Archive for the ‘Home Tips’ Category

by Iza del Carmen, MomAuthority.com

After all of your hard work spring cleaning and organizing your home, you certainly won’t want to see things back to the way they were in a matter of weeks. Staying organized takes a little work and is certainly a learned habit, but for this small amount of daily effort, you will have a cleaner home and a happier family. Try some of these tips to help keep your home looking like you just wrapped up your spring cleaning efforts.

Keep a small basket in each room for things that do not belong. Get in the habit of checking the basket as you leave the room for items that might belong in your next destination.

Keep all of your cleaning supplies together, along with rags, paper towels, scrub brushes, and any other items you may need to complete any cleaning task. Using a bucket or cleaning supply caddy will make grabbing the necessary tools a snap when it is time to do your daily chores.

Sort through your mail each day when it is brought in. Immediately throw away junk mail, saving only important letters and advertisements that you are planning to use. Place all the mail in a designated area and file the bills away after they are paid.

When choosing containers for storage, look for lidded boxes, bowls, and bags that are clear. When you go looking for an item, it will be easier to find if you can see into the containers without opening each and every one.

Every night after dinner, make sure that all the dishes are cleaned and put away, or at least rinsed and put into the dishwasher, until there is a full load. Don’t let the dishes get away from you or you’ll find yourself in the midst of a marathon cleaning session.

Wipe counters and tables after each meal, knocking the crumbs to the floor. Sweep up after washing the dishes each night and use a damp rag to wipe up and spots, splashes, or spills on the floor.

Always make sure the sink looks clean and sparkling. After washing the dishes, wipe it out well and dry it to prevent water spots.

Set aside a little time each week or on the weekend to do a more in-depth cleaning. Check the fridge and pantry for expired food, wipe the stove, cabinets, table, and counters thoroughly, and clean the floor well. If you have kept up on your daily straightening ritual, you will be shocked at how quickly the kitchen cleans up.

When you get up the next morning, you will be able to start your day with a fresh start (without having to worry about yesterday’s mess!).

Spring Cleaning Maintenance (c) 2008 MomAuthority.com

by Iza del Carmen, MomAuthority.com

The cold days of winter are over and the fresh breezes of spring have begun to blow. As the flowers bloom and the birds chirp, many of us take a look at our homes and want to rid ourselves of the stale, winter feeling and start the season off with a clean and organized home. Spring cleaning can be hard work, but once the job is complete, the rewards are well worth the effort. So get ready and roll up your sleeves, it is time to get your home in order.

There are three basic steps to spring cleaning: Deep Cleaning, Organization, and Maintenance. Deep cleaning consists of wiping down walls, cleaning windows, wiping out cupboards, and cleaning under furniture. This is the messy part of spring cleaning, but it will rid your house of the dirt, grime, and germs that you have collected over the winter.

Organization means cleaning out closets, drawers, and cabinets. Go through clothing and toys to get rid of things that have been outgrown. Free yourself of all of the unused and broken items around the house and create more space to properly store the things that you do use regularly. Having a well organized home can make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

The first two steps can be completed at the same time, but maintenance will take some extra steps and dedication on your part throughout the year. Keeping up on organization is usually the biggest hurdle for most families, as old habits can be hard to break. Make sure you get everyone on board to keep your house as neat and orderly as it will be when your cleaning is complete.

While jumping into spring cleaning feet first might seem like the best way to approach the tasks at hand, your best bet would be to take your time and plan things out before beginning. Complete the following list of tasks before starting your spring cleaning and you will find your project going faster and smoother than you ever could have imagined.

•    Start by evaluating each room and its organizational needs. Grab a notebook and jot down everything that needs to be addressed in each room before starting. For instance, if there is a messy stack of magazines on the coffee table, make a note to buy a magazine rack.

•    Take stock of what cleaning supplies you already have on hand and what you will need to complete all your jobs. Add to the list any organizational tools that you need for each of your rooms. Having your supplies ready before you start will save you from running to the store, filthy from cleaning, to replace something that you have run out of, which might also cause you to lose motivation.

•    Have a few motivators on hand. Find some type of reward for yourself for completing the larger tasks, such as a favorite snack for breaks. Turn on some upbeat music to keep you going and make the job go by faster.

•    Give each room a quick straighten before starting your deep cleaning. If the dishes are washed, toys are picked up, and laundry is done, you will have the necessary space to get into the bigger jobs.

•    Return to your notebook and formulate your plan of attack. List each room and all of the tasks that need to be completed in detail. As you finish a job, check it off and see just how much progress you have made throughout the day.

Introduction To Spring Cleaning (c) 2008 MomAuthority.com