Alas, I don't have kitchen cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling. But I line the tops with paper towels and about twice/year, I just put down new towels and toss the old ones in the garbage. Clean, done & done! Laziness is the mother of invention, in my case.
The thing that I've done for decades to reduce clutter and the cleaning thereof, is to bring home Christmas ornaments as souvenirs from my travels. They're perfect, in my opinion: every Christmas I carefully unwrap each ornament and cherish the memories of how it came to live in my home. Then when they're on my tree or elsewhere in the house, I can share the stories with my guests. Finally, when I "put away Christmas" for the year, I again carefully wrap each ornament and again bring up those cherished memories. And I NEVER have to dust them in January -- or July!
Brandy, I’ve been doing that for years! I get all kinds of silly souvenirs and have a “travel tree” full of special things that are indicative of the places we’ve visited. No souvenirs on tables or all around the house but they bring back all the joy and fun of all of our trips each Christmas.
I displayed beautiful fresh roses on my dining table. It inspires me to elevate my life. Every time I eat at the table I admire the beauty of a rose. I no longer just sit there and mindlessly eat. I now dine.
I grew up in a mid century modern house with a Frank Lloyd Wright influence-natural brick, wood and glass. Imagine never having to paint your house! Of course I grew up and learned the joy of painting walls interesting colors, but I still miss those beautiful wooden ceilings above my head. The best hack is to decorate with useful beautiful things you love (and not too much of it) and not chasing fashion.
Like your little Albert, my dad was blind, so everything in our house had to be in exactly the same spot at all times, so he could find things. He didn't want to trip on anything, or knock things over, or sit on objects. And his way of looking at the world was to run his fingers over the counters and furniture as he walked past. So nothing could be out of place or dusty, and my mom had 3 dogs, 2 kids and a big house, and she also helped him run his business, she did all the shopping, all driving, all cooking, all laundry...and somehow our house was immaculate at all times. It was exactly what you said: develop a routine. That's how my mom did the impossible, by having a routine. You're so right about that!
Something Im always willing to take care of is nice wood. So furniture, wood trim, wood floors, even REAL wood paneling. I love it and I really dislike this trend of painting all the wood in a house. I've stripped, sanded and stained hardwood floors and it's completely worth it.
When we renovated our master bath, I absolutely did not want glass or shower curtains. Luckily we had enough space to have a walk in shower. I love it! Our contractor thought I would be calling him back to install doors, but I knew I wouldn’t. So much easier to keep the shower clean and fresh!
In Sweden, the toilet seat are just plastic plugs that go in the holes, they just lift out, everything can be immersed and scrubbed. IKEA might sell them in other countries.
I thought the same thing. I am forever replacing toilet seats. The wooden ones from the big box stores only last a few months and the finish wears off from cleaning
My high maintenance item: silver tea service. Nine pieces. And, yes, it gets used. Has to be polished at least twice a year. So many people have said "OMG how long does it take you to polish that?" I finally timed it. About forty minutes twice a year. Seems like a LeChic approved used of my time.
I can not recommend the silver polishing cloths from Tiffany & Co. highly enough. I love using my silver,and do the full clean and polish annually. But, frequent polishing with silver cloths has been a game changer.
*Hey Garrett* , professional home cleaner here, the last thing I want to do after work is clean my own home. I'm a dog owner, and nothing makes my home feel dirtier than seeing all the dog hair on the floor. I purchased a very inexpensive cordless vac and take ten minutes a day to vacuum the hard surface flooring. Best investment I ever made for peace of mind and convenience. Also, the removable toilet seat, YES Please. I highly recommend the Fly Lady cleaning system to anyone struggling with building a routine for maintenance cleaning, modify it for your personal needs and time commitments. I always squeegee my shower and swish and swipe every other day, because who doesn't love gleaming white porcelain and a spot free mirror?
@Gabriela gaytan: I used to get stuck cleaning someone else's chandelier, I learned the hard way that I needed a quick, removable way to mark where I had begun work. I used paper-covered wire. When my face was in the chandelier, it was hard to see how much more needed to be done. It worked well for me, and I ended up inspecting each crystal. Frequent wire replacement was needed. I was relieved when someone else inherited it. Thank you for the opportunity.
I think my high maintenance item is the house itself! It’s an 1840s side-hall colonial- it’s a dream come true. The family we bought it from kept it beautifully maintained and updated big ticket items... but even then, there are so many little things you need to keep track of and constantly maintain! And don’t get me started on the creepy basement, lol
My favorite tactic for creating lower-maintenance spaces is to put beautiful objects and collectibles behind glass. I love having pretty things visible, and I enjoy a good tablescape as much as the next person, but when it comes to dusting, as Garrett says "I'm not the one." So I prefer to have most items put away in glass-front bookshelves and display cases as much as possible, and just have a few decor pieces on open surfaces, like mantels and tabletops. This has the added bonus of making my collections look special and intentional, and leaving me with clear tables and counters that I can actually use. :)
I'd say the biggest thing I've done to add architectural interest to my otherwise flat walls was investing in some showy, multi-dimensional wallpaper. I did a feature wall with the paper and wow, what a standout! Makes my boring, one-dimensional wall really pop with interest!
High maintenance luxury: a half- acre back yard with swimming pool. Having the misfortune of living in the southwest, one of the very few perks is the weather. I spend most of the year being able to really maximize the use of my outdoor spaces. However keeping them looking nice is a never-ending battle: the garden alone is the biggest home- improvement project I’ve ever undertaken! Overall, it has been a slow process of strenuous physical labour in excruciating temperatures and addressing never-ending challenges (like trying to plant in a desert and with clay instead of soil) and it’s all purely delayed gratification. Then the maintenance of the improvements takes daily work to keep up! The pool is always needing upkeep weekly (at least) and the desert winds blow a fine layer of dust over all the patio furniature ever day…. Is it a nightmare in terms of work? Absolutely! Is it worth the enjoyment I get when I walk outside into an oasis with my glass of wine and get to dangle my feet in the pool as I look at my miniature orchard of citrus and stone fruits? Yes… you bet it’s worth it!
