30 Days to a Clean and
Organized House

By Katie Berry

Copyright © 2015 Katie Berry

Cover image via
iStockPhoto.com/Urfinguss

All Rights Reserved

All rights reserved. This book or
any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

without the express written permission of the publisher

except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First digital edition 2014

Second trade paperback edition
2015

ISBN-13:
978-1508564966

ISBN-10:
1508564965

Housewife How-To's is a registered
trademark of Katherine Berry.

Contents

Introduction

How This Book
Is Different

The #1 Rule

Work At Your
Own Pace

About the
Kindle version

The Daily Cleaning Routine

THE 30-DAY PLAN

DAY
ONE

DAY
TWO

DAY
THREE

DAY
FOUR

DAY
FIVE

DAY
SIX

DAY
SEVEN

DAY
EIGHT

DAY
NINE

DAY
TEN

DAY
ELEVEN

DAY
TWELVE

DAY
THIRTEEN

DAY
FOURTEEN

DAY
FIFTEEN

DAY
SIXTEEN

DAY
SEVENTEEN

DAY
EIGHTEEN

DAY
NINETEEN

DAY
TWENTY

DAY
TWENTY-ONE

DAY
TWENTY-TWO

DAY
TWENTY-THREE

DAY
TWENTY-FOUR

DAY
TWENTY-FIVE

DAY
TWENTY-SIX

DAY
TWENTY-SEVEN

DAY
TWENTY-EIGHT

DAY
TWENTY-NINE

DAY
THIRTY

HOMEMADE CLEANING MIXES

All-Purpose Cleaner

Granite-Safe All-Purpose Cleaner

Floor-Cleaner for All Hard Flooring

Bathroom Disinfectant Spray

Bathroom Disinfecting Scrub

Soft Scrubbing Cleaner

Soap Scum Remover

Vinegar-Based Daily Shower Spray

Vinegar-Free Daily Shower Spray

Window and Glass Cleaner

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Furniture Polish

Afterword

More From This Author

Introduction

If
you've been battling home clutter and messes for any length of time, this is
probably not the first book you've turned to for help. Maybe you have a shelf
of books that have promised a total home transformation but which only offered
vague advice. Maybe you have books that seemed to make sense but required you
to buy a number of containers, baskets, and other products before you could get
started.

This is
not one of those books.

On my website,
HousewifeHowTos.com, I've spent years helping others
learn to efficiently cook, clean, get organized, do laundry, and save money.
Often when people leave a comment or send me an email they're at their wit's
end.

Here are
just a few things readers have shared with me:

I
can spend all day cleaning but it looks like I haven't done a thing.

There
are piles of junk everywhere and I feel like I'm just shoveling them from one
place to another.

Last
Spring I cleaned my whole house. I so proud! Two weeks later it was back to the
same mess.

I
spend so much time cleaning house but my bedroom looks like a dump. There's
never enough time to take care of MY space.

I
work long hours and hate spending my whole weekend cleaning. My house shows it,
too. I can't keep living like this but don't know how to fix it, either.

If this
sounds familiar, you're not alone. We all wish cleaning and organizing could be
as simple as the advice the King gives to the White Rabbit in Alice in
Wonderland: "Begin and the beginning and go on till you come to the end:
then stop."

Scores
of books about cleaning and organizing make it sound that simple: start with
one thing, keep going, and then you're done. Actually that linear approach is
what causes the problem!

Books
which tell you that cleaning is a matter of going from Point A to Point B to
Point C ignore that, when it comes to cleaning and organization, there's no
such thing as being completely done. There is, however, a way to do things methodically
so you not only clean and organize a room but keep it clean and organized, too.

How This Book Is Different

This
book will keep you from getting lost. With 30 Days to a Clean and Organized
House you will learn to clean and organize, yes, but you will also learn to
keep your home in great shape by taking a little time every day to maintain
what you've done.

As you
work through the book you'll see that each day has three parts to it: cleaning,
organizing and maintaining. It's important to understand these are three
distinct steps.

Cleaning
consists of wiping, dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming, etc. It also involves
tossing what's obviously trash (food wrappers, old newspapers, dead floral
arrangements) but not sorting through or arranging things.

Organizing
means to sort through items, decide where they belong, and then put them there.

Maintaining,
the final step, involves returning to rooms you've already cleaned and
organized to restore them to their pristine condition.

Once
you've finished the plan you'll have cleaned and organized every room,
cupboard, and closet. You will also have kept them clean and organized
throughout the entire 30 days. Then, using the Monthly Routine, you'll be able to keep your
home just as clean and organized in less time than you're probably
spending now.

The #1 Rule

There is
an inner logic to this plan. The days are arranged in a specific order to
provide maximum impact for your cleaning efforts. Each day's tasks are laid out
to build on what you've already accomplished, and what you'll be doing next.
Even the steps in each task are structured to help you work efficiently. Change
any of these things and you'll wind up going down the rabbit hole.

So the
#1 Rule is trust the plan.

Following
the plan as-written addresses the main rooms in your home first, even if the
others are messier. Why? Because when the rooms where you spend the majority of
your time begin to feel serene and organized it will give you the motivation to
keep going until your entire house is clean.

Meanwhile,
your family will begin to appreciate the changes to your home and they'll help
maintain them. You might even find they're willing to help with each day's
tasks, and since the plan is so straightforward they'll be able to!

Don't
believe me? Here are some things readers of this book have already said in their
reviews:

This
30 day plan is different. It's simple, straightforward, well organized and not
the least bit gushy or preachy. It's practical enough that even my husband is
on board.

I've
dabbled with a lot of cleaning and home organizational methods, hoping that one
would finally take hold and help me conquer the beast. I'm impressed with this
one. Gave my daughter the list for cleaning the living room, and it looked the
best it had in a long time.

With
my overloaded schedule, I never thought I could achieve such a clean and
organized home (including Kids rooms)! AMAZINGLY......it stays clean and
organized with the help of your Daily Tidy Up routine!

Rearranging
or skipping any of the steps in this plan is what takes people down that rabbit
hole where they spend hours working but have nothing to show for it. So do
not skip a step and do not rearrange the days just because you'd
rather clean your office before your laundry room. Trust the plan.

Work At Your Own Pace

While
it's important that you work through the days in order -- and work each day as
outlined -- there is no reason you have to do the plan in thirty days. Maybe
you have physical limitations which require you to rest between bouts of
activity. Maybe you work insane hours and only have a half-hour per day to deal
with your house. Maybe you just like to take things nice and slow. Work the
plan at your own pace, but whatever you do, work in the order provided.

Remember,
this is not a competition. You absolutely do not want to get burned out.
Spending some time working on the plan's steps each and every day will
accomplish wonders in your home. How quickly that happens really is up to you.

About the Kindle version

This
book is also available in paperback through Amazon. In this Kindle version, I
have taken advantage of the ability to provide links to helpful articles on my
website HousewifeHowTos.com. If you purchased the paperback,
this Kindle version is available for $0.99 so you can easily refer to these
additional materials as needed.

The Daily Cleaning Routine

The
Daily Cleaning Routine is the foundation for everything you're going to
accomplish in the next thirty days. Following the Daily Cleaning Routine will
take you through the majority of your home where you'll tackle messes and
clutter before they become a problem. For some people, this step alone makes a huge
transformation in their home's cleanliness and comfort, one which restores
their confidence and motivation.

Don't
let the name of the routine frighten you! By "daily cleaning" I do not
mean scrubbing your floors and polishing your windows every single day. Who has
the time or energy for that? A daily cleaning routine just means spending a
half-hour or less establishing a baseline.

Important
note: If you
haven't cleaned in a while, it's going to take you longer than a half-hour to
go through the daily routine the first time. It might even take a few hours.
After that I promise you'll get it down to a half-hour or less, and you will
absolutely love how your home looks!

The Daily Cleaning Routine
Checklist

BEDROOM:

•     Make your bed every
morning. A rumpled bed will make even the cleanest rooms look like a disaster.

•     Pick up all clothing. Clean
stuff gets folded or hung; dirty stuff goes in the hamper.

•     Put away jewelry, hand
lotion, and other items on the nightstand.

•     Check the floor. Vacuum or
dry mop high-traffic areas as needed.

·
BATHROOM:

•     Wipe the sink basin clean.

•     Buff water spots from
mirror and faucet.

•     Wipe the toilet seat and
rim with a disinfecting cloth.

•     Spray the shower, tub and
shower door/curtain with homemade daily shower spray. (See "Homemade
Cleaning Mixes"
for the recipe.)

•     Replace any makeup-stained
towels or wash cloths with clean ones.

•     Check the floor. Sweep as needed.

KITCHEN:

•     Empty the dishwasher if
it’s full.

•     Empty the sink of any dirty
dishes, and give the sink a quick scrub.

•     Spray and wipe down
counters and appliance fronts.

•     Corral any clutter into a
neat pile to deal with later in the day.

•     Use a damp cloth to clean
any splatters on the floor.

•     Set out a clean dishtowel.

•     Microwave your wet sponge
for 60 seconds, or run it through the dishwasher, to disinfect it.

•     Give the floor a quick
sweep.

LIVING AND/OR FAMILY ROOM:

•     Straighten all pillows and
blankets on the sofa, which is one of the room’s major focal points.

•     Tidy magazines, books,
games, and DVDs.

•     Wipe away any obvious
crumbs and fingerprints from table tops.

•     Take dishes to kitchen and
put them in the dishwasher.

•     Check the floor. Use a
carpet sweeper or hand vacuum to pick up any messes.

THE 30-DAY PLAN

“Nothing will work unless you
do.”

– Coach John Wooden

DAY ONE

Today’s
cleaning task: The
Daily Cleaning Routine

Don’t
get discouraged by how long this routine takes today — I promise it will
get faster! Think about it: if your bathroom vanities and mirrors are coated in
grime today, and the coffee table is covered in food smears, it’s going to take
a good amount of time to fix those things. But it’s almost impossible for them
to be as messy tomorrow, so will take less time, and every day you do the
routine it will get faster.

Today’s
organizing task:
Spice Cupboard or Drawer

Did you
know that herbs and spices have a shelf life? Check to see if yours are still
fresh, or whether it’s time to replace them. You can tell with a good sniff:
the stronger the aroma, the fresher they are. Faint fragrance means faint
flavor, so replace those that don’t have much oomph.

In the
future, consider writing the date of purchase on the bottom of new bottles.
Here’s how long they’ll last:

•     Ground spices (cinnamon,
cloves, etc.): 2 to 3 years

•     Whole spices (whole nutmeg,
cinnamon sticks, peppercorns): 4 years

•     Dried Herbs (sage, thyme,
parsley): 1 to 3 years

•     Seeds (poppy, sesame,
mustard): 2 years

•     Seasoning mixes (taco,
seasoning salt): 1 to 2 years

•     Extracts (vanilla,
peppermint, almond) 4 years

Today’s
maintenance task:
The Laundry

Do
everything in your power to get ALL of the laundry done today and you’ll be
lightening your load for the rest of the month.

If the
thought of properly sorting and washing mounds of laundry is
too overwhelming then plan on catching up by doing at least one load per day in
addition to laundry scheduled as part of each day's tasks.

DAY TWO

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Refrigerator

A clean
refrigerator makes cooking more pleasant and is critical for food safety. This
appliance houses your family's favorite beverages and snacks, which raw foods
can contaminate. So grab a trash can, some microfiber cloths, and your cleaning
products, and get to it. (See the chapter on "Homemade Cleaning Mixes" to make your own.)

1.
Remove everything from the refrigerator: Toss expired items into the trash or compost, and
put items you’ll be keeping into coolers. (Maintaining proper food temperature
while you’re cleaning is essential to food safety!)

2.
Remove refrigerator shelves and drawers: Wash them in a sink of hot, soapy water. Use baking
soda to scrub tough spills. Dry them.

3.
Wash the interior:
Fill a bowl with warm, soapy water and stir in some baking soda. Dip a
microfiber cloth into the liquid, wring well, and wipe down the interior of the
fridge to deodorize and clean it simultaneously. Be sure to rinse your cloth
frequently!

4.
Clean the fridge gasket:
This is easily done using a soft toothbrush dipped into the soapy water. You
may need to carefully pry the gasket open with your fingertips to remove
stubborn spills.

5.
Put it back together: Return
the clean, dry shelves and drawers to the refrigerator. Close the fridge.

6.
Pull the empty fridge from the wall:
If you have back problems, please get help doing this. Unplug the fridge.

7.
Clean the hidden parts: Dust
the wall behind the fridge then sweep and mop the floor beneath it. Vacuum the
grill and/or coils. Empty and wash the drain pan in hot soapy water, then dry
and reinstall it.

8.
Plug the fridge in and push it back into place: Clean the exterior, including
the top, with hot soapy water.

9.
Let it chill: Allow
the empty fridge to chill for 1 hour before transferring food back from the
coolers. If you cut corners and just put your food on the kitchen counter, get
it back into the fridge immediately and do NOT open the refrigerator for any
reason for the next hour!

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Beneath the Kitchen Sink

•     Pull everything from
beneath the kitchen sink and give the cupboard a good scrub. If your pipes are
exposed, wipe them down as well.

•     Sort through the cupboard
contents before returning them to place, discarding things you no longer use
and returning items that belong elsewhere. Note on your grocery list any items
that need refills.

•     Return items to the
cupboard.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning Routine (Emphasis on Bedrooms)

While
doing the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time in the bedroom. Although not as thorough as a weekly
cleaning, which we'll get to later, these steps will help set a baseline of
cleanliness for your bedrooms.

•
Dust the tops of dressers and nightstands.

•
Change the sheets.

•
Give the room a good wall-to-wall vacuuming.

DAY THREE

Today,
and every day for the rest of this 30-Day Plan, you'll be getting rid of
clutter. Note the operative phrase there: you are getting rid of these
things, not merely shuffling them from one room to another.

As you
follow the plan, you'll be discarding trash in each room of your house as well
as donating unwanted items. It's essential that, no matter how tired you are,
you take the trash out and put the box of items for donation into your car.

Once a
week, make a trip to drop off your donation boxes at your favorite local
charity. This follow-through step is the payoff for the effort you’ve put in --
without it you’ve just moved junk around but haven’t really purged any clutter
or trash.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Freezer

1.
Remove everything from the freezer:
Toss expired items into the trash or compost. Place items you’ll be keeping
into coolers. (Maintaining proper food temperature while you’re cleaning is
essential to food safety!)

2.
If you have an automatic ice maker, dump the cubes: Ice acquires a stale taste after
a while, and you may find your ice drawer actually collects crumbs. Wash the
drawer in warm, soapy water and allow it to dry.

Bonus Tip: If you have a garbage disposal, run the
ice cubes through it to remove gunk from the disposal blades.

