Most people either do housework on the weekend, or a little bit every day. When breaking down the kitchen this will take a large chunk of time. The idea here is to deep clean it once or twice a year and then keep up with it daily. Wiping up spills as soon as they happen, rinsing/washing dishes daily and wiping the stove, counters and floor spills can really help keep everything looking great until the big cleaning day. Let's get busy and break it down!
I'm going to assume one might have a dining room or nook to eat at in the kitchen. Clear the kitchen of all chairs and clear counter tops. Put all papers and clutter in a box to go through later like when a friend calls or you're watching that favorite tv show! Each room is a blank canvas and cleaning is your artist strokes! We gather in the kitchen, lovingly prepare our family's favorite food and we live in the kitchen!
You will need to gather all supplies, including; brooms, mops, rags etc. Remember to NOT mix cleaning supplies with other products, with the exception of water to dilute! Other likely supplies include a trash sack and squeegee. Don't forget the snacks and a beverage!
Begin to go around the room top to bottom, left to right and inside to outside wiping the ceilings, walls, door tops and inside of the windows. Wipe all knick knacks, switch plates, light switches as well.
For the ceiling, wrap a rag saturated in your degreaser around the mop and go for it. This takes a long time. I use Lysol 4 in 1 cleaner because it's a good degreaser and disinfectant.
When cleaning the walls, use a fresh solution of degreaser with your rags and the mop again. Start at the top and go down so any drips will get wiped up on the way down.
Cabinets; door fronts, surfaces, and handles! Counter tops and all counter appliances, including anything you keep out on the counters, should be wiped down or soaked. This could be a good time to go through cabinets and get rid of things and wipe down the shelves. I usually do this in a separate project.
Stove top; including taking off the knobs, stove burners, and any utensils or spoon rests you keep out. Let everything soak in a degreaser with warm water. Turn the self cleaning knob on or if your oven is old like mine, spray with oven cleaner or just wipe down with warm water. Don't forget to open the window for ventilation when using oven cleaner.
Fridge; clean top, sides and front. This is a good time to go through any pictures on the outside and coupons etc. being held by any magnets. Using warm water, wipe down inside of fridge wall, shelves, and rinse out the drawers. This is a good time to go through and throw out the moldy cheese, old food and scary leftovers that have become science projects! Hey, we're all human! It happens, life happens, food spoils. Sorry.
You will be washing all curtains, rugs and potholders too.
I generally use this time to clean the can opener and delime the coffee maker also. (see tips for details)
As you can see the kitchen calls for a lot of detail. If it's in the kitchen, clean it!
Tip #1:
Coffee maker cleansing: Using white vinegar, pour into water reservoir half of 32oz bottle. Let the coffee maker run a cycle and pour it back through to run again. Then run just water through at least twice. We don't want the coffee to taste like vinegar! This should be done once a month or at least every other month if you use your coffee maker everyday. It helps coffee to brew quicker! On the weekends be sure and soak carafe of coffee maker in bleach, water and soap.
Tip #2:
I use the extended handle swiffer to keep the tops of doors and ceiling fans dusted monthly.
Remember the kitchen is where food prep happens and germs need to be held at bay. We have to be diligent!
Until next time when we break down the bathrooms, happy cleaning and don't forget the music!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Where to go from here?
I've had my first case of writers block, which makes me sound like a seasoned pro.
Today was a very busy day, much busier than expected.
In the course of my recuperation I actually watched someone else mop and vacuum my house. Strange indeed since this person was not a member of my family, but a new friend helping me in my time of need. That being said, today I'm trying to just think of a couple of quick tips to get you through until we really start breaking it down room by room!
Random yet relevant and related!
Tip #1:
While doing research this summer I happened on a magazine article that states bleach needs to be mixed with water for proper activation, thus actually helping to kill the mold and mildew better. Now I keep a bottle mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach under every sink! It really does work! I also have less clothes ruined by straight bleach drops!
Tip #2:
If your dishwasher has hard water deposits inside; take an instant packet of Wyler's or Koolaid lemonade sugar free mix and dump in the dishwasher, running through a wash cycle. My daughter in Minnesota does this and it really works! Oh and the smell of lemons coming out of the dishwasher will be very nice!
Tip #3:
Have you ever looked at the inside edge of the door around the dishwasher? You can really find some gross and maybe interesting stuff there! Easy fix; get your rag wet with as warm of water as you can handle (wearing gloves if need be) and spray a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach on the door ledge. Let it sit a couple of minutes and wipe clean. This is easy and helps cut mold growth!
By the way...
You might be thinking to yourself, "what does it mean when we say 3 parts water to 1 part bleach?" Little math lesson! Take your container and divide it into 4 equal parts in your head. Now fill up the first 'part' with your straight bleach. Finish filling the container, or the last 4 'parts', with water. There you have it!
Until next time, happy cleaning and don't forget the music!
Today was a very busy day, much busier than expected.
In the course of my recuperation I actually watched someone else mop and vacuum my house. Strange indeed since this person was not a member of my family, but a new friend helping me in my time of need. That being said, today I'm trying to just think of a couple of quick tips to get you through until we really start breaking it down room by room!
Random yet relevant and related!
Tip #1:
While doing research this summer I happened on a magazine article that states bleach needs to be mixed with water for proper activation, thus actually helping to kill the mold and mildew better. Now I keep a bottle mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach under every sink! It really does work! I also have less clothes ruined by straight bleach drops!
Tip #2:
If your dishwasher has hard water deposits inside; take an instant packet of Wyler's or Koolaid lemonade sugar free mix and dump in the dishwasher, running through a wash cycle. My daughter in Minnesota does this and it really works! Oh and the smell of lemons coming out of the dishwasher will be very nice!
