What’s in your cleaning tote?

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">What’s in your cleaning tote?</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRVnJbM98RY/Ur6auLhsqmI/AAAAAAAAAO0/wBaWMDoZK_A/s1600/What%E2%80%99s-in-your-cleaning-tote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What’s in your cleaning tote?" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRVnJbM98RY/Ur6auLhsqmI/AAAAAAAAAO0/wBaWMDoZK_A/s400/What%E2%80%99s-in-your-cleaning-tote.jpg" title="What’s in your cleaning tote?" width="332" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Nothing stretches a cleaning session like having to run back and forth to the utility <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/12/organizing-your-closet-where-to-start.html" rel="nofollow">closet</a></b>. Stay on the job—and make short work of it—by carrying commonly needed tools and supplies with you in a tote as you clean. Begin each cleaning session with a fresh stack of white cotton cleaning cloths.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-simple-way-to-de-clutter-any-room.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>tote is a housecleaner’s best friend. A plastic bucket or totable tray, it holds the tools and supplies needed to clean it right and clean it fast. What’s inside? Check your cleaning tote for these top tools:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Cleaning apron. An apron protects clothing, keeps <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/12/choosing-and-using-cleaning-products.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>tools at hand and has pockets to hold spare garbage bags and collect trash or small out-of-place items. Choose a sturdy, comfortable, machine-washable apron.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Rubber gloves or washing-up gloves. Protect hands from harsh <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/decluttering-your-home-decluttering.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>products with rubber gloves. New colors make rubber gloves a bright addition to the cleaning tote— but steer clear of frou-frou decoration. Fur cuffs or rhinestone embellishments are fun to look at, but are not meant for serious cleaning.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Cleaning cloths. White cotton cleaning cloths are the cleaner’s mainstay. Fold them for easy access, and then use them to wipe fixtures dry, make mirrors gleam, and remove fingermarks fast.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="background-color: #999999; font-size: large;">“A cleaning tote is a housecleaner’s best friend.”</span></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ◀ Carry your cleaning tote with you as you move from room to room. You’ll have everything you need at hand and can speed through the job in double-quick time.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Scrubbing sponge. This dual-duty sponge has an absorbent side and an abrasive side. Flip from soft to tough to take out stubborn, dried-on deposits in the sink.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Squeegee. Clean windows, mirrors, and glass the way the pros do. A rubber-bladed squeegee removes cleaning solution and soil with one quick swipe. Wipe the blade dry with a cleaning cloth between strokes.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Scraper. Dried-up gunk comes up fast when tackled with a smooth metal or plastic scraper. Keep the scraper handy in an apron pocket; it’ll make quick work of blobs of jelly or driedon oatmeal.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Tile brush. A handled brush with thick bristles cleans tiles, bathtub surrounds, and ceramic fixtures in a flash. Bristles reach into corners; the handle keeps your hands free and clear of the cleaning fray.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Toothbrush. Tiny spaces attract big-time dirt. Tackle them with a firm-bristle toothbrush. Use it to rout gunk from around sink fixtures, sink rims, or tight corners.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In addition to the above, if you are planning to buy cleaning products in bulk, you will also need the following:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Squirt bottle. Tile and bathroom cleaner works best when applied evenly and thickly. Use a funnel to decant the cleaner into a clean squirt-top bottle to get the right amount of product in the right spot—even underneath toilet rims.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Spray bottle. Whether you spritz it for light coverage or spray it for harder jobs, adjustable spray bottles make it easy to apply window cleaner or degreaser to surfaces. Use a color code or label bottles to tell them apart.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

organize your closet What’s in your cleaning tote?

What’s in your cleaning tote? Nothing stretches a cleaning session like having to run back and forth to the utility closet . Stay o...

