Room-by-Room Cleaning Solutions for the Domestic Goddess in Training

Room-by-room housecleaning schedules makes it possible to manage even a larger home without spending an entire day devoted to the task. Easy cleaning tips focus on convenience, upkeep and a manageable setup. Are you game?

Cleaning Solutions for the Entryway

Call it a foyer, mudroom, entryway, coat room or hall; the odds are good that there are some problem areas that seem to accumulate dirt rather quickly. In addition, this general area invites clutter at an alarming rate.

Once a week, mop or vacuum the floors, shake out the door mats and polish dressers, wall hooks and other wall fixtures. If there is persistent shoe clutter - and there will be quite a bit of it, if you like to ask folks to take off their shoes before coming inside - install a shoe caddy. Even a small entryway can benefit from a hanging shoe organizer.

Tip: Save the cleaning of any ceiling fans or hanging light fixtures for a specific once-a-quarter date. In this way, you can take care of all the difficult to reach fixtures in the home at once without having to pull out the ladder on numerous occasions.

Easy Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom and Kitchen

The bathroom and kitchen are veritable smorgasbords of germs, molds and viruses. With a few clever housecleaning tips, you can cut down on the amount of time you spend on scrubbing and disinfecting.

Every other day, wipe down the sinks, toilet seat and exterior, tub, door knobs and counters with disinfecting disposable wipes. Throw them out with the trash, which should be emptied every other day as well. Once a week, scrub the inside of the shower, tub, trash cans, toilet and sinks. Look to leave-on spray cleaner to dissolve mildew or lime deposits. Don't forget to soak the showerhead as well! At this time be sure to mop the floors.

Tip: Keep a bucket with all the bathroom cleaning supplies in the bathroom itself. This cuts down on the amount of time it takes to gather the cleaning materials from the kitchen. If you have young children in the home, lock or otherwise secure the cabinet! Clean out the fridge on trash day; this prevents the smell of fermenting foods in the garbage can.

Include the Bedroom and Home Office in Your Housecleaning Schedule

Too many of us rely on the bedroom or home office as a secondary storage area. This is the room that becomes the coat closet during parties and features an invisible "off limits" sign when company arrives, which makes it prime property as a clutter depository. Resist this temptation!

De-clutter and vacuum the bedroom and home office on a weekly basis. Thin out closet contents seasonally to make room for storage devices, such as racks and shelves. Eliminate as much counter-stored items as possible. Instead, find drawers or other storage areas to hold the jewelry collection, makeup kit and other odds and ends. It is much easier to wipe down the tops of dressers and other furniture if there is no need to move around copious décor items.

Tip: Dedicate a washing mitt or two for dusting. They slip on easily and make quick work of dresser tops and blinds.

Room by Room Cleaning Solutions Finish with the Living Room

Easy cleaning tips are not that straightforward when it comes to the busiest room of the house. Kids play there, the dog sleeps in it, you lounge and eat snacks there and frequently the guests also hunker down in the living room.

If you want to get right down to it (and be brutally honest), this is also the room where food gets spilled while watching TV, where you might be trimming the dog's nails while watching Judge Judy and where junior does his homework and drops staples, pencil shavings and paper.

Not surprisingly, room by room housecleaning rarely focuses on the real needs of a much-used living room. That being said, easy cleaning tips should include a run-through with the vacuum every other day, weekly dusting and dog or cat hair removal from the sofa. Remove all clutter nightly and wipe down coffee and end tables (yes, you do have to take all plates and cups to the kitchen).

Tip: Keep a lint roller in a living room drawer. Use it on the sofa and the cushions - and also the bottom of the curtains - to tackle pet hair. It is a quick and easy cleaning tip that avoids hassling with the vacuum cleaner after the kids are in bed.

Sources

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2669065/do_it_yourself_storage_ideas_for_the.html?cat=30

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2177511/forget_shower_head_bacteria_what_else.html?cat=70