Welcome back to my February cleaning series. Today I am sharing my 2nd step to “keeping a clean home” – the floors. In my opinion, this is the most daunting task of them all… but the most effective one. If you maintain clean floors on a daily basis, your home will look cleaner, period! If you wait several days to a week to give them the attention they need, your home will look dirty. Its that simple.
Yesterday (Step 1), I shared the first step to keeping a clean home – The Kitchen. Today is day 2, the floors.
Step 2 – “Daily Floor Care”
– Sweep hard surfaces every day.
– Vacuum carpets daily.
– If you are feeling ambitious, shake out your rugs daily.
Cleaning Supplies
Oreck I use and LOVE my Oreck Magnesium Vacuum cleaner, on a daily basis. For the last 6 years, I used a Dyson. I thought it was the greatest vacuum cleaner. That was until I went over my floors with the Oreck after using the Dyson one day. I was in total shock at the dirt the Dyson missed! You could hear the Oreck suck up left over dirt that the Dyson missed. My carpets now look brand new, after every vacuum. *I love the Oreck so much that I will be giving one away at the end of my “Daily Cleaning 101” series.
* I use my Oreck to sweep and vacuum all floors in my home. It adjusts to any floor/carpet levels. I have high pile carpet and it works great. The dyson struggled with it.
Basic H I wash my hardwoods & tile floors with Basic H. Its a versatile multipurpose concentrated cleaner that lasts for-e-v-e-r! In between weekly cleanings by my cleaning lady, I spray any spots/areas that are dirty with a bottle of Basic H and wipe it down. I also use Basic H in my Promist mop.
Tip
Get your kids involved. Show them how to use the vacuum and broom. They are definitely capable of such an easy task.
Free Printable
Click on the picture below to print the Daily Cleaning 101 checklist out. It will remind you of what needs done and how little time it takes. Please do not redistribute. Personal use only.
I laminated the printable and put it on a clipboard, in my cleaning caddy. I use expo markers to check off each task once its completed.
My favorite cleaning products
- Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin (My “go to” book for cleaning tips, how to’s & recipes)
- Get Clean Starter Kit (Contains everything in my cleaning kit minus Scour Off)
- Scour Off (To clean my sink weekly)
- Real Simple microfiber cloths
- Oreck Magnesium Vacuum (Giveaway at the end of the Series)
- Fresh Laundry Concentrate
- Basic H (Floor cleaner)
Conclusion
Maintaining the floors in your home will not be easy. You must commit to doing this on a daily basis. Once you do, it will be a task that you will be proud of every time you walk into a room. Remember, it should only take 15 minutes. I will see you back here tomorrow for step 3 of “how to keep a clean home”.
Tags: cleaning, daily cleaning 101
Blog, Clean, Cleaning, Daily Cleaning 101, Shaklee Posted in
68 comments
68 comments on “Daily Cleaning 101 – Step 2 “The Floors””
Great tips! We have hard floors in our entire house, and I am not sure I would be able to make it without them! My kids are constantly getting stuff on the floors…although stickers might be easier to get off of carpets…Thanks for sharing the printable as well!
I’m on a cleaning renovation this week as well. One room per day, top to bottom and every 3 months a deep clean. There is the whole house daily list as well, just quick simple things, You’ve gotten my curious now, I have a dyson ball that I love but this oreck….very interesting.
Alecia you will LOVE the oreck. I totally do!!
Why cant I print anything, do I need to pay something?
Kay it is free and should work. Here is the direct link to print it out. 🙂 https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0Zel3awyTNKVGxybzlERmcwb3M/edit?usp=sharing
When do you usually clean the floors, at night after kids are in bed or during the day when the kids are up? Also, how does your cleaning lady clean the floors, with the Prosmist mop and Basic H or floor steamer? Thanks soooo much for this series!
Aisha I clean my floors (vacuum) after the kids go to school and (sweep the kitchen) after they go to bed. So this way, I can enjoy clean floors during the day when everyone is gone and wake up to clean floors in the morning, in my kitchen. Works for me!
I just found your blog recently. I love the cleaning series.
When I tried to download the printable it had to many redirect loops and my computer would not do it, so I selected email in the drop down box and sent it to my email. I was able to download and print it that way.
