House Cleaning overview

Try and imagine for a moment ending a hard day, coming home to take a nice long hot bath in a relaxing environment.  Preparing a meal in a hygienic and uncluttered Kitchen. Or lying down on freshly laundered bed sheets and falling into a deep peaceful sleep.  In order to achieve this and to maintain the quality of our living environment it’s important to keep a clean house.  For basic health reasons even a small amount of cleanliness is necessary; germs, bacteria, viruses, mold, and dirt, can all be harmful to one’s health, especially our families’.  It can be very depressing waking to a cluttered environment, an environment in need of cleaning and care. But it doesn't have to be this way; it doesnt have to be depressing. In fact it should be Simple. The thought of house cleaning should not cause any strain on ourselves and when done right can be one of the easiest jobs you'll ever have to do.

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It’s no surprise then, why many people strive for clean and uncluttered homes.  Not only does a clean house create a personal haven for ourselves and family, but it also maintains our well-being.  Sure, cleaning may require a bit of effort in the beginning and the discipline to stick with it, but the benefits and rewards are well worth the initial work required.  The best part is, not only will we be able to reap the rewards, but once we know how to properly clean, it becomes easier and easier to maintain a clean household long term. And the easier it becomes, the faster you'll be able to do it - time and time again.

Cleaning House is not just something you do, but something that you learn how to do. Take riding a bicycle for instance; how long did it take you to be able to do that easily and effortlessly? The same applies for House Cleaning. The difference is, if the improper methods are used when cleaning house, we are building improper and detrimental habits to the foundations we base our cleaning knowledge on. Not everyone is able to dedicate his/her time soley to cleaning however, and thats perfectly understandable, so I'd like to talk a little bit about Time Restraints and what you can do to begin utilizing proper cleaning methods even when pressed for time..

Time Restraints
One of the biggest dilemmas most of us face is our press for time.  Because we are often so busy with the obligations of daily life it’s difficult to find time to dedicate to cleaning house – it’s not impossible though!  If we can find at least 10-15 minutes a day to dedicate to areas like the bathroom then we can accomplish quite a bit.  If we have kids, or pets, or other responsibilities we must attend to, 10-15 minutes may not be enough, and we should opt for alternative solutions.

What I myself learned to do is place something as simple as surface wipes in a bathroom drawer. Whenever you finish using the bathroom and you see a dirty area, wipe it down! It takes but a few minutes to do this and it knocks down the amount of work you will have to do considerably. Be sure to do this with all bathrooms, and make sure that anyone who uses those bathrooms knows to use the wipes as well.

Another solution that I've found to be greatly beneficial was to create a House Cleaning Schedule. This schedule had to be compatible with the amount of time I was able to dedicate to house cleaning. In this way the worry, the stress, and the frustration all dissolved because I knew exactly what needed to be cleaned and when I was actually able to clean these areas. As long as we make sure to clean when we have the time then we will have no problems. It's only when we fail to stay consistent with ourselves that our cleaning becomes increasingly difficult and frustrating. This often seems to be the challenge, as domestic care seems to have taken the back seat over the years in comparison to the rest of our daily responsibilities. But what is a Cleaning Schedule comprised of?

A Cleaning Schedule
A cleaning schedule organizes all of the activities our house requires, and labels them clearly. It also shows us the times when we are able to dedicate to House Cleaning if we have strict time restraints. It should be placed in areas where you will see it everyday and remember it. I often find people trying to clean the entire house when they get the chance, and in my opinion this is overkill. 
If we simply organize cleaning tasks on a daily, weekly, monthly semi-annual and yearly basis we will save ourselves time and energy from trying to juggle everything at once.  We will know exactly when something should be done, and when it shouldn't. It's as simple as that.  Every cleaning task has its own specific time, and with this knowledge we can put our minds at rest when it comes to debating if something needs to be cleaned.

The Proper Supplies
When its time to clean house it’s important to know that having the right cleaning supplies not only makes your job easier, but reduces the amount of time you would otherwise be spending if you had the wrong ones.  While it’s the cleaning products that kill the bacteria, grime, and grease, it’s the equipment that makes it go away.
It would be well worth your time and money to invest in quality products that will help you to clean more efficiently.  Not only are quality products effective but they get the job done faster, and easier than low-quality products would.  Here is a list of common items used for effective house cleaning:

• Rubber Cloves, Cotton gloves, Latex Gloves
• Paper Towels, Cleaning Cloths, Microfiber Cloths
• Cellulose Sponge, Natural Sea Sponge
• Plastic Scourer, Metal Scourer, Pumice Stick
• Hand-Held Duster
• Dust Mop
• Mop & Bucket
• Sponge Mop
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Broom & Dustpan
• Squeegee
• Carry-All bin or Plastic Bin
• Cleaning apron

This list is nowhere by any means, all-inclusive.  Some items you may need, others you may not.  It’s recommended to take what you need for your household situation and leave the others.

Commercial Cleaners
When it comes to cleaning products manufactures would like to have us believe that you need an entire assortment of cleaning supplies just to clean one area; your counter tops for example. Generally speaking, one product often works for many surfaces so it’s something to keep in mind when purchasing a cleaning product.  Make sure to check the label for its uses and compare prices with other cleaning products.  Often times you may find that a cheaper cleaner does just as well a job, if not better than a product that’s much more expensive.  Here is a list of common household cleaning agents:

• Abrasive & Non Abrasive Cleaner
• Multipurpose or All-Purpose Cleaner
• Surface Wipes
• Window Cleaner
• Powdered or Liquid Disinfectant
• Spot Cleaner
• Furniture Polish
• Liquid Bleach
• Washing Up Liquid (dishwashing soap)

It’s highly recommended to read the manufactures instructions, labels, and any precautions you should take before using a cleaning product.  Some products pose potential health risks so be advised before use.

Natural Cleaning Products
If you prefer an alternative method of cleaning your house, or would like to cut down on hazardous commercial cleaners in your home, here is a list of natural cleaners you can use.

• White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Lemon Juice
• Salt
• 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
• Borax
• Shaving Creame
• Club Soda
• Ammonia (touted as “natural cleaner” preferable by some; may cause health problems for others due to pungent odor. Use with caution.)

Once you have a schedule, the proper cleaning equipment, and proper cleaning supplies you are ready to begin cleaning house!  With a trusty cleaning schedule, your cleaning has been organized and you can now work stress-free and easily because it will all be laid out for you. With the proper equipment your cleaning will be more efficient and more effective. And with the proper cleaning supplies your cleaning will be smooth and simple.  House cleaning eventually becomes a task that isn’t as daunting as it might have seemed previously, regardless of any time restraints we may have. With the right knowledge, and the right tools house cleaning becomes more effective, efficient, simple, fast, and long lasting for our families and ourselves to enjoy all the time. 

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