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How to Choose and Clean a Mop

September 18, 2012 By 11 Comments

Dear Home-Ec 101,

I have read your post on ‘How to Mop‘ but I have a question for you about the type of mop to use.

I have a string mop and one of those flat mops with a removable cloth that can go through the washer after it is used. I think the string mop is easier to use – gets in corners easier, I can get up on the baseboards, and I feel like it’s faster, but it also feels dirty to me. It feels unsanitary and like I’m just spreading the dirt around my house and then re-spreading the next time I get it out to use.

Is it? I have tile floors and wood floors. What is the best type of mop to use?

Signed,
Mopping Makes Me Go “Meh”
Heather says:

The key to keeping a cotton string mop from being disgusting, is to clean it THOROUGHLY after each use. As you have noted cotton string mops have some distinct advantages over their sponge mop counterparts.

Wash the mop thoroughly after each use under HOT running water until the water runs clear, wring it thoroughly, and allow it to dry completely.  Some cotton string mop heads can even be thrown into your clothes washer, if it makes you feel better. (Just be sure you remove the metal part of the head or you’ll scratch up the inside of your washing machine which may lead to rust stains on your clothes.

Never leave a cotton mop soaking in dirty mop water, or you’re right, you will be spreading nasty things all over your home. And using a mop bucket with a wringer will make your life easier.

Sponge mops may be a little easier to clean, but they do need to be replaced more often and are not a good choice for textured flooring. Well, not a good choice unless you find shredded mop bits an attractive decorative addition.

Finally, here’s something to remember. We may joke about floors being clean enough to eat off of, but that’s not what floors are for. The only time you really need to worry about the floors is if you have infants who are crawling around. By all means, sweep and vacuum up the dust bunnies and grit (which will harm both your carpet and your hard flooring) and always spot mop anything sticky or greasy -we’re not out to invite unwanted guests here, either, but really try not to stress out too much about germs on the floor.

We wash our hands properly before preparing food and eating for a reason, as humans we do come into contact with germs. It’s normal, unless our immune systems are compromised, we’re built to withstand a little bit of exposure. In fact there is some evidence that we evolved in such a way that NOT being exposed to germs may actually do more harm than good.

Not every surface in our home has to be sanitary. That said, always mop the kitchen first and the bathroom last, just like in the shower or tub, where you wash your face before you wash your butt…

And regarding your hardwood floors, you shouldn’t be mopping often and when you do, it’s a DAMP mop, not a wet mop (that’s where the wringer really comes in). Try to stick to using a dust mop and then spot mopping only when necessary. Tile can take more frequent mopping and thanks to the grout, a string mop is a better choice.

Good luck!

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Warning: There Is No Secret

September 11, 2012 By 14 Comments

Heather says:

I should probably give all readers a clear warning before continuing:

I am a stressed out, hot mess of a person right now. This afternoon at 1pm PST I’m going on an internet show to pitch my startup SpinPicks. I am nervous as can be. The kids’ football season is in the chaotic mess of having two boys on different teams playing games on different nights in different places. Apparently, it’s Open House week and I just had to say to heck with that, between football and the shifts I work, there’s not a chance I can make it. (This is not a plea for pity, just a holy cow I’m stressed vent)

My tact button is broken.

Recently, it was requested that I share the daily chores from the post-it notes on the Home-Ec 101 Facebook Fanpage. So I’ve been doing just that.

The chores and clean house chore chart are a framework. I am purposely not specific with the names of rooms, what time, or how long a person should spend per room because frankly there is no way I can tell you it will take you 30 minutes to clean your living room.

What if you don’t have a living room? I was once asked, with no further detail, how long will it take me to clean my house? In my home, there is a FROG and a Florida Room, we don’t have a basement or a mudroom. We have a dining room and a family room, but no formal living room. My point is there are so many variables -what variables? Read the how long will it take post ^^^- that I could spend days writing up individualized plans, but -and this is selfish- I love y’all, but I just don’t have that kind of time or mental energy.

I’ve told you the secret to a clean home, it’s simple, there’s no secret: put your stuff away. This means the clutter gets put away, the trash goes in the garbage, the dirt goes down the drain, and the laundry gets cycled and put away. Do you not know how to get started with cleaning?