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Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes

<div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes</span></b></div> <br /> Store-bought cleaning products are effective, but contain harsh chemicals and can produce irritating fumes. Simple ingredients from the pantry can be used to make cleaners that are kinder to the environment—for a fraction of the cost.<br /> <br /> <b>Diluted white vinegar:</b><br /> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Mildly acidic white vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum, and hard water deposits from smooth surfaces, yet it is gentle enough to use in solution to clean hardwood flooring. White vinegar is a natural deodorizer, absorbing odors instead of covering them up. (And no, your bathroom won’t smell like a salad. Any acid aroma disappears when dry.) With no coloring agents, white vinegar won’t stain grout on tiled surfaces. Because it cuts detergent residue, white vinegar also makes a great fabric softener substitute for families with sensitive skin. In the kitchen, use vinegar-and-water spray to clean countertops, lightly soiled range surfaces and backsplash areas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  In the bathroom, spray countertops, floors, and exterior surfaces of the toilet. For really tough bathroom surfaces such as shower walls, pump up the cleaning power by heating the solution in the microwave until barely hot. Spray shower walls generously with the warmed solution, allow to stand for 10–15 minutes, then scrub and rinse.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><u>* </u></b>A mild acid, lemon juice can be used instead of vinegar for general cleaning. Use the outer rind to polish porcelain surfaces and release fragrant lemon oil. If you have a garbage disposal unit, grind the rind in it while running cool water down the drain. The oils in the rind clean the disposal unit and sharpen the blades.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HBLyNe7ip8/UrAnj67znoI/AAAAAAAAANU/GqW2luz-IHw/s1600/17-12-2013+10-28-38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning recipes" border="0" height="354" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HBLyNe7ip8/UrAnj67znoI/AAAAAAAAANU/GqW2luz-IHw/s400/17-12-2013+10-28-38.jpg" title="cleaning recipes" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <u><b>*</b> </u>Keep bathroom drains running freely and smelling sweet by pouring 1⁄2–3⁄4 cup (20–40g) baking soda into the drain, and dribbling just enough hot water to wash the solution down. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, and then flush thoroughly with hot water. (Do not use on blocked drains.)</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozS6UFPMeZY/UrAoUTs4ZLI/AAAAAAAAANc/IgDfl0d-ZP8/s1600/17-12-2013+10-32-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning recipes" border="0" height="354" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ozS6UFPMeZY/UrAoUTs4ZLI/AAAAAAAAANc/IgDfl0d-ZP8/s400/17-12-2013+10-32-07.jpg" title="cleaning recipes" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Undiluted white vinegar</b>:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Used straight from the jug, undiluted white vinegar makes quick work of tougher cleaning problems involving hard water deposits or soap scum. Use it to clean the inside of the toilet bowl. Before you begin, dump a bucket of water into the toilet to force water out of the bowl and allow access to the sides.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush to remove stains and odor. Use a pumice stone to remove any remaining hard water rings.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Clean showerheads that have been clogged with mineral deposits with undiluted white vinegar. Place ¼–½ cup (60–120ml) vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag over the showerhead with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse, and buff the fixture.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For family members with sensitive skin, add 1 cup (240ml) to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. For general cleaning purposes, you can substitute lemon juice for white vinegar.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Baking soda</b>:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Baking soda’s mild abrasive action and natural deodorizing properties make it a powerful replacement for harsh commercial scouring powders. Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanity units, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10–20 minutes until the deposits have softened and can be removed.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Rubbing alcohol:</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol provides the base for an evaporating cleaner to rival commercial window and glass cleaning solutions.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Use it on windows, mirrors, chrome fixtures, and for a shiny finish on hard-surface ceramic tiles (see box, right).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Ammonia</b>:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> An alkaline solution, clear ammonia creates stronger window and all-purpose cleaning recipes than acidic vinegar (see box, right). Choose a non-sudsing type: suds may look as if they’re working, but they’re tough to rinse and remove.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

Organizing Your Home Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes

Clean, green, and frugal: homemade cleaning recipes Store-bought cleaning products are effective, but contain harsh chemicals and can pro...

