STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

kittenheels · Coach

How do you keep your house clean?

Cortney1982 · Chanel

Well, there is only two of us so it's easy for me to keep things clean.

I found the easiest way to clean the bathroom is to use Mr. Clean antibacterial concentrate. Instead of a bucket, I just fill the sink. Gloves on and sponge in hand, first I wipe down the counter tops, then to the tub and the toilet last. I drain and then clean the sink. I will use a bucket for the floors though when they need done.

All I use in the kitchen is Lysol spray and Dawn for the sink. I will use Windex wipes to give a final wipe down to the sink handles, microwave and stove. Makes for a streak free shine! Everyday I use a scrubber brush and dawn and give the inside of the sink a scrubbing to prevent lime/calcium buildup.

Rarely do I ever use pledge to wipe down my wood furniture. About once or twice a week I use the Swiffer dusters which do a fabulous job of holding dust.

Vacuuming I do in sections when needed, never the whole house at once!

mikacat · Coach

marry a man who likes to clean!! My husband is a bit OCD so it comes in helpful.

To clean the shower i spray straight bleach and let it work it's magic.

I turn the music up loud and go at it with dusting and picking up. I do the trash and bathrooms.

He does the vacuuming and laundry.

I cook, he cleans kitchen.

Grilling and using aluminum foil will cut down on dishes. sometimes we use paper plates to help with dishes.

We clean the fridge every saturday while putting up new groceries.

A big spring cleaning of drawers and closets twice a year and either goes into trash, goodwill, ebay or yardsale pile.

We had a cleaning lady in NC where it was cheap but can't afford it here. Hubby said he would rather have a yard service and he would clean more so we went that route.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

I do 10 minute jobs when I walk in the door - swiffer/dust, wipe down everything but the tub in the bathroom, run the vacuum, wipe down the counters/wipe off the walls around the light switches and doorways. And I clean up after myself as I go along ( ahabit from growing up in a big family, but it saves SO MUCH TIME for my LIFE). I think probably the most important things are to keep clutter from building up, and to rinse out the dishes and put them in the dishwasher right away - so you don't have to go back and do it, because that will always take longer (plus it just sucks). Also, I don't like to wear shoes in the house, because that keeps it cleaner.

For the bigger jobs, mopping floors and cleaning the tub, I either do it on Saturday, or um, wipe it up with windex for a few weeks until I have time. Oh, and when cleaning the tub, I like to spray it down, let it sit a while, and then go back and scrub. It takes a lot less time. Also, Target sells this Method shower spray that keeps it from getting too dirty. That saves lots of time too...

Anyway, it really is easier and less time to keep things clean than it is to get them dirty and then clean them.

-- Edited by Dizzy at 15:22, 2006-08-08

Seashells · Dooney & Bourke

I live with 2 boys (my boyfriend and roomate) and I have a very messy puppy who LOVES the stuffing in his toys and a LARGE house. I am constantly going crazy with cleaning.

I haven't yet gotten my cleaning for this house to a routine (I just moved in May).

I keep up on my dishes - its the first thing that piles up- even with a dishwasher!

I have a basket for the mail. It goes there immediately and we fish out what is ours.

The dog has a toy basket that I fill up when he goes to bed. But its a lost cause because he is just going to get to it again!

I try to pick up large items that fall on the carpet everyday and vaccuum 1x per week.

I definately need more advice too!

twinkle · Coach

The cleaning lady answer would be mine. I have mine come every other week while I'm at work- she does my laundry and cleans my whole house, it makes my life SO MUCH EASIER.

On a day to day basis, I also don't let myself go to bed unless all the dishes are put away, all my clothes are hung up, etc.

halleybird · Hermes

There are only 2 of us, but I have dogs, so that doubles the mess! First, I try not to clean on weekends if I can possibly help it, because a) if I clean on the weekends, I tend to spend more time doing it than I should; and b) I HATE waking up on a Saturday or Sunday knowing I have to clean.