Tip #3:
Have you ever looked at the inside edge of the door around the dishwasher? You can really find some gross and maybe interesting stuff there! Easy fix; get your rag wet with as warm of water as you can handle (wearing gloves if need be) and spray a solution of 3 parts water to 1 part bleach on the door ledge. Let it sit a couple of minutes and wipe clean. This is easy and helps cut mold growth!
By the way...
You might be thinking to yourself, "what does it mean when we say 3 parts water to 1 part bleach?" Little math lesson! Take your container and divide it into 4 equal parts in your head. Now fill up the first 'part' with your straight bleach. Finish filling the container, or the last 4 'parts', with water. There you have it!
Until next time, happy cleaning and don't forget the music!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
A little background...
How it all started...
So writing this blog does not make me a an authority of all things related to cleaning! I have just spent a lot of my life doing it!
When I was a kid growing up I would work for the older ladies in the neighborhood and mow small yards. I also babysat most every weekend. I always liked helping people out and hanging around kids. When I was called one day to assist with a housecleaning of a really good friend whose regular assistant was ill I said yes! Why not! Well I loved it! I made a hourly wage and I was having fun! I then was referred by my friends to a house I could take on my own, that was it I was hooked! I can be independent, make money, be on my own schedule around my family's schedule and needs and so that's how I got started. I still had after school babysitting too!
Life goes on things change, kids grow up move away and you get more time on your hands! Liking to have a routine I decided to step my work up a notch and instead of working a few days a week I decided to work every day, but keeping it on a school schedule. My husband is a teacher so that schedule works for me. We love to travel!
God is good! I barely had the thoughts and within a week of just thinking it, I had a full schedule!
Today's tip:
Since this is a beginners blog, I thought we could go back to the basics of House cleaning.
First of all treat each room as a separate project so to speak. Depending on size of house, apt etc. When getting organized to clean I like to start at the entry way and work myself through the house in a clockwise progression. Working left to right top to bottom. Having cleaning supplies (rags and chemicals), vacuum and trash bags with me! This is a long process so don't forget snacks and water/tea!
Think to yourself what is first thing you see when you enter your place of living? Make that where you start!
Until next time when we break it down room by room! Happy cleaning!
Quick tip:
Don't forget that a paper towel isn't used up after drying your hands; use it to mop up some splashed water or dust a crevice!
Have a blessed day and don't forget the music!
So writing this blog does not make me a an authority of all things related to cleaning! I have just spent a lot of my life doing it!
When I was a kid growing up I would work for the older ladies in the neighborhood and mow small yards. I also babysat most every weekend. I always liked helping people out and hanging around kids. When I was called one day to assist with a housecleaning of a really good friend whose regular assistant was ill I said yes! Why not! Well I loved it! I made a hourly wage and I was having fun! I then was referred by my friends to a house I could take on my own, that was it I was hooked! I can be independent, make money, be on my own schedule around my family's schedule and needs and so that's how I got started. I still had after school babysitting too!
Life goes on things change, kids grow up move away and you get more time on your hands! Liking to have a routine I decided to step my work up a notch and instead of working a few days a week I decided to work every day, but keeping it on a school schedule. My husband is a teacher so that schedule works for me. We love to travel!
God is good! I barely had the thoughts and within a week of just thinking it, I had a full schedule!
Today's tip:
Since this is a beginners blog, I thought we could go back to the basics of House cleaning.
First of all treat each room as a separate project so to speak. Depending on size of house, apt etc. When getting organized to clean I like to start at the entry way and work myself through the house in a clockwise progression. Working left to right top to bottom. Having cleaning supplies (rags and chemicals), vacuum and trash bags with me! This is a long process so don't forget snacks and water/tea!
Think to yourself what is first thing you see when you enter your place of living? Make that where you start!
Until next time when we break it down room by room! Happy cleaning!
Quick tip:
Don't forget that a paper towel isn't used up after drying your hands; use it to mop up some splashed water or dust a crevice!
Have a blessed day and don't forget the music!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
So it begins!
Hi! My name is Donna and I have made a business cleaning houses. I love to clean, give advice on cleaning and always look forward to my client cleaning schedule and routine.
Well for the first time in a long time I'm having a forced leave due to an Achilles tendon tear on my right ankle. So to keep things interesting I thought I would help out anyone out there who might have cleaning problems, questions, need organizational ideas or who might have a good idea I could learn from. Heloise is my favorite and I like to try new cleaning products, although I do have my favorites!
I'm also starting to dabble in the more old fashioned, maybe greener cleaning products of simple ingredients found around your house already!
Today's tip:
Using a lemon cut it in half rub all over your kitchen sink, squeeze out some juice as you go and then cut up what's left of your lemon, throwing it down disposal add some ice. Start running the water in the disposal, ice will sharpen the blades and the lemon will make it smell wonderful!
Have a blessed day! Until next time, Happy cleaning! Don't forget to turn on the radio!
Well for the first time in a long time I'm having a forced leave due to an Achilles tendon tear on my right ankle. So to keep things interesting I thought I would help out anyone out there who might have cleaning problems, questions, need organizational ideas or who might have a good idea I could learn from. Heloise is my favorite and I like to try new cleaning products, although I do have my favorites!
I'm also starting to dabble in the more old fashioned, maybe greener cleaning products of simple ingredients found around your house already!
Today's tip:
Using a lemon cut it in half rub all over your kitchen sink, squeeze out some juice as you go and then cut up what's left of your lemon, throwing it down disposal add some ice. Start running the water in the disposal, ice will sharpen the blades and the lemon will make it smell wonderful!
Have a blessed day! Until next time, Happy cleaning! Don't forget to turn on the radio!
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