My Favorite Automated Cleaning Tools

As an avid automation user, I tend to try to find ways to automate everything, even in everyday life.  One of the biggest responses I get when I ask my audience what they would love to automate is chores.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a robot like Rosey from The Jetsons to clean the house?  We may not be at that level yet as a society, but there are some cleaning tools that I use that either eliminates my involvement in the cleaning process or greatly decreases the effort to put in it.

1 / Electronic Vacuum Cleaner

This is the closest that we are to Rosey so far.  My daughter has named our robotic vacuum “Buddy”, so he’s definitely a member of the family!  I remember my mom having an iRobot back in the early 2000’s and she LOVED it.  Fast forward to me as an adult with plenty of responsibilities and a decrease in available time.  Two years ago I added an electronic vacuum to my Christmas wish list and thankfully I got it!  I currently have a Roborock S6 Pure.  My favorite features are the schedule that you can create so your automated cleaning is consistent, and the no-go zones (like around my plants haha!).  I also love that it vacuums and sweeps, so it can change from carpet to hard floors seamlessly.  Vacuuming and sweeping can take some time to complete, so the time that is gained back from my Roborock has been wonderful!

2 / Air Purifier

This is such an important thing to add to your home to minimize impurities in the air and to clean the air as a whole.  Many air purifiers can detect the level of impurities and automatically turn on as needed.  Clear and clean air are important to your health, and make your home feel more comfortable.  Of course fresh air is a great way to clear the air also, but if you live in an area that is pollen heavy, opening windows and doors can blow the impurities and pollen right inside.  This is also where an air purifier is helpful because you can get fresh, purified air.  Many air purifiers also have a mobile app and can be linked to other smart devices, so controlling them can also be done with ease.

I have an Afloia, and love the smart air quality monitor as well as the large space that it can purify in a reasonable timeframe (spaces up to 2600 square feet per hour).  It also uses HEPA filtration and eliminates 99.97% of particles in the air down to 0.3 microns.

3 / Electronic Bathroom Scrubber

I recently started using a WIEMIE electric spin scrubber to clean the bathroom, and it has been such a huge help!  Okay, so yes, I still need to be involved in the cleaning process when using this, BUT I don’t have to exert as much energy because the scrubbing is done by the motor.  I just have to move the brush back around the shower/tub, and the deep cleaning happens automatically.  I’m not a fan of cleaning, so anything to make the job easier and faster, I’m all for it!

I love that this scrubber is wireless, so it’s totally potable.  It also comes with two scrubber heads- one for scrubbing and one for tile, glass and curved areas and the other for corners and tile gaps.  This makes it a versatile tool that can be used in many areas of the home.

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Are there any automated home cleaning products or tools that you use?  I would love to know!  Please share in the comments.

My Favorite Way to Simplify Meal Planning

Deciding what to eat throughout the day can be very time consuming if you don’t plan ahead.  It can also get expensive if you end up going out to eat more than cooking at home.  Cooking is not one of my favorite things, but I have grown a slight fondness for it lately.  This is because my meal planning process has allowed me to save time with a simple strategy that I will share with you.  I call it Meal Remixing.

Meal Remixing is when you have staple meals, but make them slightly different by changing the ingredients or preparation. When remixing meals, it’s important to know your crowd favorites.  For example, my family loves noodle and rice dishes, so I make these types of meals using different ingredients two or three times a month.

Here’s how I remix noodle and rice dishes:

• Change the carb

  • Use different noodles (soba noodles, ramen noodles, rice noodles, etc.)

  • Use different rice and prep options (brown rice, white rice, cauliflower rice, fried rice, steamed rice, etc.)

• Change the protein- Shrimp, chicken, beef, fish, tofu, etc.

• Change the veggies- Plenty of options!

• Change the sauce- Teriyaki, peanut sauce, curry sauce, etc.

Another staple in my home is pasta.  Pasta is one of those things that people tend to learn how to make at an early age.  I remember helping my Mom make spaghetti when I was very young, then making it in Home Economics in middle school.  It also helps that it’s a simple meal to make.

Here’s how I remix pasta:

• Change the noodles- Spaghetti, penne, bowtie, elbow, linguini, lasagne, etc.

• Change the sauce- Tomato, alfredo, pesto

• Change the protein- Salmon, chicken, shrimp, beef

• Change the preparation- Stovetop, oven baked, InstantPot, etc.

• Extras- Change the type of cheese garnish used, and add veggies

The last staple meal in my household is Tacos/Burritos.  You can do so many things to make a taco different, so it’s hard to get bored with them.

Here’s how I remix tacos:

• Change the shells- Hard, soft, corn, nachos

• Change the protein- Beef, chicken, fish, beans

• Change the preparation- Stovetop, baked (enchilada), burrito bowl

• Extras- Change the type of cheese used, add different veggies, use different taco sauces, etc.

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As you can see, thinking about different ways to remix a staple meal in your household will instantly create variety, so your family should not get bored eating “the same thing”.  Also, if you know your staple meals, meal planning for the week should be a smooth process.  I hope this gives you some ideas on how to remix your meals.

Do you meal plan using a strategy similar to my Meal Remixing or any other strategy?  I would love to hear about it.  Let me know in the comments!