My favorite hacks for a clean house is putting the Roomba to work throughout the downstairs at night, and reducing clutter in all rooms to an absolute minimum. The only things on my bathroom counter are Kleenex, soap, and the electric toothbrush on its charger. I wipe the counter/mirrors down daily. For the shower use a cleaner to spray on once a week, let sit over night, and rinse off in the morning. Our one higher maintenance item is the off-white sofa, but it’s washable slipcovered. PB and RH have nice ones. I don’t know how people keep their sofas clean otherwise between pets and kids.
I agree about the outlet covers on painted walls. However, the place they really bug me is in the kitchen, in the backsplash. Why? I've seen kitchens where the did outlet strips right under the cabinets, not in the wall, and it looks great.
One thing I did that cuts my cleaning time in half is we purchased an IRobot vacuum. They are expensive but well worth saving up for. First of all, if you have a scheduled cleaning day for the robot, you are forced to pick up all the items that have collected on the floor. Second, I used to spend an entire Saturday vacuuming and washing floors in my 2400 square foot home. Now it takes me literally a half hour to mop each level of my home. And my house looks neat and tidy all the time. I really wish I had this when all 7 of my children still lived at home. And, FYI, it works great on German Shepherd dog hair!!!
Hey Garrett..I love antique mirrors and crystal chandeliers but they require a lot of care which I don’t mind because they bring elegance and joy to my life. Ty for a great video..you are wonderful😘
If you teach your kids to help out around the house not only will you be teaching them invaluable life skills but you will teaching them to respect and appreciate your living space.
You will also be giving them a much better ability to transition into a skillfully responsible adult. Those that don't require their children to "carry their weight" do them a terrible injustice. Of course to ensure that they develop a natural positive willful attitude towards maintaining a clean home environment teach them in fun and creative ways, never bully, demand or threaten them because they will either rebel or do a half ass job.
You are wonderful…you actually clean a house so you know how important it is to maintain all the decorating and decoration…making these changes has improved my home …
I know about keeping a house clean, but I do have help to keep everything real, but I do work a ton between the channel, my consultation service plus our own projects. 😊😊😊
The trouble with Linus is that he is a short-hair boy. I had a friend who had a small dog with hair to the floor. She'd throw a ball under the beds and furniture and he'd fetch, bring out all the dustballs clinging to him. Brush the dog and voila! two jobs with one effort. BTW, she renamed the little guy Swiffer.
Garrett. You are the best. My house is for me! Maybe not what anyone else would like but that’s okay. It works for me and makes me happy. I love that you champion that and are not so strict on the designing rules. Thanks for being educational without making me feel like a failure if I don’t follow all the rules. And I love that for me!!
So happy to hear the puck light sconce is LeChic approved! 💫 I did this in my apartment and love it. Took me a few tries to find the _right_ warm white LED light (BLS Wireless Dimmable LED Puck Lights on Amazon), but now I'm obsessed! I can turn them on, dim them, set a timer - all from the little remote I keep in a box on the coffee table. (I *never* use the colored light option, don't worry! 😅) I feel like we'll be seeing more lighting hacks in the future as LEDs get less ugly and consumers want easier, less expensive solutions. I'd rather spend $$ on a LeChic-approved light fixture than just as much or more to have it hard wired! And thank you for your cleaning schedule tips! I've been decluttering like crazy and it makes it much easier to maintain a tidy space when there's just less stuff. Xo
When my kids were very little, I placed home chores on pieces of paper and placed them into a hat. The kids actually liked fishing in the hat to discover their chores. No arguments plus we raced to see who could do the best job the fastest.
We have a family friend who got me to clean one hour a day. That's what he did and it works soo good. I've been doing reno so I have piles of messes everywhere right now but that hour a day, I'll go back to for sure. I LOVE the idea of painting the socket covers. Those things do stand out and the idea that I can make mine yellow!!! OMG and it will match my kitchen!!! Yes, please and thank you. Cheers, Ivy.
Hello Beautiful LeChic fam! My dear Garrett, the main thing that you have taught me is that I actually over accessorised in the past making my home looked cluttered. You gave me my "aha moment" while watching your design sessions. I love that for me! You made me see the clear picture. Yes, I will hold on to my cherished pieces, my artwork, my love for color in decor accessories, but the clutter will not be part of having a beautiful home. 💗
i love tassels always have. i just bought 5 pink and white jasperware plates for my pink/gold bedroom, for the wall as a nod to your super style too. i got the rare card suit shape set and one where these bad classic guys are stealing cupids arrows sooo nice. Love the idea of 3 times a year getting heavy window cleaners, interior and exterior in. floors polished etc. 1 don't want people weekly coming into my space - yuk, but 3 times a year.... sensational.
I still clean a room the Sue Ann Nivens way. Start at 12 and work your way around back to 12. Best advice Beloved Betty White ever imparted. I also still wax my antiques. Time consuming but so worth it. Wax is the most wonderful finish ever.
I always thought I had a high clutter threshold and needed clutter to be creative. Now I realize I was really overwhelmed. I have reduced the amount of stuff in each room. The smaller time chunks of cleaning help me keep the whole house tidy and not get overwhelmed. It is easier to clean with less stuff everywhere.
My favorite home hack is using denture cleaners to clean vases! I love flowers, but the maintenance of scrubbing the vase afterwards makes me 🤢. Denture cleaners are designed to break down organic matter- all you have to do afterwards is wipe with a paper towel.
Garrett, dressed in his jacket and silk? shirt, talking about quick release toilet seats - I love it! I like a few pillows on the bed even though I have to remove them every night and put them back in the morning.
