Cleaning Schemes: How to Cut Corners's featured image

Summertime and the living is easy – but not with the kids home all day, tracking dust and dirt into your home! Here are a few shortcuts you can use to keep your home cleaner, between your regular cleaning days.

Keep clutter to a minimum: Having lots of ‘stuff’ around encourages dust and allergens to collect. Ask everyone in the family to keep their clutter down. Put the baseball bat, Frisbee and shopping bags away when you come home. Always put dirty clothes into the hamper and put away household items after use, such as books, TV remotes and dirty dishes.

Stop dirt at the door: Use easy-to-clean nonslip, rubber floor mats at the front and back doors, and ask everyone to wipe their shoes before they come inside. If you have pets, be sure to brush them off before they come in. This will help protect your floors and carpets from the dirt, dust and pollen that may be tracked into your home.

Shower power. Leave shower doors and curtains open after use, so that the shower walls can air dry. This will help prevent mold and mildew from building up. Leave a shower spray inside the shower as well, and ask older kids and adults to use it once they have finished using the shower.

Kitchen/dining area clean up: Make it a house rule that anyone who cooks or eats a meal has to clean up after themselves. Don’t leave crumbs and other food scraps on the floor or counters. Make the broom accessible for easy cleanups.