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Dust bunnies shelter themselves under more American beds today than ever before. That’s according to a University of Maryland study about how people use their time. Whatever the reason -- two income families or accommodating multiple schedules – American homes are not as spanking clean as they were a decade ago. In 1965 women spent 27 hours a week on housework. Today that figure has dropped below 16 hours.
Still, 16 hours is a lot to devote to wielding a dust mop. It robs an entire month from each year of your life. It seems especially mindless since once eradicated – the dreaded grime sneaks right back in.
Historically, housework has always been a female pastime. Back in the sixties most men didn’t know a dish rag from a wash cloth. The women’s movement and second income trend have helped level the field, but apparently not enough. According to the National Cleaning Survey, recently released by The Soap and Detergent Association, women still do a majority of household chores – a whopping 79 percent.
It’s not that men can’t clean, it’s just not in their nature. The male perception of what constitutes a dirty house is far different from a woman’s. Like other major female-oriented issues, men seem oblivious to the value of cleaning. But amazing as it may seem the woman of the house may be learning a thing or two from men.
Cleaning is drudgery – pure and simple. Learning to look the other way may be hopeless but learning to break the bonds of housework moil stokes a flame in every woman’s heart. The secret of interiors that look freshly scrubbed is daily maintenance and prevention. The following pointers should help:
Clear the doo-dads. Clutter is dust’s best buddy. Ask yourself if keeping an item is worth a lifetime of maintenance. If not -- toss, sell or donate the item.
Simplify supplies. You really don’t need dozens of products - especially toxic ones - to have a clean home. A few intelligently formulated, multi-purpose products can do a better job: easier, quicker, at no greater cost and without risk to you, your children or the earth.
Keep supplies organized. Create a repository – a big bucket perhaps -- housing glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaning solution and rags to tote from room to room to eliminate running up and down stairs. If you have space, you may want to store a cache of supplies on each floor of your house. Likewise, keep cleanser, sponges and paper towels under both the bathroom and kitchen sinks.
Stop the insanity. Wood furniture doesn’t need weekly polishing. Too much polish can cause build-up that demands major cleaning. A light buffing with a slightly damp cloth is all that’s needed to make wood regain its natural beauty.
Focus on one area at a time. Don’t roam from room to room dusting baseboards. Concentrate on an entire room’s grunge before going to the next.
Do a little each day. Spend a daily pittance to gain a chunk of time for more pleasurable pursuits. Whisk through the house before leaving for work, clearing away yesterday’s newspapers and vacuuming unwelcome guests that returned while you were sleeping.
Develop routines. Load and run the dishwasher before going to bed and assign one of the children to empty it in the morning or after returning from school.
Get help. Teach children that toys, books and dirty clothes have permanent homes and must be back where they belong before going to bed each night. Encourage and enforce the practice with small rewards.
Practice prevention. The Japanese custom of removing shoes before entering a house is a neat one to follow. Every shoe left at the doorstep bars an army of dirt and germs from entering. You may want to place a decorative container by the door for housing shoes, umbrellas and backpacks.
Swipe at spills, accidents and other cleaning horrors when they happen not after they’ve grown into a major chore.
Educate your cleaning team. Teach spouses to wipe stray whiskers from sinks and toilet bowl drippings after each use. Tutor children in the fine art of wiping up toothpaste globs.
Once a week, organize a cleaning party. Invite your family to join you in a game of “Hunt the Grime.” Mirrors, tubs, sinks and floors will be the likely prey. Note: Don’t allow children to use toxic cleaners.
Bite your lip and ignore it. Dust and dirt are not pretty but in the grand scheme of life, it matters little whether your house is June Cleaver clean.
Calculate how much your cleaning habit really costs. For example, if you make $40,000 a year, your hourly wage is $20. ($40,000 divided by 2000 -- the average number of yearly work hours.) So, spending 16 hours a week on housework equals $320 worth of your time. At that rate you can hire an expert cleaning team to battle your home’s filthy demons.
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