Thank you for your interest in our Cleaning Tips. To me, homekeeping is a professional gift of love. In our hurry-up world, we need more than ever to have a place where we can find order, calm and nurturing. Never have so many people had such beautiful homes and furnishings, and yet had so little time to care for and enjoy them. Our homes are meant to be lived in, not just existed in. They are intended to welcome us as well as our friends and family with love.

We often take our homes for granted, and unfortunately, it often shows, but when we take the time and energy to care for them, our efforts are rewarded many times over. Our homes do not have to be picture perfect or decorated like a magazine cover in order for them to give restoration to those who live there, but they do need on-going care. Homekeeping is never truly finished anymore than we can exercise our bodies once, and say, now that is done, and we never have to do it again. Our bodies, our automobiles, and our lawns and gardens must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, and so must our homes.

The following tips are intended to help anyone who is dedicated to improving their home environment for themselves and their loved ones. However, it is difficult for any one person to completely care for their homes by themselves. Enlist the help of family members, trade off with friends or hire professional help (Mrs. McGuire’s or others) at least on an occasional basis.

Below are just a few cleaning and organizing tips. Check back every month for new ones to help make your home a haven for mind, body, and spirit.
Sincerely,

Mrs. McGuire ^

General Cleaning Tips:	Kitchen Tips: (coming soon!)
Leave your shoes... Use door mats... Manage clutter... Left, right, top, bottom... Use natural products... Develop schedule...

Leave Your Shoes at the Entry or in the Mudroom
Some studies estimate that as much as 80%-85% of all the dirt and toxins that enter your home come in on the soles of your shoes. Leave your shoes and the unwanted dirt and toxins at the door and your cleaning chores automatically lessen. top

Use Door Mats
This will remove about 50% of the dirt that comes in your house. You should be taking at least 5 steps on the mats to take off the majority of dirt. This is important if you elect not to leave your shoes at the door or you don’t have an entry or mudroom in which to leave themt. tips or top

Manage The Clutter
Take a hard look at the things in your home, and ask yourself whether they are contributing to your life or detracting from it. Some people say you should have nothing in your home that you don’t know you need or believe to be beautiful. We all have different styles of decorating and tolerance for accessories. Just remember that everything that you set on a tabletop or counter must be maintained (dusted, cleaned, etc.) on a regular basis. tips or top

Clean from Left to Right and Top to Bottom
Actually if you are left-handed, you might want to clean from right to left, just be methodical in working your way around a room so you are more efficient and don’t miss anything. By working from top to bottom, you can avoid having streaks or dust settling down on already cleaned surfacesr. tips or top

Try to use Natural and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
They are generally as effective or more so as chemicals and a lot healthier for your family and the environment. There are many quality commercial products available and recipes using common household products online. When you must use chemicals, make sure you wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. tips or top

Try to Develop a Schedule of Cleaning
If you always clean the bathrooms on Monday and change the sheets on Friday (or whatever), you’ll never let any area get too far behind. Procrastination has a way of building on itself, and it also leads to feelings of guilt and self-doubt. tips or top