February 15, 2008 | Organizing, Kids clean, Cleaning tips

One of the things that irks most of us is that cleaning the house takes so much time. And time is precious, right? So, here are a few tips to make the most of your house cleaning - do it easier, faster, and with less frustration.

1. Gather supplies. You’ll need a well-stocked carrying caddy (preferably a separate one for each floor of your home) and an apron. In your apron pockets you’ll keep a couple microfiber cloths, a scraper, a duster of some sort, and an old toothbrush or a grout brush. In the caddy you’ll need 3 basic liquids - glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and degreaser. You’ll also want to have a gentle abrasive like Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend and a couple sponges (one that’s only used for bathroom surfaces, one for other surfaces). A furniture polish is helpful if you have furniture that needs it, and you may want to have gloves in your caddy too. Wear the apron while you clean - to keep your supplies handy and to keep gunk off your clothes. Carry the stocked cleaning caddy with you as you go from room to room so that you don’t waste time searching for what you need.
2. Keep other ‘maintenance’ supplies convenient to where you use them. In other words, keep a stash of trash can liners near each trash can. Keep a toilet brush in each bathroom.
3. Know the right purpose for your products, and let the products do the work for you.  If you spray something on your shower walls and it isn’t working, either let it sit for a few more minutes, or try something else. A window cleaner isn’t going to do much for the inside of your shower door, even if it’s glass, and an all-purpose cleaner will only work on your toilet if you regularly clean it. Any build-up typically needs a stronger cleaner, like a degreaser or a bathroom cleaner.
4. Prioritize. Do you have guests coming? Is there a particular room or area that drives you mad? Do you have kids crawling on the floor or potty-training? What is most important to you? Do those areas first, and don’t beat yourself up if that’s all you can get to. Spend the bulk of your time on that, and then give yourself a break. If you still have time and energy left, move on to something else.
5. Isolate your frustration. If there’s something that really bothers you about cleaning, figure out what it is and deal with it. Some people are bothered by the products they use - you can always switch to all-natural, non-toxics. Others have back problems with the physical exertion involved - break things up into smaller tasks. Some have a hard time overcoming the clutter so they can actually clean - sort it, organize it, or get rid of it, and be content that you’ve done that much cleaning for the day. The scrubbing can commence later.
6. Be realistic. If the tasks is too big for you, enlist help - kids, spouse, other family or friends. Even a young child can handle a duster or a cleaning rag with non-toxic cleaner. If you’re well behind on your cleaning or if it’s just overwhelming for you, hire a service to come help. Even just having someone else come out and clean once can make the maintenance manageable. We recommend hiring a non-toxic maid service or housekeeper (like ourselves, if you’re in the Atlanta area). But whoever it is, make sure they’re going to do the tasks you need done.

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