Striving to live aesthetically is my ultimate home hack. I have very bad executive dysfunction due to ADHD, which means it's very hard for me to routinously clean and stick to schedules for boring maintenance tasks. However... by trying to have the most meticulously styled, aesthetic home, and surrounding myself with items I love to see and *want* to show off looking their best, I've been able to fight my own ADHD brain. My love of design helps me live a cleaner, tidier life. Basically, I have a lot of stuff that's fancy and high maintenance, and people tell me "why don't you have something easier to clean, if you have such trouble doing homework?" The answer is because if my home looked bland or uninteresting, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to clean it *at all*.
Two things different in my new home - One is that every morning, I take time before I start my work day to do general cleaning/tidying so I’m working in a neat home. And two, the builder had the garage painted the same color as the living room and put in the same wood trim on the garage windows and baseboard as the rest of the house. I painted the cinderblock at the bottom, and also put up art on all the walls. The garage is bright and cheery now, and feels good every time I drive into it.
I clean one room at a time, even if it's only one per week. Bring whatever products you need, rags, cleaners, etc, in a basket, start at one end, and go around the room cleaning, dusting, or polishing everything in order down to the baseboards. Don't jump from task to task. That wastes energy and you miss things. For the sconces, I see there are rechargeable LED light bulbs I'm thinking of trying. Great tips as usual!! I put tassels on the handles of several pieces of furniture some time ago. I"m Lechic approved! 😃
Hi Garrett, my hack is to clean the shower while I am in it. I know it sounds odd, but it is the perfect time. Everything is in reach and of course every product is environmentally safe.
My super high maintenance item is a Chinese emperor chair- the arms are carved into a pearl catching dragon heads -but these dragons also catches a ton of dust! BUT I LOVE IT
I think Linus needs some little crocheted booties so he can sweep the floor while he runs around! ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you again for a great and helpful video. I don't know if this is a hack or not, but whatever else is going on in my life, I can hold it together as long as my sinks are clean and empty. It's mental calm amidst any chaos to know the sinks are ready for action, instead of having to take care of that situation before getting to what I really want or need to do (and then procrastinating about both things!). It's the most important rule in my home! Thanks again! Love your channel so much! ❤️❤️❤️
Hello 👋 I totally agree on the Vista it’s so important because for me it sets the tone for my day if my home isn’t in order than neither am I, I remember when Oprah had her talk show, she had a guest that said the way you keep your purse reflects the way you live your life. One of the things I do to keep organized is no matter how tired or busy I am I make it a point to put back things where they belong after I use them that makes a big difference. Sometimes we tell ourselves “I’ll put it back later” and never do then you have a pile of stuff to deal with at the end of the week. Well that’s my 2 cents and I’m sticking to it. Another great video Garrett!
Garret we are kindred spirits ! I have a blue and white china top tassal from the bombay company l have it hanging on the nob of a antuque radio! I've had it for years and used it over and over again! As always great advice from this dog dad and MASTER OF DESIGN ! I you and your hubby could make up to my tea room for a nice afternoon tea. Pups are also welcomed providing they wearing box ties! There is gorgous manison across the that you woild love. Its used in the Netflix series the handmaiden's Tale. Even Martha Stewart had to see it when she was in town. ♥️
Awesome video! One of the things I love abt your channel is that you affirm the courage to step outside the boundaries and rules. You help your audience know how to think clearly amid the endless choices. Toast to you! Oh...my bow to what I love is a cast iron clawfoot tub with a freaking car bumper's worth of chrome for a faucet. Easy to clean? No. But I love old things and it goes with my old house.
Adding to the puck lights hack: I love it, but make sure to buy rechargeable batteries! Keeping with sustainability in mind, if you use them a lot you don't want to be throwing away batteries all the time.
I use my antique dishes and tableware. I try to keep mostly fuctional items. My blender is from the early 70s and works great still ! We keep clutter picked up daily. We hang up clothes right after drying them. We put things away immediately it takes very little time when you clean up right away.
I really appreciate your "rules" about understanding balance of color/proportion/design in making my living space choices. Now I'm off to find that quick-release toilet seat - love that idea!! Thanks Garrett!
I had to chuckle at your enthusiasm for the tassel pulldown for the attic stairs. I came up with the same idea decades ago and danced around saying, "I am a GENIUS!!!" My friends just added it to the list of my odd little quirks they were compiling. I think it's in Volume III. So, thanks for the vindication!
I had a bad accident in February. A spiral fracture in my right hand. To add insult to injury, literally, I am a hairstylist. Unable to work, unable to clean and watching my once lovely home falling apart, I came up with a plan. I told my 3 teenage sons (full-time students with part-time jobs) either you take over all the cleaning tasks , or everybody chips in to pay for a housekeeper. LoL, well, I now have a housekeeper and it only costs me $20 a week! May not work for others, but it definitely works for us and my house is (almost!) always clean!
Thanks for sharing! Sorry to hear about your accident. Please take a moment to support the channel, and join our very valued subscriber family if you haven't already. :)
I cannot get enough of your channel. I love the concept of form is function - beauty and usefulness. I split chores by day of the week, 20-30 min a day (plus kitchen nightly). My favorite hack I hear from Brittany Vasseur - use a kitchen brush that you can put soap in, put dawn and vinegar inside, and keep it in the shower! I do a wall or two every time I shower, so the shower gets clean twice weekly 😁
We have these beautiful bevel the looking outlets that are in our 1956 "build it quick because we need that housing immediately" home. They have painted over them like dozens of times and I'm going to remove them strip the paint off of them and paint them up all nice because I just think that beveling is beautiful! If you're in a similar situation look at your outlets and decide if you like the shape and the style and just need them a different color. Sometimes we forget what's right in front of our noses :)
Thanks Garrett! Once again you’ve given sage advice for bringing Le Chic into our space. One tip that’s worked for me is thinking of the everyday aggravations then looking for a solution. For example, Aggravation: turning faucet on with chicken hands from dinner prep solution: touch free faucet, wave my hands and voila Aggravation: filling the coffee pot with water every morning spilling water pouring it in Solution: direct water line coffee pot, can use a t-connector to use fridge’s water line My guests always feel like they’re at a resort giving them the experience and me an ease of everyday luxury.
