1, 2, 3 Tidy! Quick Tips For an Organized Home

It doesn’t matter if you are a working mom or not, organizing your home can be a daunting challenge.  Whether daily or weekend cleaning is your strong suit, it seems the harder you work, the more clutter you find, especially if you have children. Here are some quick tips for an organized home.

1. If your children attend school, prepare their lunches at night. This will save lots of time in the morning rush.
2. Use a magnetic board; place it on your refrigerator, and list the food items you will need for your next shopping trip to the supermarket.
3. Buy some jumbo storage boxes to organize your closet. Add some additional hangers that support more than one piece of clothing. Some of the home shopping clubs offer space saver hangars and storage units which are affordable, and can turn any closet into an efficient space-saving unit.
4. Get rid of the piles of magazines, newspapers, and advertisements which have been accumulating in your home. Keep the current issues, and throw out the rest.
5. Organize your kitchen cabinets, and line them with Con-Tact paper.  Your cabinets will be easier to clean by simply using a damp sponge.
6. Throw out anything outdated from your medicine cabinet. If you also have a bathroom cabinet, line it with Con-Tact as well, and re-arrange the items inside.
7. Do you have jewelry scattered on top of your bedroom furniture. Purchase a jewelry box containing several drawers. You’ll never lose that earring again!
8. Encourage your children to clean their rooms.  Develop a reward system which will not only give them an incentive, but will teach them to be responsible for their clothes and toys. Buy different colored storage boxes for their toys!
9. Arrange all of your cleaning supplies in a closet or basement. Use hooks to hang brooms, dusters, and mops. If you have a few shelves, place all of your cleaning detergents, light bulbs and other household items on them.  This is not only a good organizational method, but you’ll find everything you need in one place.
10. Buy a CD rack and place all of the scattered CDs into one space. Perhaps a unit combining CDs and DVDs would be more suitable.

When your home is organized, you not only feel better but seem to be able to accomplish more, right?

Carpet Cleaning Machines

With the creation of the carpet, the invention of the
carpet cleaning machine wasn’t far away.  The very
first hand held carpet cleaner was designed and
tested in Chicago in 1860, while the first power
operated vacuum cleaner was invented in the 1900s
by Cecil Booth.

Around the same time Cecil Booth finished his
invention, a man by the name of James Spangler came
up with his own invention – a vacuum cleaner that
he later sold to his cousin Hoover.  As everyone
knows, Hoover has since became one of the most
dominant names in the world of vacuum cleaners and
is certainly one of the most popular household
names in the world.

For many housewives, the vacuum cleaner was deemed
a blessing, as it helped to keep the house clean
in a fraction of the time.  From the beginning,
vacuum cleaners were only able to suck up dust and
dirt, although with modern technology these days,
inventors are able to design wet cleanes that can
steam carpets and kill germs at the same time.

Carpet is capable of covering the floor of a
house, flat, or bungalow and keeping people’s feet
warm in the winter.  Years ago, people needed to
sweep their floors or carpets, but with the
invention of the vacuum cleaner, people could
easily detract the dust and dirt from their
carpets with less effort.  It was also determined
that businesses, corporations, and apartments
would need someone to clean their carpets as
well, so the invention of the commercial carpet
cleaner wasn’t far away.

Vacuum cleaners operate by using a pump system.
The pumping system will suck up the air from a
hose, which will in turn suck up the dirt and
dust from anything that stands in front of the
house opening.  On the inside, the vacuum cleaner
is a filtering system that will collect the dust
and dirt that can later be placed outside in the
garbage.

Right now, there are seven main types of vacuum
cleaners – the upright, canister, back pack style,
built in, robotic, hand held, and the wet/dry
vacuum cleaners.  These different types of vacuum
cleaners are available in a variety of different
styles, sizes, and offer various voltage and
power sizes as well.

One of the most significant developments in
vacuums has been the invention of the very popular
cyclone carpet cleaner.  Unlike the previous
vacuum cleaners, the cyclone collects dirt and
dust in a large cylinder.  The cyclone operates
using a central air force and number of filters.
The filter will filter the dust and dirt into
stages, so that the air being sucked up into the
cylinder can be cleaned then released back into
the air through a central outlet.

