Supplies for Seasonal Cleaning

I kicked off 2013 with a determination to conquer what I call a lost art in society, housekeeping.  My way of defining housekeeping is cleaning, repairs, decorating and organizing. January’s focus is on cleaning, which I blogged about the three main types of cleaning:  seasonal, deep and maintenance.  Last week I introduced you to a seasonal cleaning plan and today we are going to talk about the supplies you need. As a reminder, seasonal cleaning targets those areas inside and outside the home that you are likely to get to once-a-year.  Examples include washing windows and cleaning out the garage. … Continue reading

3 Types of Cleaning

My first housekeeping blog for the year was sort of a challenge; in conquering what I feel has become a lost art in today’s society.  The care of the home isn’t always considered to be so important.  But I believe it’s one of the ways we show love to our family. I also mentioned how housekeeping has evolved into what we typically refer to as homemaking.  I suspect that some think of the word “housekeeping” in a negative light. No matter what you call it, my goal is to help you understand the importance of it and what it all … Continue reading

Deep Cleaning Your Home

There is a big difference between cleaning and “deep” cleaning. While regular cleaning can cut down on how often you need to deep clean and make the work easier, it is still necessary every-so-often. Deep cleaning means getting into areas you don’t normally touch. It is those unseen, oftentimes overlooked areas of the home. How often you need to deep clean will depend not only on your maintenance of that area but what it is used for. Some rooms or areas of the home may need a deep cleaning every few weeks. But some can wait a few months. It … Continue reading

Where to Put Your Kid’s Stuff

It’s almost back to school time here. To me, that means cleaning time! It’s time to find a place for objects that have been roaming free around the house and the garden all summer. If you’ve decided to keep an item but it doesn’t seem to have a home, here are some storage solutions for your children’s stuff. We love baskets. I particularly love baskets on shelves. Baskets are easy to find at garage sales. Choose a deep basket that doesn’t tip over and cause toys to fall out. If you get baskets that fit a shelf, you can have … Continue reading

5 Keys to a Hospitable Home

What does it mean to have a hospitable home? It means a home that is welcoming and friendly to those who visit. It also means a comfortable and pleasant place to live in. So whether you are entertaining guests or taking care of your family, your home should be hospitable. Here are 5 keys to having a hospitable home… The first is having at least one room where everyone can comfortably gather. For some people they can’t keep up with an entire house, in making sure it is always guest-ready or family-friendly. So if you pick one room to create … Continue reading

Keeping House While Working From Home

If you work from home, people may have this strange idea that you have oodles of spare time that you could use to keep your house looking immaculate. While that may be true for some home – based professionals, most of the ones that I know are either very busy looking after their children while running their businesses or very busy with their businesses if they don’t have kids or have older children. We probably have approximately the same amount of time available for house cleaning that anyone else does. That said, when you work from home a clean house … Continue reading

Cleaning Product Clearance Items Are a Good Bargain!

Are you familiar with your grocery store’s or box store’s clearance sections? If not, you should be. They can be a source of great savings and an opportunity to stock up on much needed items for your home and your diet. I frequently shop the clearance areas, as well as check the regular shelves for any managers specials or deeply discounted products. With spring and the thoughts on spring cleaning on my mind, I wanted to talk about the good bargains that you can get on cleaning and laundry products when you shop the clearance sections for these items. Unlike … Continue reading

Spring Cleaning – Part 1

It’s that time already…spring cleaning is on the minds of many. Although I am more about the fall cleaning, I have decided to make this a twice-a-year event. This means deep cleaning and organizing in preparation for the warmer months. This week we had one of those rare warm days we get in Wisconsin when it’s still March. It was in the lower 60’s and I was able to open my patio door. There is just nothing like fresh air when your house has been closed up all winter long. That’s what kind of kicked it off in my mind … Continue reading

Cleaning in 30 Minutes or Less: Mondays

Today’s blog is going to address how I clean in 30 minutes or less on Mondays. By keeping a consistent schedule, my house is ready for guests at the drop of a hat most of the time. I start off each morning with a cup of coffee. That is my fuel to get me started. I begin my cleaning routine within minutes of waking up. Why? I have a couple of reasons for this. The first is that I want to get the cleaning out of the way, so I can move on to bigger and better things. The second … Continue reading

Cleaning For Company

It’s time for holiday guests. As much as I would like my house to be spotless when my guests arrive I know that working full time makes a spotless house something of a fantasy. Instead I’ve learned to make it good enough. If you are having company that will sit in the living room and visit, is it really necessary to wipe down the refrigerator shelves? I think not. Here is my quickie list to get ready for company when I don’t have time to deep clean. *Shut the doors to all rooms and closets your guests will not see. … Continue reading