"Easy Ways to Keep Your Home Clean" by Alice Robertson
For many people, an unclean house amplifies stress. Even a small amount of debris can set some people off, making life seem overwhelming. The stress can be a reflection of someone’s aversion to housework -- it can seem like some mountainous task that keeps piling up and getting worse. Others find great satisfaction in cleaning their house. Whether you enjoy cleaning or need help finding shortcuts, tidiness can help reduce stress. Here are some tips to minimize the drudgery of cleaning and get your life focused.
Daily Cleaning Equals Very Little Work
One way to minimize a cleaning job is to never let messes accumulate. If dog hair piles on your kitchen floor daily, so you should run a broom through the room every day. This task is minimal -- no one is going to break a sweat with a quick sweep, and the more you do it, the less work it becomes. Another area that gets grungy if left until weekly or less frequent cleaning is bathroom areas. Porcelain attracts dust and sinks get gunked with toothpaste and soap scum, but these messes are avoidable if toilets, sinks, and tubs are wiped after use.
The key to this method of preventative cleaning is to make sure that your cleaning tools are readily available. Store your vacuum, broom, dustpan, cleaning wipes, and spray cleaners in dedicated areas that are uncluttered and easy to reach. If you have multiple floors, consider staging cleaning storage areas on each floor. Dragging a vacuum cleaner up the stairs is one reason many people avoid the job.
Another tip is to invest in a small portable vacuum, such as a Dustbuster. This tool picks up most spills and messes, such as that kitchen floor dog hair, quickly and with little fuss.
Tips for More Effective Cleaning
Some people dread housework because they do not know how to efficiently clean. Take a tip from a professional cleaner and work from the top down, working with, not against, gravity. In the kitchen, run through with a duster, hitting high areas such as cabinet and appliance tops. Afterward, wipe down all countertops. Now, you’ll probably be left with a dusty floor that you can quickly sweep up.
Baseboards are another problematic cleaning area. They are highly visible and tend to attract dust. They are also a pain to clean if you try to wipe them down while on your hands and knees. Instead of this backbreaking approach, attach a damp cloth to the broomstick pad of a Swiffer or similar device. Wipe down the baseboard without having to bend over. Then, once dry, repeat the process, this time attaching a dryer sheet to the broomstick pad. The dryer sheet will help the baseboard repel dust and dirt.
When cleaning bathrooms, remember to always remove dry residue first, such as dust and hair, then use a wet cloth or spray cleaner.
Bypass the Job and the Stress Completely
For those who cannot stand the stress of a dirty house or the work involved in cleaning, a home cleaning service may be cheaper than you think. Nationally, the average cost to hire a service is $157. There may even be ways to reduce this charge. Try doing some of the work yourself so the cleaner just has to do certain jobs. The less time a cleaner has to spend, the lower your bill will be.
A dirty house creates stress for many people. House cleaning, however, is easy to tackle with some planning and professional cleaning know-how. And for those who’d rather leave the dirty work to others, a cleaning service can double as a stress reliever, too.
About the Author
Alice Robertson began her career in the home organization industry as a professional house cleaner. After cleaning and organizing her clients’ homes for years, she decided to open her own home organization business. Over the years, she has built an impressive client list, helping to make spaces in homes and businesses more functional. She recently created tidyhome.info as a place to share the great cleaning and organizing advice she has developed over the years.