Lose 12 lbs a week on - Dorothy the Organizer

REAL-LIFE SUCCESS:
May 20, 2013
Lisa used her hobby to
God Bless America
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Spotless—in
half the time!
4/24/13 11:26 AM
Your Perfectly Organized Life
A spotless house
—in half the time!
Take the work out of your cleanup routine
and get through must-do’s at a lightning
pace with our expert tips!
1
Reduce dirt 85%
effortlessly!
You already know it’s smart to keep a doormat at your
entryway, but you may be surprised to learn that stepping
on that mat six times is proven to dislodge the most dirt, says
Laura Dellutri (aka “The Healthy Housekeeper”), author of
Speed-Cleaning 101. “That’s actually why big stores like
Target have six-foot long mats as you walk in,” explains
Dellutri. No need to buy a mega-mat: Just count to six before entering
your house, and you’ll shake 85% of the grime from your shoes!
2
Get one cleaner!
Ditch the menagerie of cleaners crammed in
your closets and stick to one multipurpose cleaner!
“Less is best,” says Dellutri. Her choice? “Dish
detergent! Use two drops of mild detergent per
gallon of water to wipe down everything from
mirrors to wood floors. Its mild pH makes it a great
multitasker, she says. “A lot of cleaners, vinegar,
for example, are too acidic for hardwood floors.”
3
Set the timer!
5
Use two
“punches”!
Professionals use both hands
to clean, say, spraying a
mirror with one hand and
wiping it down with the other.
Scrubbing counters, for
example, goes twice as fast
with two sponges. An easy
way to punch up your routine?
“Put a pair of athletic socks on
both hands—kids love to do this, if you want to recruit helpers—and
suddenly you’re a dusting machine,” says Breininger. “When you’re
done, turn the socks inside out and stick them in the washer!”
6
Dream up rewards!
“Knowing you have only a certain amount
of time per task makes cleaning go faster,” says
organizer Dorothy Breininger. “Say you want to
clean for a half hour. Devote the first ten minutes
to prep; professional cleaners have everything
set up, from glass wipes to brushes, in a caddy.
Then set the timer for twenty minutes and move from left to right, top
to bottom, around the room.” After 20 minutes is up? “Stop! Speed
cleaning isn’t about perfectionism—when the timer goes off, move on!”
4
Let your kitchen do the work!
Make your kitchen do half the work, urges Breininger:
“Squeeze detergent into a tub of water and soak your silverware.
Next, steam a cup of water
in the microwave on High
for three minutes. The water
will evaporate onto the walls
loosening stuck-on food.”
While your kitchen is
cleaning itself, focus on the
three “F’s: fridge, faucet and
Formica” (countertop). “Wipe
the fridge handle and sink
faucet and quickly de-clutter
your countertop by stowing
a few appliances,” says
Breininger. “It’ll transform
your whole kitchen!”
26
WOMAN’S WORLD 5/20/13
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7
“Always make it fun,” insists Breininger. “I put
on music when I clean, and oh my gosh, it goes
twice as quickly.” Other motivators? “I place bets
with myself,” she smiles. “I’ll tell myself that if I get X
task done in, say, ten minutes, I get to reward myself
with anything from a manicure to a cup of iced
coffee. Rewards don’t have to be tangible—just
telling yourself that after you clean you’ll go outside
for ten minutes of sunshine is great motivation.”
Spend two
extra minutes
in the bathroom!
To spruce up the bathroom almost effortlessly,
try Breininger’s approach: “One thing for me,
one thing for the bathroom.” Translation? “After I
powder my nose, for example, I’ll grab a disposable glass-cleaning wipe and wipe the mirror. Or
after I take a bath, I’ll spray Scrubbing Bubbles on
the sides of the tub. Tacking on just two minutes to
your routine is so much easier than telling yourself,
‘I’ll clean the bathroom on Saturday at 2 p.m.’
That’s a chore! But cleaning while you’re getting
ready—like dropping a denture tablet in the
toilet to whiten it while you’re doing your
hair—is a great use of time!”
Photos: Rafal Strzechowski/age fotostock; Media Bakery (2);
Yoshio Tomii/KimballStock; iStockphoto; Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./Corbis.
—Kristina Mastrocola
4/24/13 1:28 PM