Need help with cleaning tips and schedule

mammabear1

Tue, Feb 06 2024, 8:43 pm

I have two hours of cleaning help each week yet nearly nothing gets done. I need a detailed list of things that need to be cleaned each week, every other week, once a month etc. Does anyone have a list like that? And which products are used for what areas? There are so many cleaning products out there that I get dizzy in the cleaning aisle. I’m also afraid of using the wrong products for the wrong things.
Also, how do you clean the moldings area on the bottom of the walls? Vacuuming doesn’t work and it’s so hard to do it myself on all areas around the house. Another part of cleaning that stumps me is the vents on the ceiling. Is just vacuuming the outer part enough?
Any ideas and other tips would be greatly appreciated!

zaq

Wed, Feb 07 2024, 12:22 am

1. Go to flylady.com for a cleaning schedule.
Are you looking for guidance for yourself or for the cleaning lady?
2. Look for fewer cleaning supplies, not more. Diluted vinegar-and-water with a bit of dishwashing liquid works for most surfaces as long as they're not harmed by water. Baking soda makes a fine scouring powder if you need a bit more oomph. Or you could use an all-purpose commercial product like Fantastik and a soft scouring powder like Bon Ami or Barkeeper's Friend. (NOT together! Never mix cleaning chemicals.) You don't need a separate glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, floor cleaner, stainless steel cleaner and so on. However, if your cleaning person swears by a particular product, by all means supply it.

As for baseboard moldings, a clean, soft brush like the kind used to sweep dust into dustpans works well. Do this before vacuuming. You could also use a feather duster or one of those multiple-finger microfiber gizmos that look like big kooshy balls. In my kitchen, which is painted with semigloss paint, I spritz the baseboards with water and wipe them off with a cotton rag.