5 Chores for School Aged Kids

When our kids reach school age, we often expect them to help out around the house.  Ideally they will have already been doing some small chores for a while.  Starting chores young makes it much easier to get them to do more substantial housework as they become capable.

You might be surprised at the chores a school aged child can handle.  If you can find tasks that they both enjoy and can do easily, it will make chore time much easier.  Here are some good chores for young school aged kids:

* Setting and clearing the table – Kids are often eager to help at mealtime.  Setting the table is a simple but important task that they can perform.  You can make it easier by using placemats that have outlines of where the plate and utensils go.  You might also want to consider getting plastic plates and cups to help avoid breakage.  After the family eats, your child can help clear the table.

* Folding and putting away the laundry – The laundry can be quite a chore.  Enlisting the help of the kids to get it folded and put away can be a huge help to a busy mom.  It’s usually unrealistic to expect a young school aged child to fold an entire load of laundry on her own, but she could fold her own clothes and put them up.  She may not fold them as well as you or put them exactly where they belong, but there’s no need to make a big issue out of it.  The important thing is that she is trying.

* Dusting – This is a very simple task that kids usually enjoy.  Give your child a duster or a sock to wear on her hand and let her have a blast.  If you’re worried about breakable items, move them all to a safe place before she begins.

* Help with the dishes – The dishes may go more slowly when you have a child helping, but things will get better once she has helped a few times and gotten the hang of it.  If you have a dishwasher, your school aged child can help with the loading and unloading.  If you wash by hand, she could rinse and dry the dishes.  Storing them in low cabinets will allow your child to put them up herself as well.

* Pet care – Kids usually prefer playing with their furry friends to assisting in their care, but having your child help with pet care is a great way to build her sense of responsibility.  You could start small, having your child give the pet food and water.  Once that is mastered, she could clean cages or litter boxes, and perhaps help with grooming if the pet gentle and even-tempered enough.

School aged children can help around the house in many ways.  Your child may be able to take on more complex tasks, or she may need some coaching on the simpler ones.  Either way, making housework a part of your child’s routine will make your life easier in the long run.

Have We Become Too Clean?

It seems the more advanced our society becomes and the
cleaner we get, the more prevalent food and other
allergies become.

The occurrences of common allergies are much higher in
more developed countries than in their lesser
developed counter parts. And the numbers are
increasing as industrialization spreads through out
the world.

According to the hygiene hypothesis, the modern
methods of cleaning and sanitizing get rid of too many
germs. The body’s natural immune system doesn’t have
enough to do.

In children, it doesn’t develop the way it should. And
since allergies are an incorrect response of the
immune system, childhood and adult allergies have
become more prevalent.

Studies also show that common allergic diseases like
hay fever, eczema and food allergies are found less
often in children from large families.

Apparently being exposed to infectious agents (germs)
by brothers and sisters is a good thing. It helps the
immune system learn what it’s supposed to protect our
bodies from.

Antibiotic usage during a baby’s first year and the
growing use of antibacterial cleaning products has
also been linked to an increase in asthma and other
allergies.

The hygiene hypothesis explains that the antibacterial
cleaning products and antibiotic drugs limit our
immune system’s exposure to infectious diseases,
parasites and other bacteria.

This limits the immune systems development. Because of
the lack of dirt and germs, the immune system doesn’t
learn what it’s supposed to be protecting the body
from and goes after the wrong things.

