How to Clean Your House Like a Professional

While I don't mind housecleaning in the least, I know many women who do not like it at all. In fact, some of the women I know, including my own daughter, absolutely loathe every aspect of housecleaning. Of course, unlike during earlier generations, my daughter's generation more often than not works outside the home, and the last thing women today want to do after toiling all week is to spend their weekends cleaning house. They would rather hire someone else to do it. And that is why housekeeping services have become so popular over the past 50 years and continue to thrive, whether they are large companies with multiple employees or small one-or-two-woman operations.On the other hand, given today's ever-increasing cost of living, many people are considering ways to eliminate unnecessary expenses, and some who are currently relying upon housecleaning services are wondering if they should drop the service and tackle the job themselves. Yet, extra expense or not, they are hesitant because it will mean more work and less time to spend with their families and doing the things they prefer to do on their weekends. That doesn't have to be the case. Before returning to college and entering the field of education, I cleaned houses for a living, so I know how professionals approach the job. I could clean the average sized house in an hour to two hours, depending upon how messy the owners were, and I did a thorough job. So, today, I'm going to share the secrets of the professionals with you by providing you with easy-to-follow guidelines that can help make cleaning your house far easier and less time-consuming than you ever imagined, And, no, I'm not going to lie and say that you will love housekeeping if you follow these guidelines, but I am going to say that following them will allow you to clean like the professionals and, in the process, save your money, as well as your time. Steps to Save Time When Cleaning House A professional can clean a house in a fraction of the time it would take you, even if you were both doing the same exact chores. How is this possible? It's possible because, unlike you, a professional house-cleaner is focused on getting the job done thoroughly but in as little time as possible.Consequently, you need to approach housecleaning like a job for which you are "on the clock" and earning a flat fee, regardless of how long it takes you to complete that job, whether one hour or four. You also need to act like you are in the home of a complete stranger. That way you will not be tempted to turn on your favorite daytime soap opera or talk show. Nor will you be inclined to sit down, pour a cup of coffee, and linger over a newspaper, magazine, or your Smartphone or Tablet, checking out the the latest celebrity buzz on Yahoo. What's more, you shouldn't even answer your telephone if it rings, but instead allow all calls to go to your voice mail or answering machine. .You should also clear your homes of all distractions. If you have little children, ask a relative or friend to baby-sit and then reciprocate the favor at another time. Put your pets in their pens or the garage, or let them out to play in the backyard. In other words, if anyone or anything could conceivably hinder your cleaning, temporarily remove it. How to Clean Your House Fast Professionals have a strategy for cleaning a house, one that involves steps. For example, I tackle chores in this order:Pick up clutter throughout the entire house.Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on, or if you prefer, wash them by hand.Strip and remake all beds with fresh linens.Put linens in washer.Clean bathrooms (wipe down surfaces; scrub toilet bowl; clean mirrors; mop floor).Put linens in dryer.Dust entire house (include ceiling fans, lampshades, blinds, baseboards, etc.).Polish all furniture.Clean interior glass surfaces (mirrors, tabletops, cabinet fronts, windows).Vacuum carpeted, wood, or tile flooring.Clean kitchen surfaces and sink, as well as interior of microwave.Mop kitchen floor, as well as other solid flooring (Use the right product depending upon the type of flooring). Supplies You Need to Clean Your HouseWhen professionals enter a room, they carry with them everything they might conceivably need. They do not make numerous trips back and forth in order to retrieve something they discovered they needed only after entering a room. They are prepared. So you should also be prepared, and one way to have everything on hand is to purchase a plastic bucket or other handy container and fill it with necessary cleaning products, for example:Disinfectant cleanser (suitable for all surfaces)Glass cleanerComet, Ajax, or another granular cleanser for hard-to-clean surfaces and removing stains. Of course, there are also brands that are less abrasive, so choose your own weapon, so to speak.Bleach for removing mold or mildew; however, do not mix bleach with other cleansers since it can create harmful vapors; instead, use it immediately before leaving the room.Assortment of sponges and ragsFeather dusterFurniture polish and/or lemon oilPaper towelsSpray or foam carpet cleaner (for spot removal)Aerosol air-freshener (a nice finishing touch)In conclusion, by following these guidelines, you will be prepared to clean your home like a professional and in the process save time and, ultimately, money. Now, I don't know about you, but I would rather spend my money on something I really need--or better yet something totally frivolous--than give it to someone else for cleaning my house.Readers who enjoyed this article might also enjoy " The Dirtiest Places in the Home," which provides tips for making a home virtually germ free.