How does this happen? How do we end up with piles of cleaning products stashed throughout the house? My best guess is because we are so busy. Life is so hectic that we stash cleaners in different places because there is no designated storage area. We purchase cleaners before really needed because we are walking around the store without a list and see a sale on our favorite product. And so exasperated are we with the amount of cleaning that needs to be done, that the marketing guru’s have successfully convinced us that the new best cleaning product will work better and faster than the old new best thing!
Clutter happens… here’s how to correct it:
Consolidate: Combine bottles into one bottle. BEWARE: make sure you are not mixing chemicals!! Combine same products together. Household chemicals can be very dangerous!
Toss: Get rid of old bottles. Rinse and recycle!
Discover microfiber cloths: These cloths can be found in most retail stores and are simply amazing for cleaning with very little products.
Only buy when needed: Clutter is simply a result of bringing more into the home than we are taking out of the home.
Beware the marketing madness: When was the last time you spent some time in the cleaning aisle of your favorite retail or grocery store. There are more products than ever before! You do not need a separate cleaner for your tubs, tile, showers, toilets, countertops, bathrooms, kitchens, windows, car interiors, floors, furniture, appliances, and more. No wonder we have cleaning products galore in our homes!
Homemade cleaners: It is amazing what vinegar, cornstarch, borax, lemon juice and baking soda can clean! Chances are your grandmother knows all about the wonders of these and other common inexpensive household products.
Create a cleaning caddy: You can purchase an inexpensive caddy to place all your cleaning products in so you can carry everything needed to clean throughout the house easily. Place the caddy where the children cannot reach and when you are in the mood to clean, just grab and go!
Create a central storing location: Keep your cleaning products in one general area (out of children’s grasps). I purchase my cleaning products as a concentrate, so I keep spray bottles in different locations throughout the house for a quick clean-up, but the concentrate is kept in the laundry cleaning closet next to my broom, mop, and rag basket.
Clean the green way: Purchase safe non-toxic cleaning concentrate products. These products are not only better for the environment, very effective, but also surprisingly better for you financially since you use very little. I use Shaklee Get Clean products www.shaklee.com/
Be careful that your cleaning products are safe and not making your family sick! For more information on indoor pollution check out: http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=117535 or for a free pamphlet on household chemicals and risks associated with them contact: Call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).
Have fun cleaning house!
Betsy
By Betsy on 06/17/07 in An Organized Life, Clutter Busting, Columns, Life
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