ONE-MINUTE CHORES

Only have a minute for cleaning? No problem. This first set
of tips will give you some ideas for chores that take less
than a minute.
1. Dust One Thing
It only takes a minute to choose one thing and dust it. You can either use a
feather duster, a dust spray and a rag, or a dust wipe. Here are some things
you can dust quickly:
• TV screens
• Shelves
• Blinds
• Ceiling fans
• Air Vents
2. Change Vacuum Bag
It doesn’t take much time at all to change your vacuum bag, and it can
make your vacuum run more efficiently. A good tip is to take your
vacuum outside to change it so the dust from the bag doesn’t go back into
the room.
3. Clean a Mirror
A clean mirror makes a room look cleaner. If you don’t have glass cleaner
and paper towels, try vinegar and old newspaper. This is a lot less
expensive and it works just as well.
4. Change Towels
Fresh towels make a room smell great, whether they’re in the kitchen or
the bathroom. It takes less than a minute, and it freshens up the whole
room.
5. Change Trash Bags
Even if you don’t have time to take the trash all the way out, just taking
full bags out of the cans and replacing them with clean bags can help tidy
up when you only have a minute.
6. Sort Today’s Mail
Mail can really pile up if left alone. If you take 30 seconds every day to
organize that day’s mail, you’ll have a lot less clutter. Don’t be afraid to
throw away junk mail.
7. Treat a Stain
Got an extra minute? Treat that nasty stain that you noticed last week.
Here are some tips:
• Flush stains with water.
• Blot the stain with a dry cloth.
• Apply a mild cleaner and let set.
• Blot again.
8. Take Care of Plants
A minute is more than enough time to care for your favorite houseplants.
If they need water, fill a pitcher so you can water them all faster. Take a
pair of scissors with you to snip off dead vines or leaves.
9. Wipe Down Forgotten Areas
Grab a wet washcloth and quickly wipe down areas that might be
forgotten when cleaning. Areas like:
• Doorknobs
• Remote controls
• Light switches
• Handles
• Telephones
10. Sweep Entryways
Most entryways are small and take less than a minute to sweep. Grab your
broom and dustpan and you’ll be finished before you begin. You can even
cheat and sweep dust onto the carpet, then use the carpet-sweeper to clean
it up.
11. Shake out a Floor Mat
Floor mats are sometimes forgotten during cleaning. If you have an extra
minute, grab a mat or two and shake them out outside. This will reduce the
amount of dust in your home as well as keep those mats fresh and clean.
12. Collect Garbage in a Room
If you don’t have time to clean a whole room but want to make it look a
little bit better, clear out the garbage. Grab a trash bag or a waste paper
basket and start stuffing. You’ll find that this improves the look of a room
dramatically.

