Q: I love the look of your house! And I love how you arrange and decorate your shelves, tables, etc. I would love to do more of that, but I talk myself out of it when I think about all the cleaning and dusting of all those little decor items!! What are your quick cleaning tips to keeping everything tidy and dust free? Is it always as clean as it looks in the pictures?- Kim
A: Good question! And one we definitely get pretty often. We do our best to tidy up before snapping after photos for the blog, but in general we’re pretty orderly people and we’ve found that creating a spot for everything really helps us keep things organized and neat (to see how we sort and store nearly everything in our house, check out this post – and peruse other ideas located under Organization Options on our Projects Page). That way we don’t have to schedule major house straightening sessions since most of our things have a place to call home (and can usually be found there, as opposed to in a pile on the dining room table or on the kitchen counter).
When it comes to actually keeping things spic and span, I like to work as I go (a little each day as opposed to a major cleaning sesh every a week). John does nearly 100% of the cooking (he’s my own personal Top Chef) and also does all of the laundry and lawn mowing, so cleaning seems like the least I can do to hold up my end of the bargain. I’ve also developed a series of shortcuts along the way (shhh, don’t tell John!) so it’s really not a major undertaking to keep our little rancher looking up to snuff on a pretty continual basis.
I like to do some things every day as I’ve found that they go a long way towards making the house feel nice and clean. For example, wiping down the counters in the kitchen and loading any dishes into the dishwasher that have piled up in the sink each night before bed only takes a second but ensures that I’m a little happier when I trudge into the kitchen for some cereal the next morning.
Here’s a list of some of the ten-second things I like to do daily:
- wiping down the kitchen counters
- loading the dishwasher & wiping down the sink
- sorting the mail (paying bills & shredding junk mail immediately so nothing piles up)
- bringing a few pairs of shoes back to the bedroom (they tend to pile up at the back door)
- folding the sofa blanket and putting it back in the basket next to the couch
These tiny efforts literally take about five minutes total, but they really make all the difference in the world.
Then there are a few things I do a couple times a week like:
- running & unloading the dishwasher (it’s cake after years in NYC without a dishwasher)
- wiping down the sinks in the bathrooms
- taking out the garbage & the compost (when they’re full, no sense in wasting bags)
- wiping down the stovetop (we have a glass top that’s pretty easy to keep clean)
Again, these little efforts really don’t take much time but they add up to a feeling of control. I sleep easier knowing there’s a grease-free stovetop and a cabinet full of clean dishes ready to go.
Then there are the weekly cleaning must-dos:
- dusting everything (shelves, mantels, tables, etc)
- vacuuming all area rugs
- wiping down the baseboards (it seems like they’re little shelves for dirt)
- de-dust-bunnying the hardwood floors
- cleaning the toilets (it’s a dirty job… well actually not that dirty- you’ll see)
- scrubbing down the shower/tub
- doing the laundry (hurrah- that’s John’s territory)
- ironing (also John’s thing since my clothes are wash & wear, he does it watching TV)
I never end up doing all these tasks in one day though, I usually putter around while I’m on the phone doing some dusting, then the next day I’ll find some time to vacuum, etc.
Sometimes I’m not in the mood at all (I’m not a total freak) but it’s a lot easier to convince myself to do some isolated cleaning for a minute or two as opposed to tackling all of these projects at once, which would really feel like a much bigger deal than doing them as I go. And now for a few of my “shortcuts” when it comes to the weekly chores above.
As for dusting, I like using Swiffer Dusters (just the pads- they’re meant to be attached to a Swiffer but I use them with my hand to dust surfaces like the open shelves in the den, our coffee table, the fireplace mantels, and even the baseboards, etc). They create this awesome static-y cling that basically makes dust stick to them (no dusting spray necessary) and I just lift things up with one hand and swipe under them with the other and can basically dust the whole house with one or two in less than 20 minutes (I listen to my ipod as I go, so it feels more like dancing and less like cleaning). And that includes wiping down those dusty baseboards too! It really isn’t hard at all, and it’s so nice to see the things we love on display, so dusting them is well worth the effort! I’ve actually been meaning to try out some good quality microfiber cloths instead of the Swiffer pads (which I’ve heard are just as good at attracting dust like a magnet without any dusting spray). The bonus is that they’re washable so they’ll make for less waste, which always appeals to us! Update: Now we use microfiber cloths and love ’em.
