Cleaning & Maintenance

Lets be honest, you really don’t like cleaning and you probably don’t care about some amount of clutter and grime, but your lady-friend probably doesn’t feel the same way. So we are going to go over the basics for keeping a clean and livable place. A home where you can feel comfortable and guest can feel the same way.

don't let this happen to you, clean up after yourself

Simplicity

The less stuff you have, the less cleaning you need to do. Simple right.

Everything In It’s Place

For what stuff you have, it needs to have a home. Which isn’t the middle of the floor or a coffee table. If you don’t have a place to put something it will end up sitting out in the way, cause you know you won’t put it away. Those golf clubs that have been sitting in your living room for the last four months, yup I’m talking about stuff like that.

Which is why there is so much focus on this site about storage and multipurpose items.

That Stank

The less you clean the more likely that your place will start to smell. You can try to mask it in emergency situations with incense, infusers, candles, sprays etc. but they only do so much.

Preventative Maintenance

Putting things away is a big one but there are other things that can help you tame the beast. For starters, just having ample trash cans and trash bags at all times.

Those little waste baskets are a waste of time, get a big one that can hold a full bag. Less work and you should only have to take the trash out once a week.

Magazines, newspapers and junk mail should find it’s way either to your desk, or to the trash immediately. That stuff piles up if you don’t stay on top of it.

Have a place to keep your shoes. In a closet preferably but by the door will work. This cuts down on stuff laying around on the floors and the amount of dirt tracked in, which means less mopping, less vacuuming.

There are also some big cleaning chores that need to be done periodically, regardless of whether you put things away or not.

The Big Ones

Consider what makes the most mess in your home. It is food, feet, cleaning yourself and everyday items.

Food

Food is an obviously one, your kitchen takes a beating, dishes pile up, crumbs and stains are left where you eat and garbage is created from food more than anything else. Which means you have to clean the kitchen pretty often. If you make a habit of doing it at least once a week, it takes a lot less time than if you wait a whole month and a layer of grime builds up on everything.

Dishes - If you live alone you shouldn’t be using a lot of dishes. Use one glass, one plates, and one cup. This will save you a lot of time in the longrun. Always do dishes first because you need an empty sink for everything else.
Microwave - They can get nasty if food is exploding. If you suck at cooking you probably use this quite often. A good tip is to put a paper towel over everything you microwave, keeping the explosions from getting all over the walls.
Oven - Something that rarely gets cleaned but is a pain when you do do it.
Stove top - I always spill things on the stove. Clean this the same time you do the countertops.
Counters - I like to do the countertops after the dishes.
The refrigerator - Try to clean it out at least twice a year. Don’t put uncovered food in their and if leftovers go in, make sure to eat them the next day or throw them out.

Self Cleaning

Bathrooms get surprisingly filthy and is one of those rooms ladies require to be clean. Cleaning the toilet, sink and shower should be a bi-weekly event if you want to stay on top of it. Get in the habit of opening windows, turning on fans and wiping up excess water or you could be in for mold or mildew problems.

If you decide to do some manscaping or to shave your head do it with some paper on the floor or in the shower. Hair gets everywhere.

Feet

Feet are the next biggest offender. You leave your shoes all over the place and track in dirt and mud when you come and go.

Aside from your shoes, the other items you use daily can end up making a mess. These are primarily your clothes but also things like your keys, video game controllers, magazines and mail, sports equipment, you get the idea. Anything you use all the time ends up being the items that litter your pad.