Garrett love the jacket! very very chic. Also, I like that you said that thing about "rules", ones own home should be the most comfortable for the person living in it.
My soapstone countertops in the kitchen are about as high maintenance as possible. It’s taken some time to figure out how to take care of them. If you think soapstone is black, nope. It’s charcoal (or lighter). It can chip. Water and soap and oil leave spots. But I love it and wouldn’t trade my soapstone for anything. It’s daily maintenance, but I enjoy it.
What is extra maintenance, but we love anyway? Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors, instead of traditional windows. Yes, we get dog noses, kid fingerprints and definitely have to keep them sparkling, BUT the amount of light and the views of the backyard make it worth the extra maintenance.
I have seven chandeliers in my two bedroom rental (three matching just in the long corridor entrance). You can imagine the upkeep, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I never felt the need to buy a house because I don't love them, but I love it for you and everyone else. I wouldn't feel safe in them, too big and too open to the outside world for my taste. I love condos, but I wouldn't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on one and maintenance fees as high as rent for ever either, so I rent, and I am happy as a clam😊 Your videos are getting better and better. You are brilliant ❤
Bemis not only makes quality easy-release toilet seats, they make them in a variety of vintage colors too. Ming green, Venetian pink, etc. Can be the finishing touch to a delightful colorful bathroom!
You know I love all your videos but I think this is my favorite!!! Full of just so many tips that open options I never thought of like the puck lights and sconces. And I never thought of outlets before. I love tassels and not only do that tie into a look or give a pop of color but are also a super easy way to decorate for holidays. We all love a holiday look but not the holiday work! I always learn so much from you 🥰
Regarding architectural details- nothing collects dust like 6-panel doors and mouldings with nooks & crannies. I'm starting to see the appeal of more streamlined elements such as ranch casings and solid, flat doors for ease of cleaning
Great tips as always! Idk that this qualifies as a “hack” and I know you’ve touched in it before, but a huge issue for me is matching lightbulb temperature. When we moved into our home 4 of the kitchen can lights had warm white bulbs and one had a daylight bulb. I had to fix it before we even unpacked the moving truck 😂. I have mixed feelings about the puck light hack. But I totally understand your reasons for recommending it…but that’s especially a case in which the puck light color temp MUST match the other lights in the room.
The one thing in our house that takes a good amount of cleaning but I wouldn't part with for anything is our wood burning fireplace. We use it all throughout the winter and it has to be cleaned (and maintained by a chimney sweep once a year), but it is so wonderful to have and one of the reasons that we bought this house (the other was the hardwood floors). Thank you again for another video full of advice and wonderful decorating tips! You are the best!!
The Best Channel on youtube!
Wow, thanks so much Andie! I’m truly humbled by your compliment. 🙏
I agree.
@@victorialove9104 Thank you so much Victoria. That is so nice of you!!!
I agree!!
@@thebeehive2374 Thank you so much!😊
Alas, I don't have kitchen cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling. But I line the tops with paper towels and about twice/year, I just put down new towels and toss the old ones in the garbage. Clean, done & done! Laziness is the mother of invention, in my case.
@Islay Lamb, wax paper works well too.
Great hack!
Great idea!
Genius!
Just don’t put foam placemats on the shelves. I learned when the heat rose and melted them to the wood. 😒
The thing that I've done for decades to reduce clutter and the cleaning thereof, is to bring home Christmas ornaments as souvenirs from my travels. They're perfect, in my opinion: every Christmas I carefully unwrap each ornament and cherish the memories of how it came to live in my home. Then when they're on my tree or elsewhere in the house, I can share the stories with my guests. Finally, when I "put away Christmas" for the year, I again carefully wrap each ornament and again bring up those cherished memories. And I NEVER have to dust them in January -- or July!
Brandy, I’ve been doing that for years! I get all kinds of silly souvenirs and have a “travel tree” full of special things that are indicative of the places we’ve visited. No souvenirs on tables or all around the house but they bring back all the joy and fun of all of our trips each Christmas.
My mom did that, too, and it adds something extra to Christmas.
I do this, too. I love seeing reminders of my travels each year.
That is what I do. I put in about an hour a day. Makes my life a little easier.
We do the same. I have a "Travel Tree" specifically for our ornaments we have collected over the years. I love this tradition.
High maintenance things in my home = TWO LARGE DOGS! 😁Thanks, as always, Garrett!
My pleasure!!
I have one. And always joke my next is going to be a Chihuahua.
I displayed beautiful fresh roses on my dining table. It inspires me to elevate my life. Every time I eat at the table I admire the beauty of a rose. I no longer just sit there and mindlessly eat. I now dine.
I grew up in a mid century modern house with a Frank Lloyd Wright influence-natural brick, wood and glass. Imagine never having to paint your house! Of course I grew up and learned the joy of painting walls interesting colors, but I still miss those beautiful wooden ceilings above my head. The best hack is to decorate with useful beautiful things you love (and not too much of it) and not chasing fashion.
I LOVE that you include cleaning and easy living concepts into your design process.
Absolutely!
It's such an elemental task.
Like your little Albert, my dad was blind, so everything in our house had to be in exactly the same spot at all times, so he could find things. He didn't want to trip on anything, or knock things over, or sit on objects. And his way of looking at the world was to run his fingers over the counters and furniture as he walked past. So nothing could be out of place or dusty, and my mom had 3 dogs, 2 kids and a big house, and she also helped him run his business, she did all the shopping, all driving, all cooking, all laundry...and somehow our house was immaculate at all times. It was exactly what you said: develop a routine. That's how my mom did the impossible, by having a routine. You're so right about that!
Something Im always willing to take care of is nice wood. So furniture, wood trim, wood floors, even REAL wood paneling. I love it and I really dislike this trend of painting all the wood in a house. I've stripped, sanded and stained hardwood floors and it's completely worth it.
