McClatchy-Tribune News Service
What’s the difference between a clean house and a clean-enough house? A lot more free time to do the things you love. Woman’s Day offers some cornercutting tricks and do-ahead tips to get you in and out of each room in a jiff.
Kitchen:
• Pair down countertop clutter to what you use every single day, and store the rest or get rid-of the rest.
• Save elbow grease by letting cleaners do their jobs. Disinfectants need time to sit, and you can use that time to unload the dishwasher or sweep the floor.
• Keep all-purpose disposable wipes in a handy spot. Use them for refrigerator handles, cabinet faces and small appliances
Family room and bedrooms
• Employ lidded baskets to hide toys, magazines and other items
• Flip couch cushions over and give throw pillows a fluff for an instantly tidier-looking sofa.
• Vacuum only high traffic areas of each room and skip hard to reach spots
• Speed-clean venetian blinds by putting a lightly dampened old sock over your hand and running your hand between the slats
Foyer or mudroom
• Institute a sock-only policy at home. Have family and visitors remove their shoes and put them in a hall closet as soon as they come inside.
• Buff doorknobs and kick plates to a quick shine and spot-clean molding, trim and baseboards at the entrance. A peripheral sparkle gives the impression of a thoroughly clean space.
• Don’t waste time vacuuming entryway throw rugs. A good, fast shake outside will do the trick
Bathroom
• No need to scrub stained white grout. You can make the lines look new again by applying a grout coating, available at hardware stores for less than $5
• Stock up on shower curtain liners, and hang a new one as soon as the old one becomes dingy (typically every few months). At about $2 a pop, it’s a lot of clean for the bang for only a few bucks.
• Replace bar soap with liquid soap displayed in a refillable, decorative dispenser to rid your bathroom of soap scum.
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Source: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=31&a=361020