| Cleaning Method |
Always clean a room from top to bottom. This way you don't risk getting dirt on already cleaned surfaces. |
| Motivation |
You can do just about everything for 15 minutes. When you are facing a daunting cleaning task, just work on it for 15 minutes a day. You will be surprised how much you will get done! (check out www.flylady.com for more tips) |
| Environment & Recycling |
Moderately soiled surfaces don't need strong chemical cleaners. Adjust your cleaning method to the job at hand. At times, a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water might be all you need. Save money in the process. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
Make de-cluttering a priority. Cleaning will be much easier once the clutter is gone. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
Buy a hamper with compartments. When taking off your clothes at night you can directly sort them into whites, darks, and lights. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
You have heard it before, and it is still true: If you haven't used an item in a year or more, get rid of it. Belongings that you don't use are not assets but financial and emotional drains. |
| Timesaving |
Don't clean anything that's already clean! There are better ways of using your time. |
| Timesaving |
Can't miss that favorite TV show? Just fold some laundry or do the ironing while watching TV. Fit in smaller jobs in other parts of your home during commercial breaks. |
| Motivation |
Do you feel like the Lone Ranger when it comes to cleaning the house? Enlist the kids. Besides teaching them valuable skills, children can be of great help even at a young age. |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
For quick touch-ups of your toilet use flushable toilet wipes. Alternatively, use a mild spray cleaner and toilet paper. |
| Cleaning Method |
For a nice, clean shine use rubbing alcohol on metal surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom. |
| Timesaving |
Buy only one brand and style of socks. That way you will minimize the time spent on sorting them. |
| Motivation |
Do you get sidetracked by perfectionism? Allow only 10 minutes per room before moving on to the next one. That way you won't get stuck on one area and the entire house will look better. |
| Environment & Recycling |
It's not necessary to change your towels every time you take a shower. After all, towels are designed to dry a clean body. Just hang your towel to dry and reuse it the next day. |
| Environment & Recycling |
Don't you love those statically charged dusting cloths? You will be surprised how much more they will pick up even when they already look dirty. And always remember to use both sides! |
| Timesaving |
Want to save some time with your holiday decorations? Consider a door wreath and lighted windows as a classy and time-efficient alternative to long strings of outdoor lighting. |
| Motivation |
Turn on your favorite CD when cleaning. It's amazing how music enhances our mood! |
| Cleaning Method |
Only damp-mop your hardwood floors. Soaking wet mops can damage your floors and will increase drying time. |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
Declare your house a "shoe-free zone." This will greatly reduce your weekly cleaning time. Similarly, ban food and drinks from the bedrooms. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
If you don't have the time to put away your breakfast dishes, at least fill them up with water. That way you can avoid stuck on food, which can be very hard to remove. |
| Cleaning Method |
You don't need fancy products to clean your microwave. Just fill a small bowl with water and turn the microwave on high for three minutes. Wait another three minutes and then wipe down the inside with a soft cloth (be careful, bowl may be hot!). |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
Store your microwave splatter guard inside the microwave. That way you will be more motivated to actually use it. |
| Cleaning Method |
To get rid of strong food odors in your plastic containers use the following method: Apply a drop of vanilla extract to a paper towel and store the towel inside the container with the lid closed. |
| Cleaning Method |
To remove lint from your dryer, just moisten your hand with water before running it through the lint tap. The moisture will make the lint stick to your hands. |
| Environment & Recycling |
For an environmentally friendly alternative for fabric softeners use one cup of white vinegar per wash load. And don't worry: The smell will dissipate after the clothes have dried. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
Keep a car trash bag tied to your passenger seat. That way you can easily and safely dispose of trash while traveling from one appointment to another. |
| Cleaning Method |
Sanitize your sponges by washing them with your next load of dishes in the dishwasher. Alternately, rinse them and microwave them on high for one minute (be careful when removing them - they will be hot!). |
| Timesaving |
Don't even bother opening junk mail. Throw it out the moment you see it. To decrease junk mail, go to the Direct Marketing Association's Web site at www.dmaconsumers.org and find out how to remove your name from marketing lists. |
| Timesaving |
Don't wash your windows on a sunny day. The direct sunlight dries the panes too quickly, which will result in streaky windows. |
| Cleaning Method |
Notice a bad smell in the kitchen? Check your trash can and wash it out once a month. Smaller trashcans are emptied more frequently, which can also help to cut down on bad odors. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
Are you battling the clutter under your kitchen sink? First use up those specialized cleaners and then limit yourself to one good all-purpose cleaner, a window cleaner, and dishwashing liquid. Trust us - you won't need more! |
| Cleaning Method |
Change your kitchen towels frequently. Kitchen towels are used more often and more heavily than your average bathroom towels. |
| Environment & Recycling |
Before changing your vacuum cleaner bag, go over your basement floor or vacuum up spider webs and similarly disgusting things. That way, they will be discarded immediately instead of lingering in your vacuum cleaner. |
| Cleaning Method |
Use a rag and rubbing alcohol on and around the stopper in your bathroom sink. This method will easily remove mineral deposits. |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
Put a hair catcher over your shower drain to avoid annoying and costly hair clogs. Soft rubber hair catchers can be washed in your washing machine with your next load of towels. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
Use hotel-style shower mats instead of bathroom rugs. This alternative is much more hygienic and time efficient, since the mats can be washed together with your towels and changed frequently. |
| Cleaning Method |
To freshen up your toothbrushes, dissolve a denture-cleaning tablet in some water and soak the brushes overnight. |
| Timesaving |
Instead of scrubbing down your shower curtain liner, just wash it in the washing machine with warm water and 1/2 cup of bleach or white vinegar. Soap scum and mold are easily removed this way. Do NOT put your shower curtain in the dryer! Just hang it back up in the shower. |
| Cleaning Method |
Featured Web site of the week: www.howtocleananything.com |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
Are you in the market for a new toilet seat? Buy one of the stain resistant varieties (e.g. Bemis). They will save you money and effort in the long run, are quite affordable, and available at regular home improvement stores. |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
Rinse down your shower after every use - especially if you shave in the shower. It doesn't take much time to rinse small hairs off your shower walls, but they can be difficult to remove once they are stuck to your tiles. |
| Cleaning Method |
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| Cleaning Method |
Featured Web site of the week: www.queenofclean.com |
| Warning |
Don't mix ammonia or bleach with other chemicals or cleaning products since this might result in toxic fumes. |
| Cleaning Method |
To remove gum, use an ice cube to harden the gum and then scrape it off with a dull blade. |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
To prevent water rings on your furniture, make coasters easily available where you might need them. |
| Prevention & Maintenance |
Invest in a good doormat. A good doormat will remove dirt from your shoes as well as hold on to it until you shake it out. Flat door mats without bristles might be decorative, but they won't get the job done. |
| Cleaning Method |
To remove wax, place a paper towel over the stain and go over it with a warm iron. The paper towel will absorb the wax. |
| Cleaning Method |
Always soak bloodstains in cold water. Hot water can set the stains. |
| Cleaning Method |
To remove heel marks, use a pencil eraser and rub them off. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
A place for everything and everything in its place: It sounds easy enough, but is the main reason for recurring clutter. Next time you find an item without a home, make a conscious decision as to where you will store it. If you can't find a place, get rid of it. |
| Organization & Decluttering |
Featured Web site of the week: www.organizedhome.com |
| Organization & Decluttering |
While cooking, clean as you go. E.g. while your ground beef is browning, throw out the wrapper and wipe down the countertop. You don't have to watch your food every second during the cooking time. |
| Cleaning Method |
Featured Web site of the week: www.cleaning101.com |
