Quick Cleaning Checklist

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So you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to do a full, floor to ceiling cleaning job. Well, something is better than nothing and if you find yourself in a time crunch with guests arriving any minute, here’s a quick run down of some tips to get the best bang for your buck in the least amount of time.

• Before you even start cleaning, gather all the cleaning products, buckets, mops, brushes, sponges, brooms and dusting cloths you’ll need and put them in one place. One of the biggest time wasters when cleaning is stopping what you’re doing to try and find your furniture polish. It also helps to store all your cleaning products in one cabinet or storage closet. Then, when you begin cleaning, you’ll know exactly where to go in order to get everything you need.
• Plan your attack. Start on one side of each room, work from the top to the bottom and then work yourself to the other side.
• Dust before you wash the floor or vacuum.
• Use a different cleaning cloth (or paper towels) for each cleaning product. Even if you wash your cloths, some residue might be left behind, causing streaks on windows or damage to wood furniture. If you don’t want to use disposable cloths, use one color cloth for each job. Windows are done with blue rags. Furniture with red rags and so on.
• Get a long extension cord for your vacuum. This way, you won’t have to constantly stop to unplug and re-plug.
• Use a dust wand with an extension handle. No need to climb up on a chair, ladder or step stool to get the cobwebs off the ceiling.
• If you use the right cleaning tool, you don’t need to scrub. Newspapers work wonders on windows (no streaks). Don’t use a lint producing cloth to dust, it defeats the purpose. You get the picture. For more tips on quick cleaning solutions see our other articles on cleaning in Apartment Living.
• Don’t over clean. Only use the amount of cleaning product recommended for your job. Using more will leave buildup and will require more time to clean off.
• If you only have time to do one thing, vacuum. A floor free of pet hair, dust and things living in the corners of your room gives the impression of a clean home. 
• Keep the space under your bed clear of junk. Or, keep a closet floor clear. This comes in handy when you have an emergency need to clean up clutter when you have guest arriving quickly. Just don’t forget to clean it out when they leave.
• Get all your dirty dishes out of the sink. Throw them in the dishwasher, or if you don’t have one, stick them inside the oven. Just don’t forget they’re in there!
• If you can’t clean your entire apartment before guests arrive, concentrate on the entryway, living area, dining area and bathroom. You can always toss clutter in your bedroom and shut the door.
• And make sure your apartment smells good. Even if you spend hours upon hours cleaning, if you have a stinky place, people will think it’s dirty. Pine scented cleaners are always a good bet or check out our articles on Getting Rid of Smells and Setting a Mood in Your Apartment with Smell.

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