Rubbing your furniture with lemon oil is a pleasure. The scent is heavenly.
When we renovated our master bath, I absolutely did not want glass or shower curtains. Luckily we had enough space to have a walk in shower. I love it! Our contractor thought I would be calling him back to install doors, but I knew I wouldn’t. So much easier to keep the shower clean and fresh!
I have never heard of these quick release toilet seats - what a time saver and a great way to ensure your space is really clean. 👍
In Sweden, the toilet seat are just plastic plugs that go in the holes, they just lift out, everything can be immersed and scrubbed. IKEA might sell them in other countries.
I thought the same thing. I am forever replacing toilet seats. The wooden ones from the big box stores only last a few months and the finish wears off from cleaning
My high maintenance item: silver tea service. Nine pieces. And, yes, it gets used. Has to be polished at least twice a year. So many people have said "OMG how long does it take you to polish that?" I finally timed it. About forty minutes twice a year. Seems like a LeChic approved used of my time.
Good to know I have one but never tried to polished it yet
@@vanessaandreatta9098 Polishing silver is very therapeutic.
I can not recommend the silver polishing cloths from Tiffany & Co. highly enough. I love using my silver,and do the full clean and polish annually. But, frequent polishing with silver cloths has been a game changer.
*Hey Garrett* , professional home cleaner here, the last thing I want to do after work is clean my own home. I'm a dog owner, and nothing makes my home feel dirtier than seeing all the dog hair on the floor. I purchased a very inexpensive cordless vac and take ten minutes a day to vacuum the hard surface flooring. Best investment I ever made for peace of mind and convenience. Also, the removable toilet seat, YES Please. I highly recommend the Fly Lady cleaning system to anyone struggling with building a routine for maintenance cleaning, modify it for your personal needs and time commitments. I always squeegee my shower and swish and swipe every other day, because who doesn't love gleaming white porcelain and a spot free mirror?
Garrett, you should start a second "clean with me" channel. -- you're fabulous!
Thanks for watching, and supporting the channel by subscribing! If there were 48 hours in a day I might start another channel lol. :)
You're right! I will never regret cleaning up the chandeliers at home. I use baby wipes to clean them out, and they turn absolutely clean and shiny!
@Gabriela gaytan: I used to get stuck cleaning someone else's chandelier, I learned the hard way that I needed a quick, removable way to mark where I had begun work. I used paper-covered wire. When my face was in the chandelier, it was hard to see how much more needed to be done. It worked well for me, and I ended up inspecting each crystal. Frequent wire replacement was needed.
I was relieved when someone else inherited it.
Thank you for the opportunity.
I think my high maintenance item is the house itself! It’s an 1840s side-hall colonial- it’s a dream come true. The family we bought it from kept it beautifully maintained and updated big ticket items... but even then, there are so many little things you need to keep track of and constantly maintain! And don’t get me started on the creepy basement, lol
My favorite tactic for creating lower-maintenance spaces is to put beautiful objects and collectibles behind glass. I love having pretty things visible, and I enjoy a good tablescape as much as the next person, but when it comes to dusting, as Garrett says "I'm not the one." So I prefer to have most items put away in glass-front bookshelves and display cases as much as possible, and just have a few decor pieces on open surfaces, like mantels and tabletops. This has the added bonus of making my collections look special and intentional, and leaving me with clear tables and counters that I can actually use. :)
I'd say the biggest thing I've done to add architectural interest to my otherwise flat walls was investing in some showy, multi-dimensional wallpaper. I did a feature wall with the paper and wow, what a standout! Makes my boring, one-dimensional wall really pop with interest!
I am here for Linus being taught to clean floors
High maintenance in my home is definitely my husband and the cats. The dogs and I are very patient. I love the tassels and removable toilet seat!
Yes! My teenage son is high maintenance and has *much* lower standards of cleanliness than me.
High maintenance luxury: a half- acre back yard with swimming pool. Having the misfortune of living in the southwest, one of the very few perks is the weather. I spend most of the year being able to really maximize the use of my outdoor spaces.
However keeping them looking nice is a never-ending battle: the garden alone is the biggest home- improvement project I’ve ever undertaken! Overall, it has been a slow process of strenuous physical labour in excruciating temperatures and addressing never-ending challenges (like trying to plant in a desert and with clay instead of soil) and it’s all purely delayed gratification. Then the maintenance of the improvements takes daily work to keep up! The pool is always needing upkeep weekly (at least) and the desert winds blow a fine layer of dust over all the patio furniature ever day…. Is it a nightmare in terms of work? Absolutely! Is it worth the enjoyment I get when I walk outside into an oasis with my glass of wine and get to dangle my feet in the pool as I look at my miniature orchard of citrus and stone fruits? Yes… you bet it’s worth it!
My dream. Sounds 110% worth it
“In the long run, being cheap is more expensive.” Preach, Garrett, preach!
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My favorite hacks for a clean house is putting the Roomba to work throughout the downstairs at night, and reducing clutter in all rooms to an absolute minimum. The only things on my bathroom counter are Kleenex, soap, and the electric toothbrush on its charger. I wipe the counter/mirrors down daily. For the shower use a cleaner to spray on once a week, let sit over night, and rinse off in the morning. Our one higher maintenance item is the off-white sofa, but it’s washable slipcovered. PB and RH have nice ones. I don’t know how people keep their sofas clean otherwise between pets and kids.
How blessed I am today with this video in my feed. If you only knew . . . THANK YOU Garrett. Timeless advice. SO HAPPY this one came up today!!!!
Yay! I’m glad it was helpful. 😊😊😊
I love a tassel too !!
I love my French doors. A pain to clean all those corners but worth the beauty and openness
I agree about the outlet covers on painted walls. However, the place they really bug me is in the kitchen, in the backsplash. Why? I've seen kitchens where the did outlet strips right under the cabinets, not in the wall, and it looks great.
