User:Chuck Marean/Clgplnsmp
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
House cleaning (housecleaning, house work, housework, house keeping or housekeeping) is the various techniques and strategies for cleaning everything in and around a house to have a cleaner home in the least amount of time.(Smallin, 2006, pp. viii-x) The electric washing machine was invented around 1900, the electric iron 1903 and the electric vacuum cleaner 1907. Because such devices made the work easier, some families did more laundry and dishes and thus spent more time on housework than before. (Smallin, 2006, pp. xi-xii) De-cluttering is putting wanted possessions away and getting rid of unwanted possessions. Cleaning is removing dirt and germs with a vacuum cleaner, dusting cloth, sponge, soap and water, and so forth. Cleaning with soap and water sanitizes by removing the number of germs to a safe level. As an extra precaution, germs can be killed with a disinfectant such as a diluted solution of liquid chlorine bleach. The surface can air-dry or be wiped dry with a cloth or paper towel. Disinfecting deodorizes by killing the bacteria. There are cleaning solutions for sale that both clean and disinfect at the same time. Dirt damages carpet fibers. Germs cause illnesses such as food poisoning, the flu and athlete’s foot. (Smallin, 2006, pp. 4-10) The cleaning closet is where the cleaning tools and products are kept. It has shelves, broom hooks and mop holders on the wall. Cleaning tools include vacuum cleaners, sponges, buckets (for carrying supplies or solutions), and so on. Cleaning products are cleaners such as soap and also disinfectants. Some need to be diluted before use and some come in ready-mixed form. Disposable, pre-moistened cleaning cloths called wipes are a combination of tool and product. Homemade solutions include baking soda and water, white vinegar, lemon juice and water, and so forth. Cleaning products are poisonous and harsh to the skin. They are used away from pets and small children and while wearing rubber gloves, and are not over-used. Bleach and ammonia are never mixed. For safety, product labels are read and the directions followed. To prevent pollution and accidents, the cleaning product us used up before its container is thrown away. (Smallin, 2006, pp. 11-20) There are various possible cleaning schedules from over ambitious to simply listing what has been cleaned. Their purpose is motivation.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 21-25) Mess prevention such as using doormats and having enough wastebaskets makes cleaning easier, as does being organized. One organizational pattern is: un-cluttering before sweeping before any washing. Where water is needed, it soaks the dirt loose a minute before being wiped away. If plain water doesn’t work, then a little dish soap and water is tried. If a sponge doesn’t work, then the scrubbing side is tried. An area is checked and only what’s dirty is cleaned. For example, spills are cleaned up immediately. Tools and supplies are carried in a bucket. The room is taken care of in a clockwise direction. A side of the room is cleaned from ceiling to floor and from left to right. Boredom is reduced by soft music or a book on tape and the cleaning is done fast enough for the worker to maintain focus.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 25-26)
Contents |
[edit] 1
A solution containing three-fourths cup of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water is used to clean hard surfaces with mold growing on them, such as in bathrooms and garbage cans. Germs, pollen, mold spores, dander, mites and other tiny particles that have settled on a countertop are removed without being sent back into the air by wiping the furniture with a cloth dampened with plain water. Mopping a hard floor stirs up less allergens than sweeping. When carpets, upholstered furniture, and draperies need to be dusted they are vacuumed.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 27-28) Two or more people can get the household cleaning chores done faster. Offspring have long been taught to pick up after themselves because one person picking up after everyone else can lead to feelings of resentment and anger. The helpers have been shown how it’s done, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” Toys left on the floor are an example of clutter. They get in the way of vacuuming.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 29-35) Un-cluttering. Clutter is things piled on tables, counters, floors, shelves and in drawers such as papers, hair accessories, books and furniture. It takes up too much space, looks disorganized and is items no longer needed, used or even wanted. Un-cluttering is done before dealing with dust and takes a long time but is possible by setting aside fifteen minutes to an hour each day.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 36-38) Un-cluttering includes eliminating as well as organizing. It is done at one small area at a time such as a single drawer or desktop. Everything is removed, the area is cleaned and before any items are replaced they are sorted. The possible sorting categories include “put back,” “give back,” “put elsewhere,” “give away,” and “throw away.” If an item is seriously needed or liked it is kept. If not, it is tossed out. Things that are clearly garbage are thrown out first. Other things that won’t be missed such as too many pens or rubber bands in a junk drawer go next. Clutter is prevented by immediately tossing out junk mail, hanging up cloths and always putting things away.