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Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start

<div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-dozen-ways-to-organize-your-master.html" rel="nofollow">Organizing </a>Your Closet – Where to Start</span></b></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Maybe it is time for spring cleaning or you just cannot stand another day hunting through your closet to find something to wear – but the time has come to <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-rules-of-home-organization.html" rel="nofollow">organize </a></b>your closet (again).  It is inevitable that there are belongings in your closet that need to go - maybe into the trash or a donation hamper – but a new home has to be found for them either way.  Before you start organizing, you need to start purging.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Every closet organizing session should start with some time spent deciding what you still wear and what can go elsewhere.  Some questions to ask yourself when trying to decide if you should keep an item or not are:</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> * When was the last time I wore this? Unless it is a seasonal item, if you haven’t worn it in six months it is time to let it go.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> * Does it fit me properly? Clothing that is too big or small should not be kept for what-ifs.  Donate it.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> * What condition is it in?  Spills, tears, wear – if your shirts or pants are showing any or all of these it is time to let them go.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> To make this first step easy on you in terms of emotions and work load, follow these guidelines.  Make quick decisions and once you decide don’t go back and change your mind.  Touch everything once, choose its fate is and move onto the next item.  Set-up boxes and bags for the cast-offs.  Garbage bags for the over-used belongings that cannot be donated and boxes labeled and ready to be donated to a charity, thrift store, or a friend.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Once the bags or boxes are full, take them to the car and get them to their new destination as soon as possible so you can carry on and enjoy your newly <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html" rel="nofollow">organized closet</a></b>.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqjMq-V5RV4/Uqc_sYQUUvI/AAAAAAAAANA/dkcBula9nLI/s1600/Organizing-Your-Closet%E2%80%93Where-to-Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqjMq-V5RV4/Uqc_sYQUUvI/AAAAAAAAANA/dkcBula9nLI/s400/Organizing-Your-Closet%E2%80%93Where-to-Start.jpg" title="Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start" width="312" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <br />

organize your closet Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start

Organizing Your Closet – Where to Start Maybe it is time for spring cleaning or you just cannot stand another day hunting through your c...

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Choosing and using cleaning products

