Five Minute Fabulous: Five-Minute Fixes for Housecleaning Haters

It's a beautiful summer Saturday morning. You wake up with only one thought on your mind. No, it's not about where you will be going Saturday night or the latest department store sale at the mall. It's all about deep cleaning your home, starting with those corners full of cobwebs and ending with the lint in the dryer vent. My, won't it be a wonderful day? You slip into your June Cleaver dress and pumps. Tie on that frilly white apron and head off for a fun filled day of feather dusters and your deluxe vacuum cleaner. NOT!

No! You hate housecleaning. You're not that girl. And I have a feeling your family and friends are glad you're you. Sophisticated, fabulous and amazing are your middle names (yes, you're so great you have three middle names). Your only fault is your short attention span (but even your faults are charming). So, as you flit from brunch with your mother to shopping with the girls to a festive evening out, here's a list of five-minute household tasks that will keep your home looking as fab as you feel!

Kitchen

Empty and load the dishwasher.

Pull any science experiments out of the refrigerator, and toss.

Toss all trash and recycling.

Spray some great smelling cleaner on the counters and appliance and wipe down.

Use your great smelling cleaner to spot clean the floor.

Gather any non-kitchen clutter in a catchall basket (you can sort it on Tuesday while your pedicure is drying).

Take the trash and recycling out.

Dining Room

Keep filling that catchall basket up, and get anything that doesn't belong out of the dining room.

Feather dust for a few minutes.

Run a rag with Pledge on it over any visible wood.

Note: Do not fold Laundry in the dining room ... take it to the bedroom; at least you can close the door on it if company comes. Take it from me ladies, your future husband or even the friendly PTA mom doesn't want to know about your secret love of those comfortable granny-panties!

Living Room

Get that clutter out of there

Straighten knick-knacks, fluff pillows, and stack reading material neatly.

Run your Pledge-covered rag over the wood; feather dust everything else.

Foyer and Hall

Get the clutter out including shoes and coats ... empty looks clean. Clutter is so common, you know, and common is not one of your middle names.

Miscellaneous

Once you fill your catchall basket, hide it in your room. Don't forget where you put it, and don't forget to sort it out on pedicure night.

Shut all the doors to other areas in your home ... this will add to your image of mystery and intrigue.

Run through the house spraying way too much air freshener (I like vanilla)!

Use a light-weight, bag-less vacuum in all the rooms ... tile, linoleum, and carpet. I like my Swivel Sweeper, because it goes around things nicely, is pretty powerful, and moves seamlessly from carpet to linoleum.

Fit these tasks in whenever you have a few minutes and you'll find your place is always presentable! Or more realistically, do these things in a hurry to get ready for company. Either way your friends will be in awe of your June Cleaver worthy abode. And don't worry your secret is safe with me!