Wow, I would LOVE an Oreck. I dislike (very, very much) my current vacuum cleaner (Rainbow). I had a Kenmore canister vac before and it was so much lighter and easier to get around. I don’t tackle the floors daily simply b/c I detest dragging out the heavy Rainbow. GRR!
Thank you so much for this, it is going to be a huge help 🙂
I have been blessed with a husband who does our floors. We set him up with a robot vac and he sets it to go while he gets ready for work and on his days off he steams the floors. I think he takes great pride in how they look. After we eat I have to hoovers (Rock and Raz) that go around the table, I follow behind with a broom to get anything they missed. I am interested in finding out more about cleaning solutions. Right now the steam mop we use does not use any kind of cleaner. I am afraid to use most cleaners because I do not want to ruin the finish of the floors. I used one in a small area and it left a film on the floor. When the floors are deep cleaned do you use Basic H?
Yes, I use basic H on my floors. We do not use a steam cleaner on our hardwoods. Im afraid it will destroy my floors.
I love your tips! My floors and carpets need a good cleaning! I’m not happy with my current vacuum cleaner at all… How do we enter for the Oreck vacuum giveaway? Thanks for the printable!
Cindy, It will be at the end of the series. 🙂
I see 😉 Thank you!
For me the “best” way to keep a house clean is with keeping the countertops and tabletops clean but floors are certainly a big one for my wife. And thanks for the tips on Basic H, I’ll have to look into that one.
Loving this series! I do many of the things you have in your list, but there are several I see that I over look or make excuses for not doing…so excited for this! Thank you so very much!!
Great series! I am interested in how exactly you clean all your floors with the Basic H. Can you please post how you would do the wood floors and tile floors? Thanks! Looking forward to the rest of the week.
Judy, Here is a blog post about it… http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2011/02/simply-shaklee-saturday-basic-h.html
Hi. I noticed you said you vacuum all of your floors. Does that include your hardwood? We sweep our hardwood floors daily and still can’t seem to stay on top of the dirt (we have a fireplace and a large dog). A lot of times it feels like we are just pushing the dirt and hair into crevices.
Yes, I vacuum the hardwoods. Gets them much cleaner.
I love your blog and all your tips, but I will take exception with one thing. You can get up more stuff after going over the same spot with ANY vacuum. This is the vacuum salesman’s oldest trick in the book. He makes you think that his vacuum is better by going over the same spot you just vacuumed and getting more stuff up, but in reality any vacuum would have done the same thing as none of them get everything up in one pass. Anyways, just my random thought for the day. Love your blog!
I definitely think vacuums are in different categories. I have purchased cheap vacuums and wasted my money before (when I thought I was saving) and then purchased more expensive ones that were just okay. In my opinion, from all that I have tried (and I’ve tried a lot), the Oreck magnesium has out performed all of them by a gazillion miles. 😉 jm2c
Thank you So Much for the printout!! It’s wonderfully color coded and concise!! I am especially unfocused at the end of the day and this will help a lot to finish the day off on a good note and start fresh first thing in the morning. Thank you again for a wonderful chart and for all you do to help us with all of your amazing ideas!!!
What a great little chart, thanks for sharing. I love that you wrote the minutes down so that I can remind myself that it doesn’t take long to do the little things that make a big difference.
I love your blog, first of all! I love cleaning, second of all:). But this list has me feeling sad because there is no way I could manage this (mainly the floor care) every.single.day. No way! I wish! I have 3 kids under 5 at home all day and a combo of wood and carpet…..and lots and lots of carpeted steps (my nemesis!!!)….. So, for all the other moms out there who can’t imagine doing all this every day, I’m with you! But, Toni, you give us all something to aspire to once the kids are all in school! Thanks for the inspiration!
I just recently began reading and using your suggestions for the Emergency Preparedness and Cleaning series. I’m still working on the first, but trying to also work on the cleaning. I was cleaning at 2:00 am last night! 🙂 Thank you for your tips, pictures and specifics. They are so helpful. By the way, I love my Vera Bradley and all the pockets!
Thank you for your posts. I too am enjoying your cleaning series. I have a Dyson and I love it, but when I bought it I was thinking about an Oreck now I am wondering if I made a mistake. Do you know if the Basic H is safe for laminate flooring?
Yes its safe for laminate. 🙂
We’ll have hardwood and concrete floors in our new townhouse, but I hate the thought of having to drag a vacuum up and down the stairs (2 sets). I think we might have to go Roomba this time.