3.
Remove freezer shelves and drawers:
Wash them in soapy water. Use baking soda to scrub tough spills. Dry them.

4.
Clean the interior: Fill
a bowl with hot, soapy water and stir in some baking soda. Dip a microfiber
cloth into the liquid, wring well, and wipe down the interior of the freezer to
clean and deodorize it simultaneously. Be sure to rinse your cloth frequently!

5.
Clean the freezer gasket:
Again, use a soft toothbrush dipped into the soapy water with baking soda. You
may need to carefully pry the gasket open with your fingers to remove stubborn
spills.

6.
Put it back together: Return
the clean, dry shelves and drawers to the freezer. Close it.

7.
Let it chill: Allow
the freezer an hour to reach the appropriate temperature before you transfer
food back into it. If you cut corners and just put your food on the kitchen
counter, get it back into the freezer immediately, and do NOT open the freezer
door for any reason for the next hour!

Today’s
Organizing Task:
The Junk Drawer

Every
house has a junk drawer that started as a handy place to keep pens, tape, or a
screwdriver handy. Then one thing led to another and, boom, the drawer was
bulging with junk. Today we’re going to make that drawer less frustrating and
more functional. A tidy “junk drawer” is actually a small but important victory
against clutter!

1.
Empty it: Spread
a newspaper or towel over your kitchen counter and dump the contents of the
drawer on it.

2.
Wipe it: Clean
the inside of the drawer with a damp microfiber cloth.

3.
Remove clutter: Test
any pens you find in your junk pile. Toss the ones that don’t work, and gather
the rest with a rubber band.

4.
Organize it: Gather
things like batteries or paperclips and stash them in separate clear sandwich
bags before returning them to the drawer. Use sandwich twist ties to keep phone
chargers and headphone cords from getting tangled in the drawer.

5.
Toss trash: Look
at what's left on the counter and throw away any trash.

6.
Put things away: The
remaining things on the counter most likely belong in a different room.
Group them based on the room where they belong and return each group to its
proper location. Don’t let them just sit around or you’ll be making more work
for yourself tomorrow!

7.     Shut it: Put your clean and newly
organized Junk Drawer back in place.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bathrooms)

Give the
bathrooms a bit of extra attention today as you do the Daily Cleaning Routine. The steps below, combined with
those listed in the daily routine, amount to a weekly bathroom cleaning:

•     Disinfect and scrub the
toilet bowl.

•     Wipe the exterior of the
toilet.

•     Clean the tub and shower.

•     Sweep or vacuum and then
mop the floor.

•     Empty the trash.

•     Wash the dirty towels.

Bonus Tip: Washing a room’s
linens the same day you clean the room will help keep laundry from taking over
your house.

DAY FOUR

By now
you're seeing the power of the Daily Cleaning Routine. While cleaning and organizing
the refrigerator, freezer, junk drawer and spice drawer are largely unnoticed
tasks, the Daily
Cleaning Routine
is already transforming your home. Now it's time for one final hidden cleaning
task in the kitchen: the pantry.

A
well-organized pantry can be a wonderful money-saver since it lets you stock up
on your family's favorite foods when they're on sale. It can also save time. By
grouping multiples of items together in a container, and organizing things by
function, you'll be able to grab what you need without having to rummage
through your shelves.

On the
other hand, an unorganized pantry wastes money since you'll buy duplicates of
items you already have. If it's disorganized enough, you may wind up throwing
away food that's expired or gone stale.

Since
this is a fairly complicated cleaning task, there's a flowchart following the
checklist. I strongly encourage you to read through the checklist for
explanation of each step, even if you plan to use the flowchart.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Pantry

1.
Clear the shelves from top to bottom:

•     Throw away: Move
the trashcan close to your pantry shelves and begin emptying the pantry,
starting at the top. Toss expired and stale foods, including cereal or cracker
boxes that weren’t closed properly. Make a note of items you need to replace.

•     Donate: If
you have canned goods you know your family will never eat (like the lima beans
that sat on my shelves for 6 months), put them in a bag to give to your local
food pantry.

2.     Clean the bare shelves: Carefully scrape up any sticky spills with a spoon.
Sprinkle on baking soda to absorb the mess then wipe clean using warm, soapy
water. Let dry then sweep or vacuum away any crumbs. Be sure to look in the
corners and under shelves for cobwebs.

3.     Line the shelves if you
want: Adhesive
shelf linings tend to lift at the corners where they attract crumbs and,
eventually, bugs. If you're partial to shelf-liner, use wax or parchment paper
instead. Cut it to fit, wrapping it over the front of the shelf if you like,
and use push-pins to hold it in place. Now you can easily clean messes and
replace the liner when needed.

4.
Corral the clutter:
Gather similar items
in containers (e.g., oatmeal packets or envelopes of dressing mix). Don't let
perfectionism get in the way here: while decorative organizing containers are
nice to have, the important thing is actually getting organized. Use plastic
sandwich bags, Mason jars, food storage containers, etc. You can always replace
them with fancy canisters later -- for now, just get organized!

5.     Group items to save time: First, group items by function:
baking items (flour,
baking soda, etc.) belong on the same shelf together so you can find recipe
ingredients easily. Next, group multiples together (e.g., cans of diced
tomatoes, boxes of pasta, etc.) so you know how many of an item you have left.
Put the oldest items toward the front so you use them up first.

6.     Clean items as you return
them to the shelves:
Wipe down bottles and boxes so you aren't returning messy, dusty things to your
clean pantry. As you work, keep in mind how you actually use the things in your
pantry: items you don't use very often should go the highest shelves, while
things you use frequently should be easy to grab. To keep your kids from
tearing apart the pantry put their snacks where they can see them.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Food Storage Container Cupboard

Every
kitchen seems to have a cupboard where food storage containers and lids get
shoved, one which often causes an avalanche every time someone opens the door.
If you're short on help cleaning up after meals, the hassle of dealing with the
food storage container cupboard might be why!

1.
Empty it: Put
everything on the counter.

2.
Wipe it: Clean
the interior of the empty cupboard with a microfiber cloth dipped in warm,
soapy water. Use a baking soda paste to scrub stubborn stains or spills. Follow
with another cloth dipped in clean water and allow the cupboard to air dry.

3.     Sort the contents: Match up same-sized containers
and make sure you have lids for each. Set aside any stained containers; you'll
clean them after the cupboard is organized.

4.
Toss the trash:
Throw away (or recycle) any lids that don’t fit your containers, and any
containers without lids. Also discard containers where the plastic or the lid
has bubbled; they’re no longer food safe and can actually add harmful
substances to your food.

Bonus tip: Use lidless containers to hold small items in
your pantry, and use lids without containers under potted plants to catch
drips.

5.     Clean the contents: Scrub stains from plastic containers
with a paste of baking soda, salt and water. If the stain remains, squeeze some
lemon juice on it and set the container in the sun. (Use some common sense and
don’t put plastic on cement or metal surfaces outside when the temps are over 90°
F.)

6.      Organize it: Group your same-sized containers,
with their lids, and return them to the cupboard.

7.     Now, keep it straight! Next time you’re emptying the
dishwasher, take the extra time to put containers and their lids away properly.
When you’re trying to find a container for your leftovers after dinner you’ll
be glad you took that extra time!

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Laundry Room)

When
you’ve finished the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend a few extra minutes giving the laundry room some attention. This is not a
deep-cleaning -- we'll get to that. The purpose of today's maintenance task is
simply to get you in the habit of including your laundry room in your weekly
chores.

If
you've been good about following this plan, you got caught up on laundry just a
few days ago, and laundered towels yesterday so your laundry room should be
nice and empty. If you ignored these steps, you're about to see why it's
important to follow the plan in order!

•     Wipe the top of the washer
and dryer.

•     Scrub the dryer’s lint
screen with hot, soapy water. Air dry.

•     Grab a microfiber cloth and
quickly dust the shelves.

•     Give the floor a quick
sweep and you’re done.

DAY FIVE

This
week's focus on the kitchen has transformed the behind-the-scenes spaces in
your kitchen. Now it's time to clean the rest of your appliances.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Stove, Oven and Microwave

1.
Start with the stove:
Wash it using hot,
soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Clean dirty stove-eyes and glass or ceramic
cook tops using a toothbrush dipped into a paste of baking soda and water.
Rinse well with hot water to remove any residue.

2.
Tend to details: Pull
off the stove and oven knobs if possible and wash them in hot, soapy water.
Clean beneath the knobs with an old toothbrush, using baking soda as needed for
additional scrubbing power.

3.     Clean the oven: If you have a self-cleaning
option on your oven, by all means use it. After the cycle has ended and the
oven cooled, wipe away any ash from the oven’s walls and floor. If you don’t
have a self-cleaning oven, you can still get it clean without harsh chemical
sprays — it’s just going to be a longer process. Just be sure you do this on an
UNHEATED oven.

•     Sweep away piles of burned
food then wash the walls and floor with hot, soapy water to remove as much
grease as possible.

•     For cooked-on stains,
sprinkle baking soda and mist it with warm white vinegar; allow that to sit for
a few hours then scrub the grime away.

•     To remove baked grease from
the oven door window, scrub it with a thick paste of baking soda and lemon
juice. Allow that to sit for an hour then wipe clean.

4.      Clean the microwave: Heat a cup filled with equal
parts water and white vinegar for 2 minutes. Don’t like vinegar? Use a several
lemon wedges, instead. Let the cup sit in the microwave for 2 more minutes
while the steam loosens grime. Remove the turntable and wash it in the sink.
Wipe the food splatters away with a damp microfiber cloth, and use a toothbrush
if needed to clean the corners.

5.
Shine them all:
For stainless steel appliances, use a dab of olive oil on a microfiber cloth to
remove fingerprints and leave a nice gleam. Give other types of surfaces a nice
shine using the All-Purpose Cleaner recipe in the "Homemade Cleaning Mixes" section of this book.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Glasses Cupboard

Over the
year, many of us accumulate plastic glasses and water bottles, novelty cups,
even coffee mugs. At first they seem like things we should hold onto, and then
comes the day when you can't find matching glasses for a dinner party, and the
ones you do find smell awful. It's time to do something about that.

1.     Empty and wipe: Empty the cupboard completely.
Wipe the interior
with a microfiber cloth dipped in warm, soapy water. Follow with another cloth
dipped in clean, warm water, and allow to air dry.

2.     Toss the trash: Discard (or recycle) any chipped glasses, along with
any drinkware you no longer want to keep. Keep in mind that if you have glass
cupboard doors or open shelving, mismatched glasses make your kitchen look
cluttered.

3.     Soak and shine: Deodorize and de-haze your drinking glasses by filling
a sink with hot water and adding 2 cups of white vinegar. This works for both
plastic and glass. Let the drinkware soak in this for 20-30 minutes while you
work on the next step, and then rinse and dry. The vinegar will remove both the
smell and the haze.

4.
Scour stains: Remove
gray silverware scratches and stains from coffee mugs and tea cups by scrubbing
with a paste of cream of tartar and water. Rinse well and dry.

5.     Store them properly: Return glasses to the cupboard,
storing glasses of the same size together. If you have open shelving, store
glasses upside down to keep them from accumulating dust. For those with young
children, consider putting smaller glasses on the lowest shelf to make it
easier for them to find. Less frequently used glasses, and those reserved for
company dinners, should go on the top shelf.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Living Room)

As
you’re doing the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time on the living room for its weekly cleaning:

•     Dust artwork, lamp shades,
shelves and TV with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth. Rinse repeatedly so
you're not simply spreading dust.

•     Polish glass surfaces. Wipe
down light switches, door knobs, and door jambs, too.

•     Using the crevice
attachment, vacuum around the base of walls, and then vacuum the floor.

•     Polish the furniture.

•     Empty the trashcan.

DAY SIX

The
general rule is to clean from the outside in, and then from top to bottom, left
to right. By cleaning the cupboards, drawers, and appliances, we've
deep-cleaned the perimeter of the kitchen. Now it's time to give the rest of it
a top-to-bottom cleaning.

Today's
Cleaning Task:
Finish the Kitchen

1.     Empty the sink: If there are dishes in your
sink, wash them and then fill the sink with hot, soapy water. Use this on the
following cleaning steps.

2.     Let the light shine: It is impossible to clean well in
a dimly lit room. Open the blinds and turn on all of the lights so you can see
every splatter and spot.

3.
Cut the clutter: For
five days you've been doing the Daily Cleaning Routine, corralling the clutter on your
kitchen counters and returning it every day to its proper place. As a result,
today it should only take a moment to declutter your counters, so do it now.

4.     Get dusting: Using a long-handled cleaner or a
broom with a pillow case slipped over the bristles, dust the ceiling and then
the walls, window sills, door jambs, doors, and baseboards.

5.     Clean cupboard and cabinets:
Grab a step
stool or ladder and clear the top of your cupboards. Wash the tops and then the
fronts of your upper cupboards using a microfiber cloth, rinsing it frequently.
Repeat with the lower cupboards and the kitchen island.

6.
Wipe before returning: Dust
items before returning them to the top of your cupboards.

7.     Wash the windows: Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth
and some glass cleaner to polish the windows, the front of pictures on the
walls, and other decorative glass surfaces. Note: if the sun hits your kitchen
windows directly, wait until sunset to polish them or you'll just leave streaks.

8.     Clear the counters: Remove everything from your
countertops and wash the back-splash with hot, soapy water. Rinse, dry and
follow with glass cleaner for a nice shine.

9.
Now, clean them: Use
hot soapy water to remove grease from the countertops and buff dry.

10.
Wipe before returning: Wipe
small appliances, canisters, and other items as you return them to the counter.

11.
Make it shine: Spray
appliance fronts with all-purpose cleaner and wipe them top to bottom to remove
grime. For stainless steel appliances, use a small dab of olive or vegetable
oil on a lint free cloth to remove fingerprints. Also spray and wipe light
switch plates, doors (including the knob) and finally baseboards.

12.     Scrub the sink: Drain the sink and scrub it with
baking soda to remove food stains. Clean the garbage disposal by filling it
with a handful of ice and a sprinkling of baking soda then run it for 30
seconds with the tap wide open. To repel water spots, dry the sink with a towel
and then buff it with a drop or two of olive or lemon oil.

13.     Finish with the floor: Sweep or vacuum the floor it
using your machine’s floor attachment. Be sure to move furniture and other
items off the floor so you can get all of the dust and grit. Follow by mopping
the floor well with a floor cleaner and allow it to dry. (See "Homemade
Cleaning Mixes.")

Today’s Organizing Task: Silverware Drawer

Wipe
your silverware drawer organizer to remove any crumbs then give your utensils a
quick inspection. Use plastic bread ties to keep chopsticks or plastic utensils
together so they don’t take over your drawer.

Bonus
tip: Items that have accidentally gone into the garbage disposal may have
jagged edges -- smooth them with a nail file if possible, otherwise toss them
before someone gets hurt.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning and Laundry

In
addition to the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
it’s time to get caught up on laundry again. Keep in mind that we’re washing
sheets on the days we clean the bedrooms, and towels on the days we clean
bathrooms. So today’s laundry is just our family’s clothes, and hopefully won’t
be too overwhelming.

Sort it,
wash and dry it, then take it out of the dryer right away and fold it. Most
importantly, put away each load as soon as it's folded. Putting away
each load right away means your house still looks tidy even if you have to stop
before you've finished all the laundry.

DAY SEVEN

Do you
despise cleaning the bathroom? You're not alone. I've spent more time coming up
with excuses to avoid cleaning the bathroom than it would have taken me to
actually do it. But, let's face it: these rooms get nasty and they need to be
cleaned well regularly.

Over the
next few days we'll break into small steps the process of deep-cleaning these
important rooms so our weekly cleanings will go that much faster. Note that if
you have more than one bathroom, you'll need to do today's cleaning and
organizing tasks in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Bathroom Walls and Baseboards

Lots of
things build up on bathroom walls. Wash yours using warm water to which you've
added a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Work with a cleaning cloth that is
damp but not dripping wet, and clean from the bottom up to avoid streaks.

•     If hairspray buildup is a
problem, do a second pass with one of these solutions:

•     On painted walls: Combine 1 part fabric softener
and 2 parts warm water in a spray bottle.

•     On wallpaper: Use equal parts of rubbing
alcohol and water in a spray bottle. Be sure to spot test first!

•     Once you’ve cleaned the
walls, wash the baseboards with different microfiber cloth dipped in hot, soapy
water then follow with a clean wet cloth.

Today’s Organizing Task: Under Bathroom Sinks

1.     Empty it: Remove everything from beneath
your bathroom sink. Since a lot of dust accumulates here, it's a good idea to
wipe it first with a dry cloth to get the dry grime out of the way. Next, clean
the interior of the cupboard with hot, soapy water and follow with a fresh
cloth dipped in plain water.

2.     Sort it: Grab a trash bag and a box for
donations, and go through the clutter underneath your bathroom sink. Throw away
expired products, but consider donating unused items to your local women’s
shelter.

3.     Group it: Gather items you use daily into
a basket so they’re easy to find. Be sure to place these in the front so
you don’t have to rummage around looking for them. Use additional baskets, or
even shoe boxes to group other items together — lotions and oils, for example,
or all the items you use to polish your nails.

4.     Raise it: If space is at a premium in your
bathroom, think about installing a multi-shelf storage unit under the sink.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bedrooms)

While
doing the
Daily Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time giving the bedrooms a surface cleaning. We'll get to a
deep-cleaning later on. For now, the daily cleaning plus the steps below equal
a weekly cleaning.

1.     Dust and polish: Start with the ceiling fan then
dust and polish dressers and other hard furniture, wall art, and window sills.

2.     Clean soft surfaces: Use your vacuum’s dust or drape
attachment and vacuum the curtains or blinds. Switch to the upholstery attachment
and vacuum chair seats, throw pillows, and dry clean-only bed linens.

3.     Change the sheets: Be sure to launder the used
sheets today, rather than leaving them in the laundry room. Doing a room’s wash
the same day you clean the room will keep laundry from piling up.

4.     Finally, the floor: Use the crevice attachment at
the base of the walls, and then vacuum the rest of the floor thoroughly.

DAY EIGHT

Let’s
keep the cleaning going in the bathrooms (sorry for the pun) by tackling the
nastiness that builds up in our tubs and showers. Remember, if you have more
than one bathroom, do the cleaning and organizing tasks in each today.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Hard Water Spots and Soap Scum

1.     Clean the shower head: If possible, remove your shower
head and soak it in a bowl filled with equal parts hot water and white vinegar.
If you cannot remove the shower head, fill a zippered plastic bag with the same
1:1 mixture and then, using a rubber band, fasten the bag around the shower
nozzle so the head is immersed in the liquid. Wait 30 minutes then scrub the
shower head with an old toothbrush and reattach it (or dump the contents of the
bag). A dirty shower head can pose several health hazards, so it's important to keep it
clean.

2.     So long, soap scum: Remove soap scum from built-in
soap holders and shower walls using a good soap scum remover like the one found
in the "Homemade
Cleaning Mixes"
chapter.

3.     Out, darn spots! The soap scum remover does a
good job of removing spots from shower walls and doors and nasty rings on
bathtubs. For tough buildup on whirlpool jets
or fixtures, try
this:

•     Fill tub to 2 inches above
the highest jet with HOT water.

•     Add 1/2 gallon white
vinegar.

•     Run the jets for 15 minutes
then let sit for another 10.

•     Drain the tub and refill
with cold water, running 10 minutes.

•     Drain the tub and wipe down
with clean, soft cloth.

IMPORTANT
NOTE: The homemade
cleaning recipes
in this book are safe to use together. DO NOT use them at the same time as
commercial cleaners! DO NOT mix commercial cleaners with each other, either, or
you may create toxic fumes that can cause serious lung, liver, and brain
damage!

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Medicine Cabinet

Despite
their name, did you know that medicine cabinets may not be the best place to
store medicine after all? The heat and humidity in our bathrooms may lessen the
effectiveness of medications, plus there's the danger of kids getting into
them. According to experts, it’s better to store them in cool, dry place —
preferably one with a lock.

Also important:
checking expiration dates. While most medications remain effective well past
the date noted on the bottle, after a couple of years things start to get iffy.
As a general rule of thumb if it’s important for the medication to work, and
the bottle says it expired more than a year ago, replace it.

1.     Empty it: Remove everything from your
medicine cabinet. If the shelves are removable, take them out, too.

2.     Wipe it: Using a microfiber cloth dipped
in warm, soapy water, wipe the inside of the cabinet, including the back of the
door. Follow with a cloth dipped in clean water. Wash removable shelves in a
sink of warm, soapy water and rinse them.

3.     Sort it: Separate your cosmetics from
your medicines, first aid supplies and other items.

4.     Check it: Go through each group
(cosmetics, pills, etc.) and toss expired items. With regards to makeup,
mascara should be replaced every 2-3 months; foundation is good for 1 year; and
powders expire after 2-3 years.

5.     Group it: Store similar items together in
your cabinet. Put the most frequently used items on the lower shelves,
less-often used items up high.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Laundry Room)

Today
after you do the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
head to the laundry room and give the appliances a quick wipe down, dust the
shelves, polish the inside of the window, and sweep the floor.

DAY NINE

If you
have more than one bathroom, do the cleaning and organizing tasks in each
today.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Shower Curtains

Although
less frustrating than glass, shower curtains can still get funky because they
trap moisture, becoming breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Short of buying
new ones every few months (and I know someone who does just that, which seems
silly to me), what can you do to clean them? Put them in the washing machine!

1.
Wash shower curtains one at a time:
Add a couple of washcloths or a hand towel to “scrub” the curtain as the cycle
runs.

2.
Add this: Use
your regular detergent, 1 cup of white vinegar and hot water for plastic
curtains, warm for vinyl, and cold for fabric overlays.

3.
Catch drips: Spread
a bath towel in front of your washer. When the cycle is complete, take the wet
shower curtain out of the machine and put it on the towel.

4.
Hang it: Carry
the towel-wrapped curtain to your bathroom and hang it back up. Open it fully
so the curtain can drip dry.

5.
Air it: Turn
your bathroom fan on to help the curtain dry faster and to keep humidity from
building up in your bathroom and causing mold or mildew.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Linen Closet/Shelves

Many of
us need to store towels and washcloths in our bathrooms, while others are lucky
enough to have separate linen closets. Wherever you keep yours, today’s the day
to get them neat and tidy.

1.     Empty it: Remove all of the towels,
washcloths and other linens from where you store them.

2.     Wipe it: Using a damp microfiber cloth,
wipe down the interior of the cupboard or closet. Be sure to get in the corners
where spiders love to build webs. Allow to fully air dry while you continue
with the next steps.

3.     Sort it: Group items together: towels,
wash cloths, sheets, etc. For those who keep separate linens for guests,
consider storing them on their own shelves so your family doesn’t accidentally
use (and stain) your nice stuff.

4.     Inspect it: While sorting, look through your
linens and decide if anything needs to be mended or replaced.

5.     Store it: Ideally, you should change
washcloths daily, towels after every three uses, and bed sheets weekly. Keep
that in mind when returning your linens to the shelves and place the
less-frequently changed items on higher shelves. To keep sheet sets neat, fold
then slip them into one of the set’s pillowcases. You’ll be able to tell which
bed it goes on, and your sheets won’t fall all over the place.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Living Room)

As
you’re doing the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time on the living room. In addition to the daily tasks the
following will give the room its weekly cleaning:

•     Vacuum the curtains using
the vacuum’s dust attachment.

•     Dust artwork, lamp shades,
shelves and TV.

•     Polish glass surfaces. Wipe
down light switches and door jambs, too.

•     Vacuum under sofa and chair
cushions then vacuum the cushions themselves using the upholstery attachment.

•     Using the crevice
attachment, vacuum around the base of walls.

•     Vacuum the floor.

•     Polish the furniture.

•     Empty the trashcan.

DAY TEN

We’re
continuing in the bathrooms today. If you have more than one bathroom, be sure
to repeat these steps in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Bathroom Grout

Grout.
The word sounds as distasteful as the task of cleaning it, and yet it needs to
be done. To clean yours naturally make a paste with baking soda and hydrogen
peroxide then scrub it onto your grout using an old toothbrush. Wait 10-15
minutes and then rinse with hot water.

For
tougher grout stains, make the paste out of Oxyclean and water and follow the
directions above.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Hair Accessories

1.     Brushes and combs: If you haven’t given your hair
brushes and combs a good cleaning lately, this is the perfect time.

•     Use scissors to snip
between rows of bristles then run a comb through the bristles to remove hair.

•     Fill a sink with warm
water; add a squirt of dish soap, a couple tablespoons of baking soda, and a
drop or two of tea tree oil (optional).

•     Swish brushes and combs
around in the water to remove oils and product buildup then rinse in clear
water and lay flat on a towel to dry.

2.     Styling tools: Use rubbing alcohol on cool
instruments to remove hairspray and product buildup. Either wrap the cords
around the tools and store them in a drawer, or consider installing a styling
tool holder inside a cupboard door.

3.     Accessories: The drawer inserts you'd use to
hold silverware are also handy in the bathroom. Use one to organize barrettes,
bobby pins, and hair clips. Or, if you have the shelf space, slip ponytail
holders and scrunchies over the necks of decorative bottles.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Do family laundry)

Be sure
to do your Daily
Cleaning Routine
then catch up on family laundry. (You'll be washing bathroom linens tomorrow.)

DAY ELEVEN

You have
been deep-cleaning the bathrooms in small steps all week. Now it's time to wrap
things up. Again, if you have more than one bathroom you'll want to do today's
tasks in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Deep-Cleaning Bathrooms

1.     Look up: Did you know dirty bathroom fans
can cause house fires? These hard-working fans operate in rooms full of
humidity, so they can easily become covered with dust, mold, and other grime.
Grab a step-stool and remove the covers from your fans. Use a brush attachment
on your vacuum to remove as much gunk as possible then give the blades a good
wipe with a disinfecting spray. Be sure they’re completely dry before replacing
the cover.

2.     Dust it: Even bathrooms get dusty,
particularly the light fixtures. Grab a long-handled duster, or a broom with a
pillow case slipped over the bristles, and clean the ceiling and walls,
including the corners. Move on to windowsills, door jambs, light fixtures and
mirrors. Then, even though we wiped them clean earlier this week, give the
baseboards a quick dust because we’ve just stirred up dust that might settle on
them.

3.     Shine it: Turn the lights off and let them
cool before completing this step! Grab a microfiber cloth and some glass
cleaner. Remove light covers if necessary, and wipe both the bulbs and the
light covers clean. (You can put the light covers in the top rack of your
dishwasher if they’re glass.) Let the glass cleaner fully evaporate before
turning on the lights.

4.     Disinfect it: Spray the toilet inside and out
with disinfecting spray. Allow it to sit several minutes while you move on to
the next step.

5.     Pre-clean then clean: Clear the bathroom vanity, and
then wipe it with a dry cloth. Repeat with the tub surround and the exterior of
the toilet tank. These areas build up all sorts of dust and grime, so I’ve
always found it easiest to dry wipe them first to remove that stuff, and then
spray them with cleaner. Follow with a clean microfiber cloth, leaving the
toilet tank for last, and your surfaces should be nice and shiny.

6.     Scrub then flush: Grab your toilet brush and scrub
the toilet bowl, taking extra care to get beneath the rim in the front where
urine often collects and causes odor-producing stains. Flush then swish the
brush in the clean water before flushing a second time. Prop the brush between
the lid and seat to let it drip dry.

7.     Finish the floor: Sweep or vacuum the floors and
mop them thoroughly.

8.     Finish up: Give the mirrors a good polish
using glass cleaner then shine the faucet fixtures, change the towels and take
out the trash. Be sure to wash your towels and any bathroom rugs TODAY so you
don’t fall behind on laundry!

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Items on Your Vanity

Before
returning items to your vanity, discard anything you no longer use. Return
items that belong elsewhere to their appropriate spots. Then wipe down any
items you’ll be storing on the vanity.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Kitchen)

We
deep-cleaned the kitchen last week, and now we’re going to keep it looking nice
by giving it extra attention during the Daily Cleaning Routine.

1.     Clean the main surfaces: Wipe kitchen cupboard and drawer
fronts with a clean microfiber cloth. Dust horizontal surfaces, including the
top of the refrigerator. Wipe the kitchen table and chairs. Use furniture
polish to give them a shine.

2.     Give the appliances the
once-over: Wipe
away any spills on the floor of the oven. Go through the fridge and discard
expired food items. Wipe the shelves with a clean microfiber cloth dipped in
water. Wipe appliance exteriors. Scrub the sink.

3.     Polish the glass: Use glass cleaner to shine
fixtures and remove spots on the inside of windows. Polish the front of
pictures, too.

4.     Take out the trash: Empty the trash can and, if
weather permits, rinse the cans outside then air dry.

5.     Clean the floor: Clear the floor and then sweep or
vacuum. Mop the floor and allow it to dry before returning items to their
place.

DAY TWELVE

We've
finished the bathrooms, so it's time to move on to another place that can make
our mornings and evenings much more pleasant: the clothing closets!

Since
cleaning the closet is a complicated task, there's a chart after the checklist
for your reference. I strongly encourage you to read through the
checklist to understand each step, even if you plan to use the chart.

Like
bathrooms, you'll need to repeat these steps for each. One of the nice
things about using a chart: you can hand it to your kids so they can clean
their own closets!

Today's
Cleaning AND Organizing Task:
Clothing Closets

1.
Straighten what’s there: Throw
away trash; gather clean clothes. Take dirty clothes to the laundry room. Fold
and put away clean clothes that belong in the dresser and hang the rest.

