| Before you begin a major cleaning project around | | | | Next, be sure to have enough of your favorite |
| your home, it will make the job easier for you to get | | | | cleaning supplies on hand. At a minimum, you will need |
| organized. First, be sure that all your tools are in top | | | | glass cleaners, tile and grout cleaners, kitchen and |
| shape, your cleaning products are on hand and fresh, | | | | bathroom disinfectants, degreasers, and soaps or |
| and your housework cleaning checklist is current. Go | | | | detergents specially formulated for the type of floors |
| through your house and note problem areas: items in | | | | you have. Again, the correct formula for each job will |
| need of repair, unusual stains, and jobs you only | | | | protect the surfaces in your home while cutting the |
| tackle seasonally. Add your regular jobs to this list so | | | | time involved in cleaning those surfaces. Products |
| you have a complete reference. Break the list into | | | | that are too harsh can destroy a surface, while |
| sections by room. This list will be your guide. | | | | products that are too mild will not get the job done. |
| This is also the time to sort through the contents of | | | | Planning and purchasing the right products before you |
| closets and shelves. House cleaning is made easy | | | | begin the project will also save time because it will |
| when there is a minimum of clutter. You will be able | | | | not be necessary to stop in the middle of a job to |
| to focus on the actual cleaning instead of getting | | | | run to the store because you have run out of |
| bogged down in moving the clutter around to clean | | | | cleaner. Be sure to cross-check your list of supplies |
| beneath it. Divide the "stuff" in your house into three | | | | against your housecleaning list and the tasks at hand |
| piles according to how long it has been since you last | | | | before you purchase your supplies. |
| used it. Label these piles to keep, to give away, and | | | | Find a sturdy bucket, tote, apron, or rolling cart to |
| to throw away. When you have tossed or given | | | | store all your cleaning equipment in one place. This |
| away the things you no longer need, or when you | | | | container can be taken from room to room, saving |
| have held a garage sale to clear that clutter, you are | | | | you the time and energy to go back and forth from |
| ready to clean. | | | | your cleaning storage area to the room you are |
| Before you begin, check the condition of your | | | | cleaning. If size is a factor, fill the container with only |
| cleaning equipment. If it is necessary, go ahead and | | | | the tools and products you will need for the room |
| purchase good replacements now. At a minimum, you | | | | you are currently cleaning. It is a good idea to also |
| should have a good broom and dust pan, a wet mop | | | | store items on the cart that might need refilling in the |
| or sponge mop (depending on the type of floors you | | | | room on which you are focusing. For instance, carry |
| have), a dust mop, soft cloths for polishing, dusting, | | | | trash can or wastebasket liners, soap refills, light |
| and wiping off fixtures, and a variety of brushes to | | | | bulbs, or tissue boxes and toilet paper. Have a place |
| clean the different surfaces on your walls, windows, | | | | to store any items that belong elsewhere in the |
| and in your bathroom and kitchen. You may need a | | | | house or to carry out any garbage you find in the |
| wax applicator or a window squeegee. A good | | | | room. At the very least, take two plastic bags with |
| vacuum with a variety of attachments or carpet | | | | you - one for trash and one for stuff to put |
| sweeper is also a wise investment. Make sure that | | | | elsewhere. Organizing what you carry in your tote or |
| you have serviced your vacuum recently and that | | | | cart is made simpler if you have your housework |
| you have fresh bags, replacement rollers, or | | | | cleaning checklist at hand. That way, for example, |
| replacement belts on hand. Quality cleaning supplies | | | | you will have made notes to yourself that when you |
| are made for a particular job or surface. They will | | | | clean the bathroom, you will also need the |
| speed your jobs because you will not have to work | | | | screwdriver to tighten the towel rack, and will need |
| as hard to get the job done. Also, this equipment will | | | | to refill the hand soap container. House cleaning is |
| last for years if cared for correctly. | | | | made easy by being organized and planning ahead. |