by Lynne Griffith

Created on: September 16, 2009   Last Updated: January 05, 2010

How often do you look at your house and say to yourself, "There has got to be a faster way to clean this?" In this article, I would like to share with you some tips and tricks to help you be able to clean your house quickly, and thoroughly., as well as a few ideas on how to keep it a little more organized.

When you begin cleaning your home, start with the room farthest from the normal point of entry. From there, move on cleaning room to room working towards the entry. If you normally let people into your home through the front door, start at the point in your house farthest away from it. The same goes if you normally let company in through the back door. This will give you an incentive to finish the job. No one wants to let company come over when their house is a mess, and we all want the first impression to be nice when company does arrive.

Now that you have figured out which room to start in, start at the top. Working from the highest point of a room to the lowest prevents getting things you have already cleaned dirty again. Use a long-handled duster, or a broom to dust the ceilings and upper corners first. Then, dust any light fixtures and/ or fans that are on the ceiling. Work your way down the walls. Dusting them off. Then, clean your windows. Use old newspaper and a glass cleaner to prevent streaking.

Now that the upper and outer walls are clean, move on to the rest. Put things away . Put them in the rooms where they belong. If you have already cleaned that room, take the time to put the object in its proper place. This will help keep things orderly, and save you from having to go back through the rooms you have already done.

Okay, you have put things in their rightful places, now, dust the furniture. Using a damp cloth will do just fine, and will also help prevent dust from re-settling as you go. I like to use a furniture polish at least once a month to help keep wood furniture looking good. About once every two or three months, I take it one step further and use a special wood cleaner that adds luster and protects the wood. Place knick-knacks neatly on tables and shelves, and wipe them off before placing them.

Now, straighten couches, chairs, or make beds. You may need to vacuum under couch and chair cushions, or at the very least, sweep under them with a small broom. When replacing the cushions, make them neat and orderly as you go. If you are making a bed, be sure to straighten all blankets, and try not to let them drag on the floor. They will be in your

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