by
Carl Hampton 09/26/2006 
We would all like to leave for work in the
morning press a button on the way out and
return at the end of the day to find our
homes clean and tidy. Until that day
arrives, here are some tips that may help
you clean smarter not harder. Due to those
TV adverts, most of us over accessorize for
the job We have gadgets for everything and
most don't really do what they say or not in
my hands anyway, so lets keep it simple.
Pick up the clutter - always a big help.
Keep your cleaning products to a minimum and
this will help you carry them around with
you as you move through your home. Let the
cleaning products work for you by giving
them the suggested time that is recommended
on the label to do their job, don't rush it.
Divide your cleaning over the course of a
few days, set certain days to do certain
jobs. This way it's not such a big deal. The
following are room by room strategies.
Bathroom. Apply the products that take time
first. Vacuum everything including dust
vents or fans. Wipe down doors, corners, and
towel racks with a damp cloth. Now scrub or
wash down all those areas you applied the
take-time products on. The toilet is the
biggest trouble spot, so once a week pour a
cup of white vinegar into the toilet, close
the lid and leave overnight. It is very easy
to overlook the medicine cabinet. Remove
everything and wipe down the cabinet every
couple of months. Throw out the expired
items. There are a few secret weapons that
will help you in your bathroom. For
instance, automatic shower cleaners are a
good investment and those self-cleaning
toilet systems that turn the flushed water
into a cleaning agent can be a big help too.
Bedroom. Put away clothes and straighten
dresser and strip the bed so the blanket and
sheets can be laundered. Move clockwise
around the room, clean mirrors and blinds or
windows. For blinds, use a damp rag and a
mild cleaning solution. It is always easy to
overlook cleaning under you bed, you should
vacuum regularly and get all the way
underneath the bed. For dusting, a secret
weapon can be an Ostrich feather duster you
can buy one online or at a hardware store.
For your mattress and bedding you can use an
allergen reducer spray. Vacuum, then put the
clean sheets on the bed.
Kitchen. Clear the counters and empty the
dishwashers and clean all the appliances
like the toaster, grill and the coffee pot.
Spray the counters with an all purpose
cleaner. Clean the sink, sweep or vacuum,
then mop the floor. The refrigerator and the
stovetop would be the trouble spots in this
area. For the fridge, use warm soapy water
to clean the inside and outside or you can
do it the real old fashion way and clean
with water and baking soda. For the stove,
you can use a strong bathroom cleaner.
Spray, let it sit, and then wipe with a damp
sponge, avoiding using harsh cleaners with
ammonia. You can make a paste with a
degreaser and baking soda. Scrub the dirt
loose, rinse with vinegar and water. Turn on
oven to 350 degrees to bake off fumes that
may harm your food. A few secret weapons
that will make life easier are a dissolver,
a heavy duty cleaning pad, and believe it or
not an enzyme cleaner (you can get some at a
pet store).
Living Room. Again move clockwise then high
to low. Work on the interior windows and
mirrors. Vacuum the sofa and then the
floors. Some of the trouble spots are carpet
stains and furniture. For the carpet, use a
stain remover to get rid of the grease, oil,
and things of the like. On a paper towel,
spray the solvent, dab it, and dab it again
with a damp white cloth. For wooden
furniture, use a lemon oil or a wood-care
product that has a beeswax base. Cleaning
behind the furniture often becomes a serious
tasks so most people just overlook it. But
for those hard to reach places, attach an
athletic sock with a rubber band to the end
of a yard stick. There are also some secret
weapons for cleaning your living room.
Window cloths because they clean windows
really well and are durable and washable.
Get rid of the broom or mop and get the
Swifter, it is very multi-functional a good
carpet cleaner that can work well on both
synthetic and natural carpets.
Have an opinion or a question you would like
me to answer, then write me!
http://www.CarlHampton.com
“Your” Money Matters By Carl Hampton
