House Cleaning Guidelines

Prioritizing and scheduling house cleaning tasks will make these jobs less of a chore.

House cleaning is a chore most people would like to forget. However, you can minimize hassles and maximize your efforts with simple organization, a well-planned schedule and a year-round strategy for larger jobs.

Organize and Prioritize Tasks

Before getting started, keep a well-stocked supply of cleaning products, such as glass and multipurpose cleaners, scrub brush and mop. To limit chemical exposure, consider using natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda. Make high-traffic areas, such as the kitchen, living room and entry hall, priorities over nonpublic places like bedrooms.

Schedule

A well-planned schedule will focus house-cleaning tasks. As a guideline, high-priority areas should be cleaned weekly, and family members should keep these rooms picked up and organized; for example, coats should be hung in closets and books stacked on shelves. Also assign weekly one area of the house for deeper cleaning; that way, lower-profile rooms like bedrooms and laundries are also kept tidy.

Seasonal Tips

Let the seasons be your guide for scheduling larger cleaning projects. Plan a traditional spring cleaning and sort through attics, basements and closets --- areas that we use as catchalls for odds and ends. At the start of summer, clean the garden shed and garage; in fall, weatherize your house for winter and stock the pantry with holiday favorites.

References

• Parenting: Speed Through Cleaning
• Good Housekeeping: Clean Your House in 10 Minutes a Day
• Real Simple: How to Fake a Clean House
• Organized Home: Cleaning Checklists