In the home where I grew up, Saturday was cleaning day. The bed sheets were changed, floors vacuumed or mopped, and bathrooms cleaned.
The multiple changes of clothing from the week, which had been mounded in piles, were laundered and, once again, hung in the closet. Throughout the week, Mother was more interested in talking or “clowning” with us and making our favorite food than keeping a clutter free house. But on Saturday, she would clean and put everything back into place.
Spring-cleaning was a major undertaking! This was the time that curtains, windows, and walls were washed. We moved the furniture and even cleaned under and behind the stove and refrigerator. Was Mother a finicky housekeeper? Absolutely no! Did she teach us how to clean? Absolutely yes!
All family members should be responsible to keep a clean living environment as an act of gratitude. Caring for what you have is an expression of a grateful heart. The old adage “cleanliness is next to godliness” was quoted to us as if it was scripture. Don Aslett , says, “How you live in and care for your dwelling shapes your personality—and your destiny.” If you were less fortunate than to have a Mom like mine, you can still learn a valuable thought from my mother. “If it is only dirty, don’t throw it away—dirt can be removed.” So let’s begin!
Cleaning Supplies and Tools
Here is a list of supplies and tools that are typically needed:
• All purpose cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Window cleaner
• Clean Paintbrush
• Window squeegee
• Cleaning cloths
• Treated dust cloth
• Rubber gloves
• Toothbrush
• Lambs wood duster
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Whiskbroom
• Dry mop
• Old knife
• Sponges
• Bucket
• Vacuum cleaner
• Furniture brush
• Paper towels
• Kneeling pad/towel
• Hand scrub brush
• Toilet brush
Room-By-Room Cleaning Rules and Ideas
Exterior Entrances
• Use mats outside of all exterior doors to keep dirt from coming into your home. Shake the dirt from them often, and replace them when they begin to look tattered.
• Sweep your porch several times per week. Sweep cobwebs from under the covering and around the doorframes.
• Wash the glass on the front door and on the storm door.
• Clean the outdoors light fixture.
Interior Entrances
• A rug should be placed on the inside door of each exterior door. It is best if this rug is washable. Shake loose dirt from them often, and also, wash them when needed.
• Clean smudges and fingerprints from the door edge, from around the door handle and from the doorframe with an all-purpose cleaner.
• Dust all ledges including windowsills, tabletops, picture frames, wall shelves, and baseboards.
• Periodically clean silk flower arrangements by washing the flowers. Some arrangements or silk plants can be lightly swished in slightly sudsy water and drained. They will look like new.
Living Areas
• Clear the clutter first. Then begin to clean from the top down, dusting cobwebs and ledges.
• Clean small knickknacks by soaking them in hot sudsy water. Immerse them first so that, while you are cleaning the room, they are cleaning themselves. Rinse and drain.
• Clean glass surfaces with a glass cleaning product and paper towels.
• Wood surfaces do not need furniture polish every time you dust. Use it once a month to prevent build-up.
• Fluff cushions and reverse them if possible.
• Vacuum window treatments rather than laundering them. (If they are aged they will fall apart.) You can also air fluff them by shaking them outside or hanging them on a line. Do not put them in the dryer.
• Sheer panels can be washed. You can replace them on the rods while they are still damp where they will air dry.
• Cotton sofa cushion covers can be washed. Use cold water to prevent fading and do not put them in the dryer. Put them back on the cushion while damp and prop them up to air dry.
• Apply stain prevention to your furniture and carpets to prevent spots.
• Always keep a spot remover stored in a handy location so that you can immediately treat spills quickly when necessary.
Kitchen and Bathroom
• Always clean the surfaces with a disinfectant cleaning product.
• Begin by filling the basin or sink with hot sudsy water.
• Clean highest surfaces first and work your way down.
• Wash decorative items sitting on shelves. Wipe the shelves.
• End with the floor, using the following tips.
• Clean on your hands and knees so you can wipe in places that a mop cannot reach.
• Start in the area furthest from the door.
• Wash the baseboards as you go.
• End up in a doorway so you don’t have to track over your clean floor.
Kitchen
• Always wash counters with soapy water or a cleaning solution.
• Scour sinks regularly, then dry them. Clean stubborn gunk at the base of sink fixtures by wrapping the base with tissue and soaking with vinegar for 20 minutes. Remove tissue and brush away the remains with an old toothbrush.
• Clean the top of the refrigerator weekly. Place a cut lemon inside to freshen.
• Wash lids to canisters.
• Clean oven spills while they are hot whenever possible. Use a wad of dry paper towels. Then follow with a spray solution.
Bathroom
• Scour tubs, toilets, and basins weekly.
• Daily remove hair from sinks and tubs with a damp tissue.
• A damp tissue also removes hair quickly from around the base of the toilet and from the floor. Do this between cleanings.
• Wash the back of the bathroom door. Because of the moisture, the panel ledges on raised panel doors can get “crusty” with hair and dirt. This is often forgotten when cleaning a bathroom.
• Clean shower door tracks by filling them with vinegar. Let them soak for a few hours. Flush out the gunk with water.
• Plastic shower curtains can be washed with a few towels. If they are mildewed add ½ cup bleach and wash with white towels. Do not dry. Hang while damp.
Bedrooms
• Change bedding at least once every two weeks and pillow cases every few days.
• Store an old sock in the nightstand drawer and use for a quick dust.
• Use a dry, soft paintbrush to clean lampshades and picture frames.
• Disinfect telephones with an alcohol-dampened paper towel.
• Clean an alarm clock radio with an alcohol based wet wipe.
• Clean under the bed.
Floors
• Vacuuming, mopping or hand washing your floors should be the final thing you do when you clean a room.
• Add whole cloves to your vacuum bag for a fragrant scent.
Raise Your Standard
A friend of mine grew up in a family where her mother was a successful business woman. They were not rich but she had plenty. Her mother managed their home in the same efficient way that she managed her business. House keepers, gardeners, and handymen were a way of life. Her clothing was hung, laundry done, bathrooms cleaned, table set and dinner started, before she was picked up from school. Unlike me, she never participated in the process of cleaning.
The shock of her life was a few months after her marriage, her toilet bowl looked brown. She did not know what was wrong with it. She thought the whirling water when the toilet flushed cleaned the bowl. So she bought the blue stuff; now, it just looked dark blue! At 22 years old, she did not know that a toilet needed to be scrubbed. Be sure to include your children in the process of cleaning, even if you use the assistance of a house keeper.
You may reason, “Why should I make the bed when it will just get messed up again.” “Why hang my slacks when I will wear them.” “Why clean, it will just get dirty again.”
Yes, a clean house can and will get dirty again. But as Don Aslett said in his book, Clutter’s Last Stand, “…you can’t mess up the improvements to the quality of life your efforts have produced.”
Raise your standard of living. You and your family are worth it!
