Time Saving Cleaning Tips---Part 1

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

20 Aug 2006 04:40 PM

Housework... it is the bane of my existence. Don't get me wrong-I love a clean house. Finding time to get it that way is what kills me. My college roommate would always marvel at how I could come up with ways to arrange our living space so it would require less cleaning. Her comment went something like this: "You spend more time coming up with ways to get around cleaning, don't you think it would be faster to just clean and get it over with?" Well, she wasn't exactly a Merry Maid so we stuck to my method. Years later I find myself cleaning much more (chock it up to having a two-fisted Cheerios throwing toddler around), but I haven't completely ditched my decorating tactics that save time on cleaning.

Here are a few that you may want to incorporate into your living space:

Embrace Solid-Surfaces. If you have kids who spill, accident-prone pets or a husband who tracks in mud, stick with wood, laminate or tile floors. Removing dirt and spills from solid flooring is a breeze. Can you say Swiffer?

Red Rugs. If you have kids or pets it's a good idea to choose a carpet or rug that has the major food group colors in it. Spaghetti sauce red, spinach green or dirt brown. Stains are easier to hide on a colorful Oriental rug. White and pastels show dirt.

Bye Bye Blinds. Mini blinds are dust magnets. Replace them with roller shades, Roman shades or cellular (honeycomb) shades, which often are treated with a dust-resistant finish.

Fabulous Fabrics. When you are looking at furniture upholstery consider choosing fabric with enough pattern to camouflage pet hair, grape jelly, peanut butter, strawberries, salsa -- whatever your family eats and drinks. With solid colors, a textured fabric like chenille is more forgiving of stains than a smooth one.

Magic Doors. Cut down on dusting TVs, stereos and DVDs by hiding them in an entertainment armoire. My coffee tables, end tables and nightstands all have drawers or doors where I can quickly stash stuff when unexpected guest show up.

Light Up. Here's a tip I learned in college: Torcheres and sconces shine light up and away from dusty tables and stained carpets... table lamps don't.

Chuck the Chandelier. If you don't like to clean don't get a chandelier. If you can't live without one and still don't like to clean then choose one without a lot of ornaments on it. Recessed lighting is the best low maintenance lighting choice over a dining table.

Last Light Tip: Put dimmer switches on all your lights and use them. When company arrives dim the lights -- it hides the dust.

Read "Time Saving Cleaning Tips---Part 2" for more ways to save time on cleaning.

Related Articles:

The New Cleaning Product I Thought I HAD to Have

Last Minute Cleaning Tips

P.S.--There Are Other Ways To Get Crayon Marks Off Your Walls

Watch The Lemons--Mom's At It Again!

Organizing Your Linen Closet

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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