<p>dmd,
I think I must be channelling your GF. His method is the way that I clean my art classroom. I use a rolling table and start in one corner of the room. I bring cleaner and paper towels and the trash can along as I move through the room. Anything that is out of place is put on the table and delivered to it’s home as I move along. I clean an area, get rid of trash and then tackle the next few feet of space. Some days it takes a really long time to get the whole thing done! </p>
<p>I wonder if my school system would get me a cleaning lady?</p>
<p>I do not polish furniture. However, I will spray the polish on a cloth, and then dust. I think it picks up the dust more readily, but I don’t like the way a spray polishes unevenly when applied directly to the furniture.</p>
<p>Years ago I found Flylady’s website. She prescribes a process to keep your house clean with little effort. I have been following it and it has made my life so much easier.</p>
<p>Just do a google search for Flylady. Her website is a little difficult to navigate, but once you figure out what your needs are, it makes sense.</p>
<p>EPTR: my grandfather’s time-and-motion-study method of cleaning has been long adopted by many people. I think it’s also what Flylady recommends, although I’m not positive–I haven’t been to her website in years. </p>
<p>Two other things I do for cleaning: bathtubs: fill with hot water and add a cup of bleach and a capful of dish soap. Leave to soak, drain when water is cool, rinse. Sinks: same method, less bleach, less soap.</p>
<p>I am absolutely the worst at cleaning. I fell like I’m forever moving things back into different rooms when cleaning. I’m printing out that post as well. It will definitely help.</p>
<p>Last weekend I emptied everything out of all my closets and reorganized the entire house at once… Except the kitchen which I saved for last. It includes a large pantry that I must go through.</p>
<p>Many things that were previously kept in one or multiple rooms are now grouped together in one area. Looking back, maybe I should have done them one closet at a time because it made a giant mess. </p>
<p>I figured it was easier to empty it all and to group things and get them to their new home all at once so that I knew how much space I needed for each thing and the ideal place to put it.</p>
<p>Outside or inside? Outside I used the windex spray for outside windows. It hooks up to your hose, it works pretty good. I used it on a cloudy day and my windows dried without streaks. </p>
<p>Inside, I bought a norwex glass cleaning microfiber cloth. It is the best thing I have ever found to clean glass. I wet the cloth and wipe down the windows. I’ll go over it with another microfiber cloth to dry if the window is pretty wet but if my cloth is not over saturated it will dry without streaks. I have other microfiber cloths, none works as well as the norwex. I bought mine at a house party and I was dubious. You can find them on eBay.</p>
<p>Any Jeff Campbell book will help–Speed Cleaning (the only way to live!) is a good start.
I learned a lot from his books–basic, simple, great tips! Fairly short and sweet and inspiring.
I spent my youth cleaning way too much stuff to my mom’s way too high standards (she’s dropped that nonsense). I have NO desire to clean anything these days. But I do (have to!). I figure if a housekeeper can clean a house in an hour then I could too (and save a bunch of money). You just need a plan.</p>
<p>deb922 mentions the microfiber cloths for windows. I use the “as seen on TV” ones which are great! I’ve tried/bought others (big known cleaner names) that were a real waste of money. There are real differences between the different companies (especially for windows and mirrors). Same holds true for “magic scrubbers”, the white/sponge things. Not all are created equal.</p>
<p>This is what my cleaning lady taught me, and I’ve had great success with it.
Use water with some white vinegar added to it. Use a sponge or cloth to wash window with this solution. Then use a squeegee with a RUBBER BLADE (very important). Swipe from top to bottom, wiping blade with a dry cloth after each swipe. Then take the same dry cloth wrapped around your index finger and run your finger down the left and right sides of the window. That’s because the squeegee leaves a very thin line of moisture at this point.</p>
<p>She purchases her squeegee at a cleaning supply store, and periodically replaces the rubber blade.</p>
<p>Since I have used her method, I never have streaks, and it goes very fast.</p>