GOOD HABBITS TO START
As you start developing simple housecleaning habits, you’ll
notice that your work will get easier and easier. This next set of
tips will give you some great ideas of good habits to start.
13. Delegate
Housework can be a huge job. Learn to delegate. Make chore charts for
everyone in your house. Even small children can help pick up toys and
other things. As you learn that you don’t have to do it all, housework will
become much easier.
14. Fill the Sink
A good habit to start is filling your sink with hot soapy water every time
you start to cook. This way you can “clean as you go.” As you get done
with each pot or dish, wash it quickly. This makes clean-up a snap.
15. Spray the Oven
Time for take-out? If there’s a day when you’re not using your oven, give
it a quick spray of oven cleaner and forget about it. The next day, before
you turn on your oven, give it a quick wipe down. You’ll find that the
baked on stuff comes off much easier.
16. Have a Charity Box
It’s a good idea to keep a box or bag in your front closet that you put
things you don’t need anymore. This really helps get rid of clutter in your
home. When the box is full, simply drop it off at your local good will
store.
17. Rinse Your Plate
This may be a small tip, but it can help in big ways. If you simply make it
a habit to rinse your plate after dinner (and have all family members do the
same), it will make washing them a lot easier. No one likes trying to wash
dried food off of dishes.
18. Tackle the Small Jobs
Housework can be overwhelming. Learn to break it down and tackle the
smaller jobs first. As you do, each job will become easier. Also, if you
clean the small messes before they get big, it’ll be a lot easier to clean up.
19. Keep Cleaner in the Shower
A great shortcut for cleaning your tub and shower is to keep a bottle of
shower cleaner handy. After you take a bath or shower, spray it down.
You can take it a step further and keep a squeegee in it as well.
20. Fast Pick Up Before Bed
If you make it a habit to do a quick pick up before going to bed, it’ll really
help. You’ll find that it’s easier to wake up and feel good about the day if
even one room is clean.
21. Line Your Fridge
If you make it a habit to line your fridge shelves with paper towels, it’ll
make it a lot easier to clean. This will work especially well in the crispers,
as the paper towels will soak up any extra wetness.
22. Take a Trash Bag With You
As you leave the house, make it a habit to take the trash out. This is a
simple tip, but why make extra trips if you don’t need to? This is also a
great job to delegate to a teenager. They’re always coming and going
anyway.
KITCHEN
Your kitchen gets used every day. Without
maintaining small messes, you can have a big
cleaning job every day. This next set of tips will help
you keep your kitchen clean and manageable.
23. Microwave
Here’s a good shortcut to cleaning your microwave: Fill up a cup of water
and put it in there on high for a few minutes. The steam from the cup will
loosen any stuck-on food, and then you can just wipe it away.
24. Baking Soda
Baking soda has many practical uses, especially in the kitchen. Here are a
few ideas:
• Put an open box in your fridge and freezer to eliminate odors
and bad tastes.
• Sprinkle some in the bottom of your trashcans.
• Sprinkle some down your drain and garbage disposal to
eliminate odors.
25. Fridge
Cleaning your fridge can be a big job, but here are a few tips to make it a
bit easier:
• Toss out any bad food.
• Start with wiping down the top shelves and work down.
• Baking soda and water make a great cleaner and wont leave
your fridge smelling like harsh cleanser.
• After you wipe out the crispers, line them with paper towels for
easier cleaning next time.
26. Washing Dishes
Washing dishes can really be overwhelming. Here are some tips to make
this grueling task a bit easier:
• Invest in a scrubber that you can put soap in the handle. This
way you can “wash as you go,” eliminating huge piles of dirty
dishes.
• Soak all dishes that have dried on food. This lets you use less
elbow grease.
• Wash in groups—silverware, glasses, bowls, plates, pots and
pans.
27. Wipe Down
After the dishes are done and put away, don’t forget the wipe-down. This
makes your kitchen have that extra clean look. When you’re wiping down,
don’t forget:
• Counter tops
• Stove
• Sink
• Faucets
• Cupboard doors
• Table
• Chairs
28. Sweep and Mop
The very last thing you need to clean in your kitchen is the floor. There are
lots of brooms and mops on the market these days. Make sure to use a
broom and mop that best fit the needs of your floor.
BATHROOM
Cleaning the bathroom is something that nobody likes
to do. Unfortunately, it needs to be done, not only to
make it look better, but to eliminate germs that can
cause illness. Below you’ll find a few tips to make
cleaning your bathroom more effective and easy.
29. Toilet
Cleaning the toilet is a grueling job, but fortunately, it can be done fast.
Here are a few steps to follow to get it done quickly:
• 1st—Pour some cleaner in the bowl to soak.
• 2nd—Wipe down the seat and outside of the bowl with an
antibacterial wipe or spray cleaner.
• 3rd—Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush.
• 4th—Wipe down everything again with a dry cloth to make it
shine.
30. Mirrors
Mirrors can be very tricky to clean because if you don’t have the right
tools, they can look worse than before you started. Make sure you use
glass cleaner (usually blue) or vinegar, and use paper towels or newspaper
to wipe them (not cloth as it will leave residue).
31. Bathtub
Bathtubs can be awkward to clean, because there are many hard-to-reach
places. Here are a few things that may help:
• Use a cleanser that will foam or bubble. This allows you to
“soak” your tub or shower, even if it’s a vertical wall.
• Shop around for a tub scrubber that fits your needs. Whether
