by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: November 13, 2008   Last Updated: September 22, 2011

I don't hate housework and I never have hated housework or more correctly, I have never hated housework in my adult life. I actually enjoy doing it. It provides me with a nice break from things that require my undivided attention and that are often quite stressful. Over the years, I have learned that the best way to keep a house clean all of the time is to learn to do things in increments. Don't force yourself to clean the entire house in a single day. My step children are grown and have children of their own, most of whom are also grown now, but the routines I established at times when I was extraordinarily busy proved to be such time and lifesavers that I stick to them to this day.

The main thing to know about housework is that if you tackle it bit by bit and only do what you can handle in a given amount of time, you can avoid burning out. When things become drudgery, then the natural result of that is procrastination. The other thing to realize is that if you develop habits that become rituals, you will have a routine established in no time, and when you have a routine for doing housework, then the time you spend doing various chores is time spent wisely.

Divide your chores into manageable increments. If it means that you do a few things on a single day rather than try to do it all at once, that's okay. You will do a better job on a few things if you don't have to rush to do it. The two most important areas to keep clean all the time are the kitchen and the bathroom. Developing regular habits that you do as part of your daily routine will help you keep on top of these areas and prevent you from ever having to face the prospect of spending an entire day cleaning either of these areas.

In the bathroom: Keep a bottle of Windex, a roll of paper towels and a toilet brush in a small container in which you keep some soapy water. When you get up in the morning and go to shower or do your morning routine, do a quick clean of the mirror, wipe down the counters and swish the brush around in the toilet. To keep your shower and tub clean at all times, wipe them down when you're in the shower. I use a cheap clear shampoo on a two sided sponge. One side is terry cloth; the other is a mesh scrubber. Doing these few things on a daily basis will prevent you from ever having to do a huge cleaning job in your bathroom. Once a week, or whenever necessary, empty the trash and mop the floor. When you do this, wash the towels.

In your kitchen: Don't ever leave dishes sitting in your

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