*Tip: Add a 15 to 25 foot extension cord to your vacuum cleaner so you can reach all rooms in one section without taking time to move cord from room to room.

Also remember you may not need to clean formal living rooms or dining rooms each time you clean. Use that time to dust cobwebs, clean cabinets, windows etc.

From top down. Deciding where to begin and how to proceed baffles many people. Clean top floor first beginning at back working your way either down steps or to center if you are on first floor. Following this pattern keeps you from dragging equipment and dirt over freshly vacuumed carpets. Once you have developed a cleaning routine stick with it. The more familiar you are with flow faster you clean.

Here is a common cleaning pattern to follow. Remember you will need to make adjustments based on layout of your home. Empty trash as you clean. You will be amazed at amount of clutter that heads to garbage when a trash bag is handy. Carry a second trash bag for items that can be taken to Goodwill.

1.Master bathroom 2.Hall bathroom 3.Dust all bedrooms, stairway railings and wall hangings 4.Vacuum master bedroom, bedrooms, hallways then stairs 5.Clean kitchen 6.Dust family room and dining area 7.Vacuum or dust floors in kitchen and family room and mop kitchen floor 8.Half bathroom 9.Dust formal living room and dining room 10.Vacuum these areas and damp mop entry way if it has hard flooring. 11.Laundry rooms and any remote rooms like guest rooms or offices

The order of business: People often follow a different procedure each time they clean a room and each room they clean. The secret to speed cleaning lies in repetition. Begin either at left or right of room depending on which feels more comfortable to you. Then circle room.

Bathrooms:

1.Spray inside of toilet with bowl cleaner. 2.Spray rim, toilet seat, counter top and sink with your all-purpose cleaner. Remember each time you put a bottle down and pick it up, you waste time. 3.Use your diluted orange cleaner and squirt down shower or tub enclosure. 4.Next clean toilet and toilet rim by sprinkling baking soda or Bar Keepers Friend on your toilet bowl brush. 5.Spray only part of mirror that is dirty wiping it down with a clean rag. That puts enough cleaner on towel to clean rest of mirror. 6.Wipe counter, sink and exterior of toilet and floor behind. 7.Next clean shower walls. pray shower floor and clean it. Finish by mopping floor.

Dusting:

1.Lift objects with one hand then dust with other. Place an old clean cotton tube sock over your dusting hand and lightly dampen it with your cleaner. People with arthritis or hand dexterity problems find it helpful to wear a rubber glove on one hand giving them a better grasp on objects. 2.Spray a lint free towel with window cleaning solution and toss that over one shoulder to clean any glass inlaid tables or cabinets. 3.Begin dusting from either right or left and work your way around room dusting window sills and wall hangings as you come to them. 4.For homes with pets, tuck a clean pair of rubber gloves into your back pocket. When you come to couches or chairs with pet hair, use gloves and work you hands in a circular motion moving over furniture. Toss rolled up lint onto floor for vacuum to pick up. Some people cover furniture with a body size bath towel to keep them clean from pet hair. Easy to launder, towels also save on furniture wear and tear. 5.As you dust move furniture towards center of room to vacuum behind it. Kitchens 1.Place a coffee cup half full of water in microwave. Cook on high for two minutes. The resulting steam loosens any baked on food for easy cleaning. Allow cup to cool for a minute before moving it so you don't scald yourself. 2.Spray stove or any counter area that contains dried food with orange cleaner. 3.Start at left and work your way clockwise around kitchen leaving sink for last after you mop floor. 4.Move appliances to one side then spray counter, dishwasher, refrigerator or microwave if it is in that immediate area. 5.Clean one section of cabinets each time you clean kitchen, paying special attention to door pulls. 6.Mop floor using a 100% terry cloth towel. Rinsing mops and filling buckets of water consumes time. A towel rinses quickly under a faucet then can be laundered for easy care. 7.Sprinkle sink with Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda using a brush to thoroughly scrub sink.

Vacuum Vacuum around room in same order you dust. Vacuum behind furniture first, replace furniture then back out of room. If floors are hard wood or laminated wood, dust them then damp mop using terry towel dampened with a small amount of white vinegar and water. For all other hard surface floors, vacuum them then damp mop using hot water only. Marble floors must be dried.