Many housekeepers who are regular, frequent and thorough in their cleaning routines are accused of being “compulsive cleaners,” but observers do not realize that the housekeeper, in her cleaning periods, often reaps some excellent therapeutic health benefits.

Even if one has a regular day-to-day job and can only clean really effectively on weekends, the cleaning routine can be the best possible exercise for health, physical stamina and rejuvenation.

Many housekeepers, physical education experts, trainers and even athletes perform household keeping and cleaning chores regularly as part of their exercise regimen, and for several good reasons.

First, regular and thorough cleaning is an excellent form of therapy, both physical and mental.  The individual who has minor pains, back problems, stiff joints or a simple run-down feeling will find herself positively looking forward to and enjoying her cleaning routine, if it is rigorous enough.

Most demanding exercise is an effective pain reliever (because of the release of endorphins in the process), and the house is efficiently cleaned as well, while one begins to feel better (obviously, this cannot be recommended for chronic pain and fatigue, which are best left to a physician).

Second, the mentally therapeutic aspect of regular and thorough cleaning is even more invigorating to experience.  If one has had a hard week with peers, bosses or family, and there is a lot of frustration to vent, there is no better way to do so than to pick up mop, broom, brush or vacuum and go into what might be called a “cleaning frenzy.”

Cleaning frenzies can be confined to a single room of the house that one has long wanted to take on and cleanse thoroughly, or they can extend to the entire home.  One can clean the sink rigorously, with brush, bleach and window cleaner, until it shines radiantly.  One can exercise elbow grease on particularly hard patches of tile or the stains on walls or in toilets, and literally scrub and scrape away frustrated rage.

Finally, about midway through the cleaning process, if one is utterly committed to the process and is cleaning in a literal frenzy, there is the astounding feeling that not only have one’s physical and mental problems been alleviated, but also one has a literal “cleaning high” from the experience.

And if the entire therapeutic cleaning process is done with sufficient vim and vigor, the house stays spotless throughout the week, due to the weekend cleaning exercises.  And the housekeeper can go back to work or her daily life without guilt or frustration, because she has taken the time to make the cleaning routine fun, energy-filled and therapeutically beneficial.

Thus the housekeeper is empowered past depression, minor pains, malaise, the desire to do nothing, and is powered up to accomplish the creation of a clean house.  If she can persuade the family to join in on the fun, all the better; regular cleaning chores divided among family members was the method common ancestors used to cleaned their castles, and that system will work for homeowners as well.

That is how the drudgery of housekeeping can be reframed into a therapeutic joy.

There is probably no section of the home that needs more attention continually than the kitchen, and particularly the sink, and house-proud individuals always do their best to keep that kitchen area shining and serviceable.

There are several methods to clean a sink effectively, but one in particular, known as the “Trade-Off” method, is exceptional for a first time cleaning.  It should be noted that subsequent cleanings need not follow every step, and that this excellent system will require the use of window cleaner as well as the standard household sink scrub cleaners. The age of the sink also does not matter; this method is effective even for old appliances.

The method itself has several steps:

First, one should remove all the dishes from the sink, if there are any, and either stack them in the dishwasher (which hopefully is done on a regular basis) or in a plastic tub for safe keeping (that is the “trade-off”).

Now, one fills the empty sink with the hottest water possible from the tap.  It should be filled to the absolute top brim (one should only do one side of the sink at a time if it is two sided).  Then a measured cup of bleach is poured into the water.  This should sit for an hour.

Using gloved hands or, to be safe, tongs, one removes the plug from the sink and drains the water.  Obviously, great care should be taken not to slosh some of the bleach-filled water, lest it damage clothing.  Then one rinses the sink.

Now the scrubbing begins, with any commercial preparation of cleanser (Ajax is an excellent brand, followed by Comet or, if one is economizing, baking soda).  One rinses the sink again, thoroughly.

Next, a sharp edged-instrument such as a razor blade or thin scissors should be used to clean the dirt around the sink’s rim, scraping it out like cleaning fingernails.  Then one should clean the rim of the faucet as well; an old toothbrush or even a thick waxy dental floss will serve to take the grit out.