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 38-42) People who don’t want their clutter wasted give the things to people they know and donate to charity and recycling centers. They also sell things using newspaper and internet advertising, consignment shops or second-hand shops, and garage or yard sales.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 42-48) The kept items are put away where most people would look for them, and this is often close to where the items get used. The things used most often are kept in the most easily accessible locations, such in the front of a cabinet on a shelf not too high or low. Cookie cutters put in a zip-sealed plastic bag and in a drawer is an example of similar things being stored together. Picking up, putting away, and getting rid of excess is done to stay organized. The one-in/one-out rule states that for every new item brought into the house, one old item must go. For example, if a child receives a new toy, an old toy is donated to charity.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 49-56) Floors are cleaned more often than windows. After a bare floor is cleared of toys and trash, debris is swept with short strokes into one or more piles. Dry mopping pushes dust into a growing pile; the head of the mop is kept on the floor the entire time. Floors with wax filling the cracks are re-waxed every year or so. For scrubbing stains from grout with a toothbrush, about half a tablespoon of bleach in a cup of warm water is used carefully. A plain damp cloth or paper towel removes a sticky spill. Things like paint, ink and tar are removed with nail polish. Candle wax and chewing gum are cooled with ice and then scraped off the floor. A pencil eraser removes scuff marks. Floors are then washed with a damp mop. Plain warm water is used, or one cup of white vinegar per gallon of water. Soap is not used because it leaves a sticky residue. The mop is wrung out so it is only damp and is then used to mop the floor toward the door. The mop head is rinsed in the warm water which is changed often enough to remain effective for rinsing the mop.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 57-63)
[edit] 2
A vacuum cleaner has a hose nozzle made for furniture and also one like a brush. The dusting brush is for drapes, lamps, tabletops, books, baseboards and rug fringe. A crevice attachment is used along under baseboards and other places. A part made for the floor has height settings. The cleaner could be broken by vacuuming water, string, coins, paper clips, gum or other large debris. Any furniture-moving needed for vacuuming is done first. The vacuum cleaner is slowly pushed and pulled over the same short path two or three times for light soil and five to seven times for heavy soil. A next path overlaps the one just before it. When finished, the filter bag is checked and replaced if more than half full, and the vacuum cleaner is dusted with a damp cloth before being put away. Vacuuming about twice a week gets out most of the dirt. The rest is removed if a steam cleaner or hot-water vacuum is rented or hired about once a year. Between such washings, a spill is blotted up with a white towel and then treated like a dry stain. The dry stain, also called a spot, is blotted with a white towel dampened with cool water. The stain transfers from the carpet to the damp white towel. If any of the stain remains in the carpet, a harsher solution is tried. For example, a forth teaspoon of detergent per quart of water dampens the white towel that is used to blot up the stain; then plain water is used for a damp white towel to blot up the detergent or other spot remover used. Some stains require a second or third treatment, so patience is a key part of getting out a stain. Once the spot is gone, a folded white towel with a heavy object on it is placed on the wet area of the rug to dry it. The white towels are kept white to keep them from staining the carpet.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 63-68) People do wall-washing abut once a year. Generally, this means spot-cleaning hand prints and smudges around doors and other spots frequently touched. Occasionally, this means cleaning entire walls because of smoking, stoves or fireplaces. The area is first dusted. If very dirty it is then wiped with a dry chemical sponge. Otherwise the small area is then wiped by a regular sponge, damp with a cleaning solution made from a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of warm water. The small area is rinsed with a second sponge damp with clean water from a second bucket. The area is blotted dry with a lint-free cloth. Each small area cleaned is above the one before to keep cleaning solution drips from streaking dirty areas.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 68-70) Window washing is done once or twice a year, when it’s not sunny to avoid streaking. The task is broken down, for example, to outside one day and inside another, one side of the house or room at a time. Outside, the window can be swept; inside, vacuumed with a dusting brush. A wet sponge or cloth washes the glass; a lint-free cloth, squeegee or etc. dries the glass and windowsill. One glass cleaner is a bucket of warm water with a squirt of dishwashing liquid.