I am a neat freak and an obsessive cleaner.  But even though I clean a little throughout each day, I still end up having to spend an entire day – or more – deep cleaning my home.  And I hate it!  I’m sure you agree with me.  It’s always that day you dread.  It finally comes and think to yourself, “I’m not going to spend this entire day cleaning, I can do it in less time with a plan.”  But it never works out.  Before you know it you have to pick the kids up at school, or it’s Saturday and you never got to run those errands so you end up running out, but when you get back, work is still waiting for you.  Then it’s time to work on dinner: the day is over.  So, why not give yourself a break and tackle one chore a day  in just a few minutes?  Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner, tells you how!

1. Pick up right away so you don’t have to do a deep clean later.

• If you spill something clean it up right away, especially in the fridge and microwave.
• Clean your pets. Brush them regularly to limit hair on your couch and floor.  Plus, you won’t end up finding balls of fur stashed in hard to reach corners.  If your dog goes outside a lot, keep scent-free wipes nearby to clean up paws.
• And do the same with your own paws!  Keep door mats on both sides of the door to wipe your shoes, but then take them off as you come inside.  This way you minimize carpet cleaning and vacuuming sessions.
• Wipe down or squeegee your shower before you step out so you won’t have to work on built-in soap scum later.
• Keep cleaning supplies and surface wipes around your home for quick wipe downs everyday.

2.  Have the right products for each job.

• Make sure you have microfiber cloths and dusters.  You want to get that dust the first time!  Plus, microfiber cloths can be used to wipe down surfaces and then rinsed and rung out to clean mirrors and glass.
• White T-shirts make great stain rags.  Every time you look at a spot remover bottle, it says to use a clean white rag to blot the stain.  Who as white rags?  Well, an old cut up white t-shirt will do just that!  Plus, you’ll be recycling.
• Speaking of stains, did you know that stubborn stains can be lifted with 3% topical hydrogen peroxide and an iron?  That’s right.  Just pour the peroxide on the stain, place a damp white rag over it and press it gently with a hot iron for 15-20 minutes.  The stain will transfer to the cloth.
• Just use water!  Microwaving a bowl of water for 5 minutes will soften crusty food that was left in there so you can wipe it down easily.  And if the refrigerator has dried on spills, place a wet sponge on it, close the door and wait 20 min., then wipe the spill away.

3. Conquer Your Clutter!

(I hate clutter so much, so this is my favorite section.)

• First things first: Get rid of your junk.  I hope you’re not a hoarder….Once that’s done, you can move onto everyday cleanliness.  So, go through what you have to get rid of what you don’t need, use or want.  Then sell it, give it away or toss it.  Then you’ll have a fresh start.
• Put countertop items away that you don’t use all the time.  This includes the bathroom too.  Keep only regularly used items out.
• Create clutter solutions all around your home.  This is one of my favorite things to talk about, write about and live.  The simplest way to clean up clutter is to place baskets or containers in places where clutter collects:  The front door for shoes and bags, the closet floors, the living room for magazines and blankets and the kitchen for keys and mail.

So now that you have the tools, all you need to do is create a check-list so you know what areas of your home or tasks need to be completed which days.  Like “Vacuum the house Monday, Dust on Tuesday, Sort through magazines and old mail on the first Saturday of the month,”  stuff like that.  This way you have a strategic plan to follow and cleaning supplies where you need them.  Happy Cleaning!