Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Quick House Clean

Unexpected guests coming over? No time to clean? Here is an easy way to go around the entire house in about an hour and have it look presentable. Always work from top to bottom, bringing the dirt down to the floor. Make sure you clean the floors last.

Bedrooms can often be taken care of by simply making the bed. Wear an apron with pockets to hold a microfiber cloth and dusting spray. Have a grocery bag handy for trash.  If you have a lot of clutter, simply gather extra items, put them in a basket or box, and stash in the closet. Spray all surfaces and wipe down with the cloth.

Before moving on to the living room and kitchen, head to the bathrooms. Again, hide all the clutter away under the sink or in a cabinet. Spray down all surfaces with a heavy-duty bath cleaner; I use Kaboom, and let it do its thing while I move on to other areas. Wipe down surfaces in this order: sink, tub and finish with the toilet. Leave the floor till last and do along with the kitchen.

Living rooms are also clutter magnets, so clear that first. Dust ceiling fans and blinds, using a handheld duster like Swiffer. Dust all surfaces with your spray and microfiber cloth. Brush upholstery and fluff pillows. Vacuum all the floors, hard surface and carpeting. Vacuuming the hard surface floors keeps dust from swirling up in the air, like it does when sweeping.

The kitchen is next. Fill the sink with hot, soapy water. Wash any dishes you have and save the water. Place all the stove grates and knobs in the hot water to soak. Use the soapy water to wash down all kitchen surfaces, including the cabinets. Use a microfiber cloth and wring it out well, rinsing frequently. Again, clear clutter by stashing unneeded appliances. Do a quick spray and wipe your appliances with window cleaner. 

Floors are last. Vacuum all floors, using the hose attachment in corners and around furniture. Work your way backwards out of the room. Work quickly and try not to overlap too much. For the hard surface floors, steam mops are great, as they are disinfecting and non-chemical. Swiffer wet jet mops are good too for quick cleans and messes. 

KATHY WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO