Daily Household Tips
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Simplify daily household chores by establishing systems and making sure that every family member is aware of them. From cleaning the home to preparing meals to home maintenance, efficient organization and planning saves time, money and frazzled nerves.
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Set up a daily schedule and divide the chores among family members. Start with opening windows and allowing fresh air to circulate. Have a place for stray objects and clutter. If you live in a two-story house, keep baskets at the bottom and top of the stairs to collect things that need to go in the opposite direction. Make sure the baskets get emptied on a regular basis. Clean cleaning tools after using them. Rinse out sponges and mops, and hang out to dry. Clean brooms and dustpans so dust and debris doesn't accumulate. Wipe up spills on garbage pail lids. Straighten up furniture that has gone askew and plump up pillows.
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In the Kitchen
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Keep the kitchen sink clean and free of dirty dishes. Not only do they grow bacteria, but soiled plates and cups filled with dirty water invite undesirable pests. Clean the dishes and let air dry in a rack or accumulate them in a dishwasher until a full load is ready to clean. Wipe of all counter surfaces and appliances so they are ready to use for the next meal.
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Home Office
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Shut down your computer and monitor and other electronics at night or if they aren't going to be used for the next two hours. Attach several power-hungry electronics to a power strip that can be reached easily and turned off and on with the push of a button. File all paperwork daily, and avoid stacks of organized chaos. Keep large project papers together in one folder or basket. Toss out junk mail daily.
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Get Organized
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Get organized to keep household cleaning to a minimum. Label linen closets or shelves so all family members know that bath towels go on one shelf and bed sheets go on another. If children share a room, give them each a color for closet space and drawers for putting away toys and clothes. On laundry days, they'll be no fighting over what goes where. Keeps instructions and warranties to electronics and appliances in a three-ring binder filled with plastic sleeves. Add new ones as items are purchased. Keep the binder near the entertainment center or on a library shelf.
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Home Maintenance
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Don't wait for home maintenance to build up--or break down. Make a list of things that need attention and do one or two small tasks daily. Unstick doors that are hard to open by rubbing candle wax on the door where it meets the door jamb to ease opening and closing. If windows need insulation, tackle one window a day until the job is complete. Keep small jars or cans of paint to touch up scratched doors or appliances.
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