it’s a long-handled one or an extra firm one, pick a scrubber
that will be easiest for you to use.
• As mentioned earlier, spraying the tub or shower down after
each use can make deep cleaning easier.
32. Wipe Down the Sink
Wiping down the sink and counter is easier if you first fill the sink with
hot soapy water. Keep dipping your washcloth or sponge into it until
everything is clean. Don’t forget to dry everything so it’ll really sparkle.
LIVING ROOM
The living room is usually the first thing that
visitors see when they come to your home. It’s
also the room that can get the messiest. This
next set of tips will help you keep your living
room clean and inviting.
33. Pick Up
First do a quick pick up. Here are some important points:
• Put everything in its place (remotes controls, magazines, etc.).
• Throw trash in the trash can.
• Put things that don’t belong into laundry baskets, so they’re
easier to put away later.
34. Dust
As mentioned earlier, dusting doesn’t take very long, but it can really help
make your living room look great. Here’s a list of things not to forget:
• Blinds
• Air Vents
• TV screens
• Shelves
• Ceiling fans
35. Vacuum
Vacuuming really finishes a clean room. Use your vacuum’s attachments
to make sure you get the hard to reach places. Don’t forget:
• Couch cushions
• Room edges
• Under the couch
• Curtains
• Window sills
BEDROOM
You spend almost half of your life in your bedroom, so
keeping it clean is important. Here are some tips to
keep your bedroom looking great:
36. Make the Bed
Making the bed will make any room cleaner. It doesn’t take very long, and
it really pulls the room together. It helps to have a thick, lightweight
comforter that can easily be thrown on without a lot of smoothing or
tucking. Pillows really make a bed look good as well.
37. Put Away Clothes
Put away all clothes. Whether they need to be folded and put in a dresser,
hung up, or put in the dirty clothes hamper, managing clothes is very
important.
38. Clean off Dresser
You dresser top can get cluttered very quickly. Make it a habit to clear it
off every time you clean your room, and it will get easier each time. It’s
also a good idea to wipe down your dresser with a damp cloth.
GENERAL SHORTCUTS
You’re almost there! This last set of tips will give you
additional shortcuts for cleaning the house. Some of them
are hardly conventional, but sometimes you just have to get
creative—especially when you’re in a hurry.
39. Fast Window Cleaning
Got a big window that needs to be cleaned super quick? Try only pulling
the blinds up halfway, and only cleaning the bottom half of the window.
As stated earlier, vinegar and newspaper work well in a pinch.
40. Carpet Sweeping
It helps to have a carpet sweeper or a cordless hand vacuum handy. This
way you don’t need to drag the big vacuum out every time your floor
needs a quick clean-up.
41. Pet Hair
Pet hair can be hard to control, especially on furniture. Here are a couple
of ideas for fast clean up:
• Ball up an old pair of pantyhose and rub them all over your
furniture—they’re really great at picking up pet hair.
• Buy a cheap lint roller (the kind with sticky tape) and roll it
over the furniture.
42. Do the Towel Shuffle
Who would have thought a house-cleaning tip would mean doing a dance?
If your floor needs a good mopping but you don’t have time, simply wet
two towels, put one under each foot, and “shuffle” them across the room.
You’ll find this quite effective as well as fun.
43. Cleaner Alternatives
Out of cleaners? Here are some things that you can use to clean instead of
store bought cleaners:
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Lemon juice
44. Laundry Baskets
Laundry baskets aren’t just for laundry anymore. You can get them at
almost any dollar store, and they can really speed up housework. Here are
some ideas:
• When cleaning a room, put all the things that don’t belong in that
room in a basket. Then put the baskets in the rooms that they go in.
• Use a basket to carry dishes from the dining area to the sink.
• Use baskets to separate magazines.
• Give each household member a basket. When cleaning, line up the
basket in the room you’re cleaning and put belongings in
corresponding baskets. Have each family member put away the
things in their basket.
45. Decorative Baskets
Decorative baskets are a great way to hide clutter. Take a trip to your local
dollar store and invest in some fancy baskets of all sizes. Use them to
organize. Here are some things you can use them for:
• Mail
• Magazines
• Couch pillows
• Remotes

47. Spray Dust Mop
No time for a full mopping? Try giving your floor a good spraying with
your favorite cleaner, then go over it with a mop. Depending on the
cleaner, you may need to then spray your floor again with just water, and
mop again to remove any residue.
48. Music
Every grueling task is easier when music is involved. Find yourself some
good music to clean to, and you’ll find that time goes by much faster. In
no time, the CD is over, and your house is clean.
49. Good Smells
A clean house may be the first thing people see as they come to visit, but
what are they smelling? An inviting smell in your home is just as
important as keeping it clean. Here are some things you can use:
• Spray air fresheners
• Candles
• Plug-in air fresheners
• Scented pine cones
• Scented oil lamps
• Potpourri
50. Make a Plan
Housework is a lot less overwhelming if you have a plan. If you divide
chores up into specific time blocks, or even days, they will be a lot easier
to tackle. Don’t forget to make fun chore charts for the kids.
51. Know When to Quit
With housework, there will always be something else to clean and
organize. It’s important to know when to quit. When wiping down a
cupboard door, resist the temptation to pull everything out of that
cupboard and reorganize; save that for another day.

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