November 2025 - PLAYWORKEATREPEAT

Cleaning Caddy Essentials: What’s in Mine

Before I bought my cleaning caddy, I kept my cleaning supplies in different spots around the house. Some things were under the kitchen sink, others were in the laundry, and I would constantly go back and forth trying to find whatever I needed. If I had a dollar for every lap I did gathering my cleaning supplies, I probably could have paid someone to clean for me. I finally realised a cleaning caddy was the answer (not sure why it took me so long?), and today I am sharing what is inside mine. I just have the essentials because I have stopped buying ten different sprays for the same job. Simple is the goal, friends! My Cleaning Caddy Before I show what’s inside, I should say I do not love this caddy. It’s a bit shallow, and the compartments are oddly shaped, so bottles tip over if they don’t sit just right. It’s kind of annoying, but it keeps everything in one place, and I can carry it from room to room, so I’m not in a rush to replace it. If you’re on the lookout for a cleaning caddy, I would say get one that is deeper and has better-shaped compartments for bottles. I may eventually get another one, but for now, this one works–until it drives me completely nuts! What’s Inside My Cleaning Caddy Domestos This bottle of Domestos is the hero! I love that the nozzle is long, so I can squirt the liquid into all the edges and grooves of the shower. Bleach is fantastic for mould and stubborn grime. So far, the shower has stayed mould-free for years. Phew! Bath and Shower Spray This citrus bath and shower spray is such a nice change from the heavy-duty ones. It smells fresh, and it’s not harsh. You know those cleaners that promise big results but leave you tasting chemicals in the back of your throat? This is the opposite of that. Fresh, light, and it doesn’t make you feel like you need to evacuate the bathroom and run outside for fresh air. Toilet Cleaner I always pick the tropical blossom one because it smells the prettiest. Disinfectant A splash of this in hot water is perfect for cleaning around the cat litter boxes and other cat-related messes — ick! My cats are generally very clean, but you know how cats are. I also use it for general disinfecting around the house. Floor Cleaner This is a great low-cost floor cleaner that gets the floors clean, which is all I really need. Oh, and it smells good too, with a subtle fresh scent. Gumption Gumption is perfect for scrubbing the shower floor in our main bathroom. We have one of those plastic floors where no spray will do the job. Sometimes you just can’t escape the Cinderella-on-your-knees method. Cloths and Gloves My cleaning caddy also has some cloths for cleaning the bathrooms and general dusting, plus a pair of rubber gloves to save my hands. And that’s what I keep inside my cleaning caddy. All the basics, nothing extra — anything more wouldn’t fit anyway, which is probably a good thing for someone like me who likes to keep things minimal. The caddy helps me stick to my simple cleaning routine, doing a little each day to stay on top of things and aim for the ultimate goal of having nothing to do on the weekends. It’s a big goal I haven’t achieved yet, because there’s always something to do, isn’t there?

How I Show Gratitude

3 Comments / Beauty and Self Care, Home

Hi friends, and happy Wednesday! It’s time for the November edition of Let’s Look, and today we’re chatting about how we show gratitude. When I first quickly read the prompt, I focused on the word gratitude and thought, oh my gosh, I don’t have a gratitude journal, routine quiet time, or any kind of guided gratitude meditation ritual. Yikes, I must be the most ungrateful person on the planet! But then I realised the prompt isn’t about how grateful we are, it’s about how we show gratitude in the little things we do every day. And, of course, the good English student in me (always my favourite subject in school) had to look up the definition of gratitude just to be sure. Phew! I realised I am thankful, and I do show it by noticing the little things and taking small actions to make life easier or brighter for the people around me. Here’s how I show gratitude in my world. Small, Practical Gestures I’m a doer and love to do things to make someone’s day easier. It can be anything from washing someone’s lunch containers that have been left in the sink at work (we’re supposed to do our own) to offering to feed my neighbour’s cat while she is in Fiji on holidays next week. Humour If humour were a love language, it would be mine! I love to laugh, and I love making others laugh. Life is too short, and working with children is too hard, to take everything seriously. Showing You Care I think it’s really important to be consistent. Following through on promises, really listening when someone is talking, and turning up when you say you will are all ways I try to show gratitude. Send a Thoughtful Text I’m not much of a card writer, but I do send texts to let someone know I’m thinking of them, to encourage them, or to say thank you for something. It’s a simple way to show that someone notices and cares, and a really nice way to show gratitude Random Acts of Kindness Small, unexpected gestures go a long way. Holding the door or letting someone cut in front of you while driving (even though they don’t usually say thank you-hehe) Give Encouragement and Recognition It’s important to notice the effort, not just the outcome, and it’s always worth saying out loud. Something as simple as “I saw how hard you worked on that” can really make someone feel seen and appreciated. I’ve been working on this myself because I have a habit of thinking it, but not actually saying it. I don’t know why people can’t just hear my thoughts! Show Gratitude to Your Family I’m a big believer in showing gratitude to family, and it shouldn’t be left at the front door. I send texts to my husband and kids to let them know I’m thinking of them. With all of us working different schedules and having days off that don’t line up, I think it’s important to stay in communication. I learned this from my husband, who is much better at communicating than me. I also like to acknowledge the little things my family do, like when someone empties the dishwasher or takes out the garbage, without being asked. My boys are good eggs, and they deserve a thank you. Gratitude for Myself Along with showing gratitude to others, I’ve been learning to show it to myself. I’m rewiring my brain to be more positive, taking breaks when I need them, resting, eating well, and noticing the little things I actually manage to get done each day. Go me! Those are some of the ways I try to show gratitude every day. I’d love to hear how you do it, too. It’s amazing how the little things can mean so much. Linking up with Erika and Shay

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