For some people, the thought of tackling the mountain of "stuff" in their spring home cleaning routine is enough to send them to the couch with a big bag of Cheetos and the remote. This is a typical sweep it under the rug approach, but at some point, they'll have to deal with the mountain of clutter. Once done, though, these people will find a sense of freedom, knowing that their home is actually roomier than they remember, and they can find anything they are looking for in a matter of minutes.
If you are a chronic pack rat, no matter how much clutter is in the path of relaxation, there are some simple approaches to make the process easier:
Cruel to be kind: Be absolutely ruthless from the start. Begin with one room at a time, or even the desk in your home office. If you have two of anything, toss one and decide whether you really need the other one at all. If your decision process takes more than two seconds, the answer is "no". Toss it.
Create a "six month" box for the items that you are really reluctant to part with. If you haven't looked in the box after six months, get rid of it. Unless it is an antique heirloom, you can always buy another if you really need it. Chances are you won't.
Storage bins are key: Whether they are clear so you can see the contents, or the decorative wicker style, storage bins with labels will keep you organized and create spaces for items you use on a regular basis.
De-clutter family fun?: Absolutely! Make the process a game to start, then show them how the cleaner their room is, the easier they can find the toys or clothes they want right away. Teaching them the golden rule of "one new item in, one old item out" gets them out of the pack rat mentality at an early age.
Someone's junk - another's treasure: With a number of "for sale" sites online, people are cashing in with items they no longer want or need. With a little help from someone in the know, you can post your items on E-Bay, Craig's List or other virtual used products stores. From gently used children's clothing and toys to sports equipment that has collected dust for years, there is something for everyone at the virtual shopping mall.
"To do", today: Make a list of items you want to accomplish each day, or week, and crossing each off as they are done. This not only serves to keep your routine in order, but it creates a sense of relief and relaxation, knowing you have one less thing to do, and more time to relax.
Off course, you can always leave your spring home cleaning routine to someone else but you would need to do a little prep work yourself to ensure they don't throw anything out that you want to keep.
Friday, December 18, 2009
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House Cleaning Tips-Bathroom
Isn't it ironic that the place where we wash ourselves is also the place where dirt forms most frequently? We often leave this part of our house cleaning routine last or even off the list altogether.We almost don't even notice the dirt until it is so dark that it's almost impossible to remove.
Yes, it is in our bathroom that mold most often appears. It is because of a lack of air. It is almost always damp and therefore it becomes the perfect place for mold to form. It can form under your sink, behind your medicine cabinet, and even right under your plunger where it is almost always neglected since it is very difficult to clean.
Luckily mold is easiest to clean in the bathroom because most of our tools are at our disposal. When mold forms in other rooms of the house where there is no water readily available nor cleaning supplies nearby, the task could seem more daunting.
Most households have different types of floors in each bathroom. It is important for you to find out what your floor is made of before you start trying to clean the mold. Some floors are tiled with ceramic or porcelain. Others are made of marble or crystalline. Depending on what kind of floor you have, prepare the tools you need to clean the mold.
You will need: Soap, detergent or disinfectant, a brush, a dry towel to wipe and another to dry, vinegar (do not use vinegar with marble floor and crystalline tiles) and baking soda.You do not have to all of these tools together. Simply choose the ones you prefer. After you have everything you need, start cleaning that unwanted mold.
Before you begin cleaning the mold, make sure you wear rubber gloves and a mask. Begin by wetting the molded surface with water. A wet molded surface is not only easier to clean but will also prevent scattering of the fungi, hence making it airborne. It is preferable that you use a spray bottle to do this. If you use a spray, you can focus on solely wetting the molded area. The wet area will loosen the mold from the surface making your job easier.
You can either choose to scrub or wipe the mold. If I were you, I would scrub instead of wiping. When you are scrubbing, make sure to use some elbow grease. (I.e. Use your muscles and press hard) A disinfectant is a very effective tool in cleaning mold. Disinfecting the molded surface ensures that any mold residue is taken off. Disinfectant will also leave a nice scent in the bathroom.
After you've cleaned the mold, make sure you keep an eye out to make sure it doesn't come back. Sometimes mold disappears temporarily. If it does reappear, simply repeat the above steps until it's gone for good. To avoid mold in your bathroom, try to keep the bathroom dry. If water spills on the floor, dry it right away; do not let it sit for long periods of time. Also, when showering, always turn on the fan or open the windows. When you are finished showering, it is a good ideas to use a squeegee type tool to remove excess water from the shower walls.
House cleaning need not be such a chore. A few useful house cleaning tips here and there will keep your house looking great in between your regular cleaning periods.
Yes, it is in our bathroom that mold most often appears. It is because of a lack of air. It is almost always damp and therefore it becomes the perfect place for mold to form. It can form under your sink, behind your medicine cabinet, and even right under your plunger where it is almost always neglected since it is very difficult to clean.
Luckily mold is easiest to clean in the bathroom because most of our tools are at our disposal. When mold forms in other rooms of the house where there is no water readily available nor cleaning supplies nearby, the task could seem more daunting.
Most households have different types of floors in each bathroom. It is important for you to find out what your floor is made of before you start trying to clean the mold. Some floors are tiled with ceramic or porcelain. Others are made of marble or crystalline. Depending on what kind of floor you have, prepare the tools you need to clean the mold.
You will need: Soap, detergent or disinfectant, a brush, a dry towel to wipe and another to dry, vinegar (do not use vinegar with marble floor and crystalline tiles) and baking soda.You do not have to all of these tools together. Simply choose the ones you prefer. After you have everything you need, start cleaning that unwanted mold.
Before you begin cleaning the mold, make sure you wear rubber gloves and a mask. Begin by wetting the molded surface with water. A wet molded surface is not only easier to clean but will also prevent scattering of the fungi, hence making it airborne. It is preferable that you use a spray bottle to do this. If you use a spray, you can focus on solely wetting the molded area. The wet area will loosen the mold from the surface making your job easier.
You can either choose to scrub or wipe the mold. If I were you, I would scrub instead of wiping. When you are scrubbing, make sure to use some elbow grease. (I.e. Use your muscles and press hard) A disinfectant is a very effective tool in cleaning mold. Disinfecting the molded surface ensures that any mold residue is taken off. Disinfectant will also leave a nice scent in the bathroom.
After you've cleaned the mold, make sure you keep an eye out to make sure it doesn't come back. Sometimes mold disappears temporarily. If it does reappear, simply repeat the above steps until it's gone for good. To avoid mold in your bathroom, try to keep the bathroom dry. If water spills on the floor, dry it right away; do not let it sit for long periods of time. Also, when showering, always turn on the fan or open the windows. When you are finished showering, it is a good ideas to use a squeegee type tool to remove excess water from the shower walls.
House cleaning need not be such a chore. A few useful house cleaning tips here and there will keep your house looking great in between your regular cleaning periods.
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