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An MSN.com article gives the secret of beating
housework as, “Clean less stuff more often.” Six easy
steps can tell you how to stay on top of cleaning.
Although it is now believed that some dirt and germs
may help us develop immunity to asthma and allergies, no one wants
a filthy home. Work less in your home by following these easy
steps.
Lighten your load. Paring down your possessions
is an easy way to have less to clean. Anything that is broken
or no longer useful should either be thrown away or given to a
charity. Having trouble deciding what to get rid of? Put items
you’re not sure about in a box and mark the box with the
name of a favorite charity and a date in six months’ time.
(Any seasonal items should be given a year.) If you haven’t
looked in the box for something you need when the expiration date
rolls around, go ahead and give the box away. Another timesaver:
Many charities will be more than happy to schedule a pickup for
items you no longer want, including large items such as furniture,
cars or appliances.
Be prepared. Although it may sound nice to keep
all of your cleaning supplies in one place, it’s not practical.
Chances are, you will never have the glass cleaner when you notice
a smudge on the mirror or you will have to hike up and down stairs
to retrieve the vacuum cleaner. Keep cleanser, all-purpose spray
and a sponge in every bathroom. Consider having a vacuum, or at
least a small handheld vacuum, on every floor.
Clean as you go. If you notice a smudge, spill or
bit of dirt, clean it up immediately. This will prevent small
jobs from turning into big jobs. For example, cleaning up as you
cook dinner will prevent you from having to soak dishes, wipe
countertops and basically scour the whole kitchen in a day or
two. This also applies to keep things clutter-free. Instead of
letting the mail pile up, sort through it each day and throw away
what you need to, file what you need to keep and take action on
things needing your attention.
Make big jobs manageable. All of us dread large
cleaning jobs. Make large jobs easier to tackle by breaking them
up into a series of smaller jobs. For example, if the silver needs
polishing, don’t take one day to do the whole lot. Try doing
the forks one week, spoons the next and so on. You can also do
this with smaller jobs. Instead of vacuuming the whole house,
do one floor after you get home from work or on a weekend morning.
Do another floor the next day, and finish up the day after.
Do as little as possible. You don’t need to
steam clean the entire rug if there are just two or three spots
that can be taken care of. You also don’t need to clean
where no one will see, such as under the TV or behind the couch.
Cleaning too much isn’t good for any surface.
Distract yourself. Any job is made easier by a distraction.
Put on some energetic music or use a cordless phone with a headset
to call a friend while you change the bedding, do the laundry
or mop the floor.
Incorporate these simple tips into your cleaning
routine and see the difference. You will have a clean house, but,
more importantly, you will have more time and energy to spend
on the things you love doing.
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