I will always happily answer any specific how to question, but I cannot make you do something you don’t want to do or make you read the content already on the site. If you want a clean house, you’ll work on it, a little each day. You can search the site for specific problems – why is there so much lint in my laundry room, how do I clean enameled cast iron etc. Maybe you’ll find value in the Cleaning 101 series. I don’t live in your home so I can’t tell you to pick up the socks under your bed. Honestly, I try not to stalk any of you, I’m a little weird, but not THAT weird.

Hang in there, I know it’s hard, especially when it feels like no one helps and it feels as though all you do is work and never get anywhere. I cannot emphasize enough how much I do understand. I know it seems like I sit here at the ready to answer your questions,doing nothing else, but I’m out there living life, too.  And life IS messy, I just help tell you how to clean it up.

Cross your fingers for me later today and I’ll continue to be here for you to the best of my ability.

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Real Estate Ready?

February 20, 2012 By 9 Comments

Dear Home Ec 101,

I am trying to get my house on the market to sell.  Any cleaning/organizing advice?  My house is atrocious!  I hope you can call that comment a “Sunday Confessional”.  I have a 20 month old baby, work full-time, and no one in the house cleans up after themselves.  I can’t keep the house clean or get it ready for sale.

Any advice?

Signed,
Frantic in Fresno

Heather says:

First off, I hope the market in your area is better than ours or you may be in for a long ride. I’ve been toying with the idea of selling for 5 years, but the market just hasn’t made it worth the hassle. When you list your home, you do have the option of asking for 24 hours notice for showings. It is important to note that this will make your home less appealing to real estate agents as they now have to factor this into their schedules. Just remember, it IS an option.

From the sound of your email, I’m guessing you are not a single parent, that there is at least one other adult who shares the responsibility of getting the house real estate ready. Sit down with your partner in crime and have a pen and paper at the ready. The two of you are going to make a prioritized list of what needs to be done to be “showing ready.” Start working on that list as soon as possible and keep reminding your partner, it’s a team effort. It’s not just your house for sale.

If you’re looking to get your house ready for the market, put the Home Ec 101 Weekly Chore List into effect and over the next few weeks, it will come together. It does take consistency, though.

Having a toddler in a home does make selling a home far more interesting, but there are ways and means to contain their mess and for better or worse the responsibility for this falls on your (the parents’) shoulders.

Until the house has been sold:

  • Food and drinks stay in the kitchen or dining room. No exceptions. NONE. It’s a hassle, but it is not child abuse to have a specified areas and times for food and drinks. (Water can be available at all times)
  • Use a tarp below the high chair to reduce the number of times a week mopping is necessary.
  • Have a basket in each room for the toddler’s toys and make sure the toys are put away before leaving the room.
    See Cleaning Up with Preschoolers

If you’re already in crisis mode and the house is on the market and you’re just waiting for the phone to ring, start working through the following.

Get rid of clutter

All counters should all be clear as humanly possible, this means both kitchens and bathrooms. In general people won’t be going through your drawers or cabinets in a walk through, so try not to stress over the hidden clutter (except closets) at this time, worry about that when you move.

NO DIRTY DISHES.

Few things are as big a turn off as crusty dishes in a sink or left on the counter. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Clean dishes drying in a rack are tolerable, but put away is best.

Hampers for Laundry

There is no way you can always have all of the laundry done, all of the time. Make sure it is at least contained in clothes hampers to reduce the chance of strangers seeing your dirty underwear.

Make the Beds

Get in the habit of making the beds every morning. It’ll be one less thing to worry about in the final run through.

Odor Free

Be extra vigilant about any odors, whether they are stale odors from cooking, mildew in the laundry room,  musty odors, or mysterious pet odors.

Bathrooms

Close the lid on the *clean* toilet and make sure the mirror and sink are shining. This means no dried toothpaste spatter. And try to make sure your personal care items are not sitting out.

Make sure tub toys are at least in a mesh bag and hanging.

Flooring

Should be swept or vacuumed just before the showing. Spot mop if necessary (this is why I suggested a tarp, so it won’t always be necessary).

Lighting

Make sure there aren’t any burnt out bulbs in your light fixtures. It makes a big difference.

Those are your biggies, you can read up on curb appeal or watch shows on the DIY network to get ideas on staging, but I have a feeling just getting the house in order will be enough of a task. I know there are some real estate agents who read Home Ec 101 and I would love for them to chime in anything I miss in this list.

