Cut the Clutter

by Dorling Kindersley

  Dry mops are available in many forms. Small disposable mops have the advantage of sliding easily into tight corners and are a favorite with young helpers, but they can be flimsy

  —and replacement pads are expensive.

  Reusable microfiber mops offer a less costly alternative.

  Some microfiber mops use hook-and-loop tape to attach washable dry-mop pads to the mop face. Others replace disposable pads with reusable microfiber sheets. Use them on dry soil and to sweep up crumbs in the kitchen.

  When buying a dry mop, examine the handle and hinge

  assembly. Mopping stresses these areas, so look for metal connectors and swivels.

  Brooms These come in three basic types: push, synthetic, and corn. Push brooms are made from synthetic bristles arrayed in a wide flat base. They’re used to sweep large areas like the center of indoor rooms, garages, and patios. Rougher bristles allow the push broom to tackle irregular surfaces.

  Choose a push broom with tacked-in bristles, avoiding brooms that are merely glued together. Look for a metal coupling between the handle and the head; the stresses of sweeping will wear out plastic fittings quickly.

  Angled synthetic brooms are lightweight and work well to clean near baseboards, behind furniture, and in corners.

  Use them indoors, as their lighter weight makes them Vacuum cleaner Equipped with proper filtration, a vacuum impractical for heavier outdoor jobs. Store synthetic brooms cleaner swoops up dust finally and forever and removes it head-up to avoid bending the bristles.

  from the home. Vacuum cleaners come in two basic styles: Corn brooms are made from natural bristles, and they’re canister and upright. Generally, upright vacuums do a better the all-purpose solution for sweeping chores. Pair them with job on carpeting, are less expensive, and easier to store, a dustpan for quick kitchen clean-ups; the rough bristles do while the canister vac does a superior job on hard flooring, a superior job on flooring material with a coarse or pitted stairs, and hard-to-reach places, such as automobile seats.

  surface that holds dirt, such as brick or concrete.

  For dusting, use the vacuum’s extension hose and specialty When buying a corn broom, look for a smooth, strong

  heads, such as an upholstery brush, dust brush, or crevice tool.

  handle, and multiple rows of stitching to hold the bristles in A handheld mini-vac comes in handy for stairs, tight place. Store the corn broom head-up to prevent the bristles corners, and small spills. Choose a mini-vac model with from bending. As the broom ages, trim the bristles an inch or disposable bags for best air quality. Rechargeable mini-vacs so to restore it to youthful vigor.

  are cordless—and convenient.

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  SKILLS FOR A WELL-RUN HOME

  Dust-busters

  Dust cloths What’s the pedigree of a great dust cloth?

  Where there’s life, there’s dust! Household dust is an airborne It’s white, and it’s made of 100 percent cotton. Cotton is mix of soil particles, lint, insect parts, animal dander, pollen, absorbent, trapping dust instead of scattering it, and it won’t molds, and fungi. Dust comes in through the open window or scratch fine furniture. White dust cloths show the dirt as you door, or hitches a ride inside on shoes and clothing. It is stirred work and are washable, reusable, and may be bleached. For into the air by walking or careless dusting. Airborne dust an Earth-friendly, frugal touch, recycle and repurpose old-irritates breathing passages, and triggers allergic reactions in fashioned unfolded diapers, squares of terry toweling, or sensitive people. As it falls, it settles on fixtures, surfaces, and stained damask napkins as durable dust cloths.

  floors, and clogs furnace filters and refrigerator coils, causing these appliances to work harder and consume more energy.

  Lambswool duster A lambswool duster with a long Because dust is abrasive, walking on dusty floors can damage handle extends your reach and is useful for dusting delicate, carpet, vinyl, or hardwood floors.

  detailed items. Long wool fibers attract and hold fine dust Regular dust removal is essential for a clean and well-kept until you release it outside by twirling the wand firmly home. Try the following tools and techniques to control dust.

  between your palms.