What’s the verdict on steamers on hardwood? Seems like a lot of folks are afraid. Is steam necessary?
I’m so enjoying this series! I’m happy to hear you love your Oreck. My husband has been suggesting we get one and I have been stalling because I’m just not that familiar with them and hadn’t heard too many folks I know comment on them.
Hi! i have been reading your blog for some time now! And I really really enjoy it 😉 I am planning on purchasing Shaklee products soon! I love how it can be used for everything and anything. It is just kinda pricey for me now, as I want to get started using the Get clean start kit. So i hope to be able to save money and buy it , of course thru your website, as I discovered it here 😉
I have to ask. How in the world do you get all your floors done in 15 minutes? It takes me at least an hour to do all the floors in my house and that is if I don’t have to pick anything up first and going pretty darn fast (I’m usually sweating by the time I finish). What am I doing wrong? We have 2 cats and mostly carpet.
I’m with you…I live in a not-so-big apartment and it still takes me forever to do the floors (mostly carpet). I guess the thing is that if you do it everyday, you won’t have to “deep clean” and so eventually it will only take 15 minutes. Let’s hope!
I have been using the same vaccum since my husband and I moved in together! We moved in together about 14 years ago. I think it is about time we start looking at new ones. i don’t think it is sucking up much any more. Thanks for your great blog i really have enjoyed it. thanks
Love your series and your comments. I have heard that if you leave your bed unmade for half an hour or so after rising.it kills the little bugs. Is this true?
Ohhh…I love your blog! I truly am a blog addict 🙂 However, most of the blogs that I follow are teacher blogs. I am a Kindergarten teacher. I loooove your blog!! I reeeeallllyyy looooove your carpet! It looks like it holds up well with your kiddos? What kind is it?
Its a shag style carpet.
I just found this wonderful website/blog last week and I am so excited to implement your advise! I am organizedly challenged 🙂 My question is I work 35 hrs a week and in the evenings it is dinner, homework and any other sports activities. Any advise for us working moms on keeping a cleaner house? We are all ears since sometimes we barely have time to breathe! Thanks!!!
Elise, I would do a little every day and use your calendar to schedule in yoru cleanings. I bet its tough!!
Elise, just found your blog, great tips, I’m now more inspired to do those daily cleanings instead of waiting until Saturday like I usually do. Thanks for the rec on the Oreck Vacuum. I’m getting ready to replace my third useless Hoover 🙂
Please let me know how you do all your floors in 15 min! 🙂
Once again Thanks!! I want that Oreck so bad. I have had my current one for several years but saw and felt how light that one was and fell in love. I have 7 kids in my house so this chore I do get help but we work together. Even the 4 and 5 year old like to help and they do a pretty good job.
My hardwood floors don’t see as shiny as they used to…especially in the high traffic areas. Is there something you do to maintain your hardwood floors besides the daily sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping with Basic H. Something every once in awhile… like polish? Just don’t know why our floors aren’t shiny anymore.
Every once in a while I use method wood floor cleaner. Be sure to only use it seldom because it can build up. Its more for conditioning and bringing back the luster.
Thank you!
What about laminate floors? Any ideas on keeping them clean?
Wow! The Oreck sounds amazing! I have a Dyson and thought it was pretty good but you got me very curious about the Oreck!
I have a Dyson Animal. I’m probably one of the few that has never ever thought it was all that! Very curious about the Oreck Magnesium. We have a combination of tile (kitchen, hall, bathrooms & living areas) and carpet (bedrooms), area rugs (where there is tile). For the tile we use a Shark. I am not over the moon impressed with the Shark. I wish there was a way to keep the light tile grout clean!
Do you still have your Dyson? You should try going over your floors after you have used your Oreck? We had a salesman come to our house years ago for a Filter Queen, similar to a rainbow. Of course, he vacuums after you use your own and there is dirt left. However, I read in the newspaper, that EVER vacuum will always leave some dirt so therefore, whatever vacuum brand is used, there will always be something picked up with another one afterwards. Just wondering. (I do have a Dyson and love it) 🙂
I am curious about the oven cleaner paste you used. I have a self cleaning oven, and I’m afraid to use it b/c I’ve heard how it makes the whole house stink. Can the cleaning paste be used on an oven that’s a self cleaner? Thank you.
