Hello, and welcome to the very first issue of Simple Solutions! I’m Jessica, a 33-year-old shopping writer and editor here at Real Simple. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved routine, organization, and tidiness. At 10 years old, I accidentally launched a business when a mom in my neighborhood hired me to organize her closets and cabinets. Word spread—soon, I was running a full-blown local organizing service. Decades later, I still have that same knack for creating order. Despite my best efforts, my life has become pretty overwhelming. I have more responsibilities than ever. Taking care of my health, home, finances, and career amounts to what feels like working several full-time jobs at once. This is why I love a simple solution, and why I’ll write about them in this newsletter. This week, I’m sharing the finds that have made my least favorite thing—cleaning—faster and easier for me. One day, I hope to delegate all scrubbing, wiping, and laundering tasks to a cleaning crew, but until that dream comes true, these help me get the job done. Wet and Forget Weekly Shower Cleaner: This spray requires zero scrubbing—and it actually works. I douse my shower tile, tub, and fixtures with it every Sunday evening. Then, right before my Monday morning wash, I give everything a quick rinse to reveal shiny, clean surfaces. It won’t tackle months of grime, but if you start with a clean slate, it’s great for upkeep. Clorox Ultra Clean Toilet Tablets: My current toilet doesn’t have a bowl, but I used these for years in previous homes. They slowly release a solution, sanitizing the toilet every time I flushed. My toilet looked and smelled better, leaving me with less (and sometimes nothing!) to do when it came time for a weekly deep clean. Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Bowl Cleaning Stamps: This is another set-and-forget cleaner that keeps my bathroom looking and smelling fresh. I use the included tool to place a small squeeze of the gel on the inside of my toilet bowl as needed to make weekly cleaning less arduous. Levoit Core300-P Air Purifier: This compact, but powerful, air purifier is always running in my bedroom. I got it to improve my seasonal allergies and was pleasantly surprised by an added bonus: less dust! Now I run it year-round—not just during allergy season. OxiClean White Revive Laundry Stain Remover: One big scoop of this stain remover keeps my whites looking brand new, so I can spend less time treating and blotting out stains. I use the Versatile iteration on colorful clothes, too. Roborock Q5 Max+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum: This robot vacuum has been one of my best home—and relationship—purchases. It dodges obstacles, sucks up crumbs, dust, hair, and empties everything into a bin, so we don’t have to. With one less chore, my partner and I have one less thing to bicker over. It’s been fantastic. PhoneSoap XL UV Light Sanitizer: A must for germaphobes, I put everything in this pandemic purchase: my phone, laptop, keys, wallet, chargers, AirPods, Apple Watch, and everyday jewelry. Instead of wiping down my daily essentials, I throw them all in here to be sanitized by a built-in ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light. To ease the overwhelm I feel about cleaning, I’m also trying something else: letting go of high expectations. This requires mindfulness, and it feels easier when I practice gratitude for my home. This new outlook, combined with the tips above, has quieted the frenzy in my mind that tells me I should always be doing something, cleaning something, tidying something. And if my general life fatigue resonated with you, let me help! In upcoming editions, I’m going to tackle reader-submitted dilemmas. Share your question or problem with me at Jessica.Mattern@realsimple.com, and I’ll do my best to find you a simple solution to share in an upcoming send. |
