How to Keep a Clean House

Keeping your entire house clean, especially if you have children, seems overwhelming. But if you form an effective schedule and stick to it, you'll be ready for your Aunt Gertrude to stop by anytime and even your mother-in-law's closest scrutiny won't yield any complaints.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Tape or magnets
• Cleaning supplies that suit your house's needs

Instructions

1. Assess your house. Walk through every room, paper and pencil in hand, and list every cleaning job needed to make your house spic and span. Don't forget to write down overlooked tasks such as scrubbing the baseboards and banisters, wiping down the walls or disinfecting the floor behind the toilet.

2. Divide your house or your tasks into manageble sections. You can approach housecleaning in two ways: either tackle one section of your house at a time, or complete an entire task throughout your home. For example, if you use the first method, you may decide that Monday is "family room day." Set aside time on Monday to clean the whole room until it shines. If you choose the second method, Monday may be the day when you vacuum all the floors in your house.

3. Devise a schedule. Determine how much time you can spend cleaning and what you will clean on which days. Depending on the size of your home and how much time you have, you may work on a one week or a two week cleaning rotation.

4. Prioritize your tasks each day. If you list the most important tasks first, they are more likely to be completed and not skipped over if you're running short on time.

5. Draw a chart. Use a pencil and a ruler to create a large box for each day of the week, or two weeks depending on your schedule. Even if you are cleaning a section of your house at a time, be specific about which tasks need to be completed so that nothing is left out. Remember to list your prioritized items first. When you are finished, hang your chart on the refrigerator, or tape it in a prominent place where you will see it. It may be helpful to make several copies of your chart so you can cross off items as you complete them and hang a fresh chart at the beginning of every rotation. Then, if you get a little behind, at the end of the week you will know exactly what tasks have and have not been completed.

6. Set aside a time. You are more likely to form a habit of maintaining your home if you clean it at the same time every day. Try cleaning for 30 minutes as soon as you get home from work, or clean in the evenings, if that is more convenient. You may even break your schedule into "short cleaning bursts." Whatever time you choose, stay as consistent as possible.

7. Alter your chart to better fit your schedule. You probably won't devise a perfect cleaning chart the first time. Don't be afraid to remake your cleaning plan if your original isn't working out well. However, give yourself and your house a little time to adjust before you make too many changes to your chart. Cleaning may take up more time than you expected at first, but as you clean more frequently your methods will be faster. If your house is particularly filthy, it may initially take more time. But once an area is completely clean, it won't take nearly as much effort to maintain.

Tips & Warnings

• Prevention is the key to a clean house. If your schedule dictates that Friday is "dusting day" and after a brief look-over you decide that the furniture "isn't that bad," dust it anyway. Remember that next "dusting day" there will be a double layer of dust and it will probably have found its way into other areas of your home, adding more work to your already busy schedule.

• If you have kids, get them to help out. Depending on the age of your children, house cleaning could end up taking more or less time. You may have to bribe older children with a small reward or give younger children simple tasks like carrying things or picking up toys. But getting the whole family involved will not only pay off in the long run, it will make everyone feel included and important.

• Don't stress out or get overwhelmed and give up if you are a little behind. Forge ahead and worry about making up skipped cleaning later. If the tasks never get "made up," the world will not come to an end, nor will your house succumb to filth. Simply move that portion of the house to a "priority spot" and it will be cleaned in the next rotation.

Resources

• Cleaning tips, tricks and advice for ladies on the fly