2.     Remove everything from the
closet: Take
everything out of your closet and put it on your bed or floor. As you do, put
“like” things together: pants, long-sleeved shirts, dresses, etc. Don’t worry
whether something’s outdated or too big/small at this point.

3.     Clean the empty closet: Grab a long-handled duster, or a
broom with a pillow case slipped over the bristles, and clean the ceiling,
walls, and door jamb. Wipe scuffs off the walls. Dust the light fixture then
wipe the light switch and baseboards. Vacuum the floor then use the crevice
attachment at the base of the walls.

4.     Sort your stuff: Go through each category of
clothes, sorting items into one of the following categories:

•
Things too worn out to wear or to donate: Old t-shirts and tights make great stuffing for
floppy sofa cushions. Everything else goes in the rag bag or trash.

•
Things you don’t like anymore:
Put them into a box and label it ‘Donations’. Keep a list of things you’re
donating as you put them into the box. This will make it easier to calculate
your charitable donation to deduct from your taxes.

•
Things you like but which don’t fit right now: Put these items into a box
marked "Store" and write the sizes on the outside of the box. Next
time your weight fluctuates you'll know where to start shopping.

5.
Return things to the closet in categories:

•
Hang clothing by category: jeans, skirts, dresses, long-sleeved tops,
short-sleeved tops, etc. Put longer items toward the end of your closet rod to
leave room for shoes.

•
Return shoes to the closet.

•
Hang scarves over the bar of a clothes hanger. Loop belt buckles over another
clothes hanger.

•
Return your shoulder bags and purses to the closet, preferably on a shelf.

6.
Finish up:

•
Put the box of items to donate in your car

•
Take the boxes of things you’ll be keeping to your storage area.

•
Take empty hangers to the laundry room.

•
Throw away the trash.

Today's
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning Routine

Even
though closet-cleaning is very hard work, be sure to perform the Daily Cleaning
Routine today.
If you’ve been good about doing it every day you'll only need to spend a few
minutes on it, but you'll reap the reward by having a pleasant, clutter-free
home to relax in tonight.

DAY THIRTEEN

“First
impressions matter the most.” This is absolutely true of our homes, too.
You could spend all month cleaning but if the entrance to your home is a mess
visitors are going to assume the rest is, too. Today you’re going to put
visitors on notice that there’s been some serious organization and cleaning
going on!

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Entry Way

Hopefully
it’s warm enough where you live to do some outside work. If not, you’ll want to
do the interior today and complete the exterior when you can.

Outside

1.     Clear it: Remove absolutely everything
from your front step: the doormat, potted plants, knickknacks, etc.

2.     Sweep it: Grab a broom and sweep the
walls, storm or screen door, front door, floor. Be sure to get the corners
where leaves and cobwebs accumulate.

3.     Scrub it: Using a microfiber cloth and
all-purpose cleaner, wipe your front door (including the frame of the storm- or
screen door) to remove any grime, dust and fingerprints. Wipe the doorknob,
door bell buttons, door knocker, kick plate and your house numbers, too.

4.     Shine it: Using a clean microfiber cloth
and glass cleaner, shine the glass on your light fixtures inside and out. Clean
glass on your storm or front doors.

5.     Scour it: If your front step is stained
from plants or other decorative items, you’ll want to scour the area with a
stiff-bristled scrub brush. Mix up a quart of warm water and add 1/4 cup
oxygenated cleaner (like Oxyclean), and scrub this into the stain. Let it sit
for 20-30 minutes then rinse with clean water. This non-toxic solution will
remove mold, mildew and rust stains without harming your plants.

6.     Shake it: Shake or hose off your Welcome
Mat before returning it to the front step.

7.     Finish it: Clean items as you return them
to the front step. Remove dead leaves from plants, wipe down decorative
objects, etc.

Inside

1.     Clear it: Gather shoes, coats, gloves and
other items that belong in bedroom or coat closets and put them to their proper
place. Collect items to be returned (library books, video rentals, etc.) and move
them to your car so you can take care of them next time you’re running errands.

2.     Dust it: Use a long-handled extension
cleaner, or a broom with a pillow case slipped over the bristles, to dust the
ceiling, walls, light fixtures, door jamb, door, and baseboards. Be sure to get
in the corners to remove cobwebs!

3.     Scrub it: Use a microfiber cloth and
all-purpose cleaner to remove scuffs and fingerprints from the door, trim and
walls. Wipe the baseboards, too, and consider going over them with a dryer
sheet to repel dust for up to two months.

4.     Shine it: Clean any light fixtures by hand
using a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner. Shine doorknobs and other hardware.

5.     Vacuum it: Using a crevice attachment,
vacuum around the base of the walls, and then use the floor attachment to get
the floors clean. Vacuum both the front and back of throw rugs or entry
mats, and then mop the floor.

6.     Organize it: Rather than merely tossing keys
and cell phones wherever they land, consider using a decorative tray or bowl to
corral them. Make space for a mail sorter, too. (More on that below.)

7.     Protect it: The entrance to your home is
your last chance to keep dirt out. Studies indicate that shoes track in up to
70% of the dirt in a home, along with a number of pesticides. At a minimum,
instruct your family to remove their shoes when they come in, and provide your
guests a place to shed theirs if they like. If you can afford it and have the
space, a basket with spare slippers or slipper socks can entice reluctant
guests to shed their shoes. Also, be sure to have a good, dirt-catching mat inside
your front door for everyone to wipe their feet.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Mail

Since
we’re cleaning the entryway today, it’s time to do something about that huge
pile of mail. You have probably read expert advice about using a mail-sorting
system where you only touch items once. Sorry, but that doesn’t work for me.
I’m just not the type to drop what I’m doing and pay bills, sign permission
slips, and write replies that second, nor do I know anyone who is.

A mail
sorter, properly used, lets you open mail and file it for future action. I like
one with four sections:

•     Read: For things that aren't
obviously bills.

•     Pay: Bills.

•     Reply: Letters or other things that
need a response.

•     File: This is where I stash paid bills
along with receipts throughout the week. Once a week I file them in my home
office.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bedrooms)

While
doing the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time giving the bedrooms a surface cleaning. We'll be giving
them a deep-cleaning very soon. Doing the daily cleaning plus the steps below
gives them a weekly cleaning and will ultimately make the deep-cleaning go much
faster.

1.     Dust and polish: Start with the ceiling fan then
dust and polish dressers and other hard furniture, wall art, and window sills.

2.     See to soft surfaces: Use your vacuum’s dust or drape
attachment and vacuum the curtains or blinds. Switch to the upholstery
attachment and vacuum chair seats, throw pillows, and dry clean-only bed
linens.

3.     Change the sheets: Be sure to launder the used
sheets today, rather than leaving them in the laundry room. Doing a room’s wash
the same day you clean the room will keep laundry from piling up.

4.     Finally, the floor: Use the crevice attachment at
the base of the walls then vacuum the rest of the floor thoroughly.

DAY FOURTEEN

We're
cleaning the laundry room this week, and since you've been doing family laundry
weekly and each room's laundry on the day you've cleaned it, you shouldn't have
mounds of dirty things to step around. If not, get that laundry done first!

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Washing Machine

Did you
know that every pair of underwear has about 1/10th a gram of poop in it, and
that after washing a load of them your machine contains E. coli? Nasty, right?

Even if
you're washing in very hot water, using bleach or not, dead skin cells and
other residues build up in your machine over time. Eventually, this stuff gets
on your clothes.

Cleaning
your machine regularly addresses both problems.

Top Loaders

1.
Open the lid and spray it then use a soft brush to remove any caked-on
detergent or grime. Be sure to get the hinges, too.

2.
Using a microfiber cloth dipped in hot water, go around the hard rubber
gasket at the top of the barrel. Scrub until you’ve removed any build-up then
wipe down with a clean, wet cloth.

3.
Remove the bleach/fabric softener dispensers, if any, and scrub them in the
sink using hot water and a soft-bristled brush. Dry well, and return to the
machine.

4.
Run the wash cycle on the hottest water setting without detergent. Add 2
cups of white vinegar as the tub fills. Allow the cycle to run through its
entirety, including rinse, to clean and disinfect the interior.

High-Efficiency
Machines

1.
Use a soft-bristled brush and soapy water to clean the rubber gaskets
around the door. Wipe with a clean, damp cloth and dry well.

2.
If your washer has a cleaning cycle, use it. Skip the detergent and instead
fill the soap dispenser with white vinegar. Allow a complete cycle to run.

3.
If your machine does not have a cleaning cycle, add 2 cups white vinegar to
the wash cycle (no soap) and run it on the HOT/HOT setting through a complete
cycle.

Bonus
Tip: You can reduce build-up and laundry odors by timing your loads of laundry
properly. Wash clothing first, and follow it with a load that requires
high-temperatures (sheets, towels, underwear and socks). Add bleach OR vinegar
to the hot cycle and your machine will stay clean.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Laundry Room Shelves

You've
done two general cleanings in the laundry room thus far. Now it’s time to get
serious about what you're keeping on the shelves.

1.     Clear it: Remove everything from your
laundry room shelves. Toss trash into a bag as you work.

2.     Dust it: Clean the wall behind the
shelves as well as the top and bottom of each shelf. (Yes, lint clings to the
bottom.) Be sure to get the corners where cobwebs and lint accumulate.

3.     Wipe it: Grab a microfiber cloth and an
all-purpose cleaner then wipe the shelves, including the wall behind them.

4.     Group it: Sort that pile of stuff you
removed from the shelves by task: detergents; stain removers; other cleaning
supplies; etc. Check for duplicates and consolidate them if possible. (Do NOT
combine different products in the same container!)

5.     Purge it: Discard items you’ve discovered
don’t work well along with things you know you’ll never use again.

6.     Gather it: Ordinarily, I’m not a big fan of
shoving things in baskets but I make an exception in the laundry room where
they're perfect for clothespins, batteries, extra laundry supplies, etc. Take
the time to wipe things down as you transfer them to baskets or boxes so you
aren't just dragging lint and dust from one place to another.

7.     Return it: Put your most commonly-used
items (like detergents) at eye-level and save the higher shelves for things you
don’t use very often. Do NOT place dangerous items on shelves that children can
reach. This includes laundry detergent pods which little ones often mistake for
candy.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bathrooms)

Give the
bathrooms a bit of extra attention today as you do the Daily Cleaning Routine. These steps, combined with
those listed in the daily routine, amount to a weekly bathroom cleaning:

•     Clean the sinks, including
the faucets.

•     Disinfect then scrub the
toilet bowl.

•     Wipe the exterior of the
toilet.

•     Remove hard water spots on
the fixtures or shower walls.

•     Clean the tub.

•     Dust the door jambs and
baseboards.

•     Sweep or vacuum then mop
the floor.

•     Empty the trash.

DAY FIFTEEN

It's
back to the laundry room today for a task too many homeowners ignore: dryer
maintenance.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Dryer

According
to the National Fire Protection Association, there were over 15,000 house fires
caused by dirty clothes dryers in 2010. Regular maintenance can reduce your fire
risk while also improving your dryer's efficiency. Here's how:

1.     Clean the exterior: Dryers build up a lot of lint
and dust on the outside. Wipe yours clean with a dry microfiber cloth to remove
lint before spraying on your favorite cleaner and wiping it clean with a
different cloth.

2.     Clean the drum: Using an all-purpose cleaner,
wipe down the inside of the dryer drum. Be sure to look for and remove any
threads, pieces of tap, or other items stuck in the fins of older-modeled
dryers. Clean any messes, like gum or
ink, too.

3.
Clean the interior:

•
First, unplug the dryer. If it’s gas-operated shut off the gas, too.

•
Pull out the lint trap and clean it using hot, soapy water and a soft-bristled
brush. Rinse until the water freely flows through the screen. Do not return it
to the dryer until it's completely dried.

•
With the lint screen removed, use your vacuum cleaner crevice attachment to clean
as far as you can into the lint trap.

•
Pull the dryer away from the wall as far as the vent tubing allows (usually
about 2 feet). Slide the vent off then reach into the hole on the back of the
dryer and pull out all of the lint you can find. If your vacuum can reach, use
that.

•
Every two to three years you should unscrew and remove the back of the dryer so
you can vacuum away any lint that’s built up. It will surprise you how much
collects there!

•
With the vent tubing still off, reach into the tubing itself and pull out any
lint you can find. A vacuum works nicely on this part, too.

•
Look through the vent hole that goes through the wall to the outside of the
house. Vacuum if you can reach it or use your hand and a sturdy cloth to remove
any lint buildup.

•
Sweep then mop the floor beneath your dryer.

•
Reconnect the vent tubing to the exterior vent and to the back of the dryer.

•
Push the dryer back in place, and plug it in. (Gas dryers: turn the gas back
on.)

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Bookshelves

Some of
my very favorite people reside within the covers of books. As an avid reader,
I'm constantly adding books to my shelves, and that means I'm constantly adding
shelves to my home. One thing I've learned from collecting books that I didn't
learn from reading them: books are dust magnets. That's why it's important to
clean your shelves regularly.

1.     Peruse it: Look at your shelves and remove
things that don’t belong there, like books that belong to someone else or your
kids' toys. Give both back to their owners.

2.     Purge it: Sometimes you know you'll never
re-read a book. Rather than throwing them in the trash (the horror!) set your
unwanted books free so someone else can enjoy them. Bookcrossing.com makes it
fun to do this, or you can turn used books into cash by trading them in at
Amazon.

3.     Organize it: I like to keep my fiction
separate from non-fiction, which I break down into cookbooks, history books,
reference books, etc. Fiction gets sorted into literature, fantasy, historical
fiction, etc. I’m not so picky that I get alphabetical by title or author but,
hey, if you’ve got time…

4.
Clean it: Remove
all of the books from a shelf, dust the shelf, and then dust each book as you
return it to its place.

5.
Wipe it: Clean
the exterior of your shelf with a damp cloth to remove dust and then polish it.
Take care not to spray furniture polish on the books themselves.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Catch Up on Laundry)

After
you’ve done your Daily
Cleaning Routine,
take time to catch up on laundry. All caught up? Then put your feet up and
enjoy being at the halfway point of this 30-Day Cleaning and Organizing Plan!

DAY SIXTEEN

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Finish Laundry Room

1.     Dust it: Dust the ceiling, walls, window
sills, windows, door jambs, doors and baseboards. Go over the machines and
shelves one more time, too, since you’ve just stirred up a lot of gunk.

2.     Scrub it: Using a microfiber cloth and
all-purpose cleaner, remove greasy fingerprints and scuffs from the walls and
doors. Give the baseboards a quick spray and wipe, and then use a dryer sheet
to wipe the baseboard and repel dust and lint for up to two months.

