by Vincent Platania http://www.fullerstore.com
Before you begin a major cleaning project around your home, it
will make the job easier for you to get organized. First, be
sure that all your tools are in top shape, your cleaning
products are on hand and fresh, and your housework cleaning
checklist is current. Go through your house and note problem
areas: items in need of repair, unusual stains, and jobs you
only tackle seasonally. Add your regular jobs to this list so
you have a complete reference. Break the list into sections by
room. This list will be your guide.
This is also the time to sort through the contents of closets
and shelves. House cleaning is made easy when there is a minimum
of clutter. You will be able to focus on the actual cleaning
instead of getting bogged down in moving the clutter around to
clean beneath it. Divide the “stuff” in your house into three
piles according to how long it has been since you last used it.
Label these piles to keep, to give away, and to throw away. When
you have tossed or given away the things you no longer need, or
when you have held a garage sale to clear that clutter, you are
ready to clean. Before you begin, check the condition of your
cleaning equipment. If it is necessary, go ahead and purchase
good replacements now. At a minimum, you should have a good
broom and dust pan, a wet mop or sponge mop (depending on the
type of floors you have), a dust mop, soft cloths for polishing,
dusting, and wiping off fixtures, and a variety of brushes to
clean the different surfaces on your walls, windows, and in your
bathroom and kitchen. You may need a wax applicator or a window
squeegee. A good vacuum with a variety of attachments or carpet
sweeper is also a wise investment. Make sure that you have
serviced your vacuum recently and that you have fresh bags,
replacement rollers, or replacement belts on hand. Quality
cleaning supplies are made for a particular job or surface. They
will speed your jobs because you will not have to work as hard
to get the job done. Also, this equipment will last for years if
cared for correctly.
Next, be sure to have enough of your favorite cleaning supplies
on hand. At a minimum, you will need glass cleaners, tile and
grout cleaners, kitchen and bathroom disinfectants, degreasers,
and soaps or detergents specially formulated for the type of
floors you have. Again, the correct formula for each job will
protect the surfaces in your home while cutting the time
involved in cleaning those surfaces. Products that are too harsh
can destroy a surface, while products that are too mild will not
get the job done. Planning and purchasing the right products
before you begin the project will also save time because it will
not be necessary to stop in the middle of a job to run to the
store because you have run out of cleaner. Be sure to
cross-check your list of supplies against your housecleaning
list and the tasks at hand before you purchase your supplies.
Find a sturdy bucket, tote, apron, or rolling cart to store all
your cleaning equipment in one place. This container can be
taken from room to room, saving you the time and energy to go
back and forth from your cleaning storage area to the room you
are cleaning. If size is a factor, fill the container with only
the tools and products you will need for the room you are
currently cleaning. It is a good idea to also store items on the
cart that might need refilling in the room on which you are
focusing. For instance, carry trash can or wastebasket liners,
soap refills, light bulbs, or tissue boxes and toilet paper.
Have a place to store any items that belong elsewhere in the
house or to carry out any garbage you find in the room. At the
very least, take two plastic bags with you – one for trash and
one for stuff to put elsewhere. Organizing what you carry in
your tote or cart is made simpler if you have your housework
cleaning checklist at hand. That way, for example, you will have
made notes to yourself that when you clean the bathroom, you
will also need the screwdriver to tighten the towel rack, and
will need to refill the hand soap container. House cleaning is
made easy by being organized and planning ahead.
|