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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The Dangerous Comparison Game

January 19, 2012 By 5 Comments

From a recent comment here on Home-Ec 101,

I have one child that lives at home and a teenager that moves in and moves out lol, and also another child that is with me every other weekend. When I get my house clean, it stays that way for a couple of days then it’s dirty again. I am also a single stay-at-home-mom and I homeschool my youngest child.

How can I organize the chaos?

Sometimes I seem to have it together and there are times I want to pull my hair out!

I see so many moms that always look like their house is clean, and their make up is fresh, but not me! I’m the one you see in the store with my hair just tied up in a messy knot, and if you come to my home I have to move something so that you can sit down. lol

ANY ADVICE ?????

Signed,
Frustrated

Heather says:

The first thing to do is STOP comparing yourself to other people.

You are only seeing the face they want you to see. They aren’t inviting you over when their house is a wreck, you aren’t seeing them when they first tumble out of bed in the morning, and you certainly aren’t seeing them when their kids have the flu and they’ve been under a deadline and and and and.

You cannot compare your life where you see every moment, good or bad, with someone else’s best foot forward.

It’s not a fair comparison and if you convince yourself it is, you will never measure up to your own expectations and you will be miserable.

To be perfectly honest, I stress myself out all the time with this stuff, because I have put myself out there as a resource on this subject. I feel as though my house has to be company ready at any moment. This also makes me feel like a hypocrite at times. It’s all just that internal critic having a field day.

People are more concerned about themselves than they are about you.

I know this on the rational level, I’m  still working on convincing that little voice to take a hike. Does it make you feel a little better to know you aren’t the only one?

I also have to say this. I am not a licensed therapist nor am I a doctor; if you constantly feel overwhelmed, you NEED to talk to a licensed professional about your feelings.

Still convinced you’re alone? Read this post: Feeling Desperate

My friend Angela England and I did a presentation at BlogWorld Expo in October on Professionalism and Productivity and while some of the tools and tips won’t apply to your situation, you may pick up a few nuggets and tools that will help you. Ang and I are also both homeschooling parents. And we both fully admit there are times that are rougher than others. If I ever tell you everything is absolutely hunky dory all the time, I’m lying, and I want you to call me on it.

As far as getting your house in order, understand that it’s not a sometimes thing, it’s a constant process. Once you adjust to the fact that maintaining a home requires constant, low-level upkeep, it will begin to feel a lot less work intensive.

It’s easier to quickly wipe down your bathroom every day than it is to give it a thorough scrubbing after the dirt and other nastiness has time to accumulate and adhere to the calcified toothpaste blobs.

As far as actually gaining a little control over the chaotic nature of your life, there are lots of things you can do to bring a little order into your home. Don’t attempt to do them all at once.

Finally some specific tools you may find useful:

See that yellow sticky note in the upper right of this post? (click through to the site if you’re reading via email) Click it, it’ll take you to a weekly chore chart, print it out and start following it.

Alternately, if you want LOTS of email reminders and encouragement, maybe FLYLady is more your style.

Cozi – calendar / organization, it has smart phone apps available

Google Calendar – calendar

SayMmm – meal planning tools You’ll find many Home-Ec 101 recipes on SayMmm.com

SavingDinner.com – complete meal plans and grocery lists. I used Leanne’s mailer while I was adjusting to life outside the traditional workforce, back in ’03 or ’04 (long before I started Home-Ec 101) and I’m happy to see she’s still going strong.

Home-Eccers, what tools make your life easier? What do you recommend to Frustrated?

Submit your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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How to Store Blankets Without Inviting Mildew

July 15, 2010 By 6 Comments

Dear Home Ec 101,

I have a serious problem with the old lady, musty laundry smell. I keep my sleeping bag, electric blanket and my baby blanket in a chest at the foot of my bed. Since these are all seasonal items, they quickly get musty in my chest (which isn’t cedar). I’ve tried potpourri, but it’s really too little. I’ve also found that a quick run thru the dryer will freshen them, but that’s irritating because my stuff is dry and clean.
Is there a secret to keeping this stuff smelling fresh? Some kind of super potpourri, perhaps?

Signed,

I Want My Blankie

Heather says:

Sleeping bags are notoriously difficult to dry completely. Folding or rolling it up and placing it in a virtually air tight box is rolling out the welcome mat for mildew, the source of your musty smell.  Mold and mildew are both fungi that love damp environments. While mold can grow inside walls and ventilation systems, mildew is more often associated with fabrics. This is especially true if you live in a humid environment.

