How To Clean Basics &
Housecleaning Guidelines

I'm a bit of a bug-a-boo about housecleaning. It's a necessary evil, but I also think there is a mastery to "how to clean."

No one really likes to clean, but everyone likes a clean house. So, it's inevitable -- we must clean. You may as well "do it right the first time" and "do it the right way." No arrogance here :)

Everyone has a personal level of comfort with clean and dirty -- it can range from living like "Animal House" while others obsess about the littlest thing being out of place. You know where you weigh in, and hopefully this will benefit you to meet your cleaning needs.

I tend to be on the side of obsessive, so I want to extend grace from the start. Take my "how to clean" basics and cater them to your personal liking.

YOU ARE THE BOSS OF THIS SYSTEM! Use what makes sense to you in "how to clean", and chuck the rest :)

I'm starting with the bathroom first since it really is the most disgusting place to clean and needs the most attention.

Try to clean the most used bathroom in your house once a week.

This will make it easier each time you clean it. If it has time to get filthy, that just makes your job more vile.

THE "HOW TO CLEAN" TOOLS AND CLEANING SUPPLIES FOR YOUR BATHROOM:
1. Toilet bowl cleaner.
2. Ajax or Comet -- I don't like a soft scrub because I don't think it gets the dirt off enough.
3. Mildew spray/cleaner -- I like spray bottles because it makes it so easy.
4. All purpose spray cleaner; whatever brand you like. This will be used on the floor. If you don't have linoleum or tile, be sure you have a hardwood spray cleaner too.
5. Glass cleaner.
6. Toilet cleaning brush -- use one with nylon bristles, not the cloth ones; they aren't strong enough to do the job.
7. Paper towel.
8. Some rags or a sponge.
9. Broom and dustpan.
10. Big garbage bag for emptying garbage.

ORDER OF CLEANING THE BATHROOM:

1. Sinks
2. Mirrors
3. Toilet
4. Tub/shower
5. Floor

HOW TO CLEAN: THE BATHROOM

1. Clear all counter surfaces:
Remove everything off the bathroom counter;
Wipe items clean and set it out of your way -- in the hall or somewhere close.
Remove everything off the floor like baskets.
Wipe bottom of baskets and wipe surface or contents, like magazines, etc.
Empty garbage basket and set in hallway.
Remove anything you have on the back of the toilet;
Wipe clean and set out of your way in the hall.
Take shampoos, etc. out of your shower or tub, and set in the hallway out of the way.

Ok, now all your surfaces should be cleared off and ready to clean.

2. Shake the rugs and sweep the floor.

3. Spray the shower and/or shower curtain for mildew, and let it do it's magic. Spray the shower door for mildew if you have an enclosure.

4. Put Ajax/Comet on the sides, bottom and ledge of the tub or shower -- this starts to work while you are cleaning the rest of the bathroom.

5. Put toilet cleaner in basin and get it working for you. Using the right cleaning supplies helps your "how to clean" basics.

6. Clean the bathroom sink first (this way the rag is clean before it's used on the tub) -- use Ajax on it; scrub and rinse off.
Keeping your rags sanitary so not to spread germs falls under "How to Clean 101."
You don't need a lot of product on the sink to do the job.
Wipe dry with rag.
Wipe off the bathroom cupboard fronts while doing this -- if they are painted, use a little Ajax on them to remove make-up spots or fingerprints.
If they are finished wood, then dust them.

7. Wipe down the door jam, bathroom door, baseboards, light switch and wall area by sink with a little bit of Ajax/Comet on your rag.
Keep this rag separate; do not use on the toilet, you will use it again for the tub/shower.

8. Spray mirror and wipe dry with paper towel.
Use the same paper towel with some glass cleaner residue to wipe down your sink hardware.
Add some more glass cleaner if needed for serious toothpaste residue.

9. Put items back on the counter before moving onto the toilet. Be sure you have wiped all items and they are clean before returning them to the counter.

10. The toilet: You should already have product in the toilet; add more if necessary.
Lift the lid; scrub inside the bowl, under the lip and lid -- really get in there and clean it out.
Don't forget the top of the toilet lid too for nasty residue, or even the toilet seat lid.

11. Spray the toilet base and toilet back with all-purpose cleaner.
Wipe with paper towel starting at the back of the toilet first.
Wipe all the way around the base of the toilet -- use as much paper towel as necessary to wipe clean and do not share paper towel with other surfaces.
The toilet wiping is done with all disposable, non-reusable paper towel.
Wipe the top and inside of toilet seat dry with paper towel.
Flush toilet when done cleaning.
Return items to back of toilet.

12. The tub and/or shower: The mildew cleaner has probably done it's job and the mildew is gone. Any mildew left can be cleaned off with Ajax when cleaning the tub.

13. The Ajax/Comet has started cleaning the tub for you, now you just need to finish the job.
Scrub the sides and top of the tub to remove scum and ring;
Scrub out the bottom and rinse clean.
Use glass cleaner on the tub or shower hardware.

14. The last thing to clean is the floor.
I usually clean all my floors on my hands and knees -- I just think they get cleaner that way.
You can wipe the floors as you back out of the bathroom.
Be sure you have already swept the floors, or they will be very nasty!

I like to use a spray all-purpose cleaner and the wet rag used on the sink and tub.
Start in the farthest corner and work your way out of the bathroom -- be sure to get behind the toilet and behind the bathroom door.
You may have to rinse the rag several times based on how dirty the floor is.
Return the rugs and garbage basket when floor is dry.

There you have it! The how to clean basics for cleaning the nastiest room in the house.

General Housecleaning Guidelines:

1. For each room -- bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, dining area -- make sure the areas are picked up.
You should have a place for everything, and everything should land in it's place at least once a week.

There are more housecleaning tips in home organization.


2. One guideline which will set your house apart as "super-duper clean" is wiping off fingerprints and smudges from light switches, doors and door jams, and walls.
Just as the bathroom is a cleaning category, so is the wiping off of walls, light switches and door/door jams.

To do this:
Fill a bucket with clean water;
Carry a wet rag and Ajax/Comet with you around the house;
Start in any room and work your way through the house wiping off light switches, finger smudges from walls, door jams, door knob areas or anyplace with a smug or fingerprint.

I hate smudges on walls and light switches! I am relentless about this step.
It is the capstone of "how to clean." How's that for extreme!?

I use Comet on any of my wall surfaces -- just scrub lightly and smudges will come right off.
Rinse your rag in the clean water and wipe the Comet off -- if you don't, you may get a white residue on your walls.
You will probably have to change your bucket water a few times.
This is a great time to wipe or dust off the fronts of your kitchen cupboards, and appliances.

3. Clean all the windows you can reach, inside and out, and mirrors throughout the house on cleaning week. This is a great job for kids. Chores for Kids

4. Don't forget the banisters when dusting the house. Another simple step to set your home apart as the "how to clean" poster child.

5. On cleaning week, set one area of the house as your priority each day.
See cleaning schedule for help with this.

6. When dusting, take all your knick-knacks off surfaces and dust them.

7. Wipe blinds off about once a month.

8. Vacuum once a week -- a handheld dustbuster is convenient for small spills in the kitchen or house and the staircase.

Cheers to these "how to clean" basics, and to your clean home,
Julie :)