As for vacuuming I’ve heard time and time again that something with a HEPA filter makes for much cleaner air and a healthier home. And until I can afford one of those amazing Dyson thingies, I use a Bissell CleanView Upright Vacuum that we bought on Amazon after scrolling through all the great reviews. I also love that we have hardwood flooring throughout the house so I only have to vacuum a few 5 x 8 and 8 x 10 carpeted squares here and there and I’m done with the vacuum.
But what do we do to keep the wood floors clean? We also love this cordless little Shark vac for smaller touch ups and hardwood stuff, which everyone else in my family also has and loves. It’s my number one shortcut to a clean house. It works best in corners, under tables and cabinets, etc… but that seems to be where the dust bunnies congregate so after I vacuum the area rug and use the Shark around the perimeter of a room and under the chairs, the floor is totally clean and ready for company. We still sometimes use the bigger plug-in vacuum to cover large areas of the hardwood floor, but for “maintenance” between the more major clean ups it’s truly amazing and leaves the whole house looking photoshoot ready (no cord = freeeeeeedom).
Oh and the toilets. I have to say that replacing both of our ancient models from the 70’s with new shiny white ones really started us off with a nice foundation for keeping them clean. The old porcelain ones seemed to get grody a lot more frequently, and the newer ones stay pretty clean week to week so when I spray them and scrub them down with one of those handled brushes (no hand in the toilet for me) they look great on a pretty continual basis. I think it’s another one of those chores that if you do it regularly instead of letting it get out of control it’s a lottttt less work. As for what I spray them with, I’m obsessed with Mrs. Meyer’s Tile & Tub Cleaner (the lemon verbena scent is seriously amazing and it’s eco to boot). Gotta love not even needing to kneel or reach inside the bowl. And I use the same spray in the shower/tub and gently scrub them down with a designated bathroom sponge (which I keep under the vanity with the spray) to fight back any grime before it starts.
When it comes to wiping things down things like the counters and the sink in the kitchen and bathrooms, I love love love Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner (again in their intoxicating lemon verbena scent). It can be diluted a ton for many different tasks so we keep a bottle going forever by just holding it under the faucet and adding a few inches of water from time to time- it never seems to lose its potency. And as for dish soap, we’ve used Seventh Generation Auto Dish Pacs (good for the planet but still gets our dishes gleaming). Oh and even though laundry is John’s territory I’ll divulge that we use Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent without any dryer sheets or fabric softener. We’ve found that our clothes are just as soft as they were before we gave up the fabric softener and we’re saving money and using fewer chemicals which is always a plus for us.
Of course there are still seasonal chores like cleaning the windows (again I use Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner) and giving the floors a real scrub down (I like Method’s washable headed mop, called the oMop, with a bit of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner- and I’m sure to rinse and dry the floors thoroughly since our refinisher said it’s bad to leave wood floors wet) but those tasks are few and far between… and they’re not even that tough to tackle when the rest of the house is on autopilot.
So that’s the little cleaning roundup that works for me. Unless I forgot something. Did I forget anything? What about you guys. Do you have a specific cleaning schedule that you stick to like glue? Any tips and tricks for me that will change my life? Any other miracle cleaning products that fry your bacon? Let’s talk about keeping house.
Note: None of the products mentioned above have solicited these mentions. They’re just truly the things that I rely on to clean up, and I’m very thankful to have found them (and have inserted some affiliate links when applicable).
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
Kristi says
Thank you so much for this post! I’ve been struggling with figuring out a no-fail cleaning schedule, and it’s been really frustrating. Since I work full time and go to grad school, I feel that I don’t have a ton of time to clean up. Even if I take a few hours for a thorough cleaning on a weekend, the place is messy again by the next weekend. I like your idea of doing a little bit each day, and appreciate the time-savers too. I may have to look into that Kurv vacuum. We have all wood floors and tile plus a 100+ pound dog and 2 cats, so our floors are in constant need of vacuuming. The Kurv would be a lot nicer than dragging our large vacuum all around the house.
Thanks again for a great post!
