Housecleaning cheats???

Setof2Keys

What are your housecleaning cheats? Tricks to make it easier, faster, old tricks...

I'm struggling now to maintain the house alone. My BF is working the opposite shift and working weeks straight so the one thing I could do is keep up the house. I wondered what do you do to get it all done?? I am trying to make more time for my exercising and hoping my knowledgeable friends on MFP will have amazing ideas.

Setof2Keys

Dang waaaayyy too many topics coming through too quickly...I got no play time on the right side of the screen LOL!

4HealthyMe

Vacuum only where people can see....:laugh:

Honestly, the best thing I ever did for myself was to lower my standards. I am not filthy or gross, but I feel there are more important things in life than having a perfect house. I try to vacuum& dust once per week, clean the bathroom likewise. Keeping the clutter to a minimun goes a long way to making the house look okay even if there's a little dust. Every once in awhile, I do a deep cleaning of the carpets, wash windows, mop/wax floors, but I try to resist doing it too often.

pa_jorg

Set a timer for a certain amount of time everyday (maybe 15 minutes). It's amazing how much you can get done when you really focus and have a set end time.

Setof2Keys

Good ideas! I know one of my friends uses dishsoap in her tub instead of comet. It cuts the soap scum, but you can't use the cheap stuff. It works well for the in-between cleanings, but comet is necessary eventually. I sqee-gee my shower door after I shower so soap scum doesn't build up.

NicolCook

I have a vaccum that the brushes shut off so I can do my flat surfaces, cuts way down on sweeping. I spot mop inbetween really having to mop. Try to put laundry and dishes away when they are done. I have noticed if I do more than one load of laundry, I will stack them to put them away, and it doesn't get done.....so do it as they come out of the dryer.

I have a daycare at my house, so I keep stuff picked up or they are into everything. Dusting happens when it bugs me.....

BerryH

You could go by the Quentin Crisp method of cleaning and just not bother. "After four years," he quipped, "you don't notice the dust."

rml_16

If you do one chore per day, your house will stay pretty clean. Pick up after yourself and do dishes each evening so you wake up to a clean kitchen.

I don't kill myself cleaning, but there's never a time I would be embarrassed to have someone drop by unexpectedly.

SueGeer

You could go by the Quentin Crisp method of cleaning and just not bother. "After four years," he quipped, "you don't notice the dust."

I'll go for this one :laugh:

Sue

4HealthyMe

Set a timer for a certain amount of time everyday (maybe 15 minutes). It's amazing how much you can get done when you really focus and have a set end time.

I do this in a way. A variation of sorts. For example, I may clean out a drawer in the kitchen. One drawer, that's it. Or maybe I'll empty the pantry , clean it, then re-organize it. Yet another day I might just clean out a closet, but not all of them in the house. This is a great tip!

Redness82

I usually only "clean" once a week, usually on Sundays. That's when I really do a once over of the whole house. I try to keep the kitchen clean always, as food is gross!! But otherwise, I only clean if something is really bugging me. We just moved into our house about 6 months ago, so most things have their place and we've been able (by we, I mean I) to keep it that way. It might take a little organizing, but it might be worth it!

lisabstrong

hire a cleaner to come in once a week. :happy:

nakabi

clean as you go in the kitchen, especially as you are cooking.

like the other person said, set a timer and see how much you can get done. you might be surprised.

set a chore for each day and then it doesn't get overwhelming.

I do all 3 and there is never a time I'd be embarrassed to have someone drop by and them see my house

moushtie

If you're looking for ways to stay on top of housecleaning, I really recommend looking at flylady.net. She is big on the "15 mins at a time" thing, and has loads of ways to build habits and routines to keep things manageable. I've been incorporating some of her ideas, and they really do work.

JHB2011

I do a little bit a day then set one day a week for a little extra time. I hate clutter so once I use something or do something I put it where it goes instead of leaving it out.

bhalter

I don't try to get it in all in one day. I probably take 15-20 minutes per day to break up the tasks and get everything done over the course of the week. Picking up and cleaning as you go is definitely helpful too.

bhalter

Oops, double post.

blink1021

I clean once a week except for dishes I do daily. I also use child labor that can be really motivating if there is an allowance at the end.

cobracars

My brother had this problem but then he got one of them "wife" things. Now the house seems to take care of itself! :bigsmile:

TourThePast

I do very little housework.

Living on my own, I'm able to clean up as I go so really most of the housework I used to do is not necessary at all.

For instance while I'm cleaning my teeth I'll swoosh the sink and taps clean, I wipe spills and splashes in the kitchen straight away before they're dry, I look at the lavatory after I've used it and if it's less than spotless I give it a brushing straight away, I wash cooking utensils the second I've finished with them, and wash my plate as soon as I've eaten.

I'll vacuum the carpets and dust every few weeks or if I've got someone coming, but really that's about it.

