20 minutes or less Daily Speed Cleaning

As summer time passes and life stays as busy as ever. I have found these time-saving tips and techniques to help keep the house tidy helpful. You might too. I have this little card I got from a Real Simple magazine a couple of years ago. Most of it is stuff our mother taught us to do anyway, but it might be a useful tool to help our kids see that keeping a clean house doesn't have to take hours everyday!

Bedroom-This is where I always start :-)

6 1/2 minutes

Make your bed right after you get out (or if the other half is still sleeping do it right before or after your morning shower.) A neat bed will inspire you.

Make the bed (2 minutes)

Fold or hang clothing and put away jewelry (4 minutes)

Striaghten out the night table surface (30 seconds)

Bathroom-2 minutes daily

Clean the bathroom each day should take no more time than flossing your teeth.

Wipe outh the sink (30 seconds)

Wipe the toilet seat and rim (15 seconds)

Wipe the mirror and faucet (15 seconds)

Squeegee the shower door/or shower if you have no doors (30 seconds)

Spray entire shower and curtain liner with shower mist (15 seconds) *I don't have it! Don't use it!

Living Room-6 minutes daily

Let graveity work for you Dust from top to bottom and save the vacuuming for last.

Pick up crumbs and dust bunnies with vacuume (1 minute)

Fluff cushions and fold throws after use (2 minutes)

Wipe tabletops and spot-clean cabinets when you see fingerprints (1 minute)

Straighten coffee-table books and magazines. Put away CDs and DVDs (2 minutes)

Kitchen-4 1/2 minutes daily

In the time it takes to make a pot of oatmeal, you can get through your everyday list.

Always start with the sink. Wipe down after doing dishes or loading the dishwasher (30 seconds)

Wipe down the stove top (1 minute)

Wipe down the counters (1 minute)

Sweep, swiffer, or vacuum the floor (2 minutes)

Obviously this isn't your deep cleaning process, but the speed cleaning method that can help those bigger cleaning jobs not seem so daunting!