We recently discussed how to make a bed and take care of clothes. Now we’re going to cover basic cleaning tips and supplies needed.

Clean up your mess!

We all grew up in different houses, and so, we all have different concepts of what cleaning is. Some may think even a smidgen of dust is dirty, while others don’t even notice if there’s a layer on every surface. Whatever your preference––or ability to tolerate––it’s nice to have shortcuts for cleaning. Not only will you need to do the general, regular cleaning, there will also be times when certain things will need special attention.

Dirty microwave–– Place a microwave-safe dish of water in the microwave with a lemon slice and bring it to a boil. Once the inside is steamy, open and wipe out the inside with a damp cloth.

Glass Coffeepot–– Combine a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water and pour it in your water reservoir. Turn the coffee maker on and let it run completely through. Turn your coffee maker off and allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Pour the vinegar and water mixture down the drain. (You may need to repeat if your coffee maker has not been cleaned in a while.) Rinse the pot out thoroughly with warm water. Then, fill the water reservoir again with clean water and turn the coffee maker on to start the rinsing process. Repeat this rinse one more time to ensure that all the vinegar mixture has been removed.

Garbage Disposal––Smelly disposal? Slice up a lemon into quarters and grind it up in your garbage disposal to freshen the scent and clean the drain.

Don’t do that!

• Do not add bleach to a load of laundry after the clothes are already in the tub. Add bleach while the water is running, before clothes are added, so that it can be diluted.
• Do not add dryer sheets to a load of towels. This affects the absorbency of them.
• Do not mix bleach and ammonia or toilet cleaner. The fumes this creates can be toxic.
• Don’t allow dirty dishes to set in the sink or on counters for days on end – at the very least, put them in a sink full of hot, soapy water so the grime doesn’t become stuck or covered with bugs.

The shopping list

There are a few things you’ll need when leaving home that will make your housekeeping experience easier.

The tools:

• Indoor broom
• Outdoor broom (if you have a deck/patio or garage)
• Dust pan and brush
• Wet mop (if you have an area that is not carpeted)
• Cleaning bucket
• Vacuum cleaner
• Dusting cloths (microfiber are great, but an old shirt or sock works and is cheap!)
• Sponges
• Scrubbing brush with nylon bristles (for cleaning showers, etc.)
• Toilet brush
• Cleaning caddy (makes it easier to carry supplies from room to room)
• Rubber gloves (to protect your skin from chemicals)

The products:

• All-purpose cleaner (see our article about organic cleaning supplies)
• Glass/mirror cleaner
• Nonabrasive scouring powder (such as Ajax or Comet)
• Oven cleaner (or you can use your self-cleaning oven if you have one)
• Furniture polish
• Toilet cleaner
• Disinfectant (such as Lysol)

As exhausting as housekeeping may seem, it is doable if you make a routine. Some people choose one room or task to do each day, breaking up the burden of cleaning and keeping house. Others schedule one day a week for “cleaning day,” allowing them to relax concerning housekeeping the other days. Whichever you decide, if you ever have any questions, I’m sure your mom would love to receive a call from you!

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27

By Lisa Grimenstein

Our mom’s give us plenty of advice as we grow up, especially as we reach adulthood. But how often do we listen to it? When we’re moving out of the house is a great time to seek mom’s wisdom on some of the important things in life––like how to keep a house.

Make your bed!

You’ve probably grown up hearing those words: make your bed. And while you may have ignored them many times, nothing cleans up a bedroom more than a bed that is made. And this doesn’t mean tossing your dirty laundry on the bed and covering it with the comforter before guests arrive. Visit wikihow.com to learn how to neatly make your bed, hospital corners and all.

A well-made bed may be aesthetically essential, but a clean set of sheets is hygienically important. You should get into the habit of changing to a clean set of sheets once a week. Not only will this remove dust mites and dirt, but it will help your sheets last longer too.

There are a few basic things you need for your bed. Obviously, first are the sheets. Unless you want to wash and dry your sheets immediately when changing the bed, it’s nice to have two sets––one to put on the bed while the others are being laundered. One important, yet often forgotten item for the bed––which never gets seen––is the mattress pad. Although this may seem like an unnecessary addition, it will keep your mattress (usually an expensive part of your bed set) cleaner and in better condition. And it adds extra softness to your slumber. If you’re like most people, you’ll probably want a pillow––or three. The number is up to you, as is the firmness and thickness. Next comes the blanket, although you may choose to take this off if you tend to get hot in the summer months. And lastly, most people have some sort of comforter or bedspread. The choice is up to you. Some prefer the frilliness of a bedspread; others, the simplicity of a duvet comforter; and others, the uniqueness of a homemade quilt.

Pick up your clothes!

More than likely, you have at least one thing that will need ironed while living on your own. And while you may never have had to iron at home, now’s the time to take a lesson from Mom. (You can also visit this article on ehow.com to learn about ironing a shirt.) There are several ways to ruin clothes while ironing, so it’s important to know what you’re doing. Obviously, leaving the hot iron sitting on your clothes will burn them. But a wrong setting on the iron can also damage your wardrobe. One thing that is often neglected is cleaning your iron. Make sure that you’re not ironing with a dirty soleplate. This grime may transfer onto your clothes.

Of course, before you can iron your clothes, they need to be clean. Many people have had to do some bit of laundry before leaving home, so hopefully this will be somewhat familiar to you. If not, here’s a little Laundry 101.

Sort your stuff––First start by sorting your laundry by color––whites/lights and darks (reds are also separate). Then sort them further by delicates, towels (which produce lint), lingerie (lingerie bags are great for this), and heavier items such as jeans and sweatshirts.

Pretreat stains––If anything is stained or soiled, now is the time to deal with it. Check your clothing carefully for any stains that need to be treated. Once your clothes have been dried, the stains are pretty much set in. Go here for a list of stain removal tips.

Load the laundry––Now it’s time to fill the washer with your first load. Put in the laundry detergent while running the water in the machine. Remember to consider what temperature is recommended for your load (check the tags!) and which cycle to set it on (again, the tags!). (Keep in mind there are some clothes (silk, linen, wool) that may need to be dry cleaned.) Do not overload your machine! As proud as you may be to fit all 3 weeks’ worth of laundry into one load, it will not be clean when it comes out. There needs to be room for your clothes to agitate (move around) during the wash cycle.

Drying time––When your load is done washing, it’s time to dry. There are some items that may need to be kept out while drying, such as bras and other delicates. Note what setting the dryer needs to be on for your load.

Time to fold––All your hard work will be lost if you leave your clean laundry in a pile on the floor for the next week. As tiresome as it may seem after your day with the washer and dryer, you need to fold your laundry and put it away. If it needs ironed, iron it as soon as possible so you’re not having to iron a wrinkly dress 10 minutes before you need to leave for work.

Stay Tuned

Later, we’ll discuss basic clean-up and supplies needed, so check back soon!

By Lisa Grimenstein