Mary says
I am so totally purchasing the Kurv! Thanks for the tips!
Laura says
I am trying to start a weekly cleaning schedule so everything gets some attention; otherwise, I do the laundry faithfully every Monday and ironing every Tuesday. This way, no laundry piles up and everybody always has clean clothes at the ready. I started this a few months ago and it really helps!
Donita says
We have a Dyson. My kids blessed me with it for Mothers day, a few years ago. Mine is a refurbished one and works ‘ok’. I personally LOVED my Windtunnel. We bought it at Sears, it was a bit spendy, but worked so well and had great attachments. My hubby gave it to his mom, after I got the Dyson. :-( I was so sad, even though Dyson works well, it is nothing like the Windtunnel…..IF/WHEN the Dyson ever dies, I will replace with Windtunnel. We had the WT that used BAGS, and used the allergy bags, it also had a couple of HEPA filters. The WT was much easier to use with attachments, it was heavier and did not fall over as easily. It was also self propelled, which I loved. The Dyson is a bit frustrating, when using with attachments for hard to reach areas, etc, it tends to turn over easily. Just a few hints about the Dyson, it’s OK but there are some other great finds out there, on the less expensive side. ;-) My Dyson is the white and gray one, bagless………my daughter has the purple one, has two young children and a dog, she loves her purple Dyson. ;-)
chacha says
I want that ding dang Kurv. Umongst the many things… I have the Dyson, we got it back in 2006 (actually did a Home Depot 12 month no interest deal to lessen the psychological pain). It is holding up, though I think I need to service the brushes because I sometimes here a scraping sound on bare floors. It really is awesome through – it’s worth the extra cash (after going through 2 cheap vacuums in 4 years, it works out to be cheaper over time). If you ever splurge on it, make sure you get the “ball” version – we have the older one and it’s sometimes hard to maneuver.
And Seventh Generation DW Soap so does not work for us. We had to go back to un-green soap for our dishwasher. I was bummed. I tried 4 different “green” soaps. All ended up resulting in filmy dishes (even with jetdry rinse agent). But I think it has to do with our water – soft water responds better. We have hard water so we’re kind of stuck… unless we hand wash (ack!).
goldberry says
you inspire me…
Heather says
I, for some reason, shed like crazy!! There is always hair all over the bathroom floor and in the sink after I dry my hair. My fiance is baffled that I still have hair on my head. Using a dustbuster or a vacuum doesn’t really help pick up all of the hair. However, I’ve found by just using a tissue or toilet paper and just wiping it up, the hair seems to stick to the tissue/toilet paper, and it comes right up. It only takes a few seconds and is really easy.
Alicia S says
I LOVED this post! It sounds exactly what I try to do, but I use the FLYlady as a reminder. If you aren’t familiar with her you can google her. It’s pretty much what you guys are doing!
It’s so nice that John helps out at home too. What a guy!!!
I followed the link to see how you guys organize your home as well. I LOVE the storage you get out of the ottomans. I think I’m gonna go home and use my coffee table as firewood and buy two ottomans!! :D
sammyw says
i have to say the dyson is amazing. it has the hepa filter and is small and compact. it has a super long arm extender for getting those pesky cobwebs, under the fridge, around the toliet, etc.
thx for the great tips!
Laura@journeychic says
I’m putting the Kurv on my wish list! It looks like it would be perfect to quickly suck up all the cat fur. I’m in the process of switching all our cleaning products to eco-friendly versions and feel so much better about using them.
Lisa says
I love a good cleaning products/procedure post! Seriously! It almost shames me how much joy I take in reading other people’s cleaning plans. I especially appreciate hearing about no-fail products (particularly green ones) that others rely on. Great post! Great blog!
Melinda says
I’m not sure about you, but I have major issues with water spots on my bathroom windows. I like vinegar because it’s safe and eco friendly. But I can’t stand the lingering smell. I did some research for safe and eco friendly products and found this kit called Easy Clean Forever Bath and Glass kit from Tekon. The kit has cleaning cream and this spray that repels water so you don’t get future water spots.
