It cleans your pots and pans without scratching, right? Well it can clean lots of other things too. The key is to find the right grade. It comes in an assortment of grades from extra fine to coarse. And it can do everything from buff fine woodwork to remove paint, depending on the grade. The Rhodes American brand comes with a detailed list of what tasks can be performed by each grade--very handy! Also, you can get it in plastic rather than steel, which saves a mess of metal filings.

I'm pleased to announce that I have just received my House Cleaning Technician certification. This involved attending a 15 hour training seminar presented by the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International and passing an exam. I'm proud to be able to provide house cleaning services that are at the standard of the industry.

A new book that I would recommend is Marie Kondo's Spark Joy.  I haven't read it but I heard her interviewed. She is a space organizer and her system for de-cluttering is based on one overriding principle: if it doesn't give you joy, toss it. A simple but profound formula!

Just a little tip on vacuuming. Many people think that setting the vacuum cleaner on the lowest setting creates the most dirt-pulling capacity on carpeting. Actually, it's most effective to put the setting so that the vacuum glides over the carpet tufts. If it presses down on the carpet, the tufts can't release the dirt as easily.