A Mom's Tips for Keeping Your House Clean

Listen to Mom. She usually knows what she's doing.

Much of the sage housecleaning advice that your mom and grandma shared with you when you were younger might have been met with a rolling of the eyes or just ignored. But you may have discovered since then that Mom and Grandma were pretty smart. Following in your mom's and grandma's advice -- at least when it come to cleaning -- makes a lot of sense.

A Place for Everything

Designate a place for everything in your home. Clutter makes cleaning difficult, because you have to clear stuff off tables and counters just to dust. Clutter also makes your home look messy. Once you use an item, return it to its proper place, whether that is a hamper, a closet, a drawer or a cabinet. Teach family members to do the same. If you must have multiple products on your bathroom counter, store them in a caddy or tote that you can quickly remove to clean.

Clean as You Go

Many small cleaning tasks take only a few minutes if you tackle them right away. Waiting for a more convenient time may make the job more time-consuming and harder. For instance, if a pot overflows on your stove, wait a few minutes for the stove to cool, and then clean the mess right away. Waiting until a more convenient time may mean having to use harsher products and lots of elbow grease to get rid of the dried debris.

Develop Good Habits

Make cleaning part of your life instead of a dreaded chore. Many families sit down together for snacks and beverages while watching a movie. Teach family members to take their empty bowls, packages and other items to the sink and trash when they get up. Do the same thing with toys, electronic gadgets, magazines and other items that can wind up just lying around. This will make your home look neater, and soon picking up after you've used something will become a habit.

Clean Efficiently

Using your time wisely helps your home stay tidy with little effort. For instance, spray a cleaning cloth with furniture polish, and wax your furniture while you're on a lengthy phone call. Fill a sink with hot soapy water while you're making dinner. When you are finished with a skillet, pot or mixing bowl, place it in the sink, wash and dry the item and put it away. Another idea is to empty the dishwasher while you're monitoring the food on your stove. This gives you a place to put the dirty dishes as you finish with them. The same method works for reading the mail. Stand over the trash can and discard junk mail right away. File the bills in a designated area and any reading material in a magazine basket or rack.

References

• Simple Mom; The Best-Kept Secrets to a Clean Home; Tsh Oxenreider; July 2008
• Disney Family.com; How to Clean Your Home ... in Just Minutes a Day!; Meagan Francis