10 Cleaning Tips for Real Life
Sure, you'll see impeccably clean homes on TV shows like Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (or Atlanta, Orange County, New Jersey or Miami), looking spotless week in and week out. It's television, after all.
In real real life, however, with the triple threat of finding time for work, family, and friends, housekeeping understandably comes in a distant fourth. So the chances our homes are spotless week after week are slim to none.
Not because we don't want a tidy, presentable home, mind you. It's just that when time is short, something has to go.
So for those of us who aspire to do our best at home each week as well as meet our other obligations, these 10 cleaning commandments are a real life housekeeping map.
Consider it a guide to what you really must do each week, and what tasks you can let slide when time is short.
1. If it isn't begging for attention, don't give it any.
If the dust bunnies aren't hopping out at friends and family, it's OK to occasionally let them be.
2. Make the most of every minute.
Find tasks that you can do simultaneously. For example, while:
- making coffee: declutter your countertops or organize the kitchen shelves.
- cooking: wash utensils and dishes and put them away as you go and wipe down cooktop spills.
- waiting in the doctor's office: pay bills and balance your checkbook or review your calendar and respond to invitations.
3. Head off housework.
- Use a doormat to keep dirt outside.
- Eat only in the kitchen or dining room.
- Return mislaid items to their proper places each night before going to bed.
4. Avoid interruptions.
Let voicemail take the calls until you've finished the task at hand.
5. Set realistic standards.
If you lack the time to buff your home thoroughly, adjust your expectations.
6. Call in the troops.
Hold a family meeting to discuss what chores need to be accomplished in the week ahead. Divvy up kids'
chores by age.
A family that works together has more time to play together.
7. Keep household germs in check.
Streamline bathroom and kitchen disinfecting with a
speed-cleaning routine.
8. Say adieu to allergens.
Vacuum frequently and wash bed linens in hot water to remove dust mites. (Read more about
getting rid of allergens here.)
9. Thin your houseplant collection.
If you enjoy indoor greenery but spend too much time maintaining it, choose a few easy-care plants and weed out the rest.
Need to find out if plants you can't kill actually even exist? Get 6 names here.
10. Make your home safe.
A clutter-free home helps prevent accidents from happening. (Here are the 10 Steps to a Safer Home to get you started.)
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About the Author
Tara Aronson is a native Californian. Having grown up in San Diego, she studied journalism and Spanish to pursue a career in newspaper writing. Tara, whose three children - Chris, Lyndsay, and Payne - are the light of her life, now lives and writes in Los Angeles. She also regularly appears on television news programs throughout the U.S.
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