Housecleaning
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You can houseclean. You can houseclean for exercise. You can houseclean to accomplish something. You can houseclean to enjoy a cleaner house.
Put on rubber gloves, grab a plastic trash bag or some paper bags, and throw away the litter. Do this first because it’s easy to decide where to put litter.
Declutter
[edit | edit source]Pick up an empty laundry basket, box, tote, or bucket. Place items that do not belong in the room in the basket. Move to the next room. Remove items that belong in the room and put them away. Pick up the items that do not belong in the room, place them in the basket, and move to the next room. Once you have moved through the house twice, everything should be in the right place.
Put books back on the book shelf. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher or sink. Put dirty clothes in the hamper. Hangs up coats and so forth.
If you notice useless junk, recycle it or throw it away. If you notice clutter you could sell or donate someplace, remember to do so after you clean it.
Dust
[edit | edit source]Get some dust cloths and wipe the furniture and other hard surfaces to remove the dust. Use the upholstery nozzle on the vacuum cleaner’s hose to dust drapery and fabric furniture. Vacuum the carpet with the rotating brushes flicking it. Vacuum other floors with the brushes up, or use a dust mop.
Wash surfaces, clothes & dishes
[edit | edit source]Choose the right cleaning solution for the job at hand. You don't need a lot of expensive products. You can clean with natural products that are good for the environment and your health as well. Bonus---they're cheap. Consider using:
- Distilled (White) vinegar for cleaning most hard surfaces (use caution when using on natural stone) could damage some marble,granite etc...
- Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) for scrubbing away tougher stains.
- Hydrogen peroxide for removing stains on fabrics. (test first in small area)
- Rubbing alcohol for sticky messes and for glass. (test first in small area)
Kitchen
[edit | edit source]Dishes
[edit | edit source]It may seem counter intuitive, but dishwashers use less water and energy than washing by hand. The dishwasher will also sanitize your dishes if you use heated dry.
To hand-wash dishes, start by cleaning the sink/basin with vinegar or a commercial cleaning solution. You'll never get clean dishes from a dirty sink. Place the drain plug in the sink, fill it with the hottest water your skin can handle. While the sink is filling add a teaspoon of dish detergent or soap. Scrape food particles from the dishes into the compost bin, garbage, or garbage disposal. Place the dishes in the soap and water solution. If the water is too hot, tidy the kitchen until the water is cool enough to handle. Wash the dishes thoroughly on both sides. If you have a double-basin sink, place the plug in the drain of the second basin and neatly stack the dishes in it as you wash them. Fill the second basin with the hottest water possible. Allow the dishes to sit in the hot water for a few minutes to help sanitize them. Once the water is cool enough to handle, remove the dishes from the second basin, dry them and place them in the dish rack to air dry. Wash dishes and serving pieces first, then pots and pans. If you are working with a single-basin sink, wash all of the dishes, drain the basin, then refill the basin with the hottest water possible, allow the dishes to sit in the hot water for a few minutes, then remove and dry them.
Bathroom
[edit | edit source]Daily
[edit | edit source]Clean the following items in order with vinegar or all-surfaces cleaner in a spray bottle and a soft cloth.
- Mirror
- Light switch plate
- Doorknob on both sides of the door
- Faucet(make it sparkle) drying with soft cloth can make it happen
- Countertop and basin/sink
- Toilet flush handle
- Toilet tank cover
- Toilet lid
- Toilet seat
- Toilet rim
- Misfires from your boys and grown men (alternatively, ask them to always seat on the toilet at home, just like the women do).
- Brush interior of toilet bowl with a toilet brush.
- clean behind and floor behind also
If you do this daily it will take five minutes or less, and make your weekly cleaning tasks much easier.
Laundry
[edit | edit source]Here’s a super simple, beginner-friendly guide to doing laundry from start to finish — no experience needed:
Step 1: Gather Everything
[edit | edit source]- Clothes: Collect all the dirty clothes, towels, and sheets.
- Check labels: Inside most clothes is a small white care tag that says things like “cold wash only,” “tumble dry low,” or “hand wash.”
- Empty pockets: Coins, pens, and tissues can ruin a load.
Step 2: Sort the Laundry
[edit | edit source]This prevents colors from bleeding and clothes from wearing out too fast.
- Lights: Whites, light grays, pastels.
- Darks: Blacks, blues, reds, dark greens.
- Delicates: Lingerie, silk, or anything that says “delicate” or “hand wash.”
- Towels & Bedding: Wash these separately — they need hotter water and longer cycles.
Step 3: Add Detergent
[edit | edit source]- Use liquid or pod detergent made for washing machines.
- For regular loads, use the cap line that says “1” or “medium load.”
- Too much detergent leaves residue; too little won’t clean well.
- If using pods, toss one directly into the drum before adding clothes.
(If your machine has separate dispensers, the lid or tray is usually labeled “Detergent,” “Softener,” and “Bleach.”)
Step 4: Load the Washer
[edit | edit source]- Don’t overstuff — leave about a hand’s width of space at the top.
- Close the lid or door securely.
Step 5: Choose Settings
[edit | edit source]Most washers have a dial or digital menu:
- Water Temp:
- Cold: Dark colors and delicate fabrics.
- Warm: Everyday clothes.
- Hot: Towels, sheets, heavily soiled clothes.
- Cycle Type:
- Normal/Regular: Most clothes.
- Delicate/Gentle: Light fabrics.
- Heavy Duty: Towels, jeans.
Then press Start.
Step 6: Move Clothes to the Dryer
[edit | edit source]- Take them out promptly when the wash cycle ends.
- Clean the lint trap (the screen inside the dryer door or top edge).
- Choose a setting:
- Normal/High Heat: Towels, jeans.
- Medium/Low Heat: Everyday clothes.
- Air Dry/No Heat: Delicates or anything you don’t want to shrink.
- Press Start.
Step 7: Fold or Hang
[edit | edit source]- Take clothes out as soon as they’re dry to prevent wrinkles.
- Fold or hang them right away.
Optional Extras
[edit | edit source]- Fabric softener: Makes clothes smell good and feel softer.
- Dryer sheets: Reduce static cling.
- Air drying: Hang clothes on a rack if you prefer no dryer.
Conclusion
[edit | edit source]You might not be able to do all the cleaning in one session. So what? The trick is to do some of it now.
If the process seems overwhelming, pick a small corner area, preferably one with a small table and chair, such as your reading nook. Tidy it up, then clean it thoroughly. This gives you a spot to look at that isn't depressing. Next, make the next corner clean. Soon you will find yourself motivated to clean up the rest of the room, and the rest of the house.
Also, for those of us who didn’t take home economics, there are books on cleaning in book stores. Ask a clerk where the store keeps them.