3.     Polish it: Use some glass cleaner and a
clean microfiber cloth to polish the window and any metal hardware.

4.     Vacuum it: Vacuum the floor with the floor attachment. Be sure
to get in the corners where lint accumulates.

5.     Mop it: Use a mop or microfiber cloth
and floor cleaner to give the floor a good cleaning and leave it with a nice
shine.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
CDs, DVDs and Games in the Family Room

We've
finished deep-cleaning the laundry room, so now it's time to begin the process
of deep-cleaning the family and/or living room. Let's start that by tackling
the entertainment cabinet first.

1.     Clear the shelves: Pull all of your CDs, DVDs, and
games from the shelves where you keep them in the family room.

2.     Wipe it: Use a damp microfiber cloth to
wipe the shelves thoroughly, both above and below. (Yes, dust accumulates on
the bottom of things.) If your shelves are wood, now’s a good time to use some
furniture polish to give them a nice shine.

3.     Organize it: Alphabetize your DVDs and CDs.
Divide your games by console (PS4, Wii, XBox, etc.) then alphabetize each
group, too.

4.     Purge it: If your kids have outgrown
certain games or movies, consider selling them to Amazon or listing them on
eBay. Places like Goodwill might welcome them, too.

5.     Shelve it: Return the remaining items to
shelves by group. As you do, take a moment to make sure titles all face the
same way; they’ll be easier to find and they’ll look better, too.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Cupboards)

We’ve
cleaned and organized a number of cupboards already. Today as you do your Daily Cleaning
Routine, take a
moment to straighten each of these cupboards again so they stay nice:

•
Under kitchen sink

•
Kitchen food storage container cupboard

•
Bathroom cupboards and medicine cabinet

DAY SEVENTEEN

Family
and living rooms often have a lot of wood in them. If you’ve got small
children, pets, or a rowdy teenager like mine, your furniture probably takes a
beating throughout the year. Rather than live with those nicks and gouges,
we’re going to do something about them.

Note: If
your home has both a family and living room, you'll want to complete today's
tasks in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Wood Furniture in the Family/Living Room

1.     Remove wax buildup: Mix 1/2 cup warm white vinegar
and 1/2 cup warm water in a shallow bowl. Apply in the direction of the wood
grain using a clean, lint-free cloth. (Fabric baby diapers and microfiber
cloths are perfect for this.) Immediately rinse with another clean cloth dipped
in water. Buff dry using a third dry cloth.

2.     Remove oil stains: Stir 1 scoop oxygenated cleaner
into 1 cup warm water. Dip a corner of a cleaning cloth into this mix and get
the oil stain wet. Do NOT saturate the wood or you'll just create a water
stain. Now take a soft-bristled toothbrush and work the cleaner into the stain,
using additional small amounts of solution, until the stain is gone. (Kindle
version only: If this does not work you may need to try lifting the stain with heat.)

3.     Disguise scratches: Light scratches can be hidden by rubbing nut meat
(walnut, pecan, etc.) along the scratch. The oil from the nut will darken the
scratched wood, making it unnoticeable. Other options: coffee grounds for dark
wood; iodine for mahogany; ashes for black wood; and shoe polish or markers for
anything in between. For deeper scratches, use a matching Crayon or a kit from
the hardware store.

They’re
small steps, and easy tasks to perform, but they really can make a big
difference in how our furniture looks. I don’t know about you, but little
things like that can make or break my mood when I’m tired and stressed.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Coat Closet

Get your
days off to a good start by taming the clutter in this important spot!

1.     Empty it: Pull everything out of the
closet.

2.     Dust it: Clean the ceiling, walls,
shelves, rack and baseboards. Be sure to get the corners where cobwebs tend to
grow.

3.     Wipe it: Using a clean microfiber cloth
and some all-purpose spray, wipe down the closet rod, the inside of the door
and door jamb, and finally the baseboards. Consider rubbing a dryer sheet over
the baseboard to repel dust and lint for up to two months.

Bonus
Tip: Run a piece of wax paper over the closet rod so hangers slide more easily.

4.     Vacuum it: Use the floor attachment to
vacuum the closet floor.

5.     Clean it: Mop using a good floor cleaner
and allow it to dry.

6.     Purge it: Go through the items you’ve
pulled out of the coat closet and purge outgrown clothing items. Put them in a
box marked “Donations” and stick them in your car so they don’t just hang
around. Return clothes that belong in other rooms and then return what’s left
to the closet.

7.     Organize it: Consider adding an over-the-door
shoe holder to corral smaller items like mittens, hats, even spare keys.

8.     Box it: If your family leaves their
shoes in the coat closet like mine does, consider adding a plastic box to hold
their shoes. This is a habit I started a while back, and it never fails to
amaze me how much dirt accumulates in the bottom of that box every week. But,
hey, that's dirt that's not in my carpets, and it's easy to tip it into the
garbage can!

9.     Dehumidify it: If your coat closet tends to
smell musty, stash an open box of chalk inside (even kids’ sidewalk chalk will
work) to absorb moisture and prevent mildew.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Kitchen)

You've
already deep-cleaned the kitchen, so now it's important to maintain your
accomplishment. As part of the Daily Cleaning Routine, complete the following in the
kitchen, too:

•     Clean cupboard and drawer
fronts.

•     Wipe spills on the oven
floor.

•     Wipe the ceiling fan
blades.

•     Scrub the sink.

•     Shine fixtures and remove
spots on the inside of windows.

•     Dust the top of cupboards,
the top of the refrigerator, and other horizontal surfaces.

•     Purge expired food from the
fridge and quickly wipe down the shelves.

•     Clean the kitchen table and
chairs then shine them with furniture polish.

•     Empty the trash can.

•     Sweep or vacuum and then
mop the floor.

•     Change the towel.

Note: Today is a good time to head to
your local charity to drop off the Donation boxes in your car.

DAY EIGHTEEN

As one
of the most-used rooms in our homes, the Family (or Living) Room takes a lot of
time and effort to deep-clean. So today you'll be doing both your cleaning and
organizing tasks in this room, rather than spreading your attention throughout
the house.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Family/Living Room Blinds and Curtains

The
second dustiest place in a room isn’t the furniture, it’s the window coverings.
(The floor is the dustiest, in case you were curious.) If you’ve got blinds,
you’ve probably seen how the dust builds up. Did you know there’s usually
plenty of grease on blinds attracting that dust? If you use curtains, too,
they’re collecting dust as well. Let’s do something about that today.

Vinyl
or Plastic Blinds

1.     Fill it: There is no easier place to
clean blinds than in the bathtub. Fill yours with 2 inches of water then add 2
cups of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon non-moisturizing liquid dish soap.
(Original Dawn works best). Swirl that around so everything mixes together, but
don't create foam.

2.     Bathe them: Pull each set of blinds all the
way up, remove it from the window, and carry it to the bathroom. Release the
blinds so they're fully open then lower them into the tub to soak for 10-20
minutes. (You can do two sets of blinds at a time.) Drain the tub, run the
shower to rinse them off, and then hang them over the shower curtain rod to
drop-dry. Be sure to place a towel beneath them to catch the drips.

3.     No bathtub? No problem: If you don’t have a tub to soak
the blinds, you can put them in the bottom of your shower. Fill a spray bottle
with 1 cup hot water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 3 drops non-moisturizing
liquid dish soap. Spray the blinds until they are soaking wet. Let them sit
10-20 minutes before running the water to rinse them, then hang them over the
shower rod to dry.

4.     Dry them: Allow the blinds to dry
thoroughly before returning them to place. If you’re in a hurry, you can use a
blow dryer -- just be sure you don't stand on a wet floor while you work.

5.     Shine on: Before re-hanging your blinds,
wipe down the inside of the window sills and clean the windows with glass
cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Hang the blinds and proceed to the next set.

Curtains

1.     Remove them: Take the curtains off the rods.
Dust the rods.

2.     Shine on: Wipe the inside of the window sills and clean the
windows with a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth.

3.     Spin them: If your curtains are washable,
follow the instructions on the manufacturer's tag to launder them and remove
dust. Dry clean-only curtains can be tumbled in the dryer for 10 minutes with
NO HEAT to remove dust.

4.     Hang them: Remove curtains from the dryer
and hang them immediately. If you're prompt about it, your curtains will be
wrinkle free.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Purging Subscriptions

Let’s
take the plunge and move old magazines and newspapers (do people actually read
paper newspapers anymore?) to the recycling center. If you’re worried about
missing something essential, scan the table of contents, find the articles you
must have, and pull them out. Staple those "must read" articles
together then put them in that mail sorter you set up on Day Thirteen and read
them tonight.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Tub/Shower)

We
splashed around in the bathroom while cleaning blinds today. After finishing
the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
take some time to mop up drips, clean the tub and shower, and give the fixtures
a good shine.

DAY NINETEEN

We're
once again focusing both cleaning and organizing tasks on the family room.
Again, if you have a formal living room, a lounge or other sitting area,
perform today's tasks in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Family Room Ceiling, Walls, Baseboards and Art

Ceilings
collect a surprising amount of dust, especially textured or “popcorn” ceilings
like the ones in my home. Every time you open the windows or run the fan, that
dust gets stirred up and showers down on your furniture and floors. Let's get
rid of that dust today.

1.     Clear the walls: Remove all wall decor and place
it on the sofa or floor, then cover with a sheet to catch dust.

2.     Clean the ceilings: An extension cleaning kit makes this task much
easier. A long-handled duster, a broom with a pillow case slipped over its
bristles, or even a foam paint roller do an excellent job of cleaning both
popcorn and flat ceilings.

3.     Clean the walls: Dust the walls, door jambs and
window frames from top to bottom, paying careful attention to the corners where
cobwebs accumulate. (In my house cobwebs are only visible when we have
company.)

4.     Clean the baseboards: Use the duster on the
baseboards.

5.     Wipe things down: Before returning your wall decor
to place, wipe each item with a lightly damp microfiber cloth to remove dust.
Polish the glass on photos and pictures using a microfiber cloth and glass
cleaner, and shine wood frames with a lint-free cloth and furniture polish. Be
sure to get the backs, too!

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Items That Belong Elsewhere

Now it’s
time to get rid of items that are hanging out in the family or living rooms but
belong elsewhere. (Don't get distracted by purging things you don’t like
anymore; we’ll get to that.) Rather than work at this willy-nilly, it’s much
faster and far more effective if you get methodical.

1.
Grab it: Find a
laundry basket or bag to hold items.

2.
Work the room: Stand
at the door, facing toward the room. Work from your left and continue all the
way around the room until you’re back at the door.

3.
Be a detective: As
you work, look on shelves, in drawers, under furniture, etc. When you find
items that belong elsewhere, put them in the basket or bag.

4.
Sort it: Once
you’ve made your way through the whole room, take the items to your kitchen
table. Take items out of the basket or bag one at a time, placing them in
groups according to the room where they belong.

5.
Return it:
Return groups of items to their appropriate location.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bedrooms)

While
doing the Daily
Cleaning Routine
spend some extra time working in the bedrooms. We’ll be focusing on them next
week, but they’re due for a weekly cleaning. The following steps will
accomplish that and make next week's cleaning a bit easier.

1.     Dust and polish: Start with the ceiling fan then
dust and polish dressers and other hard furniture and window sills.

2.     See to soft surfaces: Use your vacuum’s dust or brush
attachment to clean the curtains or blinds. Switch to the upholstery attachment
and vacuum chair seats, throw pillows, and dry clean-only bed linens.

3.     Change the sheets: Be sure to launder the used
sheets today rather than leaving them in the laundry room. Doing a room’s wash
the same day you clean the room will keep laundry from piling up.

4.     Finally, the floor: Use the crevice attachment at
the base of the walls then vacuum the rest of the floor.

DAY TWENTY

If you
have a family room and a formal living room, lounge or sitting room, you’ll
need to perform today’s cleaning and organizing tasks in both.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Smudges and Fingerprints

Rumor
has it that some people actually enjoy repainting their walls, changing their
color based on Pantone’s color of the year or just on a whim. I’m not one of
them. I spend a lot of time cleaning smudges off my walls, doors and
windowsills to keep our interior paint looking nice. Here’s how.

Greasy
fingerprints:
All-purpose cleaner won't work and might ruin the paint finish. Instead, grab a
piece of white chalk (the kind teachers use on blackboards) and gently rub it
on the greasy fingerprints. Let this sit for 5 minutes while the chalk dust
bonds to and absorbs the oils in the fingerprint. Wipe the chalk away with a
dry microfiber cloth, then a damp cloth to remove any residue. No chalk? No
problem. Dab at the spots with a piece of white bread.

Crayons: Make a paste of baking soda and
water, and lightly rub it on the mark with a clean white cloth. (Do NOT do this
on high gloss walls — use WD-40 sprayed on a clean white cloth instead.)
Rearrange the cloth in your hand frequently so you’re constantly working with a
clean surface, rather than rubbing crayon dye back onto the walls. When the
marks are gone, wipe the area with a lightly damp microfiber cloth.

Permanent
marker: Wet a
cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and dab at the spot. Switch cotton balls
frequently and repeat until it's gone. Follow with a lightly damp microfiber
cloth.

Pencil
marks: Use a
pencil eraser. If the mark remains, follow the directions for removing crayon
marks above.

Scuffs:
Again, a pencil
eraser may do the trick. Otherwise, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers do a brilliant job
of removing scuffs from matte finishes. For high gloss finishes, spray some
WD-40 on a clean white cloth and wipe the scuff away.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Purge Unwanted Items

Yesterday
you purged subscriptions. Today it's time to purge more: throw away broken
items. Then, gather other things you no longer enjoy or find useless and box
them up for donation. Don’t forget to put that box in your car so you can take
it to your local Goodwill or other charity!

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Catch up on laundry

After
completing the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
it’s time to catch up on your family's laundry. Please remember the rule about
doing laundry: fold and put it each load away as soon as it's out of the dryer!

DAY TWENTY-ONE

Again,
if you have a family room and a living room, sitting room or lounge, you need
to complete these tasks in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Furniture and Carpet Stains

Carpet
stains: Most stains come up easily when
sprayed with 1 cup warm water and 1 tsp. non-moisturizing liquid dish
detergent. Don't saturate the carpet or you'll get the pad wet, and that can
lead to mold problems. Use a clean, white cloth to dab at the stain with the
idea of transferring it from the carpet to the cloth. Rotate the cloth as you
work so you're constantly working with a clean spot. Once the spot is lifted,
dab the area again with a clean, damp cloth without using soap, then put a dry
towel on top and stand on it to lift away any remaining moisture. (Kindle
version: for tougher stains, see this article on my website.)

Microfiber
furniture:
Microfiber is the easiest furniture fabric to clean. A good rub with a baby
wipe can often get stains out of this fabric, but for tougher tasks try a drop
or two of dishwasher detergent on a damp microfiber cloth. Be sure to wipe it
clean with a detergent-free cloth once the stain is gone.

