Resolve to Keep a Cleaner,
Tidier Home in 2010
A Cleaner, Tidier Home in 2010. Since December probably got you into the groove of making lists and checking them twice, why not continue that effort with a home-buffing list for the New Year?
A tidy home in 2010 needn't consume your life - or even a big chunk of your time. Even if you abhor a vacuum (or a broom or a mop), you can do it right - and fast.
Daily
Yes, there are a few daily cleanups that can be fit into even the busiest of schedules.
Get into the habit of picking up as you go. After all, a clean and well-maintained home runs smoother and requires fewer expensive service visits.
You can spare yourself long weekends of scrubbing away at accumulated grunge by spreading out the bigger tasks over the months ahead. Which translates into more time for the things you really enjoy - family and friends!
-- Pick up nightly. Resolve to put everything back in its place before you head upstairs to bed. Waking up to a tidy home can do wonders for your psyche in the day ahead!
-- Stay ahead. Wash dishes or put them in the dishwasher after each meal. After all, who wants to come home to a sinkful of dirty dishes?
-- Think prevention. Squeegee the shower walls after each use to keep soap scum from building up during the week.
-- Have hang-ups. As in your towel. Don't bunch it up; hang it in an open fashion to allow it to dry quickly and thoroughly.
-- Open the door. After showering, open the shower curtain or leave the shower door ajar to allow fresh air in. This will keep
mold and mildew
from getting a toehold in these moist places.
Weekly
Until some out there introduces a self-cleaning home, most of us will continue to tackle the less-than thrilling task of home maintenance each week.
Still, you can make the weekly routine more pleasant and shave precious moments off your overall time in the process.
--
Vacuum
carpets. To suck up all the dirt and dust hidden between the fibers, you'll need to spend about 20 seconds or so going back and forth over each area of a carpet or rug.
-- Dust. Don't just move dust from one place to another - capture and remove it. The feather duster your Mom may have used sent dust into the air, but the dust eventually settled back down where it came from. Today's more effective tools of choice: a vacuum attachment to suck up the dirt and allergens, or simply a dampened cloth to which the fluffy stuff sticks.
-- Sanitize. Squeeze a bit of toilet-bowl product around the inside of the bowl and under the rim. Use a long-handled toilet brush to swish the it around the bowl, under the rim, and as far into the trap as possible. Let it sit several minutes; flush.
-- Tame scum. Soapy buildup makes for unsightly baths. Spray the shower or tub and sink with a tub, tile and sink product. Allow to sit for several minutes and break up the tough stuff; wipe dry with paper towels.
-- Change the bed. Send bed linens for a spin in the hottest water safe for the fabric, add fabric safe bleach (either colorfast or chlorine).
Monthly
Set aside an hour or so the first (or second, or third, whichever is easiest) Saturday morning each month to tackle these necessary details.
-- Disinfect. Trashcans, especially those in the kitchen and bathroom, with a solution of 3/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a fresh rag.
-- Clean
refrigerator.
Accumulated dust and lint can cause reduced cooling performance. To clear the coils, remove the toe grille and vacuum with the machine's hose nozzle; or use a long-handled brush.
Pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum or sweep away lingering lint, dust or stray crumbs that have settled there.
Seasonally
Spring in to action at the start of each season. You'll find your home looks better and runs smoother with this quarterly routine.
-- Wash
windows.
Let the sun shine in through the seasons by keeping your home's panes sparkling.
Semi-annually
-- Buff
carpets
and upholstery. Fabrics that have absorbed six months worth of dirt, body oil and germs will need a deep cleansing to get them ready for the rest of the year's wear.
-- Turn mattresses. Vacuum surfaces of mattresses and turn them over.
-- De-muck
blinds.
Wipe mini blinds and send washable curtains into your machine's spin cycle.
Annually
-- Make doormats welcoming. Shake 'em, wash 'em, swat 'em with a broom. Give them the toughest buffing treatment they can take. They're your front line against tracked-in dirt, so keep them fresh enough to function at peak efficiency.
- Vacuum ducts. Vacuum heating vents and ducts (including toe-kick floor heaters) to keep air circulating freely and to save energy.
-- Lighten up. Help your energy-efficient bulbs shine: de-grime those
ceiling light fixtures.
A few minutes with a stepladder, an
all-purpose cleaner,
a sponge and a polish cloth will give new light to your life.
-- Wash up. Wash walls, cabinets, baseboards and woodwork. The walls may not look as if they need a bath - after all, dust and soot fall to the floor, right? Most of it does, but just enough clings to vertical surfaces to warrant an annual bath with a sponge and hand dishwashing detergent.
-- Seal up. Reseal
wood floors
to prevent scratches and scrapes from marring the wood.
It takes just a few moments to create a realistic schedule that will yield a cleaner house.
And you'll find that when your home sparkles, you shine too. Happy 2010!
How to Organize Your Home for the New Year - 2010!
How to Winterize Your Home
January Home Checklist
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