  How to clean a “dry” room

  Cleaning a “dry” room—one with no sinks or water sources—comes down to a single word: dust.

  Because dust and dirt tend to fly when disturbed, a dry room is cleaned top to bottom. As the dust falls, the cleaner has a multiple chance to trap it and show it the door ... or the vacuum! Use your cleaning tote to work in place, a section at a time. Working around the room only once saves steps and makes cleaning chores fly. Try this step-by-step method to clean a dry room.

  Toss the trash. Place the wastebasket outside the door to be Move around the room in sections, starting at the top.

  emptied. When team cleaning, a team member empties all Using a long-handled lambswool duster, wipe down

  trash. If working alone, empty and replace the wastebasket at crown moldings, door tops, and the tops of hanging

  the end of the cleaning session. For team cleaning, divide chores photos and artwork. Brighten photo glass and clean windows between the duster, who circles the room dusting, and the with a cleaning cloth lightly sprayed with glass cleaner; use vacuumer, who tosses trash and operates the vacuum cleaner.

  degreaser to remove smudges and fingermarks.

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  Electrostatic dry cleaning cloths Made of special motions of a Tai Chi practitioner. Coax dust motes into your microfibers that attract and trap dust, these cloths are superb tools—don’t disperse them into the air so that they resettle for cleaning electronic equipment or removing fine, blown-in on the surfaces you are trying to clean.

  soil. Choose washable, reusable cloths over disposables.

  ▪ Dust top to bottom. When dusting, it’s inevitable that some dust will fly, no matter how careful the cleaner. Give yourself Tools to avoid Paper towels contain wood pulp products a second chance to collect escaped dust particles by starting that can scratch delicate surfaces. Feather dusters move dust at the top and working down: ceiling fan or light fixtures, wall-into the air instead of collecting it, they can’t be washed, and hung artwork, window moldings, furniture, and baseboards.

  a broken quill can scratch delicate surfaces.

  ▪ Dust damp. Use just-damp dust cloths as you work. The moisture will attract and hold dust. But beware of too much Dusting rules

  moisture. It can harm wood furniture and delicate surfaces.

  ▪ Collect, don’t scatter. The number one goal for dusting: As an alternative, spritz your cloth with an aerosol dusting to collect and remove dust, not scatter it. Forget images of spray. Never spray surfaces directly; spray the cloth instead flapping dust cloths. Instead, dust with the calm and controlled to avoid build-up and overuse of these products.

  “Save money—and the environment—by

  choosing washable, reusable cleaning

  cloths over pricey disposable dusters.”

  Horizontal surfaces next. Gently dust knick-knacks or The final stage—center, vac, and out. After circling the room and decorative items on mantles, shelves, or tabletops with working top-to-bottom, dust or clean any freestanding furniture a white cleaning cloth, then dust the surface beneath in the center. Vacuum the floor from the room’s furthest corner them. If needed, apply a light spray of cleaner to loosen soil to the door ... then take the cleaner out of the room. Empty and replace on windowsills or countertops. Lean down to dust furniture the wastebasket. As a finishing touch, spray room freshener as you exit legs and wipe dust from baseboards.

  to leave the room smelling sweet.

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  SKILLS FOR A WELL-RUN HOME

  Tools for wet cleaning

  loosened soil, not just spread it about in a more even layer. To When it comes to cleaning, some household areas are all wet: save money—and live green, too—stock cleaning
totes with rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen, which contain a water homemade window cleaner, white vinegar, and baking soda source and are home to food preparation, bathing, or grooming for sparkling kitchens and bathrooms.

  activities. Water splashes, soap film, air-borne grease and smoke Keep specialty tools like scrapers and abrasive scrubbing from cooking, and overspray from personal-care products pads at the ready; they’ll help you deal with sticky smears combine with household dust to up the cleaning ante in a and blobs on counters and fixtures. Always spray the area wet room.

  generously with degreaser spray before scraping; the cleaner To clean a wet room, you’ll use a greater number of

  helps loosen dirt and protects the surface from scratching.

