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Member since 9/14/02
Posts: 2707
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Posted on: 1/1/08 3:56 PM ET
One thing I'd like to do better in the 2008 is to keep my house sparkling--but I don't want to spend all day doing it!

I'm pretty good about keeping up with the dishes and laundry. I am not a slob. My house is small and uncluttered. But it just seems to take me FOREVER to do things like sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, wipe and scrub!

I know that a professional could probably clean a house this size in about 30 minutes. I would be happy if I could finish in 2 hours.

To those of you who are efficient at house-cleaning--do you have any tips? What's your routine? Please share your wisdom! TIA!
  
Member since 9/29/05
Posts: 2054
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Posted on: 1/1/08 4:01 PM ET
In reply to Everyday Sewist
I have two "rules":

1. Spend 10-15 minutes every day housecleaning.
2. Work only one room at a time.

Easy!
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The single most important discovery made by a group of women? The Empty Tomb!

http://www.donnahodgson.blogspot.com/
  
Member since 2/7/04
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Posted on: 1/1/08 4:14 PM ET
In reply to Everyday Sewist
I do a modified flylady.net routine since I found that working in zones is best for me. I truly can't keep up with her email messages but find her to be helpful.
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Leah
  
Member since 2/25/06
Posts: 1950
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Posted on: 1/1/08 4:23 PM ET
Get rid of clutter. It's not really hard to clean if you don't have to move a lot of stuff around.
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"puhPOjhu"--a river that sinks into a mountain with fury and winds around underground for miles before emerging in calm down the road...
  
Member since 10/16/06
Posts: 890
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Posted on: 1/1/08 4:32 PM ET
I like to make sure the house is pulled together before I go to bed so that every morning, it's a fresh start everyday. Something that has helped tremendously for me is making sure that everyone picks up after themselves even the toddlers. If you see something out of place, put it back immediately. I also rotate what areas I give a "deep" clean each day so I have some variety and I love to listen to music while I clean. Helps me move faster and stay up beat. Especially when the dust bunnies seem to multiply overnight.
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Member since 9/12/05
Posts: 1707
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Posted on: 1/1/08 4:36 PM ET
In reply to Everyday Sewist
Is there a man in the house? I've found that guys are really great at these tasks and seem to plow through them a lot faster than women. After years of witnessing my meandering ways, DH finally took over and does it all so quickly and efficiently that I'm amazed. Well, the only thing he won't do is clean the bathrooms. I'm okay with that. I guess I'm getting a payback though because he's the world's biggest splasher. I swear that within a week's time I could fill a swimming pool!

There is lots of advice out there if you google something like "clean your house fast" or "speed clean your house"...etc. This has some pretty good suggestions. Good luck!

ETA: I guess it's a little embarrassing that I didn't get the TIDY gene from my mom. She was a scrub nurse and I guess that training made her meticulous. Our house was always immaculate. Too bad all of that didn't get passed down.
-- Edited on 1/1/08 4:48 PM --
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“Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.”
~Garrison Keillor~
  
Member since 9/14/02
Posts: 2707
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Posted on: 1/1/08 5:00 PM ET
Wow, thanks for your quick replies!

I should probably clarify my question.

My problem is not clutter or picking up after myself. I don't collect knick-knacks and there is nothing but furniture on the floor.

I think it probably has more to do with the "meandering" aspect that Reggie's Mom mentioned. For this reason, I guess what I'm really looking for is a checklist of tasks which should be done, what order they should be done in, and how to get them done quickly.

For example, I find it very difficult to clean the tub/shower surround. I can scrub it down, but I can't find an efficient way to rinse off the cleaner.

For those of you who do 15 minutes a day: how much can you get done in 15 minutes?

I really would prefer to get it all done in one Saturday morning sweep, because I have so many other things I have to do on a daily basis.
  
Member since 5/11/05
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Posted on: 1/1/08 5:39 PM ET
In reply to Everyday Sewist
The book "Speed Cleaning" by Jeff Campbell has exactly what you are looking for. Step by step, exact order of tasks to finish quickly. He runs a commercial cleaning service, and this is how he trains his professionals so they can get through a house as fast as possible. You can buy it used on amazon.com for less than $5.
  
Member since 9/14/02
Posts: 2707
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Posted on: 1/1/08 5:59 PM ET
Thanks Glenda.

I do have that book but I can't seem to get through everything as fast as he says I should. :)

And some of the things he recommends just don't seem to work very well. For example, he recommends cleaning the bath surround with Comet, and then rinsing using a pint container of water repeatedly refilled and splashed against the tiles. I tried it and it just doesn't work.

I will take another look at the book though. I've probably developed some inefficient habits since I last read it.
  
Member since 1/12/04
Posts: 5086
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Posted on: 1/1/08 6:24 PM ET
In reply to Everyday Sewist
I can be a meanderer too and what helps me is to do things in exactly the same order every time. For example, I first pick up everything that doesn't belong and put it in a laundry basket or pile outside the room to be put away when I'm done. (Don't start putting away or I get distracted.) Then dusting -- I start in one corner and move around the walls of the room, then do anything in the centre. Top down, to the floor. Then sweep, vacuum, and/or mop, always from one end of the room to the other, backing out of the room. Then the next room, same way. In the kitchen I always start at one end of the counter and work towards the sink. After a while the movements become so automatic you don't have to think. I keep a little water in the kitchen sink to rinse off the dust cloth (I usually a well wrung out cloth). I use very few specialty cleaners which keeps everything simpler. Maybe a splash of ammonia for the stove hood and some cream cleanser in the bathroom. To wash cleaner off the tile in the bathroom use one of the towels that's going in the wash, get it soaking wet with clean water and run that over the tiles. Once is usually enough, maybe twice.

What works for me is to remove the "think" factor which leads to indecision and distraction -- just set a routine and do it the same way each time. And I agree, some nice lively loud music to sing along with helps.

marian

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Canada Plant Hardiness Zone 5b
USDA Zone 4
  
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