You can add a bag or two of chemical desiccant to the chest. Silica gel is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air.  If your chest is not packed tightly, this should suck up the moisture and reduce the growth of mildew, eliminating the source of smell. When adding items to your chest, be sure they are packed loosely, rather than crammed into every last nook and cranny. If air can’t circulate at all, mildew will have a field day.

One last thing, if the chest has picked up the scent of mildew find some activated charcoal, place this in the chest and lock it up tightly for a a few days. Activated charcoal adsorbs -yes, that is a word, it means attracts chemically, a slightly different mechanism than absorption- some odors. Once the chest itself is fresh smelling, it’s safe to store your dry, clean blankets with the chemical desiccant.

Without mildew in the odor competition any potpourri should be up to the task.

A final few tips:

Line wooden storage boxes and chests with acid free paper.

Roll linen rather than folding.

Cloves, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and dried orange peel all make excellent potpourri, just ensure they do not come in direct contact with any fabric to prevent staining during long term storage.

Good luck!

Send your household questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Musty Odor in a Home

July 9, 2010 By 13 Comments

Dear Home Ec 101,

Here’s my dilemma. The house is clean, but there is a fusty, musty odor, like a large dog is secretly living in our house. We have an older, small house with the kitchen being basically open to everything. Sometimes I think it is cooking odors that are being trapped in the rest of the house. We have hardwood floors with some area rugs, and currently, no pets. I don’t like to use room fresheners or febreze products, because then it just smells like flowers and the underlying odor. Like shampooed skunk odor.
Any other helpful tips on keeping the house smelling like fresh line-dried laundry? (I know, I know..I can dream)

Signed,

Musty Muffy

Heather says:

Our air conditioning stopped working on Tuesday, as I live near Charleston, SC this would make life pretty annoying until nearly October.  While the most excellent repair guy was under the house (contact me if you are local and need a repair guy -good ones can be hard to find), he noticed there was a leak in our duct work. Not only were we air conditioning the crawl space (ack!) there was another leak causing air to be drawn in from the crawlspace in addition to the intake. We had noticed a musty odor in the master bathroom and have been running a dehumidifier constantly thinking it was due to excess moisture. The duct work has been repaired and the smell is gone. Awesomesauce.

I contacted Musty Muffy  to see if her problem could be similar. She does not live above a crawlspace and does not have central air, only heat.

Musty odors are most often attributed to mold.

It’s important to note that not all strains are dangerous and the presence of an odor is not necessarily a useful indicator of the type of mold present. There are home test kits that can be used and mailed in for identification. Make sure if you use a testing service that they are unaffiliated with a repair service.

It is important to locate the source of the odor.

Mold smells can be faint and will often only show up when the air hasn’t been circulating or when the humidity is high. The short term solution is to open the windows and turn on the fan, not the central heat, and move the air in the home. This will help disperse the odor.

Make sure none of the home’s vents are blocked.

This requires going on the roof to check. Houses must breathe.

If the home has had water damage in the past, wood is notorious for holding odors and it may be an expensive fix or something you learn to live with.

Have the roof inspected for water damage and inspect the flashing around all the windows and doors.

A leaky door or window could cause water damage behind the drywall. Other possible but not obvious locations for old water damage are near washers, dryers (the vent could leak condensation into the wall), under sinks, near the hot water heater, and around the base of showers, tubs, and toilets -a leaky wax ring could cause significant damage to the subflooring.

Another potential cause is a dried out trap under an unused sink, shower, or tub. If a sink or shower is unused for long enough the water seal in the pipe can evaporate allowing sewage gases to enter a home. This is actually a potentially dangerous scenario as sewer gases are no joke. Run some water into all rarely used fixtures from time to time.

Wash all the curtains and drapes or have them cleaned. These fabric panels are grease and odor magnets. If they have gotten damp from really high humidity after washing and drying it may be wise to lay the curtains out in the sun for a few hours (not too long sunlight can bleach some fabrics).

If you’re sure it is odors from another cause, such as cooking:

I also hate air freshener sprays, plug-ins, and discs. A deep cleaning of the cabinets in the kitchen may eliminate a lot of the funk. Grease particles float the air, land on solid surfaces and go rancid. Typically that smell is more like a restaurant first thing in the morning. (If you’ve ever worked in food service, you know the smell of trapped kitchen grease).

