| You know how it goes....you have every | | | | with cleaning product while you cart the |
| intention of getting some cleaning | | | | kids around. And finally, if you are |
| accomplished during the day, only to | | | | fortunate enough to have a Roomba or |
| find that by the time the kids are in | | | | Scooba, clear the floor and set up your |
| bed, your house is no cleaner than when | | | | virtual walls so that your floors will |
| you woke up! How does time get away from | | | | be clean when you get home! |
| us? | | | | 4. Stash the right supplies in the right |
| Here are five quick cleaning tips that | | | | rooms. |
| any busy mom (or dad!) can incorporate | | | | Your bathrooms should all be stocked |
| into their day to clean their home a | | | | with a bottle of toilet cleaner, a |
| little bit each day. | | | | toilet brush, paper towels, glass |
| 1. Let the cleaning products do the work | | | | cleaner and all-purpose anti-bacterial |
| by pre-treating. | | | | cleaner. Kitchens should have an |
| Instead of trying to speed up the | | | | anti-bacterial dishwashing soap, |
| cleaning process by quickly spraying a | | | | dishwasher-safe brush for scrubbing |
| cleaning product and scrubbing away, | | | | dishes (no sponges!), anti-bacterial |
| spray a generous amount of cleaner onto | | | | all-purpose cleaner for counters and |
| the surface (tubs, shower walls, | | | | surfaces and a standard glass cleaning |
| countertops, toilet seats) and walk away | | | | product and paper towels for the front |
| for five minutes while the cleaning | | | | of ovens and diswashers. Instead of |
| product does the work. Most products | | | | storing all of your cleaning products in |
| work best when allowed to penetrate the | | | | one place in your home, assemble these |
| stain and break down the grime and | | | | cleaning kits in each room so you always |
| surface dirt. Take those five minutes to | | | | have access to the appropriate tools. |
| throw a load of laundry in the washer, | | | | 5. Keep laundry going all day. |
| change a diaper or wash some baby | | | | Too often, laundry is left to pile up |
| bottles. At the end of those five | | | | until no one can find a clean pair of |
| minutes, wipe the surface clean with | | | | socks! Head off these laundry crises by |
| paper towels and admire your work! You | | | | maintaining the laundry pile everyday, |
| just completed two tasks in the time it | | | | all day....yes, all day! Start first |
| takes to complete one! | | | | thing in the morning by switching the |
| 2. Chunk like projects together. | | | | laundry and starting a new load. Set up |
| As long as you have that bottle of glass | | | | baskets for each person in the home who |
| cleaner and roll of paper towels in your | | | | is old enough to fold and put away their |
| hands, why not do all of the mirrors in | | | | own laundry and sort clean laundry as it |
| the house one after the other. By not | | | | comes out of the dryer. Let each person |
| switching between cleaning products and | | | | match their own socks and put away their |
| cleaning tasks, you will actually save | | | | own clothing. In the evening, put |
| time because you will already have all | | | | baskets outside each bedroom and have |
| of the necessary tools at your disposal. | | | | everyone load them up with dirty clothes |
| Switching between tasks, even in the | | | | and bed linens. Each morning, collect |
| same room, can sometimes take longer | | | | the clothes, sort, wash and dry and let |
| than simply completing the same task in | | | | your kids (if they are old enough) do |
| each room in quick succession. | | | | the rest! |
| 3. Let machines and technology work for | | | | In general, quick cleaning comes from |
| you. | | | | setting up systems that work in for your |
| You only have ten minutes to clean | | | | family. Setting up your environment for |
| before taking the kids to their | | | | success is the first step toward success |
| playgroup? Use that time to set up your | | | | in any area, and by establishing |
| machines (i.e. appliances) so they can | | | | routines and stocking rooms with the |
| work for you during the time you are en | | | | appropriate tools, you'll be able to |
| route with the kids. Finish loading the | | | | take advantage of those precious few |
| dishwasher and turn it on. Switch the | | | | minutes every day to make a nice dent in |
| laundry and get one load drying while | | | | your cleaning tasks! |
| another one washes. Pre-treat surfaces | | | | |