Clean a House

Avoid common housecleaning mistakes! Here's how you can break the bad habits and do the best possible job. Remember, to houseclean proceed from large to small: 1. Throw away any trash that you see, 2. Put away belongings, 3. Dust and vacuum, 4. Wash surfaces. When there are too many belongings to put things away, some of them need to be sold, donated, or thrown away. Coins, paper clips and gum wrappers should be picked up by hand to keep the vacuum cleaner in good shape. Furniture polish spray is sometimes used on wood furniture to make it easier to dust; if recently polished, wood furniture can be wiped with a damp cloth. A terry or micro-fiber cloth, or a soft scrub sponge, is used to wash kitchen and bathroom surfaces. The bucket of soap and water washes the cloth or sponge. Alternatively, the cleaning solution is sprayed on and then half a minute later wiped off with white towels.

Steps

 * 1) Get started: Decide how clean you want your house and how much time you have for cleaning. This will help you decide how to set up your cleaning schedule. Be honest with yourself about what you can do.
 * 2) * Some people prefer to put off cleaning as long as possible, then have a big cleaning campaign now and then.
 * 3) * For the "average" busy person (not a neat freak) it works better to do a little bit every day so that the work doesn't pile up, and also have major-cleaning day a few times a month. What style you prefer is up to you (unless you have roommates of course).
 * 4) Cleaning glass/mirrors It is commonly thought that glass cleaner does the cleaning. It's no substitute for soapy water! First, wash your glass (including windows and mirrors) with a solution of warm or hot water, dish soap and a rag, sponge, or squeegee. Wipe down surface with a dry lint-free cloth or lint-free paper towels. Now it's time for the glass cleaner. The glass cleaner acts as a shield to help keep spots and dust easy to remove. When misused, glass "cleaner" will leave streaks. If you want to clean glass and be environmentally friendly, clean the glass with vinegar and water, dry with a lint-free cloth, and rub the glass with newspaper. No streaks!
 * 5) Polish furniture Like glass cleaner, furniture polish isn't meant to be a cleaner. However, it can be used for cleaning. If you'd like to use furniture polish, make sure to carefully read the labels and find one made specifically for what you need. Some furniture can handle water, and those that can should be used with the soapy solution from step one. Be sure to quickly dry off these surfaces. Next, apply the suggested amount of furniture polish and wipe away according to directions. This will keep dust from magnetizing to your furniture.
 * 6) Using all-purpose cleaners Be cautious with all-purpose cleaners. They aren't always safe for the purposes you'll need. Make sure to thoroughly read labels before purchasing to ensure it fits your needs. Do not mix cleaners! Use them one at a time and follow the directions on the label.
 * 7) Working outside Outdoor tasks can help create a better living environment. Raking leaves helps to prevent mold growth that happens in wet climates after raining. Raking regularly will also assist in dropping the bug count in your yard. Raking will also leave your yard looking neat and cared for and offer more room for grass to grow and sunlight to reach.
 * 8) Trimming/pruning Trimming back plants (hedges, rose bushes, etc.) can help prevent water lines and dirt from getting on the walls of your home.
 * 9) Follow these steps to do your laundry
 * 10) * First, begin the water at the needed temperature and level.
 * 11) * Next, pour in the needed amount of laundry detergent where the water is pouring.
 * 12) * If you use fabric softener, a great thing to use is the fabric softener balls that you pour your softener into and just throw in at the beginning. (This saves you from having to wait for the rinse cycle.) If you use one, do this with the detergent. If you put your clothes in first, you risk staining your clothes with the coloring in these liquids.
 * 13) Drying your laundry The way you transfer your clothes into your dryer can affect the way they come out. Once the entire washing cycle is complete, shake to remove the twisting of fabric and the heavy wrinkles then toss into your dryer. This process can help prevent wrinkling and helps your clothes to dry more efficiently. It also helps to empty the dryer while your clothes are still warm.
 * 14) Clean the floor Vacuuming is the most effective way to clean up all the dust and other loose junk that accumulates on your floor (and it's practically a daily necessity when you have shedding pets). If you're always putting off vacuuming, try using a dry dust mop (the microfiber kind works well) if you have tile/wood floors. You can use a carpet sweeper (non-electric machine you push that has brushes underneath) if you have carpet. Both involve less fuss than getting out the vacuum and will let you go longer between vacuuming.
 * 15) Mop your floor Some the new and innovative substitutes for mopping can be helpful but they are still no substitute for a good rag mop for getting rid of glued-on grime. If you have tile or textured floors, nothing else will get the dirt out of the cracks and depressions. There are a vast number of options for rag mops. Rag mops with real fabric scrub better and last longer than mops with a sponge. With a good rag mop, one thing is guaranteed; when you use a little elbow grease, your floors will look fantastic. Use hot water and the appropriate cleaner for your floor (again, read the labels).
 * 16) Washing the dishes These save a lot of work when you use them right. Your dishwasher works best when you fill it completely and run it right after you use your dishes. Big things like pots and pans are usually best hand-washed because they don't fit well in the dishwasher. Dishes wear out more quickly when washed by machine, than by hand because the dishwasher's soap is abrasive, so heirloom china, delicate wine glasses, and other really fragile things should be carefully hand-washed instead.
 * 17) Hand-washing dishes: It's much easier to wash your dishes if you do it right after you use them; you will rarely need to soak anything or scrub hard because the food juices won't have a chance to dry and harden. Just wet your sponge or scrubber brush with hot water, squirt on some dish soap, wipe each dish (both sides!), and rinse thoroughly with hot water. If you use the soaking method, picture this: a bucket of brown water with dirt, grease, food particles, millions of germs, and a lot of other things that come off your dirty dishes. Now you know how disgusting (and unsanitary) that soaking water can be. If you need to soak a casserole that has baked-on gunk for ten or fifteen minutes, that's okay, but when you can, it's usually better to just wash the dishes promptly and avoid soaking. Either way you do it, place the thoroughly rinsed dishes in a clean drying rack and allow to air dry. Be sure to let your brush, sponge, and dish towel dry between uses to keep them from accumulating germs too (see tips below).
 * 18) Fighting fleas Your best defense against fleas is your vacuum cleaner! Besides not having carpet, that is. Carpet is a breeding ground for fleas (not to mention all the other things it's good for holding). If you have pets, vacuum daily. This will keep them out of the place they are successful in breeding; where there is pet and human dander. To kill fleas without using poisons, after each vacuuming, sprinkle borax on your carpets and let it work its way into the carpet backing. You'll never have fleas in the house if you do this.  You can find the Borax in the laundry detergent area of grocery stores, usually on the top shelf.

