Spring is finally here and if you’ve been as busy as we have – your house is a wreck. In my case, we’re also moving as soon as we get the house ready, so our home is currently more wrecked than usual but it’s going to be cleaner soon than it ever has been.
I know how to clean, everyone does. It’s an innate ability. I don’t really mind cleaning. Actually I’d rather be drinking coffee and chatting with friends, clients or colleagues, but it’s the kind of maintenance that has to be done.
For cleaning, like most things, I have a system. Maybe it will work for you too:
1-Put on some loud music (and dance). You might as well enjoy the chores as much as you can.
2-I know a lady who does her cleaning on Friday night and has a little drink-i-poo for every room she cleans. I think its great to have a reward system of some kind and a room-by-room system is a must. You should do one room, even one area of one room, at a time to avoid unfinished jobs. The satisfaction of seeing one room sparkle will make the hard work feel like it’s worth the effort.
3-Work from the top down, inside to outside, to avoid getting what you just cleaned dirty again. When tidying, reduce trips around the house by temporarily collecting items in one spot en route to but not at their final destination. Dust before vacuuming or cleaning the floor.
4-Do two things at once. While laundry is going, scrub the shower stall. Although multitasking has been proven to be detrimental to overall efficiency in most workplace, it works for house cleaning.
5-Make small repairs. If you’re not handy, hire someone. Make a list and bring a handyman in for a few hours. Youtube has “how to” video’s about just about everything too.
6-De-clutter as you go. Cleaning is a great opportunity to get rid of useless stuff. I have a rule, if it hasn’t been used in the past two years give it to charity or take it to the dump. In my neighborhood, I just take whatever it is to the end of my driveway and it disappears.
Don’t throw away your wife’s bread-maker. Although she hasn’t used it in two years, she’ll be wanting to use it next week.
7-Wear good rubber gloves to protect your skin. Have the right cleaning products for the job. Have lots of cloth rags, a squeezable mop, heavy-duty bucket…get good solid equipment to tackle the job. Don’t stand your brooms on their bristles. It will destroy their shape and diminish their effectiveness.
That’s it, you’re done. Don’t you feel great about your home now?
Bonus tip-Maybe you could have taken before and after pictures. Don’t forget to stop every couple hours for a coffee break and a cookie. Don’t get overwhelmed. Just work consistently.
