Monday, November 1, 2004

Simple Steps to a Cleaner Home

The Holidays are here!

Here are some simple tips on keeping things tidy that you might find you commit to year round.

BARE YOUR SOLES

Taking off your shoes and having your guests do the same keeps dirt and allergens out of the home. The carpets will seem as though you vacuum everyday. During the rainy season (ok wait, this is Seattle!) the dirt brought in by wet shoes will be kept in a designated area that you can clean every now and then. You will be amazed by less grit on hardwood and tile floors. This is a good way to keep dirt at bay in between cleanings. Less dusting too.

CLEAN AS YOU GO
My grandmothers house is spotless. Come to think of it, I have never seen her slave one day ever to maintain order around the house, especially in the most used room in the house; the kitchen.

Always clean up after yourself as you make a mess. This includes, rinsing or soaking dishes immediately and then cleaning up the rest as soon as you clear the table. Use a small bag on a kitchen counter to collect food refuse until it hits the garbage can. Wipe up spills as they happen so they don't have time to set or require heavy duty cleaners.

A CLEAN SWEEP
This is trick the guys will love, I learned from a friend who kept a meticulous workshop. Well, ok, the floor looked good. Wipe whatever dry particles from flat surfaces onto the floor, and you guessed it, sweep the minute you are done with your projects.

Keeping a rag under the sink to use for spot cleaning the floor will maintain your floor until you do a deep clean.

MIRROR MIRROR
In the bathroom, keep an old towel or roll of paper towels that you will reuse close by, and every now and then wipe down the bathroom mirror. When your towel is on its last leg, wipe down the faucets, counter and toilet seat, then wash or toss.

SHOWER POWER
The easiest way to keep the shower clean is to spray and rinse it after each use.

Also, keep your bottles and tubes around the tub to a minimum. It's time consuming to take down three bottles of shampoo, four bars of soap, razors, bubble bath, two bottles of hair conditioners and a rubber ducky, from where they once were, and then put them all back again.

Invest in a shower caddy that hangs off of the shower head, or shelving that is very close by the tub for the luxuries that you cannot live without.

There will be nothing more than a quick wipe down or rinse with some cleaning solution and your tub or shower will look tidy all the time.

I like Method Daily Shower because it disolves soap scum over a short period of time, is environmentally friendly and is Ylang-Ylang scented, my favorite!

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