Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not a fan of cleaning. No, that is an understatement - I pretty much hate to clean!
Although I love Spring - the dreaded expression Spring Cleaning can make my neck hair stand on end. With that being said, I have been on a quest to help make the job as easy as possible.
My favorite suggestions were found on REAL SIMPLE.com. They have a great section called: Cleaning 101. There I took the cleaning style survey, and I must say I’m glad I didn’t have to sign my name or my real attitude about cleaning would be there for all the world to see. Oh wait! It already is!
Some of my favorite articles were: Fake a Clean House, Deep Clean in Three Easy Steps, and The Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist. You will also find lists of suggested cleaning solutions, new uses for aluminum foil, and suggestions for cleaning every room in the house.
My goal is to get over my cleaning aversion. I am hoping to find enough helpful suggestions to keep me doing the daily things necessary to make the job easier, and I am going to focus on all of the calories I am going to burn while getting the job done. Yeah!
Would you please share some of your tips on making house cleaning more pleasant? I am looking for all of the helpful suggestions I can get!! Thanks and Happy Spring Cleaning!!
Photo from REAL SIMPLE - Cleaning 101.
1. I don’t really enjoy cleaning either but I do love a clean house so to make it more enjoyable I buy cleaning products that I enjoy using. I have a lemon scented upscale dishsoap that comes in a pretty container-it costs a little more but it inspires me to get the dishes done and keep the counters wiped down and clean. I like citrus scents so I also found a grapefruit scented all purpose cleaner that I use for the bathrooms and kitchen. Actually these citrus scents seem to energize me a bit so at first I am just going to wipe down the counters but before I know it I have cleaned all the kitchen surfaces. The room looks and smells great!!
by Kim — 3/27/09 at 6:47 pm #
2. I read your blog and went to the real simple website. I love the periodical and is one of the few I purchase. Recently I started a mission to organize my space. While in the bedroom phase of this experience I purchased from the Ikea two Jewlery drawer inserts. The fit nicely in my nightstand drawer, they stack, and they have individual indents to hold pairs of earrings or rings. I love them. I have been using them for about three months and found the indents aren’t really deep enough. I also need more of them. After visiting real simple. com I read an article on organizing the home office. They gave a suggestion to use inc cube trays to organize push pins and such. EUREKA What a wonderful, cheap alternative to my drawer inserts. I am contemplating removing the ice from my trays as I type.
LOL
Mimi
by Mimi — 3/28/09 at 7:32 am #
3. Kim, Thanks so much for your suggestion. I love it!! I have never thought of looking for cleaning products that I enjoy to make the job pleasant. Yes, I have gotten a swiffer and duster, but as far as things like dish soap or bathroom cleaners I usually buy what is on sale. I have been moving our family to earth friendly products, but now I will add checking out their scents to my quest. Thanks again for your great tip! Our readers are the best!!!!
by Deb — 3/31/09 at 10:24 am #
4. Mimii, I am so glad you like the Real Simple site. I have been using ice cube trays for a while now. They are great for things like rings, earrings, and bracelets. If your drawer is deep enough you can even stack them. They don’t work quite as well for necklaces, so I hang those on hooks in the closet. Thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing your discovery. Now go make some ice tea and use up that ice!
by Deb — 3/31/09 at 10:28 am #
5. While I love a clean house - I have a hard time being willing to stay up so very late every night to keep it perfect… But my biggest help has come from the Fly Lady - http://www.flylady.com This site has provided me with many wonderful tips to saving my sanity while making it a doable task…
by AB — 3/31/09 at 10:26 pm #
6. I always keep a SCRUNG Sponge on my bathroom SINK. Using this item to wipe around the interior of the bathroom SINK after Shaving, etc. Leaves my Bathroom SINK ALWAYS CLEAN.
Doug
by Douglas — 6/11/09 at 1:56 pm #
7. Good idea Doug, I keep wipes under the sink now. I’m getting a little better with my house cleaning issues. Thanks for your comment.
by Deb — 6/11/09 at 4:23 pm #
8. Hi there,
This is my first time on here and I have really enjoyed reading all the great tips and advice, Lord knows I could use some help, LOL.
I am in the process of SPRING CLEANING & DECLUTTERING! I know I am alittle late but single with 2 boys, almost 5 & 7, my to do list is never ending, lol.
Anyway, here is my tip from Nashville on how to make cleaning fun.
I crank up the radio to my favorite tunes that I have on the computer, light my favorite candles all thru the house and with my check list and order of attack on the counter with my BIG glass of sweet tea w/lemon, we get it done! However, a word of caution to the fans of singing/dancing– if you stop to sing & dance too much, it does take alittle linger to get it all done, LOL– but who cares–life is a dance-right? Sometimes I caneven get the kids inspired to clean & dance, lol.
this is a big clean weekend but in bout 2 weeks, i will be calling on ya for some much needed decorating/organizing advice & I can hardly wait till then. thanks. Stacy
by Stacy — 6/26/09 at 12:55 am #
9. Welcome Stacy, It is great to hear from you. Congratulations on your decluttering and cleaning projects. I am not a fan in the midst of the process, but always glad when the house is clean and organized. I love your reward suggestions. I just downloaded a couple of hours of upbeat music to my ipod. They are perfect to make the job more enjoyable. What a great way to inspire your boys, too! I love it!! We’ll look forward to your visits when you start redecorating. We love it when our readers share their thoughts and project tips!
Thanks again,
by Deb — 6/28/09 at 1:05 pm #
10. re: spring cleaning. I used to be able to clean every room in my house in one day. Now I am lucky to clean one room in one day. With that said, cleaning is highly overated. If I had it to do over I wouldn’t have missed my sons ball practice to stay home to clean the windows afraid of what my spotless neighbors would think. My kids are grown and gone. I don’t live in that neighborhood any more and I don’t have ” practice memories”. I did however attend most games, but I wish I would have gone to the practices. Don’t know what this blog means to anybody but, if you have kids–you can clean later
by jeanne — 7/25/09 at 4:07 pm #