Mother's Day is May 12^th, and the experts at MOLLY MAID suggest you surprise Mom by giving her a bouquet of flowers and by doing a bit of cleaning (of her most dreaded chores, the toilet). The best part is there's a quick and easy 'double duty' cleaning trick that you can use for both! All you need is a package of effervescent antacid tablets, such as Alka-Seltzer.

Shimmering Flower Vase

Once you have given your Mom flowers and a big hug, it's important to make sure you have a clean vase to put the flowers into. The Alka-Seltzer tablet will lift leftover bouquet residue from the bottom of a vase. Here's how:

1. Fill the vase with warm water
2. Add 1-2 tablets and let sit for a few minutes
3. Swish the water and rinse
4. Fill with fresh water and the bouquet of flowers, then put them somewhere you know Mom will enjoy them - maybe the kitchen table or the coffee table in the living room.

Sparkling Toilet

Cleaning the toilet is easy with Alka-Seltzer too:  

1. Pop 1-2 tablets into the toilet bowl and let the fizz attack stubborn stains for 10-15 minutes
2. Give a swish around with the toilet brush
3. Then flush - it's as simple as that!

A garden adds colour to your yard - and your life!

But the maid service experts at MOLLY MAID note that if dogs or cats share your home, it's important to know that some common plants and flowers are actually toxic to animals. That doesn't mean you have to dig up the plants and get rid of them.  But you do have to keep a watchful eye on your pets especially if they tend to be chewers and eat just about anything.

If your pet digests any of these, symptoms can include: vomiting, diarrhea, excess salivation, loss of appetite, convulsions, hallucinations and/or kidney pain. If you think your pet is having a reaction, call your vet or take your pet to an emergency veterinarian clinic.

Here's a list of plants that pose a health risk:

1. Ivy
2. Carnations
3. Lilies
4. Baby's Breath
5. Tulips
6. Aloe Vera
7. Daffodils
8. Morning Glories
9. Poinsettias