The 3-Step Solution to Cleaning for Busy Moms
By: Christina Spence
Children need picking up after soccer practice? Super
Mom to the rescue! Dinner needs to get on the table?
Once again, Super Mom is there! A task at work that no
one else wants to tackle? You already know who will deal
with it - you. With the stresses of your day-to-day
life, housecleaning is likely the last thing on your
mind. And yet, it’s hard to ignore, since the proof of
it equals a cluttered, messy house – definitely not the
happy haven you want your home to be.
Here, then, is a simple 3-step solution to help finally
solve the hassle of housecleaning. If you’re a ‘happy
slob’ like me – just a laid back, fun natured person
who’d rather be doing anything but cleaning – then it
might be exactly the solution you’ve been looking for.
The 3-Step Solution Simplified:
Two daily cleaning bursts. What is a cleaning burst? A
cleaning burst is an intense burst of cleaning – getting
maximum results in minimum time. Try to do one cleaning
burst in the morning and one in the evening. You decide
how much time you can budget for each burst. Only five
minutes? Fine! If you’ve got twenty, great! Use a timer
to keep track, and when it rings, you’re done. During
your cleaning bursts, stay focused on cleaning – and
clean your impact areas first (the areas that people see
the most in your home.) Get family involved, even if
they only help for a few minutes.
One daily Focus Room: The daily focus room is an area
where you do more in-depth cleaning. Create a list of
focus rooms that includes storage areas. I recommend
10-15 minutes a day in your focus room, but if you don’t
have that much time, then just spend the time you can
afford. If you have more time, then go for it!
One weekly Clean-for-All: One day a week, you and the
family finish up the rest of the housecleaning that
didn’t get done during the week, or any larger jobs.
Keep track during the week of areas that need more work
during your clean-for-all. Assign tasks to all members
of the family. Again, set a time budget and use your
timer to stick to that budget. Anything that doesn’t get
done this week will get done next week – so don’t
stress! Reward everyone for helping out, including
yourself.
Why does it work? It’s simple, flexible, fast, and keeps
you focused on the tasks at hand while you are cleaning.
And, it’s surprisingly effective – after doing this for
only a few days, you’ll see a big difference. Just
remember: do what you can, and then carry on with your
life.
Cleaning Formulas
Cleaning formulas aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.
You’d think, for instance, that anti-bacterial cleaner
would be your best friend. If it cleans and kills nasty
bacteria, it must be good, right? Wrong-o my friend! In
fact, these cleaners can make bacteria more resistant
and cause more harm than good in the long run. Plus, the
chemicals in many commercial cleaners are dangerous for
children and pets.
Natural cleaners are an excellent option – they’re
easier on you, your family, your wallet, and the
environment. Here are two simple ones to get you
started…
Very Vinegar Cleaner
A fantastic all-purpose cleaner.
In a clean spray bottle (not a bottle that has contained
other chemicals) pour 1 part white vinegar to 3 or 4
parts plain cool tap water. Give the bottle a good
shake. This stuff is amazing on glass, mirrors, and all
other surfaces in the home. And don’t worry, the smell
dissipates quickly. If you want to add extra cleaning
power, add a few drops of natural liquid soap.
Powder Cleanser Substitute
One ingredient – baking soda. This will replace any
powdered cleanser you usually buy. Baking soda is
inexpensive, safe for you and your family, and a lot
friendlier to the environment. Plus, it gets sinks,
tubs, and tiles really nice and clean.
Cleaning no longer has to be a much-hated chore. Using
the Happy Slob’s techniques, you can finally clean in
less time, while having more fun! Try today – just start
with the cleaning bursts, then when you’re accustomed to
that, add a bit of focus room cleaning. Your home will
thank you for the attention!
About the Author:
Christina is the author of: “The Happy Slob’s Guide to
Housecleaning.” Drop by her website at
http://www.happyslob.com for more information
on the book and join her fun, FREE weekly newsletter,
The Happy Slob Gazette for more great cleaning tips.
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