That said, our house is about 2200 square feet, but we are barely ever in our spare bedrooms, so I clean those about once a month or whenever they need it. Usually I clean the bathrooms on Thursdays when I get home from work, and then I vacuum and dust on Fridays after work. Usually I take on one maintenance-type chore (like cleaning the blinds, vacuuming under furniture, conditioning the leather, etc) each time. It does help to split it up, and it is SO nice to wake up on Saturday knowing it's done.

As far as the day-to-day stuff, I keep Swiffers in my nightstand drawer so I can dust my bedroom and anything else upstairs when they need it. I also keep disinfecting wipes and Windex in my bathroom to wipe it down periodically. We have wood floors downstairs, so I sweep them a few times per week to get rid of the dog hair. I always load the dishes after I use them.

If I am really busy or stressed and can't clean, I pay my little sister $30 to do it.

bluediamond · Dooney & Bourke

I do the same thing, i call it my "10 minute tidy" LOL!! I do it in the mornings before I leave for work and again when I get home.

Dizzy wrote:

I do 10 minute jobs when I walk in the door -

travelgirl · Kate Spade

I have a cleaning lady but I work and have 3 little boys plus a husband who doesn't do much cleaning. Word of mouth is the only way to find a good cleaning lady IMO. You have to have someone you trust. The lady I have is older and she cleans the way my mom would (old school) with lots of elbow grease. She has a key to my home and just lets herself in and does her thing. I pay $60 per visit. It is well worth it!

BTW-I found my cleaning lady by asking around. She actually cleans the local funeral home and I knew somebody that worked there that recommended her.

valenciana · Dooney & Bourke

mikacat wrote:

To clean the shower i spray straight bleach and let it work it's magic.

so do you really just fill up a spray bottle with straight bleach without diluting it or anything? sometimes i think bleach is the way to go with the shower, but have never used it for cleaning...

i don't think i'm very good at cleaning and can honestly say that nothing got cleaned for the 6 weeks i was in class this summer (but the summer session is super intense and i think it will calm down this fall). so getting into a routine is key...i like you guys' ideas of doing little bursts of cleaning...

listening to music really does help a lot though. i actually have a "cleaning" playlist on my ipod...full of fun upbeat songs.

-- Edited by valenciana at 19:46, 2006-08-15

Cricket · Gucci

I'm a SAHM, so I'm straightening up and cleaning something every day. I vacuum every other day usually. Floors get mopped once a week because I have to wait until my girls are asleep to do them. I do laundry almost daily. There's always something that needs to be done!

mikacat · Coach

yes-- we have a bleach spray bottle but label it bleach pretty clearly so someone doesn't spray it thinking it is water or something else. i don't really use it for anything else but the showers or maybe the inside of the toilet on occasion.

valenciana wrote:

mikacat wrote:

To clean the shower i spray straight bleach and let it work it's magic.

so do you really just fill up a spray bottle with straight bleach without diluting it or anything? sometimes i think bleach is the way to go with the shower, but have never used it for cleaning...

kittenheels · Coach

That is a really smart idea. Unfortunately, I have very stupid pets, and they love to jump in the shower, so I don't think I can use this trick.

I got lazy and had cleaners. It is amazing what they can do in 3 hours!

AllieGurl · Marc Jacobs

I actually have a cleaning schedule.

Every night before bed I make sure the dishes are done and the kitchen is clean.

Every morning before work I make the bed, and throw a load of laundry in the washer. When I get home I transfer it to the dryer and fold one load usually every night while watching tv.

Every sunday night I do a "massive cleaning" Where I clean my wood floors, vacum upstairs, clean the bathrooms and dust. It usually takes 2-3 hours.

I love going to bed on sundays and starting a new week monday with a clean house. :)

I should hire someone, because I dont have any time, but I actually like cleaning. It relaxes me ...