Ink
stains: Lightly
dampen a clean, white, lint-free cloth with rubbing alcohol and dab at the
stain. Be sure to change out the area of cloth you’re working with so you’re
constantly lifting the ink out of the furniture and transferring it to your
cloth. Once the stain is gone, wipe the area with a microfiber cloth dampened
with clear water.

Food
stains: Scrape
off as much of the mess as you can then make a paste of equal parts water and
baking soda. Stir in 2 drops of liquid dish soap. Use an old toothbrush to work
this into the stain and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Scrape the residue away
and wipe the area with a wet microfiber cloth repeatedly to remove the paste.
Allow the area to dry and repeat if needed.

Grease
stains: Sprinkle
with cornstarch and work the powder in thoroughly with an old toothbrush. Allow
this to sit for 5 minutes or so then vacuum until the cornstarch is gone. Treat
the remainder of the stain following the steps listed above for food stains.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Blankets, Throws, and Pillows

Launder
all of your blankets and throws following manufacturer instructions. Store
those that are out-of-season in your linen closet or empty suitcases in the
closet.

Be sure
to launder all of your throw blankets regularly. They're odor and
allergen magnets, so wash them at least every other week at the hottest setting
appropriate for their fabric.

Pillows
can often be laundered in the washing machine, too. Check the label and follow
its instructions. For washable pillows, launder two at a time to keep the load
balanced, and add a tennis ball to the dryer to fluff the pillows as they
tumble. Or hang them by a corner on a line and let the sun do the work.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Laundry Room)

After
the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time giving your laundry room the once-over:

•
Wipe it: Wipe
the exterior of the washer and dryer.

•
Dust it: Dust
your laundry room shelves, doorjamb, window sills and baseboard.

•
Polish it: Clean
spots off window interiors and glass surfaces using a microfiber cloth and
glass cleaner.

•
Scrub it: Using
a microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner, get rid of any fingerprints or
smudges on the walls, door and trim.

•
Vacuum it: Use
the floor attachment to clean the floor.

•
Mop it: Finally,
mop the floor and empty the wastebasket.

Note: today is a good day to take the
Donation boxes in your car to your local charity!

DAY TWENTY-TWO

If you
have a family room and a formal living room, lounge or sitting room, you’ll
need to perform today’s cleaning and organizing tasks in each.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Finish Family/Living Room

1.     Wipe it: Grab a wet microfiber cloth and
wipe your baseboards.

2.     Dust it: Start at the room’s entrance and
work your way clockwise around the room, dusting everything (and under
everything!), from high to low. Use a damp microfiber cloth and rinse it
frequently.

3.     Polish it: Use a lint-free cloth and
furniture polish on wood furniture and decorative items.

4.     Shine it: Get glass surfaces gleaming with
a dry microfiber cloth and glass cleaner.

5.     Clean it: Remove pillows from sofas and
chairs and, using your vacuum’s upholstery attachment, vacuum the furniture
thoroughly. Return the pillows to place.

6.     Move it: Move small furniture from where
it ordinarily sits and vacuum beneath. Be sure to get help for this if you have
back problems!

7.     Vacuum it: Go around the base of the walls
using the vacuum’s crevice attachment. Follow this by vacuuming the rest of the
room, using attachments as needed to get under heavier furniture.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Back to the Bathroom

You've
already deep-cleaned the bathroom cupboards, but it’s important to revisit that
area regularly so they stay neat. Go through the cupboards and drawers in all
of your bathrooms and set things straight. Since you’ve done this recently, it
won’t take more than a few minutes but it will prevent clutter and
disorganization from creeping back.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning

You did
quite a bit of work in the family/living room(s), so when you're finished with
the Daily
Cleaning Routine
it's time to kick back on the sofa and enjoy what you have done!

DAY TWENTY-THREE

This
week, we are focusing on bedrooms which can be overwhelming when you're truly
deep-cleaning. Again, I've broken the process down into simple steps that build
on each other day after day. As always, repeat the day's steps in each bedroom.
If you can't get them all done today that is fine: this isn't a competition!

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Bedroom Ceilings, Walls and Baseboards

Clean,
dust-free air in the bedroom is essential for allergy and asthma sufferers.
Even if you don't suffer from those conditions, clearing the dust out of your
room can make for a much better night's sleep.

1.     Clear the walls: Cover the bed with a sheet or
several towels. Remove artwork and other decor from the walls and place them on
the covering.

2.     Cover up: Lay a second clean sheet or
blanket over the artwork on the bed. Be sure this covers your pillows and
blanket or duvet so you don't get it dusty, too.

3.     Fans first: If you have a ceiling fan, now
is the time to clean it. Stand on a stepstool and carefully slide a pillowcase
over each blade, letting the dust fall into the pillowcase. Or use an extension
cleaning kit with a ceiling fan attachment.

4.     Ceilings second: Use a long-handled duster, a
broom with a pillow case slipped over the bristles, or even a paint roller.
You'll be surprised at how much dust comes down. Be sure to focus on the area
around your ceiling fan, which tends to collect a lot of dirt, as well as where
the walls and ceilings meet.

5.     Move on down: Move on to dusting the walls and
then the baseboards, in that order.

6.     Hang it: Carefully gather up the covering
laid over the artwork. Set it aside. Wipe each piece of artwork or decor with a
lightly damp microfiber cloth and return it to the wall. Don’t forget to get
the backs of pictures: it’s amazing how much dust collects there, too! Shine
the glass fronts of pictures with a clean microfiber cloth and glass cleaning
spray. (See "Homemade
Cleaning Mixes")

7.
Shake it: Gather
up the coverings you'd used to protect your bed and artwork from dust. If you
have more than one bedroom to clean, take the coverings outside and shake away
any dust as you transition from one bedroom to the next. Launder the coverings
when you've cleaned the final bedroom.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Purging Clutter

If your
bedroom has been basically doubling as a storage/junk room, or if you’re
cleaning your teen’s room, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

1.     Prepare it: You need three boxes or trash
bags. Don’t even think about using just one or making piles. You need THREE
boxes or trash bags!

2.     Label it: With masking tape and/or a
marker, label one bag/box TRASH, the second DONATE, and the third RETURN.

3.     Trash it: Grab the container you’ve
labeled TRASH and, starting to the left of the door, pick up all trash or items
too broken/gross to be used ever again. Work your way completely around the
room. Don't open drawers; we’ll get to those another day. Toss magazines,
newspapers, food wrappers, etc. Set that bag outside the bedroom door.

4.     Gather it: Repeat this process with the
DONATE box. Be ruthlessly honest with yourself as you work. That pile of
clothes on the floor that you tried on but didn’t fit? You can’t wear them but
someone else can. Donate them. Be just as honest outgrown toys, books you’ll
never re-read, decor you no longer like, etc. Put this box in the back of your
car.

5.     Grab it: Do one more pass through the
room, this time with the box you’ve labeled RETURN. Grab anything that belongs
in another room. Did your child leave a toy on your dresser? What about the DVD
you watched in bed but need to put back in the family room? Again, leave what's
in the drawers for later this week.

6.     Return it: Take the RETURN box of items to
the kitchen table. Sort them based on where they belong so you don’t have to
make several trips to the same room. Return those items to their proper places.

7.     Repeat it: Now, repeat this same process in
every bedroom you’ll be cleaning. By the time you’re done, your dressers,
nightstands and floors should be looking much neater. That’s good —
it’ll make cleaning them easier later this week!

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (and Laundry)

After
you do the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
it’s time to catch up on your family's laundry. This is the time to launder
those piles of clothes you picked up from your bedroom floor, along with
anything else in your hamper. Be sure to fold and put away each load as soon as
it's done in the dryer!

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

It's
back to the bedrooms today to tackle more areas that collect dust and debris.
Remember, although I've tried to keep the steps small enough that you can
repeat them in each bedrooms, it's perfectly fine if you spend more than
one day to do these steps -- don't burn yourself out!

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Curtains/Blinds and Windows

Window
coverings collect a surprising amount of dust, and then scatter it throughout
the room when you open them in the morning and close them at night. Rather than
starting and ending your day in a cloud of dust, let’s do something about it by
following the cleaning steps for blinds, curtains, and windows listed on Day Eighteen.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Nightstand

Nightstands
are places to hold items we need in bed. For some reason, mine seems to
accumulate all sorts of other things, too: hair ties, cough medicines, wrappers
from an entire box of candy bars I bought for my son’s school fundraiser and
won’t share. (Don’t judge me.) It’s time to do something about that mess.

1.     Toss the trash: Grab a bag of some kind and
collect all the TRASH on your nightstand. Look under it, too. Now, open the
drawers and toss any crumpled tissues, old magazines, half-eaten candy bars,
etc.

2.     Donate the unwanted: This time, go through the items
on and in the nightstand and gather anything you want to DONATE to charity.
That book you read but will never read again? Toss it in. What about that alarm
clock that you stopped using when you bought your smartphone? Add it to the
box, too. Keep going until you’ve gathered everything that’s still useable and
in good shape but you no longer want to hold onto. Put the box in your car to
take to your local charity.

3.     Return the clutter: Now, gather everything that you
need to RETURN to where it belongs. Do you really want your nail polish
in your nightstand? What about those cough medicines from the last time you
were sick -- shouldn't they go into the locked medicine cabinet? Put things
that belong elsewhere into the bag and take them to your kitchen table. Sort
them by where they should go, and return them to their proper place.

4.     Dump it: Spread a towel on the bed and
dump what's left in your nightstand drawers on the towel.

5.     Wipe it: Clean inside each drawer with a
lightly damp microfiber cloth, including on the dust that collects in the
corners.

6.     Reset it: Put away the items you'll be
keeping in your nightstand. As you work, keep in mind that your top drawer
should contain items you’re likely to need most often: tissues, hand lotion,
the remote control, etc. The bottom drawer(s) are suitable for things you don’t
need frequently, like candy bars. (I said, don't judge!)

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bathrooms)

Give the
bathrooms a bit of extra attention today as you do the Daily Cleaning Routine. These steps, combined with
those listed in the daily routine, amount to a weekly bathroom cleaning:

•     Disinfect and scrub the
toilet bowl.

•     Wipe the exterior of the
toilet.

•     Remove hard water spots on
the fixtures or shower walls.

•     Clean the tub and shower.

•     Dust the door jambs and
baseboards.

•     Sweep or vacuum then mop
the floor.

•     Empty the trash.

•     Set out clean towels and
wash the dirty ones.

DAY TWENTY-FIVE

Considering
how much time we spend in bed (roughly one-third of our lives), shouldn't our
beds be welcoming places of calm and comfort? By the end of today your bed will
be just that.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Beds, Mattresses and Bedding

You’ve
seen the commercials warning about a mattress doubling in weight over the
course of eight years due to dust mites, sweat and dander (also known as your
dead skin). They aren't exaggerating: a used mattress can have up to 10 million
dust mites in it.

And what
do dust mites feed on? Dead skin cells, of which you shed 30,000 to 40,000 every
hour. In addition to the roughly 230,000 to 320,000 you’ll shed in an
average night’s sleep, your body is also exuding sweat… and where do you think
that sweat goes? That’s right: straight into your mattress!

The bad
news: there’s no way to really get rid of those things. The good news: we can
at least reduce the colonies on the surface, while also freshening our mattress
and ensuring a better night’s sleep. Here’s how.

1.     Strip it: Remove everything from the bed:
sheets, blankets, duvets, pillows, dust ruffles, mattress pads and covers.

2.     Wash it: It’s important to launder your
bedding on the hottest setting the fabric can handle. High temps, both in the
washer and dryer, kill dust mites and other allergens. For efficiency’s sake,
launder in the following order:

•     Mattress pad/cover

•     Pillows — Two per load. Add
tennis balls or clean sneakers to the dryer cycle to fluff them.

•     Sheets and pillowcases

•     Blankets

•     Duvets, comforters,
bedspreads and dust ruffles. (Check the label to ensure they can be machine
washed! If not, tumble them in the dryer on a LOW or NO HEAT setting for 10-15
minutes to dislodge dust.)

3.     Dust it: Using a lightly damp microfiber
cloth, wipe your headboard, bed frame, and the legs of your bed. Rinse the
cloth repeatedly as you work so you’re not spreading dust.

4.     Sprinkle it: While the bed is bare, sprinkle
the mattress well with a cup of baking soda and rub that in with a
stiff-bristled brush. Wait 10 minutes and then, using the upholstery
attachment, vacuum the top and sides of your mattress thoroughly first in a
horizontal then a vertical direction.

5.
Clean it: Remove
stains from your mattress as follows:

•
Dried Blood Stains: Treat
with a solution of
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 tbsp. each liquid dish soap and
table salt. Rub this into the stain and allow it to sit until dry before
scraping the residue off. Dab at any remaining stain with a white rag dipped
into hydrogen peroxide, rotating the rag as the stain lifts off. (Using a white
rag prevents dye transfer from the cloth to the mattress.)

•
Urine Stains: Dissolve 3 tbsp. baking soda in 8
oz. of hydrogen peroxide then add a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Dab that
solution on to the spot. (Do NOT drench your mattress!) Meanwhile, whisk
together 3 parts dry laundry detergent powder and 1 part water to make a dry
foam. Rub that into the stain (which should still be damp from the first step)
and let it sit for 30 minutes. Scrape away any residue and vacuum.

6.      Flip it: If you have a mattress that can
be flipped over, do so once any treated areas have completely dried. Get
assistance if you need it, and then repeat the steps above.

7.      Move it: While your bed is bare, and if
you have the strength to do it, move the bed and vacuum beneath it. If you’re
unable to move your bed, use your vacuum’s floor attachment to clean beneath
it.

8.     Make it: As each load of bedding is
finished drying, remove it from the dryer immediately and return it to the bed.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Dressers

Yesterday,
you tackled the nightstand. Today it's time to take on the dressers. As always,
the first step is to grab three bags/boxes/laundry hampers and label them:
TRASH, DONATE, and RETURN.

1.
Clear the surface: Remove
everything from the top of dressers, tossing trash and items that belong
elsewhere. Look at what remains and determine if you want to keep or donate it.

2.     Work methodically: Rather than dump your dresser's
contents on your freshly cleaned bed, work one drawer at a time starting at the
top. This also ensures that the room isn’t torn apart should you get
interrupted. (It happens.) Go through each drawer in three passes:

•
Discard trash:
Toss food wrappers, tissues, scraps of paper, etc. Also toss clothing that is
too stained or torn to be donated. (Or recycle those items by stuffing them
into floppy throw pillows.)

•
Cull for charity:
Be ruthlessly honest with yourself about the clothes in your dresser. Donate
items that you haven't worn in over a year to charity. Do the same with items
that no longer fit (or create a fourth box marked STORE and fill it).

•
Move it: It’s
common for things to wind up in our dresser that have no business there. Those
spare buttons some clothing manufacturers include with garments are best kept
in a Mason jar or pretty container. Receipts should be filed in your home
office. Whatever is in your dresser that doesn’t belong there goes into the
RETURN box.