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 70-71) Window treatments receive regular feather dusting, and are also cleaned slower once per year. At that time, heavy drapes and curtains are vacuumed with an upholstery nozzle and lighter ones with the dusting brush. Blinds and shades are washed with a sponge and dried with a cloth. One cleaner is a few capfuls of dishwashing liquid per gallon of warm water. High-traffic areas of the house need to be cleaned more often. This actually begins when places are established to put things away to make dusting, vacuuming and washing of room surfaces and furniture easier.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 71-77)
[edit] 3
Upholstered furniture is vacuumed each week. Spills on upholstered furniture are dabbed up with paper towels or cloth. Stains are dabbed with a damp white cloth from outside the stain inward. If warm water doesn’t work, three percent hydrogen peroxide is tried or soap suds. A towel is pressed on the fabric to help dry it. Slipcovers are washed in a large washing machine once a season, removed from the dryer and put back on the furniture still slightly damp to prevent shrinkage. Wood furniture, lamps, books, plants, paintings and so on can be dusted with a soft cloth or feather duster or the dust can be vacuumed directly with the dusting brush. Dust that won’t stir or that is to be kept from flying can be collected by a damp cloth. There are various dusting solutions including soapy water. If spray is used, it is to dampen the cloth. A fireplace can also be cleaned with soap and water if a brush is used. There are DVD lens cleaning disks and VCR head cleaning cassettes. A cotton swab slightly damp with rubbing alcohol cleans tape recorder heads and rollers. There are cleaning diskettes for computer drives. The outside of a computer can be cleaned with a damp cloth made that way by wringing it out. The solution might include a little dishwashing liquid. Computer hard drive cleanup includes uninstalling unused programs, archiving to a CD music and picture files, de-fragmenting, deleting temporary internet files each month and using antispyware software. Piles of mail and other “important” papers are reduced by limiting arrival, sorting, and throwing away as much as possible. It’s made possible by spending fifteen minutes per day sorting any piles that have accumulated on the counter, desk or filing cabinet, etc.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 77-86)
In the kitchen, spills such as meat juice, grease, and eggs are wiped up with a damp cloth or sponge that is then cleaned in the sink or dishpan of warm soapy water. Bacteria are prevented by letting the cloth, sponge and counter completely dry. Cooking supplies are put away right after use. Measuring cups, pots, pans, counters, stovetops, dishes and utensils are washed right away using a soapy sponge and dried with a clean cloth. Each week the dirt on the kitchen floor can be mopped up using a squirt of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of water to clean the sponge or cloth, and spoiled items in the refrigerator are thrown away. At the beginning of each month, the counters, refrigerator, drawers, cabinets and pantry are de-cluttered getting rid of as much as possible, washed and conveniently arranged. Possible washing solutions include a little baking soda or vinegar or soap in a bucket of warm water or an all-purpose cleaning spray, which is then wiped up with a clean cloth. However, food-cutting boards that don’t fit in the dishwasher are washed and dried by hand after each use.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 87-92)
[edit] 4
Small appliances include the toaster, coffeemaker, blender, mixer, and can opener. Some of them have some parts that can be washed with the dishes. The outsides of the small appliances are wiped with a cloth or sponge damp with mild soapy water, rinsed when there is plain water in the sponge or cloth, and dried with another cloth. The toaster’s crumb tray is emptied. The can opener’s blade is cleaned with a toothbrush. A coffeemaker that has slowed down is cleaned of its mineral deposits by running it with white vinegar and is then rinsed by running it with water twice. Large appliances include the microwave, stove, dishwasher and refrigerator. Their outsides are washed with a soft cloth damp with nonabrasive soapy water, rinsed with the cloth damp with plain water, and dried with another soft cloth, and then waxed. Inside the microwave is washed with the sudsy cloth and rinsed with the damp cloth. Stuck food is loosened by microwaving two cups of hot water for five minutes. A heat oven is cleaned after it cools. A soapy scrub sponge is used to clean the door and its sides and the sponge just wet to rinse. Baking soda on a wet scrubbing sponge is used on the sides of the inside of the heat oven while the floor of the inside is soaked with a boxful of damp baking soda. It is then removed with a sponge. The broiler pan is also soaked, the oven racks are washed with abrasive cleanser and rinsed, and the