Untitled1It is waaaaay too nice outside to be spending your time cleaning and organizing. (Right?) Oh – but that’s one of the reasons you wanted a home in the first place, so you could have your own space decorated and organized exactly as you wanted it. Well then, if it has to be, maybe we can share a few shortcuts to help you get that unpleasant stuff done – then you can head out to enjoy some summer fun and leave your cleaning cares behind.

Plan Your Attack

Do a little each day. It may sound simple, but not every part of your home needs regular cleaning. Some areas can go months without a deep clean – such as window coverings or even the oven (unless roast turkeys are your dog’s best friend). For some people, it’s also easier to think about the job to be done if you handle the everyday maintenance regularly and plan just one big cleaning project each week. (And for those of you who “live to clean” – like Monica Geller-Bing on Friends – go away, this post is not for you!) After all, it’s not really procrastination if it’s on your schedule, right?

Gather Your Supplies

The keyword here is: Multi-function. Oh, and cost-effective, too. In fact, just make that “effective.” Because it doesn’t take a small fortune to accumulate the best cleaning supplies. With simple household products – like baking soda and vinegar – you’ll not only achieve great results, you’ll also do it with less toxic chemicals and odors. Talk about a win-win situation!

Here’s a couple of homemade cleaning supplies you can whip up yourself (and you’ll find plenty more with a quick Google search): Make your own cleaning wipes from dishwashing soap, vinegar and paper towels. (Just store them in a recycled coffee can and cut a pop-up slit in the lid!) A great all-purpose cleaning solution can be made from water, baking soda, castile soap, witch hazel and tea tree oil. (Just put it all in a spray bottle and you’re good to go.) A great make-your-own grout cleaner can be mixed up from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, with a dash of liquid dish soap. Lookie there – a clean house for less than you ever imagined!

For cleaning tools, a collection of microfiber cloths, or guess what – cloth baby diapers make great buffing pads! Be creative – look around and what’s already in your home and you’ll save both money and the planet (newspapers leave great, streak-free windows shining and clear). Oh – and one other thing that we love: Steam cleaners. Ever watched a burst of hot steam clean a countertop – or a yucky range? Less elbow grease, and eco-friendly. It will be your new best friend.

Start At The Top

One thing that you’ll learn from any cleaning pro is to always start at the top and work your way down. It might sound like a no-brainer, but let’s be honest. How many times did you vacuum the carpet first – and then clean the ceiling fan? We got ya, right? So we just think it’s worth a little reminder.

Also – plan your cleaning in grid-fashion. Not only will you work faster and more efficiently by not wasting ‘travel time’ across the house, but you also won’t be tracking dirt over areas you’ve already cleaned.

Keep It Tidy (aka, Sorta Organized)

Few things are more unsettling to an orderly mind than papers and “stuff” spread out all over the tops of counters or tables. Our suggestion? Gather it all up – yep, all of it – you heard us. Then put it all in one neat little pile. It doesn’t matter if the report cards are underneath the grocery store receipts, or if the dog’s toy is on top of it all. What does matter is that in just a few quick seconds, your living space has gone from “Oy – I have to clean this place up!” to “Hey – that’s not so bad. I CAN go to the pool!” The truth is, it’s easier to sort and toss and organize your things when they’re all together in one place. And for many people, it’s also much easier to be decisive about what to keep and what to jettison. Give it a shot next time, and let us know how it works for you.

Life is too short to spend it all cleaning and organizing. (On the other hand, a clean and organized life is pretty cool.) The good news is, there are ways to achieve both without making yourself crazy, or going broke. Or smelling harsh chemicals. Or having toxic things around your kids. Our suggestion? Go natural, and go easy on yourself!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with their Las Vegas real estate needs. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!