One thing I did that cuts my cleaning time in half is we purchased an IRobot vacuum. They are expensive but well worth saving up for. First of all, if you have a scheduled cleaning day for the robot, you are forced to pick up all the items that have collected on the floor. Second, I used to spend an entire Saturday vacuuming and washing floors in my 2400 square foot home. Now it takes me literally a half hour to mop each level of my home. And my house looks neat and tidy all the time. I really wish I had this when all 7 of my children still lived at home. And, FYI, it works great on German Shepherd dog hair!!!
My attic is a walk-in, but I put tassels on my closet door handles! I love it!
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Hey Garrett..I love antique mirrors and crystal chandeliers but they require a lot of care which I don’t mind because they bring elegance and joy to my life. Ty for a great video..you are wonderful😘
Thanks for the lovely comment! Glad you enjoyed Gail. 😊😊😊
Love your look. The necklace is the perfect gold touch.
Thanks so much!😊😊😊
If you teach your kids to help out around the house not only will you be teaching them invaluable life skills but you will teaching them to respect and appreciate your living space.
You will also be giving them a much better ability to transition into a skillfully responsible adult. Those that don't require their children to "carry their weight" do them a terrible injustice. Of course to ensure that they develop a natural positive willful attitude towards maintaining a clean home environment teach them in fun and creative ways, never bully, demand or threaten them because they will either rebel or do a half ass job.
You are wonderful…you actually clean a house so you know how important it is to maintain all the decorating and decoration…making these changes has improved my home …
I know about keeping a house clean, but I do have help to keep everything real, but I do work a ton between the channel, my consultation service plus our own projects.
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The trouble with Linus is that he is a short-hair boy. I had a friend who had a small dog with hair to the floor. She'd throw a ball under the beds and furniture and he'd fetch, bring out all the dustballs clinging to him. Brush the dog and voila! two jobs with one effort. BTW, she renamed the little guy Swiffer.
Ha! Good one!
LOL That's hilarious!
Minimalist, Rococo/ Disney Princess with cottage touches is my dream style
Garrett. You are the best. My house is for me! Maybe not what anyone else would like but that’s okay. It works for me and makes me happy. I love that you champion that and are not so strict on the designing rules. Thanks for being educational without making me feel like a failure if I don’t follow all the rules. And I love that for me!!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! I'm glad you are enjoying the channel. :)
So happy to hear the puck light sconce is LeChic approved! 💫 I did this in my apartment and love it. Took me a few tries to find the _right_ warm white LED light (BLS Wireless Dimmable LED Puck Lights on Amazon), but now I'm obsessed! I can turn them on, dim them, set a timer - all from the little remote I keep in a box on the coffee table. (I *never* use the colored light option, don't worry! 😅) I feel like we'll be seeing more lighting hacks in the future as LEDs get less ugly and consumers want easier, less expensive solutions. I'd rather spend $$ on a LeChic-approved light fixture than just as much or more to have it hard wired! And thank you for your cleaning schedule tips! I've been decluttering like crazy and it makes it much easier to maintain a tidy space when there's just less stuff. Xo
Thanks for sharing Dara!
When my kids were very little, I placed home chores on pieces of paper and placed them into a hat. The kids actually liked fishing in the hat to discover their chores. No arguments plus we raced to see who could do the best job the fastest.
I heard angels singing when you mentioned the quick release toilet lid. Genius!
Love it!
We have a family friend who got me to clean one hour a day. That's what he did and it works soo good.
I've been doing reno so I have piles of messes everywhere right now but that hour a day, I'll go back to for sure.
I LOVE the idea of painting the socket covers. Those things do stand out and the idea that I can make mine yellow!!!
OMG and it will match my kitchen!!! Yes, please and thank you. Cheers, Ivy.
And love the tassel hack!!!
Hello Beautiful LeChic fam! My dear Garrett, the main thing that you have taught me is that I actually over accessorised in the past making my home looked cluttered. You gave me my "aha moment" while watching your design sessions. I love that for me! You made me see the clear picture. Yes, I will hold on to my cherished pieces, my artwork, my love for color in decor accessories, but the clutter will not be part of having a beautiful home. 💗
Thanks for sharing Rachae! Glad I could help.
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Yes!! Because friends help friends. I just love that 💯!
i love tassels always have. i just bought 5 pink and white jasperware plates for my pink/gold bedroom, for the wall as a nod to your super style too. i got the rare card suit shape set and one where these bad classic guys are stealing cupids arrows sooo nice. Love the idea of 3 times a year getting heavy window cleaners, interior and exterior in. floors polished etc. 1 don't want people weekly coming into my space - yuk, but 3 times a year.... sensational.
OMG my sister and I where just talking about cleaning the house daily one hour at the time.👏
Great advice as usual ❤️🌷
Thanks so much, and thank you for watching, and supporting the channel by subscribing. :)
I still clean a room the Sue Ann Nivens way. Start at 12 and work your way around back to 12. Best advice Beloved Betty White ever imparted. I also still wax my antiques. Time consuming but so worth it. Wax is the most wonderful finish ever.
I always thought I had a high clutter threshold and needed clutter to be creative. Now I realize I was really overwhelmed. I have reduced the amount of stuff in each room. The smaller time chunks of cleaning help me keep the whole house tidy and not get overwhelmed. It is easier to clean with less stuff everywhere.
My dogs. So high maintenance, so worth it. But seriously, my butcher block counter tops take work but I love it.
My favorite home hack is using denture cleaners to clean vases! I love flowers, but the maintenance of scrubbing the vase afterwards makes me 🤢. Denture cleaners are designed to break down organic matter- all you have to do afterwards is wipe with a paper towel.
Garrett, dressed in his jacket and silk? shirt, talking about quick release toilet seats - I love it! I like a few pillows on the bed even though I have to remove them every night and put them back in the morning.
Striving to live aesthetically is my ultimate home hack. I have very bad executive dysfunction due to ADHD, which means it's very hard for me to routinously clean and stick to schedules for boring maintenance tasks. However... by trying to have the most meticulously styled, aesthetic home, and surrounding myself with items I love to see and *want* to show off looking their best, I've been able to fight my own ADHD brain. My love of design helps me live a cleaner, tidier life.
