With a plan of attack, you can maintain a sparkling house in just 19 minutes a day
These room-by-room to-do lists will help you get the work done quickly so you can put your feet up sooner rather than later.
Kitchen, 4 1/2 minutes daily
Always start with the sink. "Keep it empty and shining," says Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections (Bantam, $15) and creator of www.FlyLady.net, a housekeeping website. A sparkling sink becomes your kitchen's benchmark for hygiene and tidiness, inspiring you to load the dishwasher immediately and keep counters, refrigerator doors, and the stove top spick-and-span, too.
· Wipe down the sink after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher (30 seconds).
· Wipe down the stove top (one minute).
· Wipe down the counters (one minute).
· Sweep, Swiffer, or vacuum the floor (two minutes).
Bathroom, 2 minutes daily
Make cleaning the basin as routine as washing your hands. But don't stop there. Get the most out of your premoistened wipe by using it to clean around the edges of the tub and then the toilet before tossing it.
· Wipe out the sink (30 seconds). Wipe the toilet seat and rim (15 seconds).
· Swoosh the toilet bowl with a brush (15 seconds).
· Wipe the mirror and faucet (15 seconds).
· Squeegee the shower door (30 seconds).
· Spray the entire shower and the curtain liner with shower mist after every use (15 seconds).
Bedroom, 6 1/2 minutes daily
Make your bed right before or after your morning shower. A neat bed with inspire you to deal with other messes immediately. Although smoothing sheets and plumping pillows might not seen like a high priority as you're rushing to work, the payoff comes at the end of the day, when you slip back under the unruffled covers.
· Make the bed (two minutes).
· Fold or hang clothing and put away jewelry (four minutes).
· Straighten out the night-table surface (30 seconds).