  cleaning products and cleaning tools than when cleaning a A cleaning toothbrush reaches into cracks and crevices; use dry room. In the cleaning tote, rely on degreasers/all-purpose it in corners, the grout between tiles, and around the rim of cleaners to cut through oily dirt and dissolve dried-on stains.

  sinks and fixtures. The toothbrush’s long handle will keep your Pair a degreasing spray with a good supply of fresh cleaning knuckles out of the fray; stiff bristles work best to scrape out cloths; using a fresh cloth makes sure you remove the hardened food or entrenched mold.

  How to clean a “wet” room

  “Wet” rooms—kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms—present more complex cleaning challenges than dry ones. Hard-water film, soap scum, and greasy deposits require amplified cleaning power; food preparation and personal care areas need to be sanitized. Instead of moving around the room in stages, stagger chores to give cleaning products time to work. This step-by-step method shows how to apply maximum power to cleaning a bathroom.

  Place the wastebasket outside the room, to be emptied and Dust any light fixture or mirror molding over the sink.

  replaced last. Add sanitizing pine cleaner or toilet bowl cleaner Spray and squeegee the mirror, using glass cleaner. Spray to the toilet bowl, and leave to stand. Apply a generous amount and wipe towel racks or toothbrush holders, then spray of bathroom spray or pine cleaner to the shower or bathtub walls.

  the faucets and counter surface with bathroom cleaner. Let the Leave cleaners to stand so they can get to work dissolving grease cleaner stand while you scrub and rinse inside the sink, using and grime while you turn your attention to the sink.

  powdered cleanser. Wipe the counter and polish faucets dry.

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  The presence of water often requires specialty cleaners.

  the cleaner on the job longer, and more happily. Washable Depending on the content of the water supply, you may need clothing is a must; a white cotton T-shirt or top will be easiest to use limescale remover to treat hard-water deposits, or rust to keep stain-free.

  remover for reddish stains in areas with iron in the water supply.

  Wear sturdy, supportive shoes; these protect feet from injury.

  Handle these power cleaners with great respect, following the Avoid wearing footwear that is easy to slide out of, such as directions on the label.

  flip-flops, especially if using a step stool. Springy sneakers or lace-up walking shoes keep you on your feet, and protect Dressed to clean

  toes from splashed cleaning solutions or a dropped tool. Add A casual approach to cleaning can be risky—to your clothing!

  a cleaning apron with pockets for further protection, and to Tackling cleaning chores dressed in a nightgown or in office keep tools and cleaners close at hand. If your apron has side clothes isn’t just haphazard—it’s dangerous.

  loops, hang spray bottles of cleaning solution from them ready Take cleaning seriously and dress for the job. Avoid loose for use. Line apron pockets with plastic bags to corral bits of clothing that will catch on handles or interfere with tools.

  trash. Stockpile a stack of cleaning cloths in one pocket, a Comfortable clothing that provides a free range of motion keeps cleaning sponge in another. You’re dressed to clean.

  “Stock cleaning totes with homemade

  window cleaner, white vinegar, and

  baking soda for sparkling kitchens

  and bathrooms.”

  Spray toilet surfaces with sanitizing bathroom cleaner: Using a tile brush or scrubbing sponge, scrub to loosen deposits the toilet top, bowl cover top, bowl cover underneath, on shower or tub walls. Rinse walls clean. Use powdered cleanser seat top, and finally seat underside. Leave the seat up or pine cleaner to scrub tub and shower bottoms, then rinse. Polish while you scrub and rinse inside the bowl. A good toilet brush fixtures dry with a cleaning cloth. Using cleaning cloths or a small mop, makes it easy to scrub under the rim, where mildew hides.

  clean and dry floors. Wipe dust from baseboards. Empty and replace the Wipe toilet surfaces dry in reverse order with cleaning cloths.

  wastebasket—and take a second to admire your gleaming bathroom!