Two final  funk sources are, a potato that escaped the bag and rolled somewhere. A rotten potato can create an unholy odor and often draws flies. And last but not least is the dreaded dead animal in the walls or attic. If it’s inaccessible time is the only cure.

Good luck!

Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Wash the Walls, Really?

January 28, 2010 By 11 Comments

Dear Home Ec 101,

My living room desperately needs to be painted and I’ve rounded up a few friends willing to help sell their time for beer and pizza.  I really want to do this right, is it true that I have to wash the walls before I paint?

Signed,

Short-Cut Shelby

Heather says:

Look at it this way, washing the walls can save you money and time in this project. Seriously. Anytime you cook, open the window, spray hair spray,  etc particles that can adhere to your walls, do. Over time this creates a thin, mostly invisible but greasy layer of dirt and dust on your walls. This layer of funk isn’t evenly distributed, making it difficult to evenly apply your new coat of paint.

Any degreaser will do, but if you want the job to go quickly with little elbow grease, check out TSP or Trisodium Phosphate. This chemical, when mixed with water has a high enough pH to saponify grease. This simply means that it turns the grease on your walls into soap. TSP used to be included in both laundry and dishwasher detergent until it was found that algae really loved all the extra phosphorous in the water supply. Since then it has been phased out of detergents, but it’s still appropriate for small applications.

TSP is not your, gee-the-walls-look-a-bit-dirty-but-I’m-not-going-to-paint wall wash. Trisodium Phosphate etches or chemically scratches the paint surface while it strips away the grease. If you’re getting ready to apply a fresh coat of paint, this is pure win as it gives the new paint better adherence.

I strongly urge you to read and follow the directions and safety precautions. While the highly alkaline nature of TSP makes it fabulous for stripping grease off of walls, it also can cause chemical burns if it gets on your skin. Keep it in perspective, chlorine bleach also causes chemical burns when used inappropriately.

You should be able to find TSP at home-improvement stores.

Good luck!

Send your domestic queries to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Window Washing: 201 The Extra Grimy Ones

December 30, 2009 By 8 Comments

Dear Home-Ec 101:

We just moved into an older house and I don’t think anyone has cleaned the windows in years. We had it pressure washed and used Windex but the windows still look covered in grime. Are there any other solutions I can use that will get off the tough dirt.

Signed,
Let The Sunshine In, Please?

Heather says:

Windows initially get grimy due to moisture and dust. The windows develop condensation, dust in the wind adheres to the pane. In the spring pollen joins in the game creating a nice layer of filth. Tree sap? Oh yeah that’s a joy to remove. To add to the fun mineral deposits can form if you have masonry or wire screens. Fun, right?

First use slightly soapy water and a natural bristle brush and a squeegee. Use the brush to gently scrub the glass. Rinse the brush often to ensure no trapped dirt is lurking to create scratches in the glass. If your windows are divided into panes, you may need to cut a squeegee to fit. Wipe the blade between each use and pull straight down to remove the water and avoid streaking. Wipe the blade again to avoid transferring dirt from one pane to the next. If your window is a picture window start in the top corner of your dominant hand and pull straight to the other side, making an S or reverse S turn as needed. Try to keep the squeegee in contact with the glass at all times to avoid streaking.

If the window is near a tree, some of the problem may be tree sap. A product like Oops or Goo Gone may be very helpful.

If this doesn’t greatly improve the situation you may have mineral deposits and it’s time to use Bar Keepers Friend -look on the cleaning aisle near the other scrubbing powders). Be very careful choosing scrubbing powders, some brands are NOT safe for glass which is why I am so fond of BKF.  Sprinkle the BKF on a damp rag and gently buff the glass with a back and forth motion. This may be a little time consuming, but is certainly more cost effective than giving up and replacing the windows.

Good luck!

Send your domestic queries to helpme@home-ec101.com.

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Cleaning With Sickness In Mind

January 9, 2009 By 10 Comments

retrochick.JPGIvy says:

They say, “it’s going around” and it’s “going around and around” in my house, for sure. Winter is prime time for viruses to come on in the house and take up residence. It’s up to you to clean them away as best you can. Of course, you’re not going to be able to fight off every single bit of bacteria and viruses that are in your house- nor do you want to, as some bacteria is good. But you definitely want to hit several areas to make sure you’re doing your best to keep the nasties away.

