Beat the House-Cleaning Blues

It's not difficult to find advice on how to clean and organize, and what products to use for what chore. There's Mom, Grandma, Mrs. Smith next door, Mr. Jones down at the hardware store, and hundreds of books and  articles on the subject!

But the single most common reason why major household cleaning efforts fail -- lack of preparation to do the job at hand that leads to frustration, lost time and wasted effort -- is often overlooked in advice columns and how-to books.

As with any other human endeavor, planning pays off. So before you dive in to that unspeakable attic mess or tackle that maze of a kitchen cupboard, consider these six time-tested planning tips to make the task easier ... and even enjoyable!

1. Do something pleasantly different

Instead of assaulting your senses and the environment with a literally dizzying array of cleaning chemicals, consider taking a morning to prepare some herbal and natural cleaning solutions this year.

Some natural disinfectants include rosemary and lemon, and the leaves and stems of thyme and sage. Cloves, lavender, orange, peppermint and sandalwood also have antiseptic powers.

You can use six drops or so of their essential oils, mixed with a teaspoon of isopropyl alcohol and a quart of lukewarm water.

You can also cook up a great smelling, spirit-lifting disinfectant by culling the leaves and stems of rosemary, eucalyptus, thyme, sage or lavender, and letting the mixture simmer for an hour. Simply strain out the solids and let the mixture cool. You'll love the fresh scent and the gentle way the solution cleans your spaces!

The sweet, nutty seeds of the fern-like Sweet Cicely plant can be crushed to yield a wonderfully aromatic natural furniture polish. Pulverize the seeds, then scoop up a handful in a soft cloth and admire the gentle way it coaxes shine from wood!

2. Be alone and enjoy it!

You'd never try to clean a keyboard while someone's typing, or clean your oven while preparing Thanksgiving dinner. It's a mystery why so many well-meaning people think they can clean a room or a closet with other people coming and going!

Published by Kate Sheridan Extensive journalism training and experience; 18 years as a small business ad agency co-owner and creative director; now work/write in peaceful bliss on a 10-acre self-sufficient-ish rural Michigan homestead  View profile

View the original article here