Home Maintenance:Home Maintenance:Protecting Your InvestmentProtecting Your Investment

Daily, Weekly, & Seasonal Daily, Weekly, & Seasonal Cleaning – Cleaning –

Attacking Dust BunniesAttacking Dust Bunnies

Cleaning: Seasonal Cleaning

How often we clean depends on many factors How many people live in your home What activities are going on in your home

Define your personal requirements for tidiness and cleanliness

Cleaning Schedule for your Home

Break your task into 4 categories Daily Weekly Occasional Seasonal task

Daily Cleaning

Wash dishes Wipe down counters Empty garbage and trash containers Sweep up floors Wipe out sink & tub

Daily Cleaning cont.

Replace dirty towels Clear bathroom surfaces Straighten and pick up clutter in living

room Make beds Put away clothes, toys and other

things taken out during the day

Weekly Cleaning

Dispose of leftover food Damp mop floors Clean garbage can Wipe out microwave Wash towels

Weekly Cleaning cont.

Clean toilet and wipe tile with cleaning fluid

Clean tooth brush holder, mirror, sink, shower, and tub

Vacuum, carpet, rugs, and furniture Dust furniture, lamps, and knick-

knacks Wash and change bedding

Occasional Cleaning

Clean drip pans in your stove Clean oven Clean your Fridge Wipe down walls and woodwork Wash throw rugs Clean carpets and deep vacuum

furniture

Occasional Cleaning cont.

Wipe light bulbs Wipe ceiling fans Wash windows and curtains Dust books and pictures Turn and vacuum mattresses Wash mattress covers Air and vacuum pillows

Seasonal Cleaning

Clean Cupboards and closets Scrub and wax floors (moving furniture to

get to the total floor) Clean windows and screens Wash walls and woodwork Wash or dry clean blankets and spreads Organize your drawers and

closets Switch out clothes for the

new season and store away things that will not be neededuntil next year.

Make Cleaning Go More Smoothly

Broom Mop Plastic Bucket Vacuum Cleaner Rags Toothbrush (handy for small places and tough

dirt) Rubber gloves Cleaning fluids

Glass cleaner, bleach, baking soda, ammonia, vinegar, toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner (though bleach works just as well).

Essential Cleaning Products: All-purpose cleaner Window/glass cleaner Automatic dishwashing detergent or dish

detergent Laundry liquid Baking soda White distilled vinegar, Lemon juice, Table salt,

Hydrogen peroxide Furniture oil or spray for cleaning woodwork

and furniture

Getting Organized

Store cleaners near where you are cleaning Bathroom cleaners in the bathroom Make a cleaning bucket or basket to keep all you

cleaning supplies together Safety should take precedence over everything

If you have small children or pets keep cleaning supplies out of reach and in a locked cabinet

Set up a shelf in a closet or laundry room to store cleaners, brooms, mops, brushes, rags, and vacuum

Small items can be stored in a bucket or basket that you can carry around the house for convenience.

Happy Cleaning!

Do it when it needs to be done Don’t put off – it won’t get don’t unless

someone does it. Share the load – you don’t have to do it all Keep organized Keep it up but know that we all have days

when we just don’t want to do it – so give your self a break

Turn on the music and clean!

For more information, talk to your For more information, talk to your local Cooperative Extension Agent.local Cooperative Extension Agent.

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Colleges of Agricultural and state cooperating. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Colleges of Agricultural and

Environmental Sciences & Family and Consumer Sciences offer educational programs, assistance and materials to Environmental Sciences & Family and Consumer Sciences offer educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work ForceAn Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force HACE-E-65-1 May 2007 HACE-E-65-1 May 2007

  Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences and the U.S. Department Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Family and Consumer Sciences and the U.S. Department

of Agriculture cooperating. Dr. Scott Angle, Dean and Director of Agriculture cooperating. Dr. Scott Angle, Dean and Director