
Blame
Apple for the profusion of roundish, white space-looking accessories — because of them I was struck by how "unusual" this
Computer Brush ($32) looks, even though it really resembles traditional house-cleaning supplies.
One side of the bristles is stiff to get out crumbs and other ucky crap from your keyboard; the other side is soft, antistatic goat hair to dedustify your monitor. The promise of cleanliness is what piques my interest, but to be honest, it's the back-to-basics styling that has me sold.

Sometimes we all just need a straight talkin' to. That's especially true when the pots and pans are piling up. So beyond a bit of Palmolive and some elbow grease, perhaps the answer is the
Show Pony Do the Dishes Tea Towel ($20), a fair trade organic cotton towel with the kitchen commandment spelled out in screen printed stacks of dirty plates.

Stainless steel has magical deodorizing/odor neutralizing power that can wipe the pungent scents from things like garlic, onion, and fish away from your skin. There isn't a clear chemical explanation for this, but it's been hypothesized that sulfurous compounds are somehow catalyzed by the steel. So, some clever entrepreneur came up with a stainless steel "soap" product, essentially a block of metal in soap shape, to rid your skin of whatever stink ails you.

Considering that every time I leave the house I seem to empty my wallet, and that the economy is clearly not working in my favor these days, perhaps the best plan of action this weekend is to stay at home — and refrain from online shopping. If I'm not out and about, I've got to be productive somehow, so I think that conquering the dirt, grime, and dust in my home is a solid idea. Here, I offer you a handful of wonderful recipes for homemade cleaning products.

The other day, I had one of those days when every time I turned around there was another cereal spill, milky mess, or emptied toy box. My kids are pretty good about picking up after themselves, but I still spend a good deal of time at the task. How many times a day do you tidy up after your tots?

I've just added a new product to my
cleaning arsenal – this Fur Fighter! I already have a lint brush for my clothes, but this tool's shape is perfect for the quick cleaning of my couch (if I don't want to
dig out the Dyson, that is). Want to know what prompted me to pick one up for
10 bucks on a recent trip to Target?

"Clean house" is always the last thing to be checked off my to-do list. But, that might not be the case if I were the proud owner of the
Conran Shop Turquoise Cleaning Bucket ($29.50, reduced from $59). Made of iron coated in a vibrant shade of blue, the durable bucket will last until your cleaning days are over — which will be never.

When I
spotted this tip, I wondered why I didn't think of it myself! I know North's sweet plush toy collection can easily become a not-so-sweet breeding ground for all sorts of ickiness, just like your household sponge. I guess the yumyums stuck in your pet's teeth combined with floor dirt and slobber can create quite the coating!Just like
people pop sponges into the microwave to kill bacteria, yeast, mold and more, you can actually do the same thing with your pup's favorite rope toy!

When you first
moved in with your friend, you both decided it would be in the best interest of your friendship if together, you sat down and divided the household chores in two. With a firm schedule, nothing would be overlooked and you wouldn’t waste any time wondering who should do what.
But while you’ve followed through on your end of the bargain, your roommate has not.

A hot day at the zoo can leave a tot feeling not so fresh and clean. Before you take a break from the penguin exhibit to serve up lunch to your wild one, you want to make sure his tiny hands are clean as a whistle and free of any animal hairs. Give your child a quick swipe with an
Aqueous hand towel and both of you will feel refreshed and renewed.