Helpful Cleaning Hints

Some people actually enjoy cleaning their houses, and it's almost understandable why. When done right, you can see practically instant results, get some mild exercise and appreciate a job well done. If you're not convinced about the joys of cleaning, however, a few hints can be employed to make the job faster and easier. For example, many housework haters find that music can help them get through repetitive chores, like cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, vacuuming and washing windows.

Bathrooms
Tackle your shower or bath, counters and sinks first. The best time to clean your shower or bath is right after you have used it; better yet, clean the shower while you are still in it. Use foaming cleansers or soap-scum removers on sinks, counters and tubs. Finish by spraying the shower with a mildew inhibitor and disinfectant. Clean glass shower doors with a solution of 1 gallon water and 1/2 cup white vinegar, or with a glass cleaner. Next, clean the toilet, saving the job with the most germs for last. Clean toilet surfaces with your cloth and the cleanser you used for the tub, shower and sinks. Clean the bowl with a long-handled brush and a toilet-cleaning product. Don't be tempted to use the toilet bowl-cleaning product on tubs, showers or counters, however, as it is too caustic and can ruin the fixture's finish. To remove toilet bowl stains, pop two denture-cleaning tablets into the bowl and leave overnight. Wipe mirrors and light fixtures with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to give your bathroom its final sparkle.

Kitchens

Your kitchen cleaning goals, similarly to bathrooms, are to disinfect as well as clean, so look for cleaning products equipped with a disinfectant. Before using, make sure that the cleaner won't harm your counter's surface by carefully reading the label. Once your counters are gleaming, wash down the sink with a cleaning product and wipe it dry to make it shine; don't forget the backsplash. Wipe down appliances and then tackle the microwave. Clean your microwave's interior easily by boiling a cup or bowl of water in it to loosen food matter and then wiping the machine down. Place greasy stove hood filters in your dishwasher to clean them. Once a month or so, clean and disinfect your dishwasher by running it empty with powdered laundry bleach instead of dishwasher detergent. Lastly, give your floors a sweep and a wash with an appropriate cleaning product for your flooring.


Vacuuming
Give your whole house a final tidy, putting items left on the floors away, and haul out the vacuum. Even if your cleaning music is enticing you to move quickly, take your time and vacuum slowly in straight strokes that will keep you on track to get the job done without missing spots or going over areas more than once. Check your vacuum bag if you are leaving more behind than you are picking up. Once you've vacuumed area rugs in high-traffic areas, like doorways, flip the rugs over and do the underside as well.

Windows
Spring and fall are the best times to attack windows so that they look nice for summer views and get you through the winter. When you are cleaning windows, use ammonia-based cleaners as well as a microfiber cloth that won't leave bits of lint behind. Don't be stingy with the cleaner and change the cloth often. Wash windows on cloudy days as hot windows can make the cleaner dry too quickly, leaving streaks. For best results, start at the top and work your way down. To make your windows really shine, run a clean blackboard eraser over them after they are cleaned and dried. Professionals always have a razor blade handy for scraping off stubborn bird droppings.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/info_8153564_helpful-cleaning-hints.html