3.     Wipe it: Wipe the empty drawer with a
damp microfiber cloth to remove any dust and debris.

4.     Fold it: Neatly fold items before
returning them to the drawer. You may find some things, like underwear, take up
less space when rolled. The important part is to group like items together in a
drawer.

5.     Move on: Repeat this process until you’ve
gone through the entire dresser.

6.     Finish it: Dump the TRASH box into the
garbage can. Place the DONATE box in your car. If you created one, move the
STORE box to your storage area. Then take the RETURN box to the kitchen table
and sort its contents based on where items belong. Take each room’s items back
at the same time so you aren’t making a bunch of unnecessary trips.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Family/Living Room)

We've
already deep-cleaned these rooms, so while doing the Daily Cleaning Routine we're going to stay on top of
what we've accomplished.

•
Dust and polish:
Start with the ceiling fan then dust tables, shelves, other hard furniture and
window sills. Dust artwork on walls and knickknacks on tables. (Dust beneath
them, too!) Use a lint-free cloth and furniture polish to give wood furniture a
nice shine.

•
See to soft surfaces:
Use your vacuum’s dust or drape attachment and vacuum the curtains or blinds.
Switch to the upholstery attachment and vacuum chair seats, throw pillows. Lift
cushions and vacuum beneath them. Vacuum the arms of sofas and chairs, too.

•
Finally, the floor:
Use the crevice attachment at the base of the walls then vacuum the rest of the
floor thoroughly.

DAY TWENTY-SIX

You've
done a lot of work in the bedrooms this week. Now it's time to finish up. As
always, complete these steps in each bedroom, taking as many days as you need.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Finish Bedroom Cleaning

1.     Clean the lights: Use a clean microfiber cloth to
dust non-fabric lampshades. Fabric shades are most easily cleaned with a lint
roller. Be sure to clean both the outside and the inside of the shade. Turn the
light off, let the bulb cool, then spray some glass cleaner on a clean
microfiber cloth and wipe the light bulb to remove any dust and grime.

2.     Baseboards: Use a damp microfiber cloth to
wipe the baseboards. If you have fabric softener sheets, rubbing the baseboards
will help repel dust and pet hair.

3.     Hard stuff: Remove any sticky buildup on
your wood furniture. Now is a good time to cover any scratches in your wood
furniture, too. (See "Day Seventeen" for directions on both.)

4.     Soft stuff: Use the upholstery attachment on
your vacuum cleaner to remove dust from throw pillows, soft upholstery and
stuffed animals.

5.     Floor time: Start by using the crevice
attachment to vacuum the floor where it meets the walls. A lot of dust
builds up here, even on hard floors. Once you’ve gone around the base of all
walls, thoroughly vacuum the floor. Move small furniture and vacuum beneath it,
getting assistance if needed.

6.     Toss it: Empty the trash can and wash it
using 1 cup hot water, 1/2 cup white vinegar and a stiff scrub brush. Rinse
well and let air dry.

Bonus
Tip: Keep your trashcan clean by lining it with a plastic grocery bag, or put a
paper towel on the bottom.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Items on Stairs

In many
homes, including mine, stairs act like temporary shelves holding things that
need to be taken up on future trips. Don't even think about cleaning around
that stuff.

1.     Put it away: Grab a laundry hamper, put
everything on the stairs in it, and carry it to where it belongs.

2.     Dust it: With a dusting attachment on an
extension cleaning pole, dust the ceiling above the stairs, the walls, and the
baseboards.

3.     Wipe it: Using a microfiber cloth and
all-purpose cleaner, wipe the banisters, walls, and baseboards to remove fingerprints
and grime. If you have stairs with hard flooring, use a lightly damped
microfiber cloth to clean them.

4.     Vacuum it: Vacuuming carpeted stairs
requires a bit of patience. It’s not enough to vacuum the treads (where your
feet step) -- you also need to vacuum the risers (where you stub your toes)
because dust collects there. Start by using the crevice attachment to vacuum
the carpet where it meets the baseboards, and then vacuum the crevice at the
base of each step. Switch to the upholstery attachment (I’ve found this one
works best) and vacuum each tread then the riser below it, continuing from the
bottom step to the top.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (and Laundry)

You've
done a lot of work today but don’t skip the Daily Cleaning Routine. Catch up on family laundry when
you're done. Today is also a good day to take the Donation boxes in the back of
your car to your local charity.

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

Not
every home has a dining room. If yours doesn't, skip to the maintenance part of
today's tasks and enjoy the chance to catch your breath!

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Dining Room

1.     Clear it: In many homes the dining table
is buried under months of clutter because it's such a convenient place for
homework and storage. If this is true of yours, the first step is to clear it.
You'll need two containers marked TRASH and DONATE.

•
Toss it: Go
through the mess on your dining table and pick out the trash. This includes
food wrappers, old magazines, broken toys, etc. Put them in the box marked
TRASH and set it aside.

•
Donate it: Go
through the remaining pile on your dining table and be ruthlessly honest about
what’s left. Toys, DVDs, magazines and other items that have been there for
longer than you can remember really aren’t part of your life. Put them in the
DONATE box and take that box to your car.

•
Gather it:
Whatever is left — aside from table linens — belongs somewhere else. Don't
dither about this: there’s no reason your dining table should hold anything
besides dining-related items! Group them on the table based on the room where
they belong then take them to their proper place. Continue until your table is
clear.

2.     Protect it: Spread thick towels over your
cleared dining table to protect its surface.

3.     Clear the walls: Take artwork and decor off the
walls and place it on the towels.

4.     Clear the windows: Refer to the steps listed on Day Eighteen to clean blinds, curtains, and
windows.

5.     Let it shine: With the windows bare it's time
to grab a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner to give them a nice shine. Do the
same for hanging light fixtures and sconces. IMPORTANT: Be sure light bulbs are
cool when you clean them.

6.     Dust it: Use a long-handled duster to
clean:

•     Ceiling, including recessed
lights

•     Window trim, sashes and
sills

•     Doors and door jambs

•     Walls (especially in
corners and where they meet the ceiling, since cobwebs accumulate there)

•     Baseboards

7.      Wipe it: Clean marks on walls using the
steps listed on Day
Twenty.

8.
Hang the artwork: Use another damp microfiber cloth to wipe artwork and
decor before returning it to the walls. Make sure you wipe the back of items,
too — a lot of dust accumulates there. Remove the towels from your dining table
and set them aside.

9.     Polish it: Now’s a good time to remove
sticky wax buildup and repair scratches in dining furniture. (You'll find
directions to doing both on Day Seventeen.)
Then use a lint-free cloth and furniture polish to give your wood furniture a
shine.

10.     Vacuum it: Using the crevice attachment, go
around the base of your walls carefully. Switch to the upholstery attachment
and vacuum chair cushions. Finally, pull the chairs out of the room and
thoroughly vacuum the floor.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
China Hutch/Breakfront

You
should still have your TRASH and DONATE containers handy from the previous
step.

1.     Protect it: Grab those towels you set aside
in the previous step, and spread them on your table again.

2.     Empty it: Remove the contents of your
china cabinet and set everything on top of the towels.

3.     Wipe it: Use a damp microfiber cloth to
wipe the interior of your cabinet, including the back and the bottoms of the
shelves.

4.     Inspect it: Take a look at your cabinet and
repair any scratches in the wood. (See Day Seventeen.)

5.     Polish it: Use a lint-free cloth and
furniture cleaner to shine the hutch. Use a clean microfiber cloth and glass
cleaner to clean glass doors and fixtures.

6.     Sort it: Take a good, long look at the
items on the table. Put broken items in the TRASH container. Be ruthless about
the remaining items: are there some you no longer use? Put them in the DONATE
box. As for things that belong in another room, group and return them to their
proper rooms.

7.     Refill it: Return remaining items to the
cabinet. It’s a good idea to place frequently-used items to shelves that are
waist- and eye-level. Less commonly used items should go on the top.

8.     Wrap it up: Dump the box labeled TRASH into
the garbage can. Take the box marked DONATE to your car.

9.     Reveal it: Remove the towels you’ve been
using to protect the table and put them in the wash.

10.     Set it: Spread a nice cloth on your
dining table and top it with an attractive centerpiece. This protects your
tabletop from scratches, but more importantly it sends your family a message
that the dining table is no longer the place for clutter.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Kitchen)

As part
of the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra time on the kitchen to give it a weekly cleaning.

•
Clean cupboard and drawer fronts.

•
Wipe up spills on the oven floor.

•
Wipe the ceiling fan blades.

•
Scrub the sink.

•
Shine fixtures and remove spots on the inside of windows.

•
Dust the top of cupboards, the top of the refrigerator, and other horizontal
surfaces.

•
Purge expired food from the fridge and quickly wipe down the shelves.

•
Clean the kitchen table and chairs. Shine them with furniture polish.

•
Empty the trash can.

•
Sweep or vacuum the floor using your vacuum’s floor attachment.

•
Mop the floor.

•
Change the towel.

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

You've
cleaned the various rooms in our homes, so today it's time to clean the space
connecting them.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Hallways

1.     Clear the walls: Remove any artwork, photographs
and other decor from the walls. Put it on the floor.

2.     Look up: Grab an extension pole cleaner
if you need it, or a broom with a pillowcase slipped over the bristles, and
dust the ceiling, including any recessed lights. Next, dust walls then
baseboards.

3.     Shine it: Turn the lights off, and allow
the bulbs to cool. Remove any light fixture coverings and wash them in the sink
using hot, soapy water. Rinse and dry them. (If they’re glass, you can run them
through the dishwasher to save yourself the effort.) When the bulbs are cool,
use a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner to remove dust and grime. Give them a
few minutes to completely dry before turning the on the lights.

4.     Clean it: Hallway walls, doors, and door
jambs tend to take a lot of abuse. Follow the steps listed on Day Twenty to clean marks and scuffs on
your hallway walls.

5.     Wipe it: Using a clean, damp microfiber
cloth, wipe the baseboards. Follow with a dryer sheet to repel dust.

6.     Hang it: Wipe the artwork, photographs,
and other decor with a damp microfiber cloth before returning it to the walls.
Be sure to get the backs where dust also collects.

7.     Finally, the floor: Use the crevice attachment and
vacuum the floor at the base of the walls. Next vacuum the floor thoroughly.
Since this is a high-traffic area, it’s a good idea to vacuum once going along
the length of the hall, and then in shorter strokes across the width of the
space.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Home Office Paperwork

Filing
paperwork is one of the most boring home organization tasks so it's no surprise
we all tend to put it off until our home offices contain mounds of papers
mingled with trash. Then comes the day we need to find one specific bill or
receipt among the jumble and we panic, knowing it's like trying to find a
needle in a haystack. Let's end that cycle.

1.     Get ready: Grab three boxes and label them
FILE, SHRED, and TRASH.

2.     Gather it: Rake your papers into one huge
pile. I know some organizational experts say you should only touch a paper
once, filing it directly in the appropriate location. That method has never
worked for me; I find it so slow that I usually give up and find something more
entertaining to do. So we’re going to use my method instead.

3.     Start at the top: Beginning with the top of your
pile, go through each paper and decide what needs to be done with it.

•
FILE: If a paper
pertains to tax deductions (see below); is something you want for future
reference (like recipes you haven't yet tried); or is a keepsake (your child’s
straight-A report card), place it in the FILE box.

•
SHRED: Papers no
longer needed to support old tax returns (which should be kept for 7 years);
those annoying credit card offers you don’t want; and other papers with
identifying information (names, addresses, email addresses, etc.) belong in the
SHRED box.

•
TRASH: Everything
else goes in the trash box. As with all organizing tasks, it’s important you
are ruthless about this!

•
Set aside the SHRED and TRASH boxes when you've made the first pass through
your pile.

4.      Sort it: Going through the contents of
the file box, pick up each individual paper and decide what kind of file it
should go into. Sort papers into stacks based on the kind of file they'll need.
Here are some ideas:

•
Family keepsakes:
Create a file for each family member to hold their mementos.

•
Recipes to try:
Just what it says.

•
Tax-related documents
(see this article on my website for categories)

•
Statements:
Statements from banks, credit cards, insurance companies, and other financial
institutions all need individual files.

•
Warranties: If
you have the space, it’s nice to have a separate file for each item you’re
keeping a warranty for. That way you can file not only the warranty but the
instruction manual and any receipts associated with repairs. If you don’t have
the space then make one large file to hold all of your warranties together.

5.
And so on: It's
better to have more files than fewer, even if they only hold one sheet of
paper, as long as you clearly label them. The idea is being able to open
the drawer and find what you’re looking for immediately.

6.       Safeguard the essentials: Some things should never be in
your home office files because they’re too difficult to replace in the event of
fire or other natural disaster. These items include birth and marriage
certificates; passports; photocopies of your credit cards (front and back) and
driver's license; stocks and bonds; and Wills. These should be stored in a
fire-proof home safe — you can find one for as little as $30. Keep it in the
basement of your home where it's less likely to be exposed to prolonged heat in
the event of a house fire.

7.       File it: Once you've sorted your papers,
file them! That seems like an obvious step but you’d be surprised how many
people simply stop once they’ve got things sorted, hoping to come back later to
do the filing. That's how unmanageable piles start.

8.      Trash it: Grab the box of paper marked
TRASH and dump it in the garbage can. Do not even think about letting it sit
around or you’re not cleaning, you’re hoarding.

9.      Shred it: You need a shredder for your
home. They’re not expensive, and if you keep one where you sort your mail
you'll find it easy to shred unwanted mail as it comes in. If a shredder’s not
in your budget, check with your local office supply stores. Staples, Office Max
and other stores offer shredding services, often for free. Make the call today,
and get your stuff down there!

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Laundry Room)

Do the Daily Cleaning
Routine as usual
then give the laundry room a little extra attention. Use a damp microfiber
cloth to give the appliances a quick wipe down and dust the shelves. Finally,
sweep and mop the floor and you’re done.

DAY TWENTY-NINE

Now that
you've dealt with the paperwork in your home office it's time to give this room
a little extra TLC.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Home office ceiling, walls, and baseboards

1.      Cover up: Lay a clean sheet or towels over
your desk to protect the surface.

2.      Clear the walls: Remove artwork and other decor
from the walls and place them on the desk.

3.      Fans first: If you have a ceiling fan, clean
it. Carefully slide a pillowcase over each blade, letting the dust fall into
the pillowcase, or use an extension cleaning kit with a ceiling fan attachment.

4.      Ceilings second: Carefully dust the ceiling.
Focus on the area around the ceiling fan, where a lot of dust collects, as well
as where the walls and ceilings meet.

5.      Move on down: Next, dust the walls and then
the baseboards, in that order.

6.      Hang it: Wipe artwork, photos and other
wall decor with a lightly damp microfiber cloth to remove dust before returning
it to the walls. Shine the glass fronts of pictures with a clean microfiber
cloth and glass cleaning spray. Don’t forget to get the back of items, too,
since dust collects even there.