And you shouldn’t be ashamed! I too love reading about cleaning plans and products! I hope this helps
Katie says
Thanks for the clean-up round-up! You’ve mentioned a lot of great products I’ve never heard of, so thanks for the help. I’m curious though…how did John come into the role of laundry man??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
Ever since we got our new front loading washer and dryer he likes pushing the buttons! I’m only half kidding. I think since they’re “new technology” they’re considered toys to him and it’s super easy to push a few buttons and watch TV while they do their thing. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Alis in Wnderlnd says
I have high hopes, but my house is never a clean as it was before we had children. Even with pets, it was easier than the tornadoes that children create. There is no way we could go more than one day without running the dishwasher, the laundry is every day (although my hubby does all of that), and the floor must be mopped every other day at the least since our 2-year-old likes to throw his cup and plates the instant he’s had enough. Still, our house is clean, just not quite as much as before. A little more clutter…and a lot more photos and budding artists’ work…I love it.
Melissa says
I love my Haan floor steamer for hardwoods and tile! Just use water; no residue. Also will steam couches, mattresses, and counters to kill mites and bacteria. There is a separate attachment for the later uses.
virginia @ where you hang your hat says
Very helpful! Thank you!
Melissa says
Oh, and, Mr. Clean magic eraser works great on mildew for the siding on the shady side of the house where mildew builds up.
Arlee Leo says
My favorite daily cleaning trick is to keep a Swiffer in our bathroom to pick up all my hair that winds up on the floor. If I only did it weekly, it would look like we had carpet. A couple quick Swiffer swipes and we’re good to go!
And I’m also a fan of the Mr. Clean magic eraser – it is amazing on our glass shower doors! Oh, and I found a solution of cornstarch and water makes a great window cleaner – found it in a Heloise article. Economic and environmentally friendly – my fave combo!
K*OS (Keep On S'myelin!) says
Great post!
I keep searching for ways to organize our house. With all the little kids toys and papers, I have no clue where to put anything anymore.
I think I need to post pics and have someone tell me where it should all go (aside from the dump…hehe). I never know what to keep and what to throw away (or I’m scared to toss it in case I need it one day).
Storage ottomans are great! I bought one recently to house the toys in our family room.
Julie K says
To everyone interested in natural cleaning products I can not recommend Howard’s Naturals wood cleaning polish more. I am in no way connected with this company but am so thrilled with their products that I constantly buy it as a random gift for family and friends.
I picked their polish up at a local hardware store and was amazed by how well it works. Grease, water marks, dust, crayon, and sharpie have all easily come off without any elbow grease thanks to this product. I’ve wiped things down at thrift stores to discover a wonderful piece beneath. It smells divine and after a year I still have the first bottle that I purchased.
Wow, what a dork! Did I really just go on about wood polish with that much excitement?
Oh and I highly recommend Royal vacuums. They look a million years old and clean better than anything you’ll ever come across.
http://www.howardnaturals.com/
http://www.royalvacuums.com/
Angie says
For those of you having trouble with powder dish detergent, and hard water, try using 1/2 detergent, with 1/2 lemi-shine. It’s fairly inexpensive, made with citrus acid, and works WONDERS with hard water!!!
Laura says
Have you ever tried a more environmentally-friendly dusting cloth? Method makes them out of corn!
http://www.methodhome.com/product.aspx?page=618
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
As I mentioned in the post, we hope to move to microfiber cloths soon so we can toss them in the wash and reuse them. We’ve never heard of the corn ones by Method though, good to know!
xo,
s
Janet says
Love your cleaning methods, but then, they’re very much like mine. :-) I use very little commercial cleansers, preferring vinegar, baking soda and Borax. The favourite part of my cleaning arsenal, though, is the microfibre cloth, which you mentioned in relation to dusting. Yes, I use them for dusting, but I use them for almost everything else. The best part is they work very well without any cleanser. I keep one in the bathtub and run it over the walls and tub before I get out of the shower, and there’s another under the sink in the bathroom, so I wipe the sink and counter down a couple of times a day. After I’ve swept the kitchen floor each evening, I wet one and slip it on the head of a simple Swiffer mop and run it over the floor. Keeps the dirt under control!