<div style="text-align: center;"> <b><span style="font-size: large;">Choosing and using <a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/09/managing-your-house.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a>products</span></b></div> <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cast your eyes down the <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-home-maintaining-order.html#.UqVr7qTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>aisle at the supermarket lately? An explosion of new cleaning products has created a dizzying array of choices for a clean house.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Cut the confusion and save money by sticking to four basic cleaning products.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Together with a few specialty products, spray window <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/first-principles-organizing-basics.html#.UqVsB6TkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaner</a></b>, spray degreaser, tile and bathroom cleaner, and abrasive cleanser will handle everyday cleaning needs cheaply and well.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Window cleaner Don’t be misled by the name “window cleaner;” this spray-on product cleans windows and a whole lot more, evaporating quickly and leaving no residue behind.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Applied to glass or mirrors, it loosens surface dirt so you can remove it with a squeegee or cleaning cloth. Use on glass, mirrors, kitchen counters, sink fixtures, appliance fronts, refrigerator shelves, sealed cabinet fronts and any other liquid-safe surfaces with light, non-greasy soil.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Degreaser The tough guys of the cleaning world, these spray <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html#.UqVsLKTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaners </a></b>dissolve greasy soil so it can be lifted away and removed. Also known as “all-purpose cleaners,” they will cut food soil on kitchen counters, greasy fingermarks on walls, doors and switch plates, oily dust on baseboards and moldings, and hard-to-remove dirt on outdoor furniture. Polish surfaces with a dry cloth to remove the slight film they leave behind.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Tile and bathroom cleaner The bathroom poses multiple cleaning challenges—sticky film from body oils, soap, and shampoo; mold and mildew from moisture and condensation; yellow, chalky, hard-water residues on fixtures and fittings. Cut tough bathroom soil with a tile and bathroom cleaner: a potent, three-in-one product designed to fight soap film, mineral deposits, and mold and mildew.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A thick liquid, this <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/11/a-dozen-ways-to-organize-your-master.html#.UqVsUKTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleaner </a></b>requires standing time to sanitize surfaces, dissolve minerals, and cut greasy soil. Apply a thick coat using a squirt bottle. Allow it to stand for the time recommended on the product label, and then use a tile brush to scrub the product. Rinse thoroughly.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Abrasive cleanser</b> Chemical-based cleaners—like window cleaner or degreasers—rely on chemical reactions to dissolve, lift, or loosen dirt. Sometimes, though, you need to add additional scrubbing power to deal with tough or dried-on dirt. Enter abrasive cleansers. These also contain small abrasive particles designed to enhance the scrubbing action. Like sandpaper, they use friction to remove hardened soil.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Abrasive cleansers are made in different strengths. Scouring powder is designed for most sinks; “soft scrub” cleansers feature smaller abrasive particles and are recommended for specialty finishes. Abrasive cleansers may be formulated with other cleaners, such as bleach, to fight stains; be sure to read labels and choose the appropriate variety for the job.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Because these products can be difficult to rinse clean, use them inside sinks, tubs, and toilets where rinsing is easier.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b>Specialty cleaners for special jobs</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><br /></b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> These special-use products are formulated for specific cleaning issues or specific surfaces. Be sure to read the labels and use as directed by the manufacturer.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Gum, gunk, and goo remover. A petroleum-distillate product designed to remove the greasy residues left by chewing gum, oily gunk, or adhesives.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Lime and scale remover. A highly corrosive solution to hard-water scale deposits.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Rust removers. Designed to remove the rust stains in sinks, tubs, and toilets that can occur in areas where the water supply has a high iron content.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> ▪ Stainless steel cleaner or polish. Specialty products designed to clean, protect, and shine stainless-steel sinks, surfaces, pots, and pans.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYhlBBJ2EqU/UqVs5jqOEvI/AAAAAAAAAMw/aeYRETadqc4/s1600/cleaning-products.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cleaning products" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYhlBBJ2EqU/UqVs5jqOEvI/AAAAAAAAAMw/aeYRETadqc4/s1600/cleaning-products.jpg" title="cleaning products" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>

clutter declutter Choosing and using cleaning products

Choosing and using cleaning products Cast your eyes down the cleaning aisle at the supermarket lately? An explosion of new cleaning prod...

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Setting standards for the “clean-enough” home

