It also helps to know when to walk away. I do some laundry five days a week, not ALL my laundry in one day. I clean one room a week, not all my rooms in one day (unless I have house guests coming :)

Best cleaning tip ever, from my mother: wipe down one cabinet face every day. In about a month, you will have washed all your cabinet faces. How often do you wash them down now? (that's Mom asking, not me :)

Nope, don't have or know of the book. I'm pretty OCD on house keeping these days. How-some-ever, here's a great tip I learned years ago: treat yourself to a maid service once or twice a year if you're really messy. It just eliminates a world of angst for a few days, (if you can afford it.)

Best cleaning advice, ever, from my mother:

You work full time and you have kids. Hire someone to clean your house even it is your primary luxury.

I do and it is. It lets me concentrate on my family when I am home. There is still plenty of cleaning to be done during the week...

Oh, and I have home comforts. I have mixed feelings, it was overall too chatty and she mixes in a lot of comments about child rearing that I didn't care for....

All I can say: cleaner.

We cut down on restaurant dinners, cut down on personal budgets, and, honestly, it's the best part of the budget for me.

I leave for work: the apartment is tidy but filthy. It get back: it is magically clean! Bliss. Pure bliss.

I love Home Comforts so much that, when it appeared I'd lost my copy, I bought another one. I later found the first and now have both a hardback and soft cover copy. I also have Martha Stewart's Homekeeping, but much prefer Cheryl Mendelson's approach.

Ha, I actually have a postcard of that picture framed. Thanks for the tips on actually cleaning instead of just dreaming it were true!

I really needed these tips. I have two weeks left to prepare for the arrival of house guest.

Thank you!!! I was never taught how to iron a shirt and the answer is right here! I really needed this whole list.

what I would like to know is how to clean a fiberglass tub that is so old it's not funny, about 25 years. Some moron decided to put this tub in in sections so needless to say I have these groves (about 5) that grow mold about the same rate as the garbage can grow flies. It's a rental so theer's only so much I can do but it's gross. Any ideas????

@tinkurbel - don't use anything abrasive (especially soft scrub). not sure how to clean it, i just know from experience that soft scrub ruins the finish.

I'm a neurotic neatfreak. Seriously. But, I have 2 kids (son is 9, daughter is 4). They have friends over. I also have 3 cats, 2 large dogs, and just me to deal with it all. My motto? Cleaning while the kids are awake is much like shovelliing the driveway before the blizzard is over- totally effin pointless. LOL But I try... My house is always clean, but sometimes untidy. I really should curb my starbucks habit in favour of a once a week maid.

My motto on cleaning? Just DO IT! I am NOT a clean 'freak' but I cannot relax if there is crap everywhere. Only one of my daughters is not at school and I am only working part time so it's not really a time issue so much as it's a procrastination issue. lol! If I just get it out of the way, I can concentrate on more important things and more FUN things. As for a cleaner.... I'd prefer to splurge on fashion. (-ask me again when I'm back at work full time. lol!)

http://elecatcreations.blogspot.com/

I have Home Comforts, too, along with a few others. I love to clean, it's my end of the work week therapy! A soft brush makes the difference - use it on the baseboards, window-sills (incl the glass), anything with a groove or edge. Fast & easy, no cloth or spray cleaner involved!

Oh my goodness, this is just what I was looking for. I actually was recently contemplating looking for someone who could teach me how to really clean. A Swiffer and disinfectant wipes just don't cut it!

Thank you.

Thanks for the list, it's really valuable!
I have, and like, Home Comforts, but the one book that really taught me how to clean is Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell - I cannot recommend it highly enough. Even though I don't follow their system religiously, having a system as a start to build on made a huge difference!

JudiAU's comment took me by surprise. I have _Home Comforts_ and have read it several times - can't remember child rearing stuff in it (I don't have kids, so maybe I just didn't pay attention?). I think the book's information has given me confidence.

My day starts at 6 and ends at 10pm. In between I manage so many things including uni, work, family, cooking and of course cleaning. I am very house proud.My tip: always have the lounge/living area, bathroom and kitchen kept tidy. It makes you feel good and motivated you to make time to clean up other rooms in the house.
My son's room only gets cleaned once a month, so does our bedroom and my hubby's study.
My girlfriends always ask me how do I manage to keep my house clean with a super hectic
schedule..now they know.
And have a strict NO MESS IN ENTRY HALLWAY policy.

Let's just say my mother was a "free spirit" when it came to housework :) I prefer a cleaner space and the ability to entertain without calling in the National Guard, so all those skills and habits that a lot of people just absorbed as they were growing up, I've had to figure out for myself. Some stuff is just kind of embarrassing to admit I don't already know, while others I don't know if anyone would have the answer even if I asked -- and that's why I love my copy of Home Comforts. It covers everything from how often to change your pillowcases to what's the best way to clean and store pewter or protect the binding on a book. I'm sure Cheryl Mendelson's house is still way cleaner than mine, but it's nice to be able to "ask" her advice when I need/want it.