Sarah A says
It sounds like we have similar cleaning habits! A little cleaning a day really pays off to keep my weekends free for fun. I know you said that you shred junk mail daily, but any other thoughts on keeping up with files/paperwork in your house? I know that as a newlywed, this is my constant struggle.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Sarah A,
Check out the link I reference about keeping everything organized at the beginning of the post. It details where we hide all of our files and paperwork to keep them out of sight. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lisa in Seattle says
True confession: I am a totally inept housekeeper. My cleaning method involves lurching around the house for two hours with a bottle of Simple Green and six rolls of paper towels. We moved into our new-to-us house (not so affectionately nicknamed “The Nimitz”) on Memorial Day, and I’m going to ride the “Sorry the house is such a mess – we’re still moving in!” train until the statute of limitations runs out (about a year, I figure). The pets don’t help – ferrets are basically tiny, fuzzy toddlers with equivalent amounts of toys, playground equipment, snacks, etc., scattered all over the place. Now that we have hardwood floors, we may get one of those Kurv thingies. I can store it next to the Simple Green.
Jenny @ Words On Wendhurst says
I love using vinegar to clean, and my favorite part, apart from the lack of chemicals and such, is the lack of cleaning product clutter under my kitchen sink! I wrote a while ago about how I use vinegar in my cleaning routine, here:
http://wordsonwendhurst.blogspot.com/2009/04/best-cleaning-product-ever.html
Nikki Grove says
I have to chime in about being in love with my Dyson as well. We have the Dyson Animal (one of the original ones yet…it’s going on 4 years old) and it is not only by far the best money we’ve ever spent on a vacuum, but it’s just the best vacuum I’ve ever owned hands down, and I’ve had my fair share of vacuums, hoover and the likes included! All of the attachments work with no problems or lack of suction, and the suction on it is just as strong as the day we got it. We use it a LOT too…we have three dogs, two of which shed like there’s no tomorrow, so we’re vacuuming easily every other day. So whether you get one refurb or brand new, just get one! You will NOT regret it.
Also, I saw someone mention the steam shark. I just got one of those a few months back, and seriously threw out the rest of my mops. It is soooo much easier to use that, because you dont need cleaner, the mop pads are washable, and hello? no bucket to fool around with!
As far as microfiber clothes go for dusting and cleaning, I haven’t found one yet that works really well, so hopefully someone has a good suggestion!
-Nikki
kathryn says
That sound so dreamy! Having a rambunctious 2 year old boy running around undoing everything thing I clean makes for constant clutter.
Jaimie says
I love the idea of using vinegar to clean (particularly now with a child in the house – one less toxic thing for him to get into) but I did miss having a nice scent left behind after cleaning. I add a few drops of orange or grapefruit essential oil to the vinegar solution.
Another really nice natural cleaner that comes in a concentrated form, is Caldrea (www.caldrea.com). This definitely satisfies that desire for a nice scent! I splurge on the Caldrea linen water to make ironing more enjoyable.
Like one commenter already mentioned, I find that with a child I have to keep on top of things every day. I do laundry most days of the week and ironing weekly; every night before we go to bed we have to have the dishes loaded and counters and tabletop wiped down. Before we used to be able to play catch-up on weekends, but we don’t want to/can’t do that any more.
Shannon Karsies says
Where are the soap/lotions and the holder from that are on your sink?
YoungHouseLove says
That cute soap thingie is from Anthropologie. Called Cucina. Looove it! Plus we refill it to save money and keep it on the counter.
xo,
s
Sarah says
This past weekend, I spent 4 HOURS scrubbing our 30 year old vinyl floor with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It took forever and my knees are bruised and sore, but that floor probably hasn’t been that clean in 10 years (and we only moved in 3 months ago)! It also works great on porcelain sinks, and glossy trim that’s gotten grubby. I don’t work there either, but its just a great product.
Amy says
They have the Cucina set on sale at Anthropologie!!! Down from $32 to $24.95! It appears they only have one scent left, SANGUINELLI ORANGE & FENNEL. Might as well order one anyways for the refillable containers.
Sherry – it says the stand is ceramic, but what are the bottles? Plastic or glass?