<div style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></b>ow clean is your house? It’s a matter of choice: yours. While it may sound like heresy to the “<b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-simple-way-to-de-clutter-any-room.html#.UqMyWaTkGIU" rel="nofollow">cleanies</a></b>” among us, the happiest families establish a standard for household cleanliness that suits their family composition, cleaning style, and personal preferences.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Set the right standard—for you Some families—such as those with crawling babies or immuno compromised</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> elders—will need to reach for a very high standard of <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-rules-of-home-organization.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning</a></b>. Others, such as a clan of healthy young adults, can live quite happily in a home with a more-relaxed cleaning style. While nobody advocates ignoring cleaning to the point of health and safety problems, a realistic view of your family’s cleaning standard prevents frustration—and helps get the work done faster.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Reach for family agreement on the issue of a <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-organize-your-home-bathroom.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>standard. If most household members fall on the “relaxed” side of the equation, there’ll be cleaning trouble if one member pushes for higher standards.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Negotiate a common-sense compromise. Food preparation areas require a high level of sanitation, but a teen’s bedroom poses fewer health and safety concerns. Better to pick cleaning battles carefully, with an eye to general well being, than fight it out over every speck of dust.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Clean smart by setting a realistic <b><a href="http://howorganizeyourhome.blogspot.com/2013/10/organize-your-closet-like-pro-5-ways.html" rel="nofollow">cleaning </a></b>standard for your home. Schedule chores to keep a clean house every day. Be realistic about where to insist on a higher cleaning standard. Children’s rooms and kitchen areas demand a higher level of clean.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> More relaxed cleaning standards are appropriate in less-used areas. Go easier on the chores in guest bedrooms or utility areas.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU58vxPNaYU/UqMx0c0wnaI/AAAAAAAAAMg/yBRS0K_NtgU/s1600/clean-enough.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clean-enough" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bU58vxPNaYU/UqMx0c0wnaI/AAAAAAAAAMg/yBRS0K_NtgU/s1600/clean-enough.jpg" title="clean-enough" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><b>Cleaning quiz </b>:</span> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Where does your family fall on the cleaning spectrum? Try this quiz: it will help you assess the sweet spot of “clean-enough” for your home. There are no right or wrong answers.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">1/  When dinner is over, what’s the state of the kitchen?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">A </b>Pristine, of course. I load the dishwasher as I cook, and dinner dishes are done promptly. I can’t relax if the kitchen doesn’t sparkle when I turn out the lights. Who wants to come back to a dirty kitchen in the morning?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>I let the dinner dishes soak until next day. Who wants to ruin a good meal by spending time with their hands in hot water afterward?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>What’s the difference? The counters are still covered with dirty dishes; I just washed the ones we needed before the meal.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">2/  How’s your relationship with the vacuum cleaner?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: red;">A </b><i>Who needs a man when I have my high-speed vacuum cleaner? Even the cat has learned to stand still for the daily vacuuming.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><span style="background-color: red;"><b>B </b></span>Love-hate. I show it the carpet every week or so, or when friends are on the way over—but I do wish it would learn to lower its voice.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>What vacuum cleaner? I’m still hoping a cleaning reality show will stop by and dig us out. Public exposure would be a small price to pay!</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">3/ Getting to the seat of the problem, how often do you scrub the toilet?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: red;">A<i> </i></b><i>As often as I use it, of course. Who wants to park themselves on anything less than sparkling?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>Hit or miss—a couple of times a week, more often if the fellows in the house forget to aim.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>Only when something snarls at me when I lift the lid ... say, every few weeks?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: cyan;">4/ For sweetest dreams, how often do you change the sheets?</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <b style="background-color: red;">A </b><i>Once a week—or twice a week in warm weather. I love the feel of crisp, fresh linens.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>When I remember, or the smell gets to me. Say, every couple of weeks or so?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>Only when I have a new boyfriend, if you know what I mean. Why waste good laundry powder and water if I’m going to be too sleepy to notice?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: cyan;"><b>5/ Are you a duster or a dabbler? How often do you remove dust from the home?</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">A </b>Daily, of course; it’s a ritual. Some of my finest ideas come to me while I stroke the furniture with my dust cloth.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">B </b>Once a week or so—or whenever the household joker writes “Dust Me” on the dining-room table with his finger.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><br /></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <i><b style="background-color: red;">C </b>I’m a fan of the blow-it method. If I pick something up and it’s covered with dust, I blow it off. Great house hold hint, huh?</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: orange;"><i>If you answered mostly A, congratulations! You are a Clean Extreme, and happy to be so. Your house shines, and any dust mote so unwise to assert its presence is shown the door, pronto. Just be careful that </i></span><i style="background-color: orange;">militant cleaning doesn’t come between you and other family members, who don’t necessarily share your enjoyment of the process.</i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>Mostly B answers show you’re a Moderate Mopper, with a house that is clean enough to be healthy, dirty </b></span><b style="background-color: yellow;">enough to be a home. Most of the time, you’re happy with the balance between time spent cleaning and the domestic results, but occasionally, you slip a bit too far toward slapdash. Try a more scheduled approach to clean less and enjoy it more.</b></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: lime;">More than three C answers? You’re a Dirt Dodger. Too often, you’re discouraged about life on the home</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: lime;">front. Remember this truth: if you don’t wanna, you ain’t gonna. To pull the household back from the dusty</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="background-color: lime;">brink, focus on small changes: clearing kitchen counters once a day, setting aside an afternoon each weekend for cleaning chores.</span></div>

Clearing Clutter Setting standards for the “clean-enough” home

H ow clean is your house? It’s a matter of choice: yours. While it may sound like heresy to the “ cleanies ” among us, the happiest familie...

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