How To Clean Smarter, Not Harder

We would all like to leave for work in the morning press a button on the way out and return at the end of the day to find our homes clean and tidy. Until that day arrives, here are some tips that may help you clean smarter not harder. Due to those TV adverts, most of us over accessorize for the job We have gadgets for everything and most don't really do what they say or not in my hands anyway, so lets keep it simple.

Pick up the clutter - always a big help. Keep your cleaning products to a minimum and this will help you carry them around with you as you move through your home. Let the cleaning products work for you by giving them the suggested time that is recommended on the label to do their job, don't rush it. Divide your cleaning over the course of a few days, set certain days to do certain jobs. This way it's not such a big deal. The following are room by room strategies.

Bathroom. Apply the products that take time first. Vacuum everything including dust vents or fans. Wipe down doors, corners, and towel racks with a damp cloth. Now scrub or wash down all those areas you applied the take-time products on. The toilet is the biggest trouble spot, so once a week pour a cup of white vinegar into the toilet, close the lid and leave overnight. It is very easy to overlook the medicine cabinet. Remove everything and wipe down the cabinet every couple of months. Throw out the expired items. There are a few secret weapons that will help you in your bathroom. For instance, automatic shower cleaners are a good investment and those self-cleaning toilet systems that turn the flushed water into a cleaning agent can be a big help too.

Bedroom. Put away clothes and straighten dresser and strip the bed so the blanket and sheets can be laundered. Move clockwise around the room, clean mirrors and blinds or windows. For blinds, use a damp rag and a mild cleaning solution. It is always easy to overlook cleaning under you bed, you should vacuum regularly and get all the way underneath the bed. For dusting, a secret weapon can be an Ostrich feather duster you can buy one online or at a hardware store. For your mattress and bedding you can use an allergen reducer spray. Vacuum, then put the clean sheets on the bed.

Kitchen. Clear the counters and empty the dishwashers and clean all the appliances like the toaster, grill and the coffee pot. Spray the counters with an all purpose cleaner. Clean the sink, sweep or vacuum, then mop the floor. The refrigerator and the stovetop would be the trouble spots in this area. For the fridge, use warm soapy water to clean the inside and outside or you can do it the real old fashion way and clean with water and baking soda. For the stove, you can use a strong bathroom cleaner. Spray, let it sit, and then wipe with a damp sponge, avoiding using harsh cleaners with ammonia. You can make a paste with a degreaser and baking soda. Scrub the dirt loose, rinse with vinegar and water. Turn on oven to 350 degrees to bake off fumes that may harm your food. A few secret weapons that will make life easier are a dissolver, a heavy duty cleaning pad, and believe it or not an enzyme cleaner (you can get some at a pet store).

Living Room. Again move clockwise then high to low. Work on the interior windows and mirrors. Vacuum the sofa and then the floors. Some of the trouble spots are carpet stains and furniture. For the carpet, use a stain remover to get rid of the grease, oil, and things of the like. On a paper towel, spray the solvent, dab it, and dab it again with a damp white cloth. For wooden furniture, use a lemon oil or a wood-care product that has a beeswax base. Cleaning behind the furniture often becomes a serious tasks so most people just overlook it. But for those hard to reach places, attach an athletic sock with a rubber band to the end of a yard stick. There are also some secret weapons for cleaning your living room. Window cloths because they clean windows really well and are durable and washable. Get rid of the broom or mop and get the Swifter, it is very multi-functional a good carpet cleaner that can work well on both synthetic and natural carpets.