Housecleaning: Tips and Tricks for Managing Daily Chores
The phrase, “It’s a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it,” is perfectly suited to housecleaning. But housework doesn’t have to be a (completely) dirty job—and you may not even be the one who has to do it. Use this Housecleaning Web Guide to uncover hints on getting your home clean and keeping it that way. You’ll also get tips on how to find someone to clean your home for you.
Expand All Guide SectionsHousecleaning Tips
Find general housecleaning tips, including information on cleaning specific types of surfaces and messes. Also look for spring-cleaning hints to help ensure that your deep cleaning is thorough and efficient.
Insights for Housecleaning Tips
- Web sites of housecleaning companies can be great sources of housecleaning tips. Some, like Merry Maids, even have an “Ask Our Experts” section for users to submit their questions about housework.
Top Sites for Housecleaning Tips
For general housecleaning tips and techniques …
Better Homes and Gardens
is a great place to find information about housecleaning. Find some cleaning shortcuts, see what to stock in your cleaning caddy and more.
HGTV
has an extensive collection of housecleaning hints. Look for advice about cleaning all areas of your home, from the light fixtures down to high-traffic areas.
The Housekeeping Channel
organizes its cleaning advice by room and by prominent features (carpets, windows, walls and ceilings). If your problem with housecleaning is just getting started, drop by the “Motivation” section first.
For cleaning specific types of surfaces/messes …
Good Housekeeping
provides a handy tool for finding fast advice about cleaning the furnishings and appliances in your home. Choose an item from the drop-down menu and click “Tell Me” to get started.
BellaOnline
elaborates on some of the ways to keep your home clean if you live with pets, and has suggestions for cleaning up pet hair and pet accidents.
For spring-cleaning …
Reader’s Digest
notes eight major places that shouldn’t be missed in spring-cleaning. Also see some useful related articles about the “10 Golden Rules of Cleaning” and “8 Smart Strategies to Make Your Home Dust-Proof.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics
provides a spring-cleaning tip sheet to help keep children safe around the house. Learn what products should be checked for safety during a spring-cleaning session.
To learn about germs …
Oprah.com
presents "Is Your House Making You Sick?" a slideshow that pinpoints the most germ-filled places in a home and explains what to do to make them more sanitary.
Household Cleaning Products
In addition to a little elbow grease, you'll need some household cleaning products and supplies to get started. For help choosing the right cleansers or for instructions on making your own, use the Web sites recommended below.
Insights for Household Cleaning Products
- Proper storage of cleaning products is essential for keeping young children and pets safe at home. In the event of an emergency, however, keep the contact information for Poison Control in an easily accessible location.
- Using green cleaning products is one way to lessen your ecological footprint. See the findingDulcinea Green Living Web Guide to access additional resources about environmentally-friendly living.
- For more help learning about or making organic housekeeping products, read “Organic Housekeeping.”
Top Sites for Household Cleaning Products
For conventional cleaning products …
The Soap and Detergent Association
explains what types of soaps and cleaning products are in the marketplace and where each product is best used.
San Francisco Chronicle
offers cleaning product recommendations from a professional housekeeper, as well as tips for saving time while you clean.
For green cleaning …
National Geographic
offers a "Green Guide" with recommendations for several green housecleaning supplies.
Care2.com
explains the essential components of a non-toxic cleaning kit and provides recipes for making the products included in the kit.
How to Keep Your House Clean
Once you've gotten your home clean, you'll want to keep your house clean. Learn how with fast housecleaning tips and chore charts to help keep your home looking fresh.
Insights for How to Keep Your House Clean
- Read “Too Busy to Clean?” for ideas on how to make housecleaning faster and more tolerable.
- Part of helping a home look clean is keeping it organized. See the findingDulcinea Home Organization Web Guide for Web sites that have tips for dealing with unsightly clutter in your home.
Top Sites for How to Keep Your House Clean
For guides to fast housecleaning …
Real Simple
offers tips for keeping your home clean in just 19 minutes a day in this helpful article.
Quick & Simple
lists six chores that should be completed daily to keep housecleaning at a manageable level. You’ll also find quick tips for making housecleaning more efficient and effective.
For chore charts …
Successful Family Chores
provides age-appropriate chore charts, from toddlers up to teenagers. There’s also a family chore chart and a “Honey Do List.” Print off the charts you want for free.
DLTK-Cards
builds customized, printable chore charts to help children keep up with their chores. Choose themes, cartoon characters or even holidays and create a chart for free.
Housecleaning Services
For the busy individual, the person in need of some quick housecleaning help or the person who's simply not interested in regularly having to clean, a housecleaning services company may be able to help.
Insights for Housecleaning Services
- Housecleaning prices vary greatly depending on the type and frequency of service you require, as well as your location and the company you hire. Check Web sites for pricing quotes and be sure to speak with someone in person to confirm the information.
- Before hiring a cleaning service, check its reputation with a company “Reliability Report” on the Better Business Bureau's Web site.
- The Yellow Pages are also available online and can be a great way to find your local cleaning options.
Top Sites for Housecleaning Services
Hiring housecleaning services …
Deep Cleaning Co.
provides a printable checklist to use when interviewing prospective housecleaners. Also find information that can help you determine what you want from a maid service and what to expect.
The Maids Home Services
lists several tips on hiring a maid service and explains the standards (for example, an employee background check and relevant insurance) you should make sure are in place before allowing a housekeeper into your home.
Realty Times
offers hints on hiring a housecleaning service. Particularly valuable is its discussion of housecleaning prices and comparison-shopping tips.
Finding housecleaning services …
The Housekeeping Channel
features a “Home & Cleaning Services Finder” that helps you find a housecleaning company. Search by state or zip code.
Craigslist
is a tremendous source of online classified ads. Choose a city or state, and under the “Services” section, you’ll find household services available.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