Now comes the point where window cleaner is applied, such as Windex or any other streak-free brand, which gives an excellent shine.  If the sink is still not shiny or clean enough, or has one or two cosmetic needs as far as stains that cannot be removed, an application of car wax will work wonders.

That is the first time procedure, and it need not be repeated more than once or twice a week.  One should have a clean dishtowel hanging or lying near the sink, and use it to dry the sink whenever anyone runs the water (the family should pitch in and make this a habit as well).

Daily maintenance in this manner, plus regular cleaning and bleaching on at least a weekly basis, will keep the sink in excellent clean shape.  One can also place a plastic tub under the sink for dirty dishes, and remind family members not to place them in the sink again.  The dish drying rack should be under the sink, not next to it, also.

The sink will shine as never before.

Because I have a house full of dogs and semi-clumsy people, I always have carpet stains of unknown substances.  I hate looking at a dirty carpet and wondering what lies underneath that discoloration.  So, I clean my carpets pretty regularly and I spot-clean almost daily.

What do I recommend for carpet cleaning?  My first line of defense is the Bissell Steam Cleaning System, which I use weekly in my bedrooms to clean the odors and puppy stains from my floors.  I use the Arm and Hammer Products to clean the carpets, and I buy the ones especially made for dog accidents.

My next line of defense is the spot cleaning.  For the puppy messes, I use the Nature’s Miracle cleaning solution available at pet stores.  This stuff is wonderful.  I have had more doggy ickiness on my carpets, all of the messes you can imagine and then some when my dog had the heartworm remedy treatment, and this product has restored white carpeting to pristine condition.  It removes the stains and the odors and leaves the carpet soft and supple.

For regular spills, like coca-cola, wine, etc., I have a listing of home remedies.  For wine, use club soda and dab with a white cloth.  Your cloth will pick up the wine and the foaming of the club soda will bring the stain to the surface of the carpet.  For coca cola and soda pop, use ¼ cup hydrogen peroxide mixed with 3 cups lukewarm water.  Mix the solution very well, pour over the stained carpet (this works well for orange, red, grape, etc.) and then dab up with a cloth.  Now mix ¼ cup white vinegar with ¾ cup water.  Go over the stain again to ensure that all of the soda pop is gone.

If you spill your hot candle wax onto the carpet, immediately dab as much as possible up with paper towels.  The candle wax will cling to the paper and that will help.  Then let the wax set, and use an iron to remove the rest of the wax.  Set the iron on low and place a clean paper bag over the spilled wax.  Iron back and forth over the paper to set the wax below.  Again, the wax will cling to the paper and will come off.  This may take several applications but it will remove the wax.  Use a white paper bag that has no logo or ink that could be transferred to your carpet.  Do not freeze and scrape the wax, you will only scrape up the carpet and have mangy looking carpet!  (Don’t ask!)

For pizza stains in the carpet, the best solution is to buy plain hand cleaner in the automotive section of your grocery store.  Buy the hand cleaner that does not have the pumice or the orange scent and is used by mechanics.  Wipe it into the carpet and then removed with a white cloth.  It comes up magically and leaves no odor or stain.  It also leaves the carpet soft with no chemical odor or coarseness.

I love my laminate floors because they are so easy to clean and always look good to company.  However, I have three rambunctious, sort-of house-trained dogs that leave nasty, icky messes at the most inconvenient times.  I have learned to appreciate what a laminate floor does for cleanliness and sanitation in times of doggy accidents.

Cleaning a laminate floor begins with sweeping.  As my dogs have long hair, I use a dust mop to sweep the floor each morning to pick up the hair and doggy trash; usually pieces of torn paper I forgot to throw away that have been minced into tiny squares by little teeth.

After I thoroughly sweep all areas of my laminate floor, I begin the process of mopping the floor.  Yes, you can (and I do!) mop a laminate floor every day.  Because of the potty habits of my dogs, I use Spic N Span to mop the floors to remove any urine stains or poopy stains.  I mix ¼ cup Spic N Span to 1 quart of water.  I soak my mop and run over all areas of the floor, paying attention to discolored areas that indicate where potty-ing may have occurred.  I let the floor dry and then I have a very shiny, definitely disinfected floor.  Each day I repeat so as to be clean and sanitized.