Tips

 * As you are cleaning, walk around the house with a garbage bag and a laundry bag. This way you can pick up as you go and won't have to walk back and forth.
 * Carry a caddy around with you while you are cleaning. This makes it easy to reach for the things you need & will probably save your back a lot of stress!
 * Clean so that you can vacuum, sweep, and mop all rooms together so that your hot water doesn't get cold and you don't have to go from one task to another.
 * Using mismatched socks for your furniture duster is perfect and can save you money. Old t-shirts can be cut into rags, too.
 * Many people swear by a crumpled ball of newspaper for use with your window cleaner (instead of paper towels).
 * Don't throw your sponge in with the dishes while they dry. Your sponge is heavily soiled with bacteria and germs. If you have a dishwasher, sponges can be cleaned by washing them with your dishes. It's very important to replace sponges frequently. Don't forget to rinse them out in hot water, then wring them out.  Sterilize your sponge by zapping it for one minute in the microwave. Make sure your sponge is WET before microwaving it! Not wetting it first can start a fire. It doesn't have to be dripping wet, damp is just fine.
 * Dishwashing liquid is an excellent way to get rid of the scum in the bottom of the tub, just like it cuts the grease off your dishes! Then continue cleaning as usual with Lysol or other antibacterial cleanser.
 * If your friends are willing to help, cleaning with friends can help pass the time, and give you someone to talk to while you clean house.
 * Work from the top down, if at all possible. You don't want to vacuum and then get crumbs all over the floor, or dust the bottom of something and knock more dust down when you work your way up onto the previously uncleaned areas.

Warnings

 * Some cleaners are NOT safe for your skin, linoleum flooring, wood flooring, surfaces and many things. This cannot be stressed enough, READ THE LABELS. It only takes a second, but could save you hundreds of dollars in the event of a mistake. If you've read the labels and still aren't sure, test in an inconspicuous area first.
 * DO NOT mix cleaners! Doing this can create very dangerous chemicals. Use them one-at-a-time and follow the safety warnings on the label.
 * Make sure your sponge is damp before placing it into the microwave. Also, be careful with handling the sponge after it has been in the microwave as it will be hot!

Things You'll Need

 * Glass cleaner.
 * Furniture polish.
 * Bathroom cleaner.
 * Dish soap.
 * Paper Towels, rags, newspaper or sponges.
 * Upbeat music of your choice to make cleaning a lot more fun! Optional
 * Don't forget about other household members. They can help clean too! Optional
 * The mood to clean your house

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Clean An Oscillating Round Fan
 * How to Clean Copper Bottoms on Pots and Pans
 * How to Clean a Coffee Maker
 * How to Clean a Shower
 * How to Clean Mini Blinds

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.housecleaningtips.com.au/housecleaningtips.html Tips on how to clean your house.
 * http://downy.com/en_US/products/ball.jsp