kathydwells
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
So, for some reason I have been in a cleaning mood lately. I think it is because I bought a book called Speed Cleaning! It is actually a very good book with tips and tricks to get the job done faster. I have never been one to deep clean my house every week. I do it when I can't stand it any longer and then I just "hit the high spots".
However, on Sunday I spent about 4 1/2 hours really cleaning my house. Top to bottom. It felt so good that I have decided that a weekly cleaning it shall get. Here is one of the tips that the book gave that made the job so much easier...have a cleaning caddy stocked full of everything you need. So you don't have to keep going into cabinets looking for stuff. Cleaners, cleaning rags (100% cotton diapers work wonderful), make sure you have about 12 folded clothes so that you don't have to keep going somewhere in your house to fetch them. When they get dirty throw them in the caddy and keep going! Also, a 100% ostrich feather duster is a must. Not those cheap colored ones, get a good one. Work from top to bottom in each room. Pick a starting point and go to the right. Move around the room and don't circle back, wastes time. Clean each room, then do the floors last. The dust that you dusted will be on the floor of each room where you will vacuum it away.
I let a friend borrow the book, but when I get it back I will add more tips.
Here is another tip I learned. All of my towels and wash cloths are white. I don't like any other color just white. I like them to be sparkling white but I noticed that all my white clothes/linens started to look dingy. I have tried everything to make them bright white. Bleach, Oxyclean, Cheer Bright Clean Laundry Detergent (which I love by the way! Smells WONDERFUL!!!!) it does work, but it just didn't get my stuff white enough for me. So here is the trick I learned. Pour 1/2 cup Baking Soda in the Laundry with the bleach. I have bleach dispenser on my washing machine so I am not pouring it on the clothes. Add your Detergent and wash. I was amazed at how much whiter my clothes were, and makeup stains were gone! Even old stains that I could not get out with just bleach! I was so happy! So, now I will add it each time to my wash.
Do you any of you have any tips or tricks to get the cleaning job done faster? I would love to hear them!
However, on Sunday I spent about 4 1/2 hours really cleaning my house. Top to bottom. It felt so good that I have decided that a weekly cleaning it shall get. Here is one of the tips that the book gave that made the job so much easier...have a cleaning caddy stocked full of everything you need. So you don't have to keep going into cabinets looking for stuff. Cleaners, cleaning rags (100% cotton diapers work wonderful), make sure you have about 12 folded clothes so that you don't have to keep going somewhere in your house to fetch them. When they get dirty throw them in the caddy and keep going! Also, a 100% ostrich feather duster is a must. Not those cheap colored ones, get a good one. Work from top to bottom in each room. Pick a starting point and go to the right. Move around the room and don't circle back, wastes time. Clean each room, then do the floors last. The dust that you dusted will be on the floor of each room where you will vacuum it away.
I let a friend borrow the book, but when I get it back I will add more tips.
Here is another tip I learned. All of my towels and wash cloths are white. I don't like any other color just white. I like them to be sparkling white but I noticed that all my white clothes/linens started to look dingy. I have tried everything to make them bright white. Bleach, Oxyclean, Cheer Bright Clean Laundry Detergent (which I love by the way! Smells WONDERFUL!!!!) it does work, but it just didn't get my stuff white enough for me. So here is the trick I learned. Pour 1/2 cup Baking Soda in the Laundry with the bleach. I have bleach dispenser on my washing machine so I am not pouring it on the clothes. Add your Detergent and wash. I was amazed at how much whiter my clothes were, and makeup stains were gone! Even old stains that I could not get out with just bleach! I was so happy! So, now I will add it each time to my wash.
Do you any of you have any tips or tricks to get the cleaning job done faster? I would love to hear them!
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Banish all young children wile you clean. 