Living Areas

In your living room, great room, and all other areas where you “hang out,” keep in mind areas your hands touch- doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, computer keypads. For items that are less likely to be harmed by getting a little wet, spray Lysol and leave it without wiping. For more sensitive electronic items, I usually spray Lysol on a cloth and wipe from there.

Kitchen

Here, you’ll also think about areas hands touch. Again, clean the light switches, doorknobs, the refrigerator door handle, and all other areas your hands touch. Lysol, again, is the best for this. Don’t forget things like your coffee maker and the buttons on your microwave. I rarely use bleach for cleaning since I cannot handle the smell, but I do use a bit of bleach in my dishwater when washing dishes if anyone has been sick. I also make sure all dishes are absolutely and thoroughly dry before putting them away. I normally make sure they’re dry, but in the case of sickness, bone dry, baby.

Bedrooms

I change the sheets as soon as someone’s finished being sick and wash them with hot water. If you’re going through a particularly ugly round of sickness and you feel too weak still to change sheets, changing the pillowcases will be a good temporary solution until you feel well enough to go all out and change everything. Don’t forget your can of Lysol and spraying all the areas your hands touch. I also like to make sure I thoroughly dust and vacuum (this goes for every room of the house) if it’s a respiratory illness- sometimes a bad cold is actually allergies. Give your pillows a nice sunning, if it’s dry enough outside.

Bathrooms

Clean your toilets like the Queen of England is coming to use the loo. And, of course, don’t forget the good ol’ Lysol. Clean the sink and tub really well, too. And, of course, don’t forget the light switches, etc.

Laundry

All clothes and bed linens from the sick person should be washed with the hottest water possible. If there have been diarrhea or vomiting issues, be sure to wash those items separately with bleach, if the items can be bleached. Dry on the hottest possible setting as well. And, naturally, Lysol all the areas that hands touch. You should be used to that routine by now.

Tell me, Home Eccers, how are you faring this cold and flu season?

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Sudden Company: What to do, What not to do

September 3, 2008 By 6 Comments

Ivy says:

I have a longstanding agreement with my friends from both in town and out of town. You’re welcome to come see me anytime, whether it’s short notice or if you schedule weeks in advance. Just come on. I want to see you.

I’m often tested on that, and people have come to my house in varying states of clean. For people that aren’t staying overnight, or if they give you very short notice, my top 5 things to clean when you’re in a hurry list is fab. It also works when certain cousins of mine call me at 10 at night saying, “Hey, we’re on our way to Florida and we’re tired, can we crash at your house? We’re in Bowling Green.” (Bowling Green is about an hour and a half from my house, stalkers.) Then I add “change sheets in the kid who gets kicked out of his bed’s room” to that list.

But usually I seem to have about 4-6 hours of notice when people are coming to spend the night. In that case, I have more time and can get it all done. Here’s how I do it:

First, make a plan. Decide what will be most important to the people who are coming. Consider allergies. Are they allergic to cats? If so, the most important part is pulling out all the furniture and getting all the cat hair vacuumed up. Is someone coming with a peanut allergy? In my house, this is a major consideration, as my husband is a manager at a restaurant with peanut shells thrown on the floor. All his work shoes are carefully cleaned and bagged and I drop a call to him at work to make sure he hoses off his shoes and doesn’t bring them inside. No allergies? Awesome, forge ahead with general cleaning.

Then, go to the store for things you need. Any extra food, cleaning supplies, whatever. I like to pick up a bouquet of flowers, if I can find them inexpensively. Oh, and I also usually pick up some Red Bull for when I get tired and need to power through. Yes, Dad, I know it’s bad for my kidneys. I don’t do it *that* often.

Then, come home and get to work. Go from most important to least important. With the exception of the bathroom, which I do in one fell swoop, I tend to move from room to room. I tend to work from top to bottom, so the floors are usually what’s done last. This is living a bit dangerously- sometimes I’ve had to warn people to mind the wet floors, but working from top to bottom ensures that the work flow is smooth and you don’t have to do things twice.

Don’t forget to enlist help. Even my youngest kid is involved in fetching and toting things back and forth for me. I tried to train the dog to wash dishes, but alas, no opposable thumbs.

So, that’s how I get ready for guests on short notice. What are your tricks and tips?

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