Basically, I have a lot of stuff that's fancy and high maintenance, and people tell me "why don't you have something easier to clean, if you have such trouble doing homework?" The answer is because if my home looked bland or uninteresting, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to clean it *at all*.
Thanks for sharing! Very nice of you. :)
Two things different in my new home - One is that every morning, I take time before I start my work day to do general cleaning/tidying so I’m working in a neat home. And two, the builder had the garage painted the same color as the living room and put in the same wood trim on the garage windows and baseboard as the rest of the house. I painted the cinderblock at the bottom, and also put up art on all the walls. The garage is bright and cheery now, and feels good every time I drive into it.
Thanks for sharing!!
Great idea!
I clean one room at a time, even if it's only one per week. Bring whatever products you need, rags, cleaners, etc, in a basket, start at one end, and go around the room cleaning, dusting, or polishing everything in order down to the baseboards. Don't jump from task to task. That wastes energy and you miss things. For the sconces, I see there are rechargeable LED light bulbs I'm thinking of trying. Great tips as usual!! I put tassels on the handles of several pieces of furniture some time ago. I"m Lechic approved! 😃
Paintable outlets?!?! I’m in!!
Hope all is well! We haven't heard any comments from you in a while.
Hi Garrett, my hack is to clean the shower while I am in it. I know it sounds odd, but it is the perfect time. Everything is in reach and of course every product is environmentally safe.
I never knew painting an outlet cover was a fire hazard! Thank-you for that info.
My super high maintenance item is a Chinese emperor chair- the arms are carved into a pearl catching dragon heads -but these dragons also catches a ton of dust! BUT I LOVE IT
Pardon my mixed singular and plural grammar 🥹
Hi Garrett, I adore you and your videos. Your sense of style and your humor are priceless.
Thank you so much! Thant means a great deal to me Karen. :)
Love your attic tassel tip! Thank you very much for all your tips!
I think Linus needs some little crocheted booties so he can sweep the floor while he runs around! ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you again for a great and helpful video. I don't know if this is a hack or not, but whatever else is going on in my life, I can hold it together as long as my sinks are clean and empty. It's mental calm amidst any chaos to know the sinks are ready for action, instead of having to take care of that situation before getting to what I really want or need to do (and then procrastinating about both things!). It's the most important rule in my home! Thanks again! Love your channel so much! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks Dodie! We are so happy to have you as part of our subscriber family. :)
Hello 👋 I totally agree on the Vista it’s so important because for me it sets the tone for my day if my home isn’t in order than neither am I, I remember when Oprah had her talk show, she had a guest that said the way you keep your purse reflects the way you live your life. One of the things I do to keep organized is no matter how tired or busy I am I make it a point to put back things where they belong after I use them that makes a big difference. Sometimes we tell ourselves “I’ll put it back later” and never do then you have a pile of stuff to deal with at the end of the week. Well that’s my 2 cents and I’m sticking to it. Another great video Garrett!
Thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoyed the video. 😊😊😊
OBSESSED with the tassel attic pull! It’s definitely not “too much”: it’s totally NECESSARY
What a great idea to upgrade your attic pull! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen that done - quite brilliant.
Thanks Amy!
Making the first space I see beautiful is the winner idea from this video! 😍
Garret we are kindred spirits ! I have a blue and white china top tassal from the bombay company l have it hanging on the nob of a antuque radio! I've had it for years and used it over and over again! As always great advice from this dog dad and MASTER OF DESIGN ! I you and your hubby could make up to my tea room for a nice afternoon tea. Pups are also welcomed providing they wearing box ties! There is gorgous manison across the that you woild love. Its used in the Netflix series the handmaiden's Tale. Even Martha Stewart had to see it when she was in town. ♥️
Thanks so much Lorene! Very interesting comment. 😊😊😊
Awesome video! One of the things I love abt your channel is that you affirm the courage to step outside the boundaries and rules. You help your audience know how to think clearly amid the endless choices. Toast to you! Oh...my bow to what I love is a cast iron clawfoot tub with a freaking car bumper's worth of chrome for a faucet. Easy to clean? No. But I love old things and it goes with my old house.
Thanks so much Cassondra!
My high maintenance item is my white sofa. With many cats and a dog, you can imagine how often I have to clean it, but I love white sofas.
Adding to the puck lights hack: I love it, but make sure to buy rechargeable batteries! Keeping with sustainability in mind, if you use them a lot you don't want to be throwing away batteries all the time.
I use my antique dishes and tableware. I try to keep mostly fuctional items. My blender is from the early 70s and works great still ! We keep clutter picked up daily. We hang up clothes right after drying them. We put things away immediately it takes very little time when you clean up right away.
Thanks for sharing!
I really appreciate your "rules" about understanding balance of color/proportion/design in making my living space choices. Now I'm off to find that quick-release toilet seat - love that idea!! Thanks Garrett!
Thanks Elaine! I have them linked in the description section of this video. :)
Me too... where are they 🤔 btw?
Ah! Spoke too soon. Thanks Garrett! I'm off to get one too😉
I had to chuckle at your enthusiasm for the tassel pulldown for the attic stairs. I came up with the same idea decades ago and danced around saying, "I am a GENIUS!!!" My friends just added it to the list of my odd little quirks they were compiling. I think it's in Volume III. So, thanks for the vindication!
So you just glue the puck to where the bulb would normally screw in to the sconce? BRILLIANT! Especially if the pucks have a remote! Too cool!
I had a bad accident in February. A spiral fracture in my right hand. To add insult to injury, literally, I am a hairstylist. Unable to work, unable to clean and watching my once lovely home falling apart, I came up with a plan. I told my 3 teenage sons (full-time students with part-time jobs) either you take over all the cleaning tasks , or everybody chips in to pay for a housekeeper. LoL, well, I now have a housekeeper and it only costs me $20 a week! May not work for others, but it definitely works for us and my house is (almost!) always clean!
