It is spring finally and after a LONG winter, there is so much to do!
You don’t want to spend all your time cleaning though so here are some tips to manage your time as well as ideas for the Bedroom and Kitchen area.
Cleaning Time Management Tips:
Cleaning may not be your thing, so here are some cleaning time management tips:
Use a Timer: Most chores only take 10 minutes. Use a timer. You’ll be amazed at what you can get done in 10 minutes. Or, clean to your favorite music. When 3-5 of your favorites songs are done, stop for the day.
Multitask: Make tasks go faster by doing two things at once. While on the phone you can fold laundry, pick up stray objects such as toys, Go through junk mail , do dishes, or iron.
Hot Spots: Papers, odd toys and other things usually pile up on the kitchen island or counter or table. Once you’ve got things cleaned up get to filing or discarding. Once a week make sure to go through piles and do what you need to do with them to get everything in its place.
Quick Rescues: Do a 5-minute sweep of each room, taking a laundry basket with you. Place in it anything that doesn’t belong in that room, then put away the stuff that does belong there.
Stop Clutter: Mount a plastic or cloth shoe rack inside your front entry closet door, and use it to stash toys, hats, gloves, magazines. You can even designate one of the pockets for mail and another for keys so everyone knows where to look for things.
Suggestions for your Bedroom
Bed: If your bed is made, your bedroom looks neat. Make your bed each morning.
Drawers: Most likely there are clothes in your dresser that you don’t wear. Take the time to go through your drawers and get rid of the things you don’t use so you have places to store what you DO use. Make time once a quarter or twice a year. Make it an appointment or use your reminder feature on your phone. Be honest with yourself. If it hasn’t been worn, give it away or donate it.
Essentials: Have a “pamper basket” next to your bed with a book, moisturizer, chap stick, your latest hobby etc. Keep only your clock, lamp and a box of tissues on your nightstand.
Ideas for the Kitchen
Sanitize: You are not going to want to hear this but it is a fact that the kitchen sink has more bacteria than your toilet seat. To disinfect, clean your sink with soap and water, then spray a mist of vinegar followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let air-dry. (Don’t mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together—spray one after the other.)
Dishwasher: Once a week, shake baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe around the machine’s edges to remove stuck-on food or stains. To clean the inside, run an empty cycle with Dishwasher Magic, a product designed to kill bacteria like E.coli.
Oven: Keep the oven clean by lining the bottom with a nonstick oven liner. It can be wiped with a paper towel, put in the dishwasher and reused.
Disposal: If you have a garbage disposal to freshen up, drop in a cut-up lemon, some salt and a few ice cubes. The lemon deodorizes, and the ice and salt clean away residue. This also works great in your coffee pot to clean it and get rid of the coffee stains.
Stove Top: The stove is usually the dirtiest part of the kitchen, so saving it for last prevents dirt and grease from spreading around the rest of the kitchen.Begin on the right side of the stove top and move clockwise as you clean.
Later this month we are going to go over tips for the rest of the house! Stay tuned!