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  SKILLS FOR A WELL-RUN HOME

  Top cleaning tips

  from the pros

  Paid cleaning services are masters of the art of speed cleaning. They’re in and they’re out, with only sparkling clean surfaces to show for it. Career cleaners work smart to get each job done as quickly and easily as possible. To clean your home in record time, try these tips from professional cleaners.

  1 Schedule cleaning.

  Nobody hires a cleaning service that promises

  to arrive “some Saturday or other when nothing

  else is happening.” Take a tip from the pros, and set up a regular cleaning schedule. The pros don’t quit until the job is done, and neither should you. Schedule the job and stick to it to get the work done in record time.

  2 Get motivated.

  You won’t find paid cleaners pausing to follow

  television programs or check their e-mail. Use

  motivators to prevent distraction and head off boredom.

  Play upbeat music for an energy boost. Bookworms look forward to cleaning when a book-on-tape plays on a

  personal stereo. Clean as a team with friends or family members to stay on task.

  3 Dress for success.

  Professional cleaners dress for the job in

  comfortable, washable clothing designed for

  work. Supportive shoes and kneepads spare their

  bodies. Goggles and gloves protect against chemicals.

  End the era of bleach-stained sweatshirts and set

  aside a “cleaning uniform” instead—including shoes,

  gloves, and eye protection—and wear it!

  ◀ Professional cleaners. They have the tools, the talent, and the know-how to make short work of cleaning a house. Learn their secrets to speed cleaning chores in your organized home.

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  4 Invest in proper tools.

  Professional cleaners don’t use gadgets. You’ll

  never find them toting specialized, one-use

  7 Make every movement count.

  Professional cleaners don’t circle a room more

  than once. Taking their place before the bathroom

  tools, or gee-whiz gimcracks hawked on some

  sink, they’ll spray and wipe the mirror, scrub the sink, television infomercial. Buy good tools, once, and use wipe down counters, and polish fixtures before they

  them—you’ll be finished in record time.

  move one inch to the right or left.

  Don’t get physical with your cleaning sessions—

  make every movement count. Stand fast and clean

  everything in your path before you move on.

  5 Tote your tools.

  How does your cleaning session go? Is it fast

  and focused or more like this? Ooops! Forgot

  the powdered cleanser, so down the stairs you trot.

  The toilet brush? It’s in the kids’ bathroom down the hall. Run to the laundry room for more cleaning cloths, 8 Two
hands are better than one.

  Professional cleaners don’t work as if one arm

  is in a sling, and neither should you. Get in the

  habit of using both hands to attack cleaning tasks.

  to the kitchen for a box of tissues. Where’s the vacuum?

  Spray a mirror with one hand; wipe it down with

  Did the teenager take the squeegee to wash the car?

  the other. Scrub counters with two sponges or cleaning Professional cleaners tote their tools with them—

  cloths. Dusting goes twice as fast when a lambswool

  all their tools, cleansers, brushes, and rags needed to duster in one hand cleans nooks and crannies while

  finish the job are right there in the tote tray. Vacuum, the cleaning cloth in the other skims flat surfaces.

  mop, and mini-vac wait in the doorway. A plastic bag for trash is tucked into a pocket, next to the waving lambswool duster. That’s why the pro has finished the entire bathroom before our amateur makes it back up

  the stairs with the powdered cleanser.

  9 Pick it up.

  Professional cleaners come to clean—not to

  tidy—counters, furniture, appliances, and floors.

  They can’t do the job if each horizontal surface in the home is covered with papers, toys, dirty dishes, and just plain clutter.

  Pretend that you’ve hired a high-priced cleaning

  6 Simplify supplies.

  There’s a reason the pros can tote all the products

  they need in one tray: they’ve simplified their

  crew. You wouldn’t make them relocate the clutter just cleaning products. Professional cleaners go to work

  to be able to do their job. Give yourself the same head carrying the Big Four:

  start you would give professional cleaners: pick up