Cleaning Made Simple!

How to Clean the Kitchen in 15 Minutes

By Sarah Aguirre

1. Gather All Supplies Needed

   •    Trash container

   •    Basket for stuff that doesn't belong in the kitchen

   •    Dish soap

   •    Other cleaners you normally use

   •    Dishrag or sponge

   •    Scrubber for stuck on food

   •    Broom, mop, or vacuum

2. Run a sink of hot, soapy water

3. Scrape off all the dishes into the trash or garbage disposal

4. Place dishes that need to soak in the water

5. While the dishes are soaking, go through the kitchen clearing out trash from your floor, countertops, cupboards, etc.

6. Move on to gathering all the items that do not belong in the kitchen.  Put all these into a basket

7. Put away all the items that belong in the kitchen but are not in their proper places

8. Load the dishwasher or wash by hand

9. Wash down your countertops, appliances, and sink

10. Sweep and mop, or vacuum

11. Task out the trash

Tips

• The more people you have who live and eat in your home, the more time this process is going to take.  But, you have a advantage, more people to make messes means more people to clean them up.  Make cleaning up the kitchen after dinner a family affair.  Divide the steps between your family members, and you really can have the kitchen done in a short time.

• Train your family members to clear and rinse their own plates after each meal.  This simple act takes little time for each person, but save so much time for the dish person later.

• Run a sink of hot soapy water before food preparation begin.  As mixing bowls, cutting boards, knives, etc, become dirty, quickly wash them out to prevent food from drying and sticking.

• Create some "Family Clean up CD" and let each person contribute a favorite song.  Kid's will be a lot more likely to help out if they feel they have some input into the job. Letting them choose the music can go a long way

• This quick cleanup is designed for daily maintenance.  it can also be used for a fast fix when unexpected company is on the way. Doing this routine will not substitute for the inevitable need to clean more deeply on a regular basis.

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How to Clean a Kids Room in 15 Minutes

By Sarah Aguirre

1. Gather your supplies

   • A Basket, bag, or box to put clutter items

   • A vacuum cleaner or broom

   • A hamper

   • A trash container

   • A toy box

2. Grab all dirty clothes and put it in a hamper

3. Grab all trash and put it in the trash can

4. Make the bed

5. Grab all the clean clothes and fold or rehang

6. Pickup all the toys from the floor, bed, desk, etc

7. Pickup all the items that don't belong in the room and place them in a basket, box, or bag.

8. Sweep and mop, or vacuum

9. Put away all your supplies

Tips

• If you have a few minutes leftover after vacuuming, older children can grab the basket and take the items in it to their proper area. With younger children, have them put the basket in the hall for an adults to sort through later.

• Be careful about leaving items in the basket.  Very soon, you'll find that the basket is overflowing with your mini-cleanup items.  You'll still have to sort and organize weekly. 

• Model the efforts with a young child's help every day for a week to get them used to the cleanup method

• Make a picture chart for young children to allow them to see the step they need to go through

• Consider a visual reward chart using stickers to show that the kids have done their cleanup every day. 

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How to Cleanup Bedrooms in 15 Minutes

By Sarah Aguirre

1. Gather all your supplies

   • A basket, bag, or box to put clutter items

   • A vacuum cleaner or broom

   • A hamper

   • A trash container

2. Grab all dirty clothing and put it in a hamper

3. Grab all clean clothes and refold or rehang

4. Grab all trash and put in the trash can

5. Make the bed

6. Pickup all the misplaced items on the floor, bed, desk, etc

7. Straighten surfaces

8. Sweep and mop, or vacuum

9. Put away your supplies

Tips

• If you have a few minutes after vacuuming, grab the baskets and place the items in it in their proper areas.

• Don't let yourself leave the miscellaneous baskets unattended for too long.  The contents will pile up, spill over, and lead to more messes you don't have the time now to sort through, take another fifteen minutes sometime in the next day to do so.

• Make sure you remembered the clean clothes.  If there ere too many to fold and put away, are they neatly waiting on your made bed?

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How to Clean the Bathroom in 15 Minutes

By Sarah Aguirre

1. Gather all your supplies

   • A basket, bag or box to put clutter items

   • Broom or mop

   • A hamper

   • A trash container

   • Disinfectant wipes

   • Glass cleaner and rag

   • Toilet brush

   • Toilet Cleaner

2. Grab all dirty clothes and put it in a hamper

3. Grab all trash and put in a trash can

4. Take a disinfectant wipe and wipe down the sink and tub.

5. Using a toilet brush and toilet cleaner, briefly scrub out he inside of the toilet

6. Using a disinfectant wipe, wipe down the outside of the toilet

7. Using glass cleaner or vinegar, wipe down the mirror

8. Pickup all the items belonging in another room

9. Return items that belong in the bathroom to their proper places

10. Put away your supplies

Tips

• Making these steps a routines maintenance for the bathroom will make each 15 minutes cleanup go a lot faster.

• Having all your bathroom supplies for this job stored together can make the job easier.  If you have to hunt allover the house for supplies you will eat away your time and make the job much longer.  Be cautious about storage of dangerous chemicals where children or pets can reach them. 

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