Amazing tip for Cleaning - Page 2

[EviesMom]

The only time I think the "start high and work your way to the floor" applies is if you *know* for certain that you'll be cleaning everything. That's because you usually knock dust and crumbs off of higher surfaces and it falls to the next level down. If you know that you'll finish 1 room but not the whole house, you can do the "start high and work to the floor" routine just for that room/part of the room. I do that in the kitchen but jump to floors first for the living room where there's less sweepable stuff from up high. Clean floor with toys all over the furniture is MUCH more pleasant than the reverse!

[Juvysen]

I'm sooooo bad about clutter, but I can't stand having a messy floor.

[aikigypsy]

I do top-down if I'm doing a serious cleaning, but in between (and I can go a loooong time in between), a quick sweep of the floor works wonders. De-cluttering is also important to me, but hard to do around here (multi-generational household, lots of stuff that isn't mine to tidy away!).

[AAK]

Off on a small tangent, but I find that in bedrooms--once you make the bed and pick the laundry off the floor, the room looks good. Even if the rest isn't done. Making the bed is a wonder!

[*bejeweled*]

For sure! I make the beds every morning for just this reason.

Originally Posted by AAK

Off on a small tangent, but I find that in bedrooms--once you make the bed and pick the laundry off the floor, the room looks good. Even if the rest isn't done. Making the bed is a wonder!

[WeasleyMum]

Originally Posted by AAK

Off on a small tangent, but I find that in bedrooms--once you make the bed and pick the laundry off the floor, the room looks good. Even if the rest isn't done. Making the bed is a wonder!

LOL, in my bedroom, that plus vacuuming and it's done! Well I guess occasionally I dust the ceiling fan or something, but usually if I get the laundry done, the bedroom is tidy by default.

[Down2Earth]

I'm going to try this today! I've been going through a bit of flu and depression and am just now starting to feel better, so it is time to tackle the messy house.

[clutterwarrior]

I have never even heard of the 'start high and work down' rule...luckily for me, as I have always done it the way you suggest, started with the floors. It just seems logical.

[sapphire_chan]

The real advantage to clearing the floors and getting all the clutter into one area to clear your surfaces for cleaning, is that you then have all your clutter in one area. Easier to see what needs a better home, what should be tossed, what should be given away, whether the missing part of this other thing is part of the group.

And it's easier to work with processing out clutter when you have a clean space.

[treeoflife3]

I agree about the clean floors thing.. I'm always doing the floors first... but I never make it to the table tops because I have all hardwood/tile and I swear you can't get that clean. I'll finish sweeping the kitchen and as soon as I set the broom down, I am stepping on crumbs again. It doesn't matter how I sweep/mop, how long it takes, if I do it TWICE.. my whole house still has gross floors. Its an evil never ending battle and I miss carpet. Its not as clean technically but gosh it can sure feel cleaner when you aren't stepping on all the ickies under the carpet that the vacuum can't get!

My houes is in a constant state of mess and chaos... the toddler can only take so much of the blame haha

[sapphire_chan]

It really helps to toss down a small towel to wipe your feet on as you go. Then when you're done sweeping, you haven't tracked crumbly bits behind you. (E.g. 1:43 in this video) A hand towel fits in any load of laundry.

Also, when you're clearing the floor in preparation for other cleaning, only do the middles of the floor. Don't move furniture, don't squiggle the broom into the corners, just get the big open areas that are easy to reach.

And only pick up big things and gross things before sweeping. It doesn't hurt blocks to be swept up with the dust they were sitting in in the first place and it's waaaaay less work to sweep everything into a pile rather than dashing around after fiddly bits.