Light stains can be cleaned with a fresh cut lemon while dark stains such as rest can be taken care of with a little borax and lemon juice. After the stains are removed, follow up with some vinegar on a cloth for a sparkling sink.
Out of your favorite window and glass cleaner? Try using a little rubbing alcohol on a ball of cotton. Alcohol also works well to clean the caulking around bathtubs.
Ammonia diluted with three parts water makes for a good all-purpose cleaner for countertops, appliances and windows.
Your copper bottomed pots and any brass items you might have can be easily cleaned with a half cup vinegar mixed with one teaspoon of salt.
Everyone dreads cleaning, but a little organization can go a long way towards making the job easier and more pleasant. One of the most important things you can do to make cleaning easier is to approach it with a schedule in mind. Many people find that by assigning major areas of their home to a certain day of the week, they are able to get more accomplished. Such a schedule might go as follows: Monday-laundry; Tuesday-kitchen, Wednesday-home office; Friday-deep cleaning for all rooms.
When you begin cleaning, keep in mind that the way in which you approach the matter can make a tremendous difference in how efficiently and easily you clean. You should always start from the top and work your way down. For example, if you need to clean the ceiling fans, tops of curtains, high shelves or anything else that is located up high; begin there before you do anything else. Similar, all flat surfaces should be dusted before you attempt to do the floors.
By investing in a bucket that can hold your basic cleaning supplies, you can save time and avoid going back and forth from one room to the next to retrieve the items that you need. Stock your bucket with the basics, such as dust cloths, glass cleaner, furniture polish, all-purpose cleaner, duster, etc,; then take it with you as you move from one room to the next.
While it’s a good idea to give your home a thorough deep cleaning once a week, every week; cleaning as you go can make that task much easier to manage and handle as well as actually reduce time spent on cleaning. One way you can do this is by keeping cleaning supplies in all bathrooms; such as a sponge and all-purpose cleaner. After you’re done with your shower, give the room a quick once over. Since the dirt is already loosened from the steam, the job will be easier to tackle.
Make a point to keep extra cleaning supplies especially in the guest bathroom. In the event that you have guests drop by unexpectedly, you can quickly give the room a once over without having to search for the cleaning supplies and waste valuable time.
One of the best things you can do to immediately make your home look cleaner and neater is to simply de-clutter. One day every week, make it a point to trash papers that are not important. File those papers that need to be retained.
If it seems like cleaning duties are overwhelming you, do take the time to make out a schedule and priority list to keep you on target and organized. While not every single surface of your home needs to be sparkling clean at all times, there are a few musts that can go a long way toward making the whole house seem as though it’s clean. Take a look at these priorities:
In the kitchen, wipe down your cabinets and countertops; wash and mop floors. Put away clean dishes and load dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
In the bathroom, clean the toilet; wipe out the sink, take out the trash and fluff the rugs. Don’t forget to pick up laundry and lay out fresh towels.
In the living room, vacuum floors, replenish air freshener, polish furniture.
In bedrooms, make the bed and pick up clutter/laundry.