YoungHouseLove says
Awesome news Amy! The bottles are glass and that sale price is definitely worth it when you consider it’s a ceramic stand plus a glass bottle of lotion plus a glass bottle of soap (both of which can be refilled forever and ever). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Alaskan Andi says
After reading a portion of your comments on tidying up the house..I would like to say I have three children under the age of 7. My house was a disaster for the longest time. We are about to move just outside Anchorage and have all the kids toys packed up for the most part. I received a light bulb moment a few days ago. Why so many toys at once? I went crazy all the time trying to pick up with/after them. Less is more! You say you have only things you love on display.. remember the same should go for petite Youngsters. I am storing a selection of toys and cycling them in to keep the kids excited about their toys. I am sure you already have this in plans..I am looooving less toys and am now reducing the amount of clothing in the closet/drawers as well.. less time spent on laundry is more fun time together. Lol – thanks for the awesome tips and links. I love your blog and your perkiness. Your ideas are truly inspiring.
anne says
Great tips!
I do love using the Magic Eraser. There a bit expensive so we brand the store brand from Wal-Mart and try to use them for tough stains, big messes, etc.
Sarah says
Thank you for this post! We struggle with our tidiness at times, so your tips and division of labor are very helpful.
Amy says
Sherry – glad the containers are glass! Just ordered a set! Cannot wait for them to come in! When they’re empty, I’ll just refill them with the organic handsoap and lotion!
YoungHouseLove says
Amy- That’s what we do! We refilled them with Dr. Bronner’s lotion and soap!
xo,
s
Lara says
Just thought I’d share this: I have a friend that had a Dyson, then later bought a Kirby vaccuum and loved the Kirby so much better. She liked it so much that when it was time for me to get a vaccuum, I bought one as well. It moves so easily over any type of floor and even plushes my carpet even more every time I vaccuum! I love it!
Sonja says
Life is easier with my magic erasers!
Amy says
I like this article! I wanted to elaborate on the Mrs. Meyers. I bought their spray bottle of “Counter-top Cleaner”, but the best part is, they have this larger bottle of “All-Purpose Cleaner”, which is a stronger concentration. It actually says on the bottle, once you run out of the counter-top cleaner, you just add a couple spoonfuls of the All Purpose Cleaner to the spray bottle and fill the rest with water. I swear I use it all the time, but it’ll still last forever!
Also – some people made comments about kids toys. When I was little we literally had each “category” of toys in their own large plastic bag. My mom kept all the bags in the attic, and would take out one bag at a time for us to play with for a while, then switched every couple of weeks or so. So one week would be all Barbies, another week the My Little Ponys would come out, etc. All the toys stayed organized because they weren’t mixed.
Literally as soon as I was physically able to, Mom had me making my own bed when I woke up each morning. And once a week, I would take a damp rag and go over all the toys and things on the shelves in my room. I threw my own laundry in the laundry bin. She would leave my laundry folded on my bed when it was clean and I would put away in my drawers. Then all she had to do was vacuum my room and do the wash. Moms can’t be expected to do every little thing, and these things only take a few minutes a day for kids to do. I would always automatically do these things and it was never a big deal.
Jo says
I can’t live without my Dyson, Enjo and Murchison Hume. I have hardwood floors throughout my home and vaccuum and mop them at least once everyday (i have 2 children and 2 puppies and am a total clean freak) but it’s done in no time with these fabulous items. I wash walls and windows every week, again in no time when using great products.
Jacci says
Wanted to chime in again and say that Andi is totally onto something w/ reducing her kiddos’ things. We go through **all** of our toys before the holidays each year so we can give some to local charities and make room for the new stuff grandparents will inevitably give :) Keeping fewer toys and fewer toys is definitely a huge help!
XO,
Jacci
Jacci says
Woops! I meant to say “fewer toys and fewer clothes” – Happy Cleaning everyone! Now, off to fold the fourth load of laundry today :)
Rachel says
Very inspiring post! You have almost made me look forward to cleaning!
Sarah R. says
The one thing I do is mop my kitchen daily (sometimes twice). That way it takes me about two minutes to do it each time and it never gets dirty enough to have to scrub. I despise scrubbing floors in a bad way.
I also follow the ‘touch it once’ rule. If something needs to be put away, I simply put it away then and there. I used to clean the house by wandering around with an empty basket that I’d fill with random odds and ends which were left out. Then I’d start dividing the stuff up by his/hers/the kids/etc. Then I’d begin puttying everything in its correct place. It seems like a good idea, but those baskets would never get completely empty before I wore out. Thus the advent of the ‘touch it once’ rule. Awesome.
