{"product_id":"2940014177955","title":"51 House Cleaning Shortcuts","description":"GOOD HABBITS TO START\u003cbr\u003eAs you start developing simple housecleaning habits, you’ll\u003cbr\u003enotice that your work will get easier and easier. This next set of\u003cbr\u003etips will give you some great ideas of good habits to start.\u003cbr\u003e Delegate\u003cbr\u003eHousework can be a huge job. Learn to delegate. Make chore charts for\u003cbr\u003eeveryone in your house. Even small children can help pick up toys and\u003cbr\u003eother things. As you learn that you don’t have to do it all, housework will\u003cbr\u003ebecome much easier.\u003cbr\u003eFill the Sink\u003cbr\u003eA good habit to start is filling your sink with hot soapy water every time\u003cbr\u003eyou start to cook. This way you can “clean as you go.” As you get done\u003cbr\u003ewith each pot or dish, wash it quickly. This makes clean-up a snap.\u003cbr\u003e Spray the Oven\u003cbr\u003eTime for take-out? If there’s a day when you’re not using your oven, give\u003cbr\u003eit a quick spray of oven cleaner and forget about it. The next day, before\u003cbr\u003eyou turn on your oven, give it a quick wipe down. You’ll find that the\u003cbr\u003ebaked on stuff comes off much easier.\u003cbr\u003eHave a Charity Box\u003cbr\u003eIt’s a good idea to keep a box or bag in your front closet that you put\u003cbr\u003ethings you don’t need anymore. This really helps get rid of clutter in your\u003cbr\u003ehome. When the box is full, simply drop it off at your local good will\u003cbr\u003estore.\u003cbr\u003eRinse Your Plate\u003cbr\u003eThis may be a small tip, but it can help in big ways. If you simply make it\u003cbr\u003ea habit to rinse your plate after dinner (and have all family members do the\u003cbr\u003esame), it will make washing them a lot easier. No one likes trying to wash\u003cbr\u003edried food off of dishes.\u003cbr\u003eTackle the Small Jobs\u003cbr\u003eHousework can be overwhelming. Learn to break it down and tackle the\u003cbr\u003esmaller jobs first. As you do, each job will become easier. Also, if you\u003cbr\u003eclean the small messes before they get big, it’ll be a lot easier to clean up.\u003cbr\u003eKeep Cleaner in the Shower\u003cbr\u003eA great shortcut for cleaning your tub and shower is to keep a bottle of\u003cbr\u003eshower cleaner handy. After you take a bath or shower, spray it down.\u003cbr\u003eYou can take it a step further and keep a squeegee in it as well.\u003cbr\u003eFast Pick Up Before Bed\u003cbr\u003eIf you make it a habit to do a quick pick up before going to bed, it’ll really\u003cbr\u003ehelp. You’ll find that it’s easier to wake up and feel good about the day if\u003cbr\u003eeven one room is clean.\u003cbr\u003eLine Your Fridge\u003cbr\u003eIf you make it a habit to line your fridge shelves with paper towels, it’ll\u003cbr\u003emake it a lot easier to clean. This will work especially well in the crispers,\u003cbr\u003eas the paper towels will soak up any extra wetness.\u003cbr\u003eTake a Trash Bag With You\u003cbr\u003eAs you leave the house, make it a habit to take the trash out. This is a\u003cbr\u003esimple tip, but why make extra trips if you don’t need to? This is also a\u003cbr\u003egreat job to delegate to a teenager. They’re always coming and going\u003cbr\u003eanyway.\u003cbr\u003eKITCHEN\u003cbr\u003eYour kitchen gets used every day. Without\u003cbr\u003emaintaining small messes, you can have a big\u003cbr\u003ecleaning job every day. This next set of tips will help\u003cbr\u003eyou keep your kitchen clean and manageable.\u003cbr\u003eMicrowave\u003cbr\u003eHere’s a good shortcut to cleaning your microwave: Fill up a cup of water\u003cbr\u003eand put it in there on high for a few minutes. The steam from the cup will\u003cbr\u003eloosen any stuck-on food, and then you can just wipe it away.\u003cbr\u003eBaking Soda\u003cbr\u003eBaking soda has many practical uses, especially in the kitchen. Here are a\u003cbr\u003efew ideas:\u003cbr\u003e• Put an open box in your fridge and freezer to eliminate odors\u003cbr\u003eand bad tastes.\u003cbr\u003e• Sprinkle some in the bottom of your trashcans.\u003cbr\u003e• Sprinkle some down your drain and garbage disposal to\u003cbr\u003eeliminate odors.\u003cbr\u003eFridge\u003cbr\u003eCleaning your fridge can be a big job, but here are a few tips to make it a\u003cbr\u003ebit easier:\u003cbr\u003e• Toss out any bad food.\u003cbr\u003e• Start with wiping down the top shelves and work down.\u003cbr\u003e• Baking soda and water make a great cleaner and wont leave\u003cbr\u003eyour fridge smelling like harsh cleanser.\u003cbr\u003e• After you wipe out the crispers, line them with paper towels for\u003cbr\u003eeasier cleaning next time.\u003cbr\u003eWashing Dishes\u003cbr\u003eWashing dishes can really be overwhelming. Here are some tips to make\u003cbr\u003ethis grueling task a bit easier:\u003cbr\u003e• Invest in a scrubber that you can put soap in the handle. This\u003cbr\u003eway you can “wash as you go,” eliminating huge piles of dirty\u003cbr\u003edishes.\u003cbr\u003e• Soak all dishes that have dried on food. This lets you use less\u003cbr\u003eelbow grease.\u003cbr\u003e• Wash in groups—silverware, glasses, bowls, plates, pots and\u003cbr\u003epans.\u003cbr\u003eWipe Down\u003cbr\u003eAfter the dishes are done and put away, don’t forget the wipe-down. This\u003cbr\u003emakes your kitchen have that extra clean look. When you’re wiping down,\u003cbr\u003edon’t forget:\u003cbr\u003e• Counter tops\u003cbr\u003e• Stove\u003cbr\u003e• Sink\u003cbr\u003e•","brand":"99 \u0026cent; eStore, save a lot more","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47152767107312,"sku":"2940014177955","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940014177955_p0.jpg?v=1763602191","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940014177955","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}