floor of the oven is lined with aluminum foil. The stove’s removable parts such as knobs, drip pans, and exhaust fan filters are washed like pots and pans. While they are soaking, the rest of the cooktop is wiped with a sponge or cloth damp with warm soapy water, rinsed with a sponge or cloth damp with plain water, and dried with a cloth. Alternatives to warm dishwater are ceramic cooktop cleaner, white vinegar or glass cleaner. The dishwasher’s soap dispenser, spray arms and heating element can be wiped by a cloth damp with white vinegar. The inside of the refrigerator and freezer are done before shopping. The remaining food is put on a counter or in a cooler. The removable parts are put in the sink. A wet towel is used to soak dried-on food residue for twenty minutes while the appliance and its parts come to room temperature. The cleaning solution is two tablespoons of baking soda per quart of water. A cloth wet with the solution wipes inside. A cloth wet with water rinses and a dry cloth dries. An alternative is spraying with all-purpose cleaner and then wiping with a dry cloth before any evaporates. The removable parts are washed and dried at the sink. Jars, etc, are also cleaned.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 93-99) The sink is washed before the dishes. Dishes are washed from least to most dirty, with the inside of heavily soiled dishes presoaked for thirty minutes. The dishes are washed with a sponge or dishcloth as they are submerged one by one into the dishpan of warm sudsy water, then into the warm rinse water. After they are removed from the rinse water, they are immediately dried with a towel to prevent spotting. Products containing ammonia and those containing bleach are not mixed because dangerous fumes form if they combine. If a dishwasher machine is used, the food is scraped off the dishes and they are put into the dishwasher. When the dishwasher is full but not overloaded, dishwasher detergent and rinse agent are put in the dishwasher. After the dishwasher has run, the dishes are put away to tell if they are clean. If food particles are on the dishes, the dishwasher owner’s manual is checked and the filter, etc, are cleaned. In general, metal dishes and silverware are washed and dried and put away immediately after use to prevent rust and tarnish. Stainless steel and silver objects are washed separately and detergents with abrasive, lemon-scent or phosphate are not used. There is silver polish, yet people consider tarnished decorative areas to look better. Spots and stains might be removed by washing the glass, dish or pan with a solution of white vinegar and water, and rust spots are removed with metal polish.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 99-105) A bottle brush is used to wash bottles, or if the dishwasher is used they are put on the top rack. Nipples and teething rings while in a mesh bag are washed on the top rack also. High-chair trays if removable are washed in the sink. The rest of the chair as well as car seats, strollers, play pens, cribs and changing tables are washed and rinsed with a cloth or sponge and dried with a towel. Residue of disinfectant cleaners harm babies easier than adults.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 118-119)
[edit] 5
Daily bathroom cleaning is the quick things done to reduce the buildup of clutter, dirt and scum. This includes using the exhaust fan, squeegee, hanging up towels, spot cleaning the shower, sink and toilet with spray cleaner on paper towels, putting things away and using a waste basket. Weekly bathroom cleaning includes picking up and vacuuming. The mirror, medicine cabinet, sink, toilet seat and outside of the toilet and dirt in the bathroom is soaked and mopped up with a cloth or sponge cleaned in a bucket of water containing a squirt of dishwashing liquid. Soap scum is soaked a few minutes with spray that loosens soap scum and then mopped up with the sponge or cloth. Any mineral deposits on the showerhead, etc, are soaked loose with a commercial formula or overnight with white vinegar and washed and rinsed. Mold and mildew are scrubbed away using dishwashing liquid in warm water; then a forth cup of chlorine bleach in about a quart of water is dabbed on the area then again twenty minutes later. The water in the toilet bowl is plunged lower before it is brushed with cleaner then flushed. Things like toothpaste and first aid supplies are stored in the medicine cabinet; those like make up and prescription medications are stored elsewhere.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 111-116) Making the bed means quickly arranging the sheets, blankets, and bedspread in the morning so they are flat with the pillow properly covered by bedspread. It also refers to putting clean sheets on the bed. After the fitted sheet is on the mattress, the larger hem of the top sheet is put at the head of the bed and the foot of the sheet is tucked under the mattress. The top of the blanket is put so the top of the sheet folds over it and the foot of the blanket is tucked under the mattress. The sides of the sheet and blanket are tucked under the mattress at least at the foot of the bed. There they are tucked on the corners and at the side of the corners. Some people use an un-tucked quilt instead of a top sheet, blanket and bedspread. The top of the bedspread reaches a little beyond the head of the bed. It is folded down and the pillow is placed so the fold is tucked under it when it is covered by the bedspread.