Help With House Cleaning?

Question

Hi, I am a teenage girl wanting to help my family with the housecleaning. My mom's not too into it, my dad can't do it, and my sister doesn't care about it. But my family does like the house kept clean, so I've started helping out here and there.

My question is, what kinds of things does house cleaning entail? Can you help me by listing some things that are basic needs, and then some extras? I'm not trying to become a mom or housekeeper or anything, I would just like to help out my family a little because they do so much for me. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Wash and rinse the dishes. Dust.  Sweep and Mop the floors or run the sweeper.  Clean out the bathtub (Comet spray works the best!)

Answer 2

Once a week clean the bathroom from top to bottom.  Start by cleaning the walls in the shower and the shower door, then the mirror then the sink and commode then the floor.  If you do it regularly it won't take more than half an hour.

Wash, dry and fold a load of laundry.  Sort it whites, dark colors, light colors, sheets and towels.  If you wash it all in cold water and color safe bleach you can mix all but the dark colors.  Be sure to read the labels to be sure everything is washable.

Good for you for stepping up and helping keep your home comfortable.

Answer 3

You could clean the windows, television, and mirrors with

windex. And just try to straighten things up that might be out

of place or anything along those lines [:

Answer 4

I'm a compulsive cleaner, so I'll try not to go overboard, so here goes.......

"Picking up" is not the same as cleaning and should be done daily--clothes and trash off floor and into proper areas, dishes done after every meal and not left in sink, laundry done, wipe down countertops in kitchen and bathrooms, take out trash if it needs it, sweep or vaccum floors if needed, tidy furniture (straighten up cushions and/or pillows) and make beds.

Cleaning (which I do at least twice a week, but I'm abnormal), entails more thorough attention to detail.  A light cleaning is only required weekly but you should deep clean at least once per month.  Some houses get dirtier than others--you may have little kids, pets, etc....I have both, so I'm always cleaning!  See next for some typical chores:

Dusting is not just easy surfaces--you should get your windowsills, molding around doors, furniture inside and out, and ceiling fans.  Don't forget the top of your fridge, your blinds, countertop appliances in kitchen, bookshelves and electronics either.

Bathrooms:  Must be done at least weekly!  Can't stress this enough---bathrooms get really really dirty and can lead to illnesses from germs.  Clean all tile and attack the corners well with a scrub brush to prevent mold from building up.  Wipe down all the fixtures with a cleaner containing bleach OR ammonia (but not both at the same time) to kill germs.  Clean chrome and mirror surfaces well also.  This is probably the best way you can help your family--keep the bathrooms clean and stay on top of it.  Sometimes you may need to clean them more frequently--especially if there are toddlers in the house or if there's a mess.

Kitchen:  Beyond dishes, there is a world of kitchen chores.  You can (and should) wipe down cabinet doors, all appliances, and pulls (cabinet hardware).  The refrigerator is usually overlooked until a major spill or until it gets to disgusting to stand--the shelves and drawers inside get really dirty from food and should be wiped down regularly--open yours and I guarentee there's spots of spilled food somewhere in sight either on the walls or shelves--or door.  Pull out the lowest drawer and clean the very bottom basin of the fridge--it's usually nasty.  I use a weak solution of bleach and water or sometimes just plain old dishsoap.  Next:  Thou shalt clean the inside of your microwave!  Another nasty and frequently overlooked spot.  Ovens are harder to clean and require special oven cleaner--best leave this one to mom.  

Bedrooms usually just require dusting and vaccuming, some surface cleaning of furniture and the daily pick-up of clothes, toys, books, and papers.  Get into the habit of making your bed every day--it's just plain mannerly and makes your room look cleaner and more relaxing and welcoming.  Don't just chuck things under the bed or in a closet--actually make a place for your things and keep them there.  Organization is very rewarding.

Mopping--this means a cleaner of some sort, a mop and some serious scrubbing to get your hard floor surfaces really clean.  You should be able to walk barefoot or in white socks in a house without getting your feet dirty.  Sweep or vaccum first and wipe dry with a clean towel after to get the best results.  This is usually the last thing I do.

Some extras you can do to encourage cleanness in your household is to organize drawers, cabinets, and closets.  Don't do them all at once, it's exhausting.  Instead of letting the family towels just crumple on the towel bars or hooks--fold them so they look nice.  Every now and then, grab some 409 or Windex and some paper towels and walk around the house wiping down the wood trim, door handles, baseboards, and light switch-plates--kills germs and keeps them tidy.  Don't forget to sweep the front porch occasionally and shake out matts and rugs.  Instead of just everyone grabbing a plate at dinnertime buffet-style, try setting the table nicely at least once a week to encourage a family dinner and then clear the table yourself neatly at the end of dinner--without being asked.

Cleaning has its own rewards.  It's a way to show people how much you care for them--that you love them and want them to live in the cleanest, most comforting and comfortable place possible.  Someday, a roommate or even husband will value you all the more for it.  My family loves it--plus, I'm always ready for company to drop by--no worries that there's underwear on the floor of my bathroom!

Good luck.  Hey, and , believe it or not--I don't spend all day doing this stuff--I have a rehearsed routine in my house and even a monthly deep clean only takes me about 3 hours--why?  Because I do it regularly and stay on top of things.  I normally only clean for about 20 minutes to one hour per day and I have a husband, 3 sons (my youngest is 2 and 1/2), and two hairy dogs.  My house is not huge, but it's not small either--about average.