• Originally published September 22, 2009 at midnight, updated September 22, 2009 at 9:40 p.m.

• 15-MINUTE CLEANING IDEAS

  Here's a sample list of 15-minute cleaning ideas you can do in a week:

  Monday - Straighten, throw out papers, old magazines

  Tuesday - Dust all rooms

  Wednesday - Vacuum or sweep

  Thursday - Clean ...

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15-MINUTE CLEANING IDEAS

Here's a sample list of 15-minute cleaning ideas you can do in a week:

Monday - Straighten, throw out papers, old magazines

Tuesday - Dust all rooms

Wednesday - Vacuum or sweep

Thursday - Clean bathrooms and mop

Friday - Straighten

Saturday - Clean kitchen, sweep and mop

Sunday - Change sheets and towels

A few years ago, I was cleaning out some cabinets and had the thought that if I had a schedule of all the things I needed to clean, I would be able to clean more efficiently and thoroughly around the house. So I sat down at my computer and developed a 45-page calendar with cleaning checklists for everything that I routinely cleaned from daily to annual chores, because, in my opinion, almost everything is made better by a good meal and a clean house.

After developing what I thought was a pretty good calendar, I put it on the Internet. Much to my surprise, I began making steady sales of the calendars. That was four years ago, and I still get good traffic and brisk sales from that Web site.

Then this summer a writer with Woman's Day magazine contacted me because she was looking for an all-in-one schedule for cleaning and liked my calendar after finding it in a search of the Internet.

This month, my Everydayclean.com cleaning calendar and cleaning tips are featured in the solutions section of the October Woman's Day magazine.

It amazes me how a simple idea like a schedule can be so transformative. The essence of my calendar and the tips in it is designed to help you manage your household, because as I wrote on my Web site, "the only problem with having it all is having to clean it all." And that still holds true.

Consistency outperforms talent

The biggest problem with cleaning is the marathon cleaning sessions. Sometimes there's no getting around it and you need to put in the time cleaning the house. The question is: How do you keep your house clean and still have a life? I mean, let's face it, who wants to be cleaning all the time?

My goal has always been for a "reasonable" clean. The answer is consistency.

Illustrating that point, a woman e-mailed me after visiting my Web site and asked me how she could be a single working mom with two girls and still keep a clean house.

I told her that if she and her two girls put in just 15 minutes a day, over a week they will have spent over five hours cleaning the house without having spent five hours cleaning the house. Those small increments of time really do add up to a house that's orderly and clean.

Tools make the difference

Once a month is enough to do a good, deep cleaning as long as you are doing the weekly chores like vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms. And, when you do a deep cleaning, buy yourself a tool or gardening belt to carry your cleaning supplies, such as dust spray and dust rags. This simple tip will keep you moving smoothly from room to room without having to go over your steps to find that can of dust spray or your Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (a must for easily removing smudges from walls with flat paint).

Keep a damp cleaning rag sprayed with all-purpose cleaner in your belt to clean smudges and marks on the floors and walls. And when you're not doing a deep clean, you can use your time more efficiently by batching your 15-minute cleaning efforts.

Clean is possible

This is a basic list of easy cleaning just about anyone can do. Of course, on Saturday when I mention to clean the kitchen, I'm not suggesting you let the dishes pile up all week and then clean. This would be the day to clean the kitchen window, give the counters a good, thorough wiping down, clean the fridge, wipe down cabinets, and any extra cleaning beyond typical after-dinner clean-up.

If you'd like to check out my cleaning calendar, you can go to www.everydayclean.com for more information and to purchase it. Keep in mind that it is an Internet download purchase and not a printed calendar that's mailed to you.

Cleaning house is made much easier by having a schedule with everything you need to do on that schedule. And, if you can't get to regular marathon-style cleaning, take heart. A reasonably neat and clean house is still possible in just 15 minutes a day.

Hint

If your refrigerator doubles as a science lab of moldy and old foods, try cleaning it before you go grocery shopping or when you return and put the groceries away. Wipe down the shelves and toss out old foods and withered produce and wipe out vegetable drawers. Then when you bring home your groceries, the fridge is clean and there's room for your new purchases. Another plus is that your food items remain fresher and you can find items more easily.

Kathryn Weber is a home and decorating columnist and publishes the Red Lotus Letter feng shui ezine. For more information or questions, e-mail katie@redlotusletter.com or write to her at P.O. Box 531, Cuero, Texas 77954. Please include your e-mail address or a SASE for a reply.

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