Keeping House

1. Vacuum often. While you could spend the whole day vacuuming, especially if you have children or pets, you probably don’t want to. Still you should vacuum each room in your home at least once a week or more and frequently used areas three to four times a week. That will keep dirt from getting stuck in the carpeting and wearing it out more quickly.

2. Make a schedule for periodic jobs, such as cleaning baseboards and organizing cabinets. You may want to go through your cabinets every six months, for example. I find it quite helpful to have set days for each job...for example, every Sunday, change sheets, every Monday, wash floors..so on. It is much less intimidating than cleaning the whole house at once.

3. Wipes aren’t just for babies. You can find antibacterial wipes, furniture wipes, glass wipes, and more. Take advantage of these inexpensive cleaning aids. Wiping down the bathroom sink everyday with a wipe can permit you to go longer between full cleanings. But, baby wipes are handy for quick cleanups anywhere.

4. Do it now! This phrase is the mantra of organizational gurus, who know that the key to keeping one’s home clean is to do every task as soon as it needs to be done. Putting that ice cream bowl in the sink now is much easier than putting three away tomorrow, and alot less gross.

5. Simple is better. Keep things simple, and cleaning will be easier. Stick to one illustrated book on your coffee table, for example, instead of an arrangement of figurines. The former will be easier to dust and keep tidy, making your job to clean, easy.

6. It’s okay to cut corners – sometimes. You can vacuum around the furniture many times, but you do need to do a good job and move everything once or twice a month. Vacuuming along the walls and furniture is easier to do monthly than annually during a big cleaning day.

7. If you haven’t used something in a year, throw it out. If you’ve looked at that green sweater in your closet and shrugged everyday this winter, you have moved passed the sweater. Just get rid of it, and you won’t have to worry about it anymore.

8. When you find a problem, fix it. Many people tend to just allow cleaning problems to build up. If you’re always tripping over the kids’ shoes when you come in, put a shoe rack at the front door. Move the cleaning supplies so they’re easier to reach. Put the broom in a better spot. Fixing problems can make cleaning go much more smoothly. If you have stairs, leave a basket near them, then fill it up with things that need to go upstairs..bring it on your next trip up, and when you are upstairs, fill it with things that need to go down. You get the idea!

9. Have a filing system for paper. Make it a point to deal with paper as soon as it comes in the house. Sign papers. Pay bills. Toss junk mail.

10. Keep a laundry basket in frequently used rooms. You can toss in items that go in other rooms of the house to make cleaning much easier. Then just take the basket around at the end of the day and deposit items in the right spot.

11. I go through my house constantly, and try to look at it through the eyes of a guest. What would I notice if I was visiting? I strive to always make my home a welcome one, and that includes a clean one!