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Step 1
If you're struggling, take a deep breathe and forgive yourself. Housework is real work and it's a never ending job. Instid of feeling guilty, take time to realize guilt isn't getting the place picked up. Relax for a few minutes or moments to prepare yourself for taking action.
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Step 2
It's common for people to become so overwhelmed with housework, they do the same tasks over and over with little time or energy left to devote to the bigger picture or the whole house. If you feel you're cleaning the same areas over and over while avoiding the bigger picture, this may be the problem. Let's do this one room at a time.
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Step 3
The living room ? First pick up any and all toys you find on the floor and also put away jackets, shoes or anything left out. Dust before running the sweeper. Make sure your furniture is clean, lift pet hair up with a lent brush, check for stains,etc. on couches and chairs. If you find stains get them up with murphy's oil soap and water. Consider throw blankets or couch cover ups to protect your valued furniture. Make sure the walls are clean. Don't forget windows if needed. Are the drapes clean, are the blinds broken? Check this out and make plans to repair or replace them.
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Step 4
Kitchen? Start with the sink intid of the dishes or you're wasting time washing dishes in a dirty sink. After your sink is clean and the dishes are done, dry the dishes and put them away. All appliances should be clean both inside and out. This is your stove/oven/microwave, electric can opener, toaster, fridge, all appliances. Check the wall especially where grease spits onto the wall from the frying pan. Wipe off with water and paper towel or cleaner product and make sure you leave it dry. All surfaces should be clean and dry, counter tops organized. Don't leave too much stuff on the counters, it looks messy. Also, clean the cabinets inside and out as well as reorganize. Are windows clean? Sweep and mop the floor. Then dry the floor with towels which you'll put in the washer right away. Clean your sink one more time if you used the sink to mop the floor. Follow these instructions and your kitchen will be clean. One last tip in the kitchen, take trash out and actually wash the trash can out. Spray air freshener in it. Also, sniff check the fridge after cleaning. Baking soda and water makes a safe cleaner.
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Step 5
Play rooms and childrens' rooms, make sure first that toy boxes don't contain items other than toys such as paper projects, etc. Pick up toys, organize at your own will. Change sheets if this is a childs' bedroom. Be certain your child is not filling the closet up with junk, organize. Sweep the floor and remove any dirty rugs,drapes,pillows, dolls or stuffed animals to wash them. Again be certain the whole room is clean such as wash the walls down if needed,etc. This is clean. Also get rid of any broken toys.
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Step 6
Your bedroom,pretty much the same steps, pick up clutter, change sheets, organize the drawers and closet. This is also a good time to decide if your night gown needs washing since it's probably hanging up in there somewhere or waiting by the bed. House shoes too. If my purse is dirty and I'm cleaning my room, I take everything out of my purse and if washable put it empty into the washer. Again anything in your room you feel needs a good washing, this is a good time to put them in line for the laundry room including throw rugs and stuffed animals.
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Step 7
Bathrooms are the nastiest rooms in any house naturally. If your house isn't nasty, trust me to some degree bathrooms are creepy if you really think about all the things taking place in there such as grooming, using the restroom, bathing. Toilet bowl cleaning isn't something you can schedule. If your toilet gets dirty every day clean it, because toilets are actually getting dirty everyday even if you can't see it. Maybe we should all be cleaning our toilets everyday, because it's probably needed. Sinks too. You probably need to at least wipe them down everyday, maybe several times a day if you're at home a lot. Mirrors you can clean weekly if you don't mind a few smudges. Mop. Take trash out, everything you do in any other room if it also applys to the bathroom such as picking up clothes. Wipe shower down after each use and clean bath tub after each use. Spray air freshener whenever needed.
Comments
jenng said
on 5/3/2009 Great tips on how to keep a clean house 5*
chrissyjohnson said
on 4/10/2009 Great tips on How to Keep a Clean House! 5* rec
sonni57 said
on 3/19/2009 Nicely detailed article on how to keep a house clean.
ilivetoteach said
on 2/24/2009 Good article. You'd think that everyone would know these basics, but to this day, I expect that after I clean my house it's done for the next year. I wish I was born loving housework like a lot of my friends.
Pixie1976 said
on 2/20/2009 Yes, it is, Meri.