Your House Has a Smell. You Just Can’t Smell It.
Your house has a smell. You just stopped noticing it. That's your nose turning down the volume, not evidence that nothing is there.
Posts by author
Robin Murphy
32 posts
I think we’ve gotten cleaning all wrong. We treat it like a chore when it’s really one of the simplest ways to protect your health and take care of your life. After 30 years in the industry, that’s the idea I keep coming back to, and what I write about here.
Your House Is Trying to Tell You Something
Houses are more talkative than we give them credit for. A musty smell, a slow drain, dust that won't stay gone. They're not separate annoyances. They're clues.
In Defense of the Feather Duster
The feather duster has terrible branding. It's also one of the best dusting tools I know. A defense of the most underestimated thing in the cleaning aisle.
The Room That Works While You Sleep
We optimize our sleep with apps, gadgets, and supplements, and mostly ignore the room it actually happens in. A look at the bedroom as something your body lives in, not just sleeps in.
I’ve Never Completely Trusted Microfiber
Microfiber is one of the best cleaning tools we have. I use it all the time. But after decades of cleaning and handling thousands of microfiber cloths, I've never completely trusted it. Here's why.
Could Your Vacuum Be Making Your House Dustier?
Most people think a vacuum has one job: pick up dirt. But it also moves air, and where that air goes is the part nobody checks. A look at what actually keeps the dust inside the machine.
The Sponge I Actually Use
I'm suspicious of kitchen sponges as a rule. They sit by the food, stay damp, and expect to be invited back tomorrow. This is the one that earned a place in my house anyway.
The Best Kitchen Cleaning Tool Isn’t a Sponge
One of the best cleaning tools in my kitchen isn’t a sponge. It’s a Swedish dishcloth. If you’ve read what I’ve written about kitchen sponges, that won’t come as much…
Your Sponge Is Not Okay
Your kitchen sponge is probably one of the dirtiest things in your house. Microwave it, boil it, soak it — the honest answer is less satisfying than the rescue plans suggest. You can't really redeem a sponge. You can only replace it.
The Goal Isn’t a Clean Kitchen
A kitchen isn't supposed to look untouched. The real goal isn't keeping it pristine, it's helping it recover, so the next morning starts easier and the dishes don't become tomorrow's problem.