Speed Cleaning Tips from a Pro

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Inside Tricks to Speed Cleaning Your Home By Mary Findley copyright@2003 Time is tight, the kids want attention, dinner simmers on the stove and the house needs cleaning. Did someone mention housework? Most people would rather darn socks than clean their home. Consequently those annoying chores get tucked on the back burner where they sit simmering until the pot boils dry. That once 30-minute job has now turned into a half-day nightmare. Rather than ignoring those chores let?s explore some time savings tips professionals use to clean a home. Start by hiring yourself to clean your home. If a professional comes to clean they will insist that dishes be put in the dishwasher, clothes hung up, papers picked up and the house tidy. You cannot speed clean a home with clutter anywhere let alone everywhere. Here are a few shortcuts to help you declutter your home. ? If the clutter in your home seems a bit overwhelming, start with the big stuff. We live in a time when everyone thrives on instant success. Picking up large size items like clothing means fast results. That spurs you on to tackle the smaller piles. ? Never leave a room without taking something with you. Put it where it belongs so you don?t waste time looking for it later. ? Clean up your dishes after every meal. Instruct each family member to rinse and put away their own dishes. This goes for cups or glasses used during the day too. ? Learn to multitask. If you head in the direction of the washing machine, take a load of clothes with you. When you pull meat out of the freezer in the garage, get enough for 3 days. Leaving for the grocery store? Take the garbage out with you. ? Purchase a spare pair of needle nose pliers, regular pliers, a hammer and one of those screwdrivers with all four heads in one handle. Tuck them in a kitchen drawer so they are handy when you need them. Organize then organize again. Experts encourage people to organize their lives. They know disorganization robs you of valuable time among other things. Follow this outline to organize your cleaning supplies. Head to the hardware store for the following items: * Tote tray with dividers ? do not waste your money with aprons designed to hold bottles of cleaners, etc. The weight of so many full bottles slows you down. Talk about an achy breaky back! * White nylon scrub pad found in the cleaning section. Use it for stubborn spots or water spots on glass shower doors. Use only white. Other colors may scratch. * Stiff bristle brush that looks like a toothbrush. It is ideal for scrubbing around faucets. * 1