Three Days to One Week Ahead
Step1
Launder and press table and bed linens.
Step2
Wash and prepare silver, china and crystal.
Step3
Wash light fixtures and dust ceiling fans.
Step4
Remove cobwebs from corners of walls.
Step5
Clean refrigerator inside and out, including top of exterior.
Step7
Scrub the grungy edges around the dishwasher door.
Step8
Dust baseboards and windowsills.
Step10
Vacuum upholstery.
Step11
Tidy bookcases; align books in a straight line near the front of each shelf.
About Two Days Ahead
Step1
Clean floors in living areas and bedrooms.
Step2
Sweep front sidewalk.
Step3
Remove stains from carpet and upholstery.
Step4
Clean bathroom sinks, tubs, showers and toilets.
Step5
Pick up and stow or throw away clutter, including newspapers, toys and excess knickknacks.
Step6
Wash out trash cans and wastebaskets as necessary.
Step7
Clean microwave oven.
Step8
Scour top of stove.
Step9
Dust, including TV and computer screens as well as edges of picture frames.
The Night Before and Morning of
Step1
Polish faucets throughout house.
Step2
Empty wastebaskets and trash cans.
Step3
Remove smudges and smears from fronts of kitchen appliances, such as dishwasher and oven.
Step4
Clean bathroom mirrors.
Step5
Clean bathroom floors. Double-check kitchen floor.
Step6
Launder bath towels and mats as needed.Put fresh towels, soaps and mats in bathrooms.
Step7
Launder kitchen towels as needed and set out in the kitchen.
Step8
Make a last-minute check in bathrooms to be sure they're pristine; take care of any surprises such as hair in the drain or toothpaste spills.
Step9
Clean kitchen sink; pay special attention to rim around garbage disposer.
Step10
Straighten toss pillows and cushions.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 I clean one section each day. I can accomplish cleaning the entire house without overtaxing myself. One day, kitchen, dining room and living room. Next day all bedrooms; next day all bathrooms and floors. I leave another day for tidying up the outside.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Avoid having you TV accumulate dust from the static by wiping it with a dryer sheet (like bounce or downey, etc.)
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Use a ladder. Place a drop cloth beneath, and use a tumbler filled with water and ammonia or alcohol. Hold the glass up to each prism and swish it in the mixture. The prism will dry and will be clean and sparkling. Much easier than taking each prism down.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Start doing laundry first, then clean up trash. If you're in the crowd that always does it regularly (i.e. you're not a young male college student like me) it won't be a big deal. If you have a lot, it's a relief toward the end of cleaning when you don't have to still worry if your guests will find a hidden pile of clothing when they pass your room in the hall.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 If you suffer from allergies, you know how dust could make it worse! What I found to be very helpful is damp dusting. Simply moisten a clean cloth and wipe the allergens away! Instead of traditional dry dusting, which only spreads the dust around, damp dusting actually removes the dust. When you are finished, rinse the cloth in hot water to kill any bacteria or dust mites.