There are days that I do not wish to mop the entire floor, or I have run out of my favorite disinfectant.  On those days, I use white ammonia or lemon ammonia and water in a spray bottle, mixed ¼ ammonia to a solution with ¾ water.  It is important to place the water first in the bottle so the ammonia doesn’t suds.  I spray this solution in the problem areas and it cleans and disinfects for a very inexpensive cleaning solution. The ammonia scent dissipates within an hour.

I have successfully used the Swiffer Wet Jet to clean my laminate floor also; I have no problem with any joints swelling or the wet solution causing warping, etc.  The key is to use a damp mop, not a wet mop.  I have also sprayed my dust mop with Pledge All Surface to clean the floor and it is wonderful to get the extra dust on the floor and in the air.  It will leave a shine to your floor that is marvelous.

My newest room cleaner is a motorized robotic floor cleaner.  This is made by Mint, and has a detachable head on which I place either a dry cloth or a wet cloth.  The dry cloth is provided by the manufacturer (they send 5) and has micropores to pick up minute pieces of dust and grime.  The robot has two settings, sweep and mop.  On the sweep setting it runs the robot across the floor one sweep per area.  On the mop setting, I place a wetted cloth onto the head (usually my mixture of Spic N Span and water) and it will go over each area three times.  There is a GPS locator to tell the robot which areas it has already cleaned.  This is not a vacuum cleaner, but is efficient for cleaning the floors while you are preparing meals, etc.

Cleaning a refrigerator thoroughly takes willpower, concentration and elbow grease. In other words, cleaning a refrigerator takes a methodology to really get to the grit and dirt. Just running a damp cloth over the surface will not sever the grit, grease and crud that get into cracks and crevices of the appliance.
Begin with clearing off the top of the refrigerator and washing the outside with ammonia and water. This will cut the grease and dirt that have accumulated upon the top of the refrigerator where you don’t regularly clean. Who knew there was so much crud floating around a kitchen? And right there on top, just above eye level so anyone on their tippy toes could see the filth!

Empty the freezer. Place everything that is stored in the freezer into an ice chest to be sorted later. Make a solution of baking soda and water to wash the interior of the freezer compartment. Wash every inch carefully, looking for leaks in the insulation or cracks in the freezer area. If the shelves are removable, take them out and wash them in the sink. If they are not, wash with your baking soda solution. Dry the interior of the freezer completely with a soft, clean cloth. Any water residue will freeze and leave a coating of ice, which will cause your foods to slide out of the freezer when you open the door. Now examine the foods that you are putting back into the freezer. If they are more than 3 months old, go ahead and toss them out. They will be freezer burned and non-edible. This experience will help you to remember to rotate your freezer contents every three months. If it helps, make a list of all contents and place on the front of your freezer so you will use the meats and breads in a timely manner. If your freezer is now empty, bag some ice to take up room in the freezer. Extra ice is always a necessity for company and a freezer is more efficient when full.

Now for the big job, cleaning the refrigerator! Take everything out of the refrigerator, including the shelves. If the foods in containers (leftovers) are more than 5 days old, toss them in the trash. If the condiments are more than a year old, toss them in the trash. Clean the shelves in the sink, washing thoroughly with dishwashing liquid. Dry them so they will not slip or break as you replace them in the refrigerator. Wash the walls and sides of the refrigerator with baking soda and water, so as to disinfect without having a “cleaning solution” smell inside. Replace your condiments in a logical manner, jellies in one section, and sauces in another. Clean the vegetable, meat and fruit bins by emptying them and washing in the sink. After drying, place a clean paper towel inside to absorb moisture and catch spills from the wet produce or meat packages.
Now for the bottom and outside of the refrigerator, insert your vacuum cleaner attachment under the refrigerator and clean the coils. The dust and dirt that collect there are disgusting and keep your refrigerator from working in premium condition. Wash the exterior of your refrigerator with ammonia and water. Now, you have completed this chore for another week!