You dont need a cleaner if you are using the self cleaner. If you dont want to use the self cleaner or want to use it after, you can.
When do you do your floors? I have 5 kids, 3 are away at school most of the day but I have a 4 and an almost 2 year old. I am having trouble deciding if I want to do them in the morning or at night so I wake up to clean floors and just spot clean the dining room after meals.
Once the kids go to school, I vacuum. I sweep the kitchen and entry in the evening.
Hi there, I’m in need of advice please. I have a rather large tiled floor in the effect of stone so the tiles are textured. I use a vileda mop and bucket which does the job but over time I’ve notice dirt building up in the ridges of the tiles. We’ve had this flooring for a year now and I’ve found I end up having to scrub it on my hands and knees to get it really clean in all the crevices every few months. I would love to know what sort of mop I should be using that would clean this more efficiently than my current method. My knees cant take much more 😉
Many thanks Alex from good old Blighty xx
I just started reading your blog!! I love it! Where can the Basic H be purchased? And is it safe for hardwood floors?
http://www.simplyclean.myshaklee.com 🙂
Any ideas for really good vacuum cleaners that are way less expensive? There’s no way we could afford a $600 cleaner! Our current one is so heavy and it doesn’t really do a good job of switching to the tile floors. I am looking forward to putting as much of this plan in place for a busy working mom that I can. The more organized I am the better I can breathe and have fun with the family.
Ellen, We have the Shark Navigator, it was about 200 and I love it. Easy to use and VERY easy to switch from tile to carpet
I use a Shark Navigator as well and have been very happy with it. It is very easy to maintain and has handled our heavily shedding shephard/husky mix dog’s hair without a break down. What is very important I feel is emptying the cup after every use and washing out the filters every week.
I have dark hand scraped wood flooring too and it shows every single drip and dust speck. Do you find the Basic H works just as well as it did on your laminate flooring (I’m referring back to an old post you wrote about how to use Basic H). I find that any cleaner leaves a cloudy residue on my floors… wondering what your experience is with the Basic H and the dark floors. Thanks!
I am STRUGGLING!!! Between trying to keep the house clean/get rid of clutter and attempt to do it in an eco friendly manner. I live with my Dad and so it’s pretty much me being the boss of cleaning. 🙂 Love him though. I have gone from using a Swiffer to clean the kitchen floor to Steam Mop, to the Lysol sponge mop and nothing feels like it works. I need something quick but effective and thorough. I am a full time nursing student, work part time so funds are definitely limited, but Ill go for what works!
If you can’t buy the Shaklee products right now, look into all the wonderful ways to used water, white vinegar and baking soda. So green friendly and powerful! Plus, it’s super cheap!
You keeping up with the daily maintenance of floors even hard surface floors is something that most people don’t think about or have the time or energy to do. It is however very important to have a regular daily maintenance routine which will help to minimize costly professional floor cleanings and restorations. For instance, vacuuming carpet is one of the best things to do to keep it clean. On tile floors it is just as important to do the daily vacuuming and maybe even more so because the allergens and pollutants that are brought in daily have no where to hide on a hard surface floor and can get into your breathing zone easier than with carpet. So have a daily maintenance plan and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time but it can be real effective.
I’ve been using Shaklee for a couple years, thanks to you, but it wasn’t until a couple days ago I finally found a store that sells the ‘O cedar’; I’m in love! It was such a pain to fill up the sink with the right amount of water and Basic H, then to go back and forth with my microfiber mop to wring out and get more cleaner whole moping all over the house. Also, I love love love the powerful trigger spray on this manual mop! I was so not ready for that type of spray power (may have hit the wainscoting more than once).
Anyway, thank you again for such a great suggestion, I always love reading you cleaning tips and tricks and can’t believe it took me so long to find the ‘O cedar’.
This is really a printable, so far the most useful one for daily cleaning, have been researching and testing out various ones this one and pinning a bunch of others. But this is the best daily one I pinned.
Thanks so much
I am up for any of your ideas, but I work two jobs (1 FT and 1 PT) and sometimes it just doesn’t get done. I need a housekeeper but cannot afford one, plus we live in the country and hard to find one willing to travel that far out. Anyway, just giving my situation. Cleaning my floors is the hardest for me because I hate doing it so much. I live in an old run down mobile home and even when I clean it, it still looks dirty. But it does make me feel better when I do.