Home chores.
How exactly did spring get the jump on being the only time of year where we do a thorough cleaning of our homes? In my opinion, fall is another excellent time of year to pull the gloves on and don some serious cleaning elbow grease. After all, the holidays are just a holler away and soon we’ll be sending out party and good cheer gathering invites. Those bathroom floors and inside refrigerator doors don’t just clean themselves!
Good news is, these major cleaning times of year can be simpler than you think. If we can stay on top of the day t0 day tidying up tasks, organizing, scrubbing and shining won’t be such a big deal.
First, take a look at our Smart Space Storage For Every Room In the House post to get started. Secondly, thanks to the people at maids.com, I thought I’d also share their 5 Steps to Make Doing Chores Second-Nature. Now get springing into fall and scrub-a-tub-tub!
1. Conquer the Chaos – All of those out-of-place papers, dirty dishes, clothing, and toys make a house look dirty and make cleaning difficult. Get in the habit of putting items where they belong or throwing them away as soon as possible. If you spend five to 10 minutes each day eliminating the clutter, the action will soon become second nature.
hello!
2. Be Neat Now – Don’t wait to clean until the weekend; instead, clean as you go. After you use the bathroom sink each morning, wipe it down with a sponge or cloth. Do the same for adjoining countertops and shelves. Follow this rule in the kitchen and other rooms, too. Cleaning in small increments every day helps you avoid the dreaded Saturday scrub-a-thons.
hello, again!
3. Make a Date – Bigger cleaning jobs – windows, refrigerator, oven and bathroom tiles – should be completed monthly, but are easily forgotten. Choose a time to tackle each task and write it down, or use your favorite technology to send you reminders. Do the same for weekly chores such as cleaning toilets, doing laundry and vacuuming.
knock-knock!
4. It’s a Family Affair – Involve the entire family in housework. If you introduce the concepts of organization and cleanliness to your children, they are more likely to carry habits forward into adulthood. Make age-appropriate chores a fun activity by holding competitions, giving out gold stars or prizes, or singing and playing games while the work is being done.
who’s there?
5. Mind the Method – House cleaning specialists (like from The Maids) move methodically in each room from top to bottom and to the right. Follow their lead when you clean and use microfiber cloths and a vacuum with HEPA filtration to remove dust and allergens.
All photography by Skaie Knox/Nick Meistrell, HomeJelly