Also I really love Kaboom’s Toilet Bowl Blaster. I’m sure it’s totally toxic, but it works like a charm and you don’t have to scrub–amazing!
claire says
Thanks for sharing!
Don’t tell the boss, but when I work from home I use the Swiffer to clean the floors during conference calls.
In a situation where both residents liked mowing the lawn and neither wanted to do indoor cleaning…
Vacuuming is indoor mowing! Cleaning the baseboards is equivalent to edging. Thus whoever got the fun of mowing (yes, I know it’s strange) had to do the indoor mowing too. The other person did the laundry and dishes.
As for when to do the maintenance cleaning and straightening: the house rule is when we’re watching TV (and we only have one TV so there’s no cheating) no channel surfing during commercials – everyone has to get up and clean up something until the show comes back on. It’s amazing what can get done in three commercial increments.
Brandi says
I really would love to use green products, but I have an obsession with products with disinfectants… especially in the kitchen. It’s so difficult to trust vinegar when you are wiping up raw chicken ‘splashings’.. How do you deal with this, or are you just not obsessed with salmonella like I am.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Brandi,
We actually have an “anti” reaction when we hard about disinfectants and super sanitizers. My brother the super smart chemist (the Valedictorian of Cornell University who’s currently getting his Doctorate at Columbia) recently taught us about how harmful they are to the environment (and how unnecessary and overboard they are for humans- basically washing counters/hands/etc with soap and water removes 99% of all bacteria so anything else is just a marketing ploy that ends up polluting our rivers, streams and oceans). That’s just our take on it, but we hope it helps! We’ve lived without hand sanitizer and disinfectants of any kind for over three years and have yet to get salmonella or any other germy virus from food or an unclean house. In fact, we’re healthier than most of our disinfectant-obsessed friends (zero instances of getting the flu in the last five years and we seem to dodge a lot of other things that “are going around”).
xo,
s
Lynne says
It’s been fascinating reading this (and the Kurv link). I have had a growing love for hardwood floors, but had no idea what care they needed as I have always had fitted carpets wherever I have lived. I now know how to keep them clean, but what I also want to know is: do they mark easily? I have a dog and two cats, and I’m wondering about running and skidding animals (mine are all nuts), and also friends who turn up with stiletto shoes etc. Is it rude to ask people to take shoes off? I’ve never had to think about it before, and don’t know the etiquette here.
Lynne says
Just to clarify – I am thinking of switching to hardwood floors. Still have carpet at this stage.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lynne,
Good question! Our hardwood floors have been super durable. We also have a crazy (albeit small) dog, but our friends have wood flooring with a huge and rambunctious great dane and it holds up just perfectly. You probably shouldn’t throw a hammer or a knife at the floor but otherwise they’re great with regular foot traffic (even with stilettos) and don’t really show any marks at all (we think they hide stuff better than carpets, which tend to show stains much quicker whereas you can just wipe things up on hardwood). Hope it helps!
xo,
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Steph says
Thank you SO MUCH for this post.
I was actually laying in bed last night thinking ‘it’s tough for me to pick a style to decorate my house in, because often I’ll be drawn to so many magazine layouts (and of course YHL) because everything is so tidy. I’m going to work on keeping my little home tidier so I can get a better idea of what I want to do next.
Thank you!
Amy says
We have started making our own laundry detergent. It does take a little bit of time, but it’s super cheap and makes a TON so you don’t have to make batches very often. All you need is a bar of fels neptha (an old school soap) or Ivory soap, washing soda (not baking soda), and borax. Both of those can be found at the grocery store and are about $2.50-$3.00 each for a large box. Basically you grate the soap and melt with boiling water, add 1/2 cup each of washing soda and borax and add water to fill up a 5 gallon bucket. You can even add essential oil to the batch for more scent. You don’t get a ton of suds like you do with store-bought, but it works just as good. And you can make a whole batch for just a couple dollars (usually lasts us a few months)!!
Laurie says
Kristin, what microfiber clothes do you use? Special glass cleaning ones, too? I’d love them for my kitchen!