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 106-108) In daily bedroom cleaning things are put away including clothes still clean enough to wear and dirty clothes are put in the room’s hamper. If closets and drawers are cluttered, ten to fifteen minutes a day is spent sorting and organizing until they are not cluttered. Some things are thrown away or donated, some things are kept and similar things are stored together. Weekly bedroom cleaning includes dusting and vacuuming and putting clean sheets on the bed and the just used in the hamper. An unused guest room is dusted and vacuumed every month or so, the bedspread dusted by the dryer. After a guest, the mattress is vacuumed and aired out for the day while all the bedding is washed. Once or twice a year all the towels and sheets, etc, in the house are checked to see what is worn out and needs to be replaced.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 106-110) To put things away there needs to be someplace specific for them to be put such as a location on a shelf for a certain toy. When there are too many things for them to be put away, logically some need to be donated or thrown away. If someone wet on a mattress, borax detergent is sprinkled on the area which is then thoroughly scrubbed with a wet cloth and vacuumed after it’s dry.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 121-123)
[edit] 6
Crib rails, diaper-changing tables and etc are washed and disinfected with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach per two cups of water and a little dishwashing liquid or with a store-bought solution that says “cleans and disinfects” on the label. The solution is sprayed or wiped on to the surface and allowed to soak a few minutes but before it evaporates it is wiped off the surface with a dry paper towel to remove the toxic chemicals. Hands are washed after changing a baby, etc, and before preparing food because germs such as diarrhea and hepatitis might survive for weeks on objects and surfaces in a room. Solid waste from disposable diapers is flushed down the toilet. The disposable diaper is then folded to enclose the dirty side and is then thrown away. After solid waste from cloth diapers is flushed down the toilet, the diaper is then enclosed in the diaper pail. When there are enough diapers for a load of wash, they are put in the washing machine. The diaper pail is washed and rinsed. The diapers are washed in cold water and rinsed and then in hot water and rinsed, then dried. Diapers are washed only with other diapers.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 117-121)
[edit] 7
If a cleaner is sprayed on clothes, this is done away from the washer and dryer, which are kept clean and are used to fold laundry on. A strainer is kept in the drain of the sink the washing machine empties into to catch lint. The laundry room is kept picked up. The floor is kept clear by folding and putting away the ironing board and clothes rack. Supply containers and the shelves they’re on are kept clean and so is the outside and inside of the washer and dryer and the iron with a damp cloth or sponge. The cleaning solution can be equal parts of white vinegar and water.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 124-126) Storage areas are cleaned also, at least once a year because junk often ends up in them. Too many objects in a storage area causes clutter, a mess from things not being put away and junk not yet thrown away. The things are sorted into two basic categories: trash and keep. Some “trash” items might be donated or sold somewhere. Some might bring back memories but if they are definitely never going to be put out or used again, they are junk. “Keep” items are sorted into categories, because like items are best stored together for easy accessibility yet neatness. Cleaning storage areas also includes dusting, vacuuming and window washing. Mold looks like black or white stains or smudges and gives the basement a musty smell. It is washed off with a solution of soap and water. On drywall and upholstery, etc, the suds are mostly used and after the cloth area dries it is vacuumed and then the vacuum cleaner’s bag is changed. Mold is prevented by keeping the room tidy to improve air circulation, fixing leaks, and using a dehumidifier, fan or air conditioner.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 127-131) A flooded basement is dried with a sump pump, wet vacuum and with a fan blowing out a window, and professionals are called for example to make sure the smoke boxes and chimney of the furnace and water heater aren’t clogged. Insurance might pay for it. The things in a garage are sorted and those kept are stored by category on shelves, hooks and holders. Disposable mats or cardboard is placed on the ground under the car’s engine and under the lawn mower, etc, and is occasionally replaced. Drips and spills of antifreeze are wiped up immediately because although it’s poison, pets like the smell and taste. Twice a year, the garage is dusted and its windows are washed. If it has a concrete floor, that is washed also.(Smallin, 2006, pp. 130-133)
