The Rules of Speed Cleaning: Rule #9

Welcome back! If you are just joining us in our Speed Cleaning series, we're glad you're here! You're not too late. Be sure to read over the previous rules before you move on to Rule #9.

Speed Cleaning Rule #9: Repetition makes for smoother moves.

This rule also gives me hope when it comes to my dance moves, but we're talking about Speed Cleaning here! Always put your tools back in the same spot in your apron. You can’t spare the time to fumble around for them. And you can’t afford to leave them lying around in alien places for the dog to carry away. You’ll quickly get so expert you’ll become aggravated if the tool you expected isn’t in the right spot when you reach for it. Progress, progress. We're serious about this rule and I ™ll show you what I mean. In this example, we ™ll assume you're cleaning the kitchen. Here's what getting dressed for the kitchen looks like. Tie your apron around your waist tightly. Check to be sure that the toothbrush and other tools are in their proper pockets. Hang the Blue and Red Juice by their handles on your apron loops on the appropriate side. By appropriate we mean that if you put the Blue Juice on the left side, then always put it on the left side. This is so you can quickly reach for your Red or Blue Juice without stopped to see which is which. It saves time. The tops of the spray bottles have an annoying tendency to come loose at the worst possible moments, spilling the contents everywhere. Avoid this potential catastrophe by automatically tightening the tops when you first pick them up. Stick your feather duster in your back pocket. Put a whisk broom in your other back pocket. Use it to brush dirt out of vents, corners, and away from walls and appliances that the vacuum doesn't reach. Estimate the number of cleaning cloths you ™ll need and transfer them from the tray to your apron. At first, just guess by grabbing eight to ten cloths; as time goes on, you ™ll know how many you use. Finally check the illustration of you and your fully loaded apron. You're ready to move on. Question of the week: Which super hero do you feel most like when you’re wearing your cleaning apron?