Today’s
Organizing Task:
Office Shelves

For the
sake of efficiency, today's organizing task involves a bit of cleaning, too.

1.      Clear it: You should still have a sheet or
towels on your desk, so remove everything from your office shelves and put it
on the desk.

2.      Dust it: Use a dry microfiber cloth to
dust the empty shelves, including the backs and bottoms of each shelf.

3.      Wipe it: With a lightly damp microfiber
cloth, wipe the shelves down to remove grime and fingerprints.

4.      Label it: Grab three bags, boxes or
laundry hampers. Label them TRASH, DONATE, and RETURN.

5.      Sort it: It’s time to weed through the
things that have accumulated on your shelves. As with all decluttering, you’ve
got to be ruthless and realistic.

•
Trash it: Old
magazines you’ll never get around to reading, items you’ve been meaning to
repair but haven’t had time for -- they’re trash. Put them in the TRASH box/bag
and let them go.

•
Donate it: Maybe
there are some books you once loved but won’t read again? Knickknacks that no
longer hold sentimental value for you might still make someone else smile. Put
them in the DONATE box and take that down to your car.

•
Return it:
Things that have migrated to your home office shelves but belong elsewhere
should go into the RETURN box. Once you’ve collected everything that belongs in
a different room, set this box outside the door of your home office. When
you’re finished today, you’ll want to take things back to where they belong.

6.      Shelve it: Return what’s left to your home
office shelves, wiping each item with a dry microfiber cloth as you work. Place
frequently-used items on the most easily-accessible shelves; heavy items belong
on the lowest shelves; and things you rarely use should go on the highest
shelves since you don’t need to reach them very often.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning (Emphasis on Bathrooms)

As you
do the Daily
Cleaning Routine,
spend some extra effort on the bathrooms to give them their weekly cleaning.
The steps in the daily plan plus those below will cover it:

•
Disinfect and scrub the toilet bowl.

•
Spray the exterior of the toilet with disinfecting spray, allow it to soak for
2 minutes then wipe.

•
Spray the shower walls and/or tub with disinfecting spray, allow it to soak for
2 minutes then wipe.

•
Dust the door jambs and baseboards. Wipe away fingerprints.

•
Sweep or vacuum then mop the floor.

•
Empty the trash.

•
Change the towels and launder the dirty ones.

DAY THIRTY

It’s the
final day! You have cleaned bathrooms and bedrooms, the laundry room and the
kitchen. You’ve organized junk, spice, and cutlery drawers. You've kept your
house tidy day in and day out using the Daily Cleaning Routine, and you've kept up with weekly
cleanings throughout.

In other
words, you are tired… but that’s okay because you are also just about done.

Today’s
Cleaning Task:
Office Curtains/Blinds, Windows and Floors

1.
Window coverings: Follow
the steps listed on Day
Eighteen to
clean blinds, curtains, and windows.

2.      Finally, the floors: Vacuum the floors at the base of
the walls using the crevice attachment, then vacuum the rest of the floor.
Remember, thorough vacuuming requires four passes (back and forth, back and
forth) to get the dirt out, and high traffic areas need and additional four
from a different angle.

Today’s
Maintenance Task:
Daily Cleaning

Complete
the Daily
Cleaning Routine
and you are done! Well, okay, you are done for today, but that doesn't
mean you can ignore your home tomorrow.  The key to maintaining what you've
accomplished is doing something every day so never gets out of control.

It's the
regular, daily attention that tells our family that we want them to help keep
the home clean. In sociology, this is known as the "broken window theory":
if the first sign of disorder or disrepair is ignored (as in, a broken window),
it's interpreted as a sign that standards won't be enforced. Before long the
entire area falls into decline.

That
doesn't mean you have to repeat the plan over and over. Instead, use the Monthly
Cleaning Routine
to keep chaos away. You can always refer back to the Plan when you want to --
say, for Spring Cleaning -- but if you keep up with the Monthly Cleaning
Routine you'll probably find you don't need to.

HOMEMADE CLEANING MIXES

Indoor
air pollution is a very real concern, particularly in newer homes which are
built to prevent outdoor (fresh) air from seeping inside. Quite literally
everything you cook or burn, spray or wipe, wash or clean with in your home
becomes part of the air you breathe. For that reason, it's important to think
about the products you use.

Bleach
is a powerful cleaner, but it can also lead to lung and skin irritation. Other
commercial cleaners do an excellent job of disinfecting but they, too, can
leave harsh fumes lingering in the air. Even air fresheners contain potential
irritants -- and they don't list ingredients, either!

By using
homemade cleaning mixes you know if your family is allergic to any of the
ingredients. They're also just as good at disinfecting, cleaning, and
polishing. Even better, you probably already have the ingredients in your
kitchen to make just about any cleaning product you need.

Bonus
Tip: Use peppermint oil to scent your homemade cleaners and you'll deter
cockroaches, mice and ants, too!

All-Purpose Cleaner

Thanks
to the lemon and vinegar, this cleaner has light germ-killing properties. It
also leaves a lovely scent and a nice, streak-free shine. Keep a bottle under
the kitchen sink along with a microfiber cloth for quick touch-ups. Stash other
bottles in the guest bathroom so you can tidy things if company drops in.

NOTE: Do
not use the recipe above on granite or marble. Use the Granite-Safe All-Purpose
Cleaner instead!

Ingredients:

2 cups
warm water

1
tablespoon baking soda

1/2 cup
white vinegar

Juice of
one lemon

5-10
drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

1.      In a bowl, stir
the baking soda into the water dissolved.

2.      Add the remaining
ingredients in order. Stir well.

3.      Transfer to a
spray bottle.

4.      Shake gently
before each use.

Granite-Safe All-Purpose Cleaner

The
acidic nature of my standard All-Purpose Cleaner can ruin granite countertops.
Use this non-acid solution instead.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup isopropyl
(rubbing) alcohol

1 1/2
cup water

1/4 tsp.
liquid dish detergent

Essential
oils (optional)

Directions:

1.      Combine the
ingredients in a spray bottle.

2.      If using essential
oils, add just enough to counteract the smell of the rubbing alcohol. (It will
fade quickly after spraying, so the use of oils is purely optional.)

3.      Shake gently
before each use.

4.      Rubbing alcohol is
highly flammable so KEEP THIS AWAY FROM FLAMES! That includes gas stove
burners, pilot lights, and candles.

Floor-Cleaner for All Hard
Flooring

If
you've been looking for a streak-free, inexpensive floor cleaner that cuts
through grime without harming your floors, look no further. This works on
linoleum, vinyl, ceramic and porcelain tiles. It ALSO works on laminate,
engineered, and hardwood floors!

Again,
since we're using rubbing alcohol, it's important that you keep it away from
flames. So don't spray this near hot water heaters, lit burners, pilot lights
or candles, please.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup Isopropyl (rubbing)
alcohol

1/2 cup water

3-5 drops liquid
non-moisturizing, non-oxygenated dish soap (for example, Ivory or Dawn
Original)

5-10 drops essential oils
(optional, see below)

Directions:

1.      Combine
ingredients in order in a spray bottle and spray on your floor as you mop.

2.      To make a large
amount of floor cleaner to use in a bucket, pour a bottle of Isopropyl
(rubbing) alcohol into a clean bucket. Fill the bottle with white vinegar and
add to the bucket. Fill the bottle again with water and add to the bucket. Add
1 teaspoon of Ivory or Dawn Original dish soap and 20-30 drops of your favorite
essential oil (optional). Discard unused solution after cleaning.

Bathroom Disinfectant Spray

This
spray relies on borax and washing soda, which is different than baking soda.
You can find borax and washing soda in the laundry aisle of most big-box stores
like Wal-Mart and Target. Both amplify the disinfecting power of white vinegar
while helping the solution cling to surfaces a bit longer. For added
disinfecting power, use tea tree or lavender essential oil.

Ingredients:

1 tsp
Borax

1 tsp of
washing soda

2 cups
hot water

1/2 cup
white vinegar

10-15
drops of essential oils

Directions:

1.      Using a funnel,
pour the powders into a spray bottle.

2.      Add the hot water
first and the vinegar second. (Otherwise it will bubble up.)

3.      Close the bottle
and swirl very gently.

4.      Add the essential
oils. Close the bottle again and swirl lightly before use.

Bathroom Disinfecting Scrub

In this
recipe we're relying on essential oils to do the disinfecting. If you're still
concerned about whether your surfaces are properly disinfected, follow with the
Bathroom Disinfecting Spray above. Store any leftover scrub in an air-tight,
opaque container for future use.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup
baking soda

1/2 cup
washing soda

1/2 cup
liquid Castile soap

Essential
oils: 10 drops lemon, 10 drops lavender, and 5 drops tea tree

Directions:

1.
In a small bowl, mix first three ingredients to form a paste.

2.      Stir in essential oils.

To use:
sprinkle the paste on your damp sponge or the surface to be cleaned then scrub.
Rinse with hot water.

Soft Scrubbing Cleaner

Ingredients:

3/4 cup
baking soda

2 tbsp.
liquid dish OR 1/4 cup Castile soap

2 tbsp.
white vinegar

Hot
water as needed

6-10
drops essential oils (optional)

Directions:

1.      Combine the baking soda and soap in a
bowl to form a paste.

2.      Slowly stir in the vinegar (it will
make a small fizz).

3.      Add hot water as needed to make a
very thick paste.

4.      Add essential oils until you're happy
with the fragrance.

5.      Transfer to an airtight, opaque
container.

6.      To use: sprinkle on to damp
microfiber cloth or sponge and scrub.

Soap Scum Remover

Ingredients:

Dawn or
Sun Original dish soap

White
vinegar heated until VERY hot

An empty
spray bottle

Directions:

1.
Using a measuring cup, add equal parts VERY hot vinegar and dish soap to
the spray bottle. Stir to combine but don't create a foam.

2.
Heavily spray the shower door or surface that you want to clean.

3.
Let sit 30 minutes to overnight.

4.
Spray with water or wipe clean with a microfiber cloth and warm water.
Note: the shower floor will be slippery, so be careful!

5.
Scrubbing hard probably won’t be necessary, but if there are particularly
stubborn spots go at them with a stiff-bristled brush.

Vinegar-Based Daily Shower
Spray

The idea
behind a daily shower spray is to keep your tub and shower walls mold, mildew,
and soap scum-free between deep cleanings. There's no need to wipe or squeegee
-- just spray and go! I use the vinegar-based daily shower spray, but have also
provided a vinegar-free alternative for those of you who can't stand the smell
of that stuff.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup
white vinegar

1 1/2
cups water

10 drops
essential oil (tea tree and/or lemon mask the smell of vinegar nicely and add
anti-mildew power)

Directions:

1.      Add ingredients to
a spray bottle and gently swirl to combine.

2.      Spray on all
surfaces of your shower/tub daily after use.

Vinegar-Free Daily Shower Spray

This one
uses hydrogen peroxide, which degrades quickly when exposed to light. If you
don’t own dark-colored spray bottles you can use an old hydrogen peroxide
bottle -- most nozzles fit right on the bottle!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup
hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup
rubbing alcohol

2-3
drops liquid dish detergent (like Dawn)

1 cup
water

Directions:

1.      Add ingredients to
an opaque spray bottle and gently swirl to combine.

2.      Spray on all
surfaces of your shower/tub daily after use.

IMPORTANT: Keep away from flame!

Window and Glass Cleaner

The
rubbing alcohol in this mix is excellent at cutting through grime on windows,
leaving a streak-free shine.

Ingredients:

1 part
rubbing (Isopropyl) alcohol

1 part
white vinegar

3 drops
non-moisturizing liquid dish detergent (like Dawn)

Empty
spray bottle

Newspaper
or squeegee

Directions:

1.
In the spray bottle, combine the alcohol, vinegar and dish soap. Swirl to
mix without creating foam.

2.
Fold a few sheets of newspaper together like a washcloth. Spray the glass
then wipe with the newspaper (or squeegee). It may look streaky at first if
you’re using newspaper; just keep switching to a dry section and the streaks
will disappear.

3.
When cleaning windows, wipe left-to-right on the inside of the windows,
and top-to-bottom on the outside of the windows. That way, if you do leave
streaks you’ll be able to tell which side they're on.

4.
Use a small rubber spatula as a squeegee when cleaning glass objects or
narrow windows, wiping it regularly with a dry cloth so you're always using a
clean, dry surface to squeegee.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

This
recipe costs pennies per load and does a great job of cleaning. You can find
all of these ingredients in the laundry aisle of many stores like Target and
Wal-Mart.

Ingredients:

1 bar
non-moisturizing soap, like Fels Naptha

1 cup
washing soda (not baking soda!)

1 cup
Borax

10-15
drops essential oils (optional, but nice for fragrance)

Directions:

1.
Grate the soap on a cheese grater using the large holes. This goes faster
if you first microwave it for 20 seconds.

2.
Combine all three ingredients in a plastic container with a lid. Be
careful when pouring the powders into the bucket -- you don’t want to inhale
them!

3.
Add essential oils for fragrance if you’d like.

4.
Put the lid on and shake well. Let the powder settle before opening.

To
use, add 1-2 tablespoons to the water as your machine fills. That's it! As with
all laundry detergents, adding more won't get your clothes cleaner; it will
just leave more soap residue on your clothes.

To
pre-treat stains: use water to make a paste from a small amount of the
detergent powder. Scrub it into the stain and let sit for 30 minutes before
laundering.

Furniture Polish

The
white vinegar in this mix keeps the olive oil from going rancid.

Ingredients:

1 cup
olive oil

1/4 cup
white vinegar

3 to 4
drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

1.
Add all ingredients to a spray bottle and shake well.

2.
Spray onto a smooth, lint-free cloth and wipe onto furniture for light
polishing.

3.
For heavier cleaning, spray directly onto furniture and buff well using a
clean, lint-free cloth.

4.
Store in a cool, dark place and shake well before each use.

Afterword

More From This Author

Thank
you for your purchase of this book! I hope you've found it a valuable tool in
transforming your home into the clean, organized place you've always wanted it
to be.

For even
more guidance, please visit my website HousewifeHowTos.Com where you'll find:

•
Free printable weekly cleaning routines

•
Step-by-step advice to removing carpet stains, including pet messes and dried
paint.

•
Easy, wholesome recipes

•
Even more cleaning mixes

•
An entire shopping area listing my recommended equipment and favorite kitchen
gadgets

You may
also enjoy my other books available on Amazon:

1,001+ Housewife How-To's:
Household Hints to Help Homebodies Cook, Clean, Do Laundry, Get Organized, Save
Money and MORE!
(available in paperback or for the Kindle)

August: A Season of Easy Cooking (available for the Kindle)

30 Recipes Using Cooked Chicken:
Real Food Your Family Will Love
(available for Kindle)