EDITED TO ADD - yes I second the flylady method for anyone who is getting overwhelmed. When I had someone living with me, there was about ten times as much housework needed to keep the house even reasonably clean and I used her methods to get on top of it. Bottom line though, rather than trying to cope, throwing out the one who makes a mess is the best housework efficiency tip I can give you. Just hope that's not you!!! :bigsmile:

SafireBleu

I have 4 kids. I don't have a lot of time. I also have 4200sq ft, 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms to clean. I basically follow this schedule. If I have a party I will vacuum, clean bathrooms, clean outside of appliances and dust right before and clean bathrooms and mop the floors right after the party.

WEEKLY I split these up so I am doing only one thing a day
Vacuum
Alternate weekly bathroom cleaning between deep cleans and spot cleans
Dust Furniture and Blinds
Clean Bathrooms
Sweep

BI-WEEKLY This I do on weekends Saturday morning vacuum, Sunday morning mop.
Vacuum Stairs
Mop Floors

MONTHLY
Wipe Down Kitchen Cupboards
Wipe Down Kitchen Knickknacks and Canisters
Clean Stove
Wipe Down Kitchen Counters and Refrigerator
Wipe Walls & Fingerprints
Dust Light Fixtures
Vacuum Furniture

QUARTERLY
Clean Refrigerator
Dust Floor Boards and Doors
Vacuum Under Beds
Dust Lamp Shades
Vacuum Mattresses
Vacuum Drapes

SEMI-ANNUALLY
Dust Chandelier
Wash Windows

ANNUALLY
Clean Vents
Change/Clean Furnace Filter
Clean Carpets

BarbWhite09

I found this on stumbleupon recently...I've used a lot of the lists

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2vSBEM/lifeorganizers.com/Tools-and-Checklists/Cleaning-Checklists

ajbeans

I've stolen some ideas from www.flylady.net. Lots of good stuff there, but here are my personal highlights:

Keep the kitchen sink "shiny." For me, that means running the dishwasher as soon as it's full, emptying it when it's done, and doing the handwashables once a day. Keeps the dishes from piling up.

"Hot spot" drills. You know those places where junk seems to accumulate. Set the timer for 2 minutes and tackle one. Clear off as much as you can before the timer goes off. Do it again later for a different spot.

Somebody else mentioned setting the timer for 15 minutes and just cleaning. It works.

"Commercial cleaning." You're tired, all you want to do at the day's end is watch tv. That's fine. So during the commercials, you clean, and when your show comes back on, you sit and watch.

BobbyClerici

Try this one!
I put on some music and dance while I am cleaning.
I have this apron where I can slip my cleaners - kitchen, bathroom and general cleaner and pockets for rags for specific purposes.
I do not need to run around fetching stuff, and I get in some cardio in the process.

I start top to bottom - high dusting, then move to surfaces down to floors.
I clean our bottom floor in an hour, and it looks like Merry Maids was there.

Pinupdollrawr

I just got a different version of the Rubbermaid Reveal Mop. Its like the swiffer wet mop, except it has a reusable microfiber cloth and it has a bottle to where you can use your favorite cleaner instead of using the swiffer which is expensive when you replace the liquid and the sheets.
So to the microfiber cloth picks up waayyy better then a swiffer or any other mop. And they are reusable.

gdnplnty

I am a flybaby. I love having my very short list everyday that I do, and by the end of the month the whole house is done top to bottom.

As they say, it doesn't get dirty overnight, so it won't get clean overnight. But if you follow the steps, you will also have a cleaner house, but a more organized house as well.

Time it! (15 mins does the trick) If you go fast, you won't believe how much you can get done, heck, might even work up a sweat.

Little projects - Don't redo whole closet now if your bedroom is still a mess. If you can't put it away in one day, don't take it all out or you will end up with more of a mess.

Clean your shower walls while you are taking a shower and your conditioner is doing its stuff. Spray your shower down, go do something, then take your shower. While in there, wash down your walls. Then next time, do the tub part of it. Looks wierd, but works well. I don't do comet because it is an abrasive and will mess up da tub.

I am also a huge user of my steamer. Fill it, turn it on, steam it, wipe it, done.

And while I always reboot laundry, I don't always shine my sink. (flybabies will understand)

Good luck - it ain't easy to start a method that works for you.

writtenINthestars

Vacuum only where people can see....:laugh:

Honestly, the best thing I ever did for myself was to lower my standards. I am not filthy or gross, but I feel there are more important things in life than having a perfect house. I try to vacuum& dust once per week, clean the bathroom likewise. Keeping the clutter to a minimun goes a long way to making the house look okay even if there's a little dust. Every once in awhile, I do a deep cleaning of the carpets, wash windows, mop/wax floors, but I try to resist doing it too often.

This.

But for the love of all that's holy...do NOT open any of our closet doors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fit4Vet

Buy a ROOMBA. Seriously. It's amazing & I love it. Get it from Hammacher Schlemmer. They have a lifetime guarantee & I've had 4 for one price. I'll probably end up with at least that many more. It's guaranteed to not wear out. When it quits, I send it back & they send me a new one.

My 5 y.o. daughter vaccumes. She sets it in the room, pushes the button & goes to play while it spins around picking up dirt.

Don't bother with the Scooba. Seriously not worth the money - unless they've done great upgrades in the last 2 yrs.

Helenatrandom

BUMP