Thanks for sharing! Sorry to hear about your accident. Please take a moment to support the channel, and join our very valued subscriber family if you haven't already. :)
So glad I found your channel! Subscribe, like and tell all your friends!! Done and done!!
@@cyndijones1454 Welcome to the channel. I appreciate your support!😊😊😊
Love tassle idea
I cannot get enough of your channel. I love the concept of form is function - beauty and usefulness. I split chores by day of the week, 20-30 min a day (plus kitchen nightly). My favorite hack I hear from Brittany Vasseur - use a kitchen brush that you can put soap in, put dawn and vinegar inside, and keep it in the shower! I do a wall or two every time I shower, so the shower gets clean twice weekly 😁
We have these beautiful bevel the looking outlets that are in our 1956 "build it quick because we need that housing immediately" home. They have painted over them like dozens of times and I'm going to remove them strip the paint off of them and paint them up all nice because I just think that beveling is beautiful! If you're in a similar situation look at your outlets and decide if you like the shape and the style and just need them a different color. Sometimes we forget what's right in front of our noses :)
My art supplies and art room. A big challenge to keep neat and organized, but it gives me life.
Yay!
Thanks Garrett! Once again you’ve given sage advice for bringing Le Chic into our space. One tip that’s worked for me is thinking of the everyday aggravations then looking for a solution. For example,
Aggravation: turning faucet on with chicken hands from dinner prep
solution: touch free faucet, wave my hands and voila
Aggravation: filling the coffee pot with water every morning spilling water pouring it in
Solution: direct water line coffee pot, can use a t-connector to use fridge’s water line
My guests always feel like they’re at a resort giving them the experience and me an ease of everyday luxury.
Thanks for sharing Julia! Glad you enjoyed the video. :)
We had a frosted glass tropical bath door. No problem. It’s still clean & no rust.
Best video yet! Your so wonderful!
Wow thanks so much!😊😊😊
Garrett love the jacket! very very chic. Also, I like that you said that thing about "rules", ones own home should be the most comfortable for the person living in it.
Thanks Pamela!
My bunny is high maintenance. He is free roam and makes a mess but I love him.
I have a glass and wood top coffee table with wicker below. I love it and every piece on it. It's a lot to dust, but it's totally worth it!
My soapstone countertops in the kitchen are about as high maintenance as possible. It’s taken some time to figure out how to take care of them. If you think soapstone is black, nope. It’s charcoal (or lighter). It can chip. Water and soap and oil leave spots. But I love it and wouldn’t trade my soapstone for anything. It’s daily maintenance, but I enjoy it.
Mr LeChic… I think
I’m gonna do the pop on wall sconce. I’m sooooo glad to hear it’s LeChic approved!,
Love it!
What is extra maintenance, but we love anyway? Floor to ceiling sliding glass doors, instead of traditional windows. Yes, we get dog noses, kid fingerprints and definitely have to keep them sparkling, BUT the amount of light and the views of the backyard make it worth the extra maintenance.
I agree completely with this!
Fancy skirting boards, dado rails, picture rails. They all need dusting regularly but I dont mind the extra effort as I think they finish off a space.
Thanks for sharing! Please take a moment to support the channel by subscribing if you haven't already. I appreciate it. :)
I have seven chandeliers in my two bedroom rental (three matching just in the long corridor entrance). You can imagine the upkeep, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I never felt the need to buy a house because I don't love them, but I love it for you and everyone else. I wouldn't feel safe in them, too big and too open to the outside world for my taste.
I love condos, but I wouldn't spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on one and maintenance fees as high as rent for ever either, so I rent, and I am happy as a clam😊
Your videos are getting better and better. You are brilliant ❤
Thanks for sharing! Glad you are enjoying. :)
Bemis not only makes quality easy-release toilet seats, they make them in a variety of vintage colors too. Ming green, Venetian pink, etc. Can be the finishing touch to a delightful colorful bathroom!
Plants. Can't live without them.
You are simply the best !
Wow, thank you! Please take moment to support the channel and become a member of our very valued subscriber family. :)
You know I love all your videos but I think this is my favorite!!! Full of just so many tips that open options I never thought of like the puck lights and sconces. And I never thought of outlets before. I love tassels and not only do that tie into a look or give a pop of color but are also a super easy way to decorate for holidays. We all love a holiday look but not the holiday work! I always learn so much from you 🥰
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed Chelsea.
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Regarding architectural details- nothing collects dust like 6-panel doors and mouldings with nooks & crannies. I'm starting to see the appeal of more streamlined elements such as ranch casings and solid, flat doors for ease of cleaning
Great tips as always! Idk that this qualifies as a “hack” and I know you’ve touched in it before, but a huge issue for me is matching lightbulb temperature. When we moved into our home 4 of the kitchen can lights had warm white bulbs and one had a daylight bulb. I had to fix it before we even unpacked the moving truck 😂. I have mixed feelings about the puck light hack. But I totally understand your reasons for recommending it…but that’s especially a case in which the puck light color temp MUST match the other lights in the room.
Love the quick release toilet seat tip!
The one thing in our house that takes a good amount of cleaning but I wouldn't part with for anything is our wood burning fireplace. We use it all throughout the winter and it has to be cleaned (and maintained by a chimney sweep once a year), but it is so wonderful to have and one of the reasons that we bought this house (the other was the hardwood floors). Thank you again for another video full of advice and wonderful decorating tips! You are the best!!
I really appreciate your lovely comment Teresa!
Thank you for the links, I did not know these items exist and they are so usefull!!!
You are so welcome!
Love that toilet HACK! Awesome!
Thanks!
Love the tassel idea, I have some on my door knobs. The hardest thing for me clean is my built in shelving. I’m too short to reach all of them.
Tassels are life!
My schnauzer Molly picks up any crumbs that have fallen on the floor. And I didn't even have to train her! 😀