely gratifying, watching all that dust being forcefully expelled from my life.

So, I'm thinking, do you think anyone would notice if I covered all the furniture with Press 'N Seal too? Or the kids? How cool would that be?

25 comments:

  1. That's a great idea...for the kitchen! If you cover everything else, you will be like Mrs. Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond:-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW what a clever idea...do you sit home and just read Martha Stewart books or you make up this stuff? Very creative stuff I like it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I want a picture of those kids wrapped in Press & Seal...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unbelievable idea. Wow, this is a good one. However do you come up with all this stuff?????

    ReplyDelete
  5. Please don't wrap the peeps in Press and seal. They will not be able to breathe......just sayin'. Otherwise, a delightful idea. I am NOT going to blog about the tops of my cabinets. I can't reach to take a photo!

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hum... that is a pretty fantastic idea. Now my only problem would be explaining it to my male friends who are over 6'5" tall and could see it at eye level (I sadly have more than one of those friends.) But, being men, would they care? Would I care if they care? Who cares! I'm putting the press n' seal on my grocery list... (BTW, TER sent me to your blog.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That has to be one of the most creative ideas I've heard. You are a genius!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Okay...thats the GREATEST tip I have EVER come across!!! As I was taking things down to pack I was SOOO grossed out and was seriously thinking how I can prevent this when we move into our new home. THANK YOU!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jill,
    I tagged you over on my blog because I love your blog so much. I don't know that it's an appropriate reason, but oh, well. Play along if you'd like...

    I also had to say that the top of the cabinets is the best idea I have heard of in ages! Ages, I tell you. I am going to use this in my living room, too. I have two large bookshelf things and I always have decorative things up there, but the tops get yucky and dusty underneath. I despise cleaning them every year or five, but if I put some paper up there to collect it that will make my life so much easier. I don't care that it isn't greasy dust.

    Thanks for sharing your ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, was this ingenious idea all your own!!??!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Stop it already and give me a chance to catch up!

    Ack Ack... coughing up dust bunnies....

    I hauled up hubby's 4 foot ladder last week and scared the crap outta myself climbing up to wipe off all the dust up there... up there which travels via beam all the way to the 14 ft ceiling. I got all the visible stuff scrubbed clean then almost fell off the ladder and havent had the courage (or amibtion) to go back up and clean the tops of the cabinets. I am NOT looking forward to cleaning them. I dont think they have been cleaned since the house was built in 2003. =/ I slack off. Anyway, I was planning to take my Christmas present (mini 1 gallon Shop Vac) up there to suck up all the ick... and then wash it down. Now -thanks to you- I will be spending even more time high above the solid ground by taping down wax paper. SURE, it will save me time in the long run, but GIVE A GIRL A BREAK! I mean really... I am still working on my photos!

    Seriously, you wanna come help?

    ReplyDelete
  12. awesome idea, i wonder how odd it will look to guests so see my entire house covered in this stuff? i hate dusting! ugh

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome idea. I just actually cleaned the top of my fridge the other day b/c I couldn't stand to see all the crap piled on it anymore. LOL We got new cabinets a little over a year ago and I haven't dusted the tops yet. Maybe I should do it and then give your idea a try.

    I think I'm going to make a spring cleaning system like the one you had bought and did the giveaway for. I think that would work, just need to figure out what all I need in it and how often to do the chore.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a great idea! I am totally going to do this. I used to lay newspaper on top of my cabinets but it looks kinda bad. I think the waxed paper idea is great. I sense a "project" for my husband this next week. Hmm.....

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love, love, love this idea! Oh and I just happen to have some press n' seal! I'm doing this right now!

    No, not really. But I do love the idea and am totally gonna do it. Just not in the mood to clean right now, you know how it goes :/

    Yeah, I made it back! I'm over my "disability" hurray! =)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Now, that's brilliant! I found you on SITS this morning, and had to stop by! I am so glad I did! I love your blog's name, "Controlling My Chaos". That is adorable.
    You have wonderful stuff here, and I am as proud as can be to be one of your newest followers! Keep up the good work!

    Love,
    Taryn

    ReplyDelete
  17. I am definitely going to try this out. Is there anything up your sleeve for keeping dust off of all of the furniture in the rest of the house? I've thought about covering everything up with sheets, but my mother would stop by and ground me for life (even though I'm married with children).

    ReplyDelete
  18. I can not believe I never thought of this! You rock!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ok that is a Brilliant idea! Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ok that is utterly brilliant!

    The comment you left on my blog post about the geo board was one of the best comments I have ever gotten. Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Perhaps I'll Press'n Seal my shower too...I'll let you know how it goes :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. okay it only took about a year but I bought some of that press n seal a few weeks ago and today I finally went up and cleaned the top of my fridge. But the seal would not stick to the top of my fridge!! I gave up after 5 min, with the conclusion that it only took me 15 min to clean the top of the fridge after not doing anythign with it for well over a year.... and it was taking me 5 min to get a few inches of press n seal down. I think it might've taken me 1/2 hour if I continued.. lol. So I dunno, is there a secret involved here?!

    ReplyDelete