Here are some hints that can help you clean your home efficiently and effectively.

Follow a Cleaning Schedule

Use a schedule to determine when things are likely to need cleaning. By following a regular cleaning schedule, it's easier to maintain a minimal standard.

• Clean the stovetop immediately after cooking.
• Sweep or vacuum regularly. If you miss dirt or dust during one cleaning, you can pick it up the next time.
• Wipe down the shower immediately after bathing when the soap film has not yet adhered to tub and wall surfaces.
• Clean the bathroom mirror regularly as it tends to gather spots from activity at the sink (shaving, tooth brushing, hand washing, etc.)
• Dust settles on horizontal surfaces and electrically charged ones, such as televisions and radios. Check picture frames, windowsills, and door panels when you clean.

Surface and Window Cleaning

• When cleaning a tabletop or window, apply the cleaning agent directly to the cloth. If you use a spray cleaner, locate the nozzle and spray into the cloth instead of on the tabletop or window surface.
• Use your free hand to measure the work area and use it as a border marker each time you move to a new section. This helps to divide larger areas and surfaces into smaller, more manageable sections.
• When cleaning windows, clean in vertical and horizontal patterns, using overlapping strokes to avoid streaks. Always work in a consistent pattern to ensure you've cleaned the entire surface.
• For tabletops, use a tray or cookie sheet at the front edge of the table surface to collect crumbs.

Use Preventive Cleanup Techniques

Certain locations in the home are more likely to accumulate dirt and grime, such as the sink and stove in the kitchen or any other place where you tend to stand and work frequently.

• Work over the sink or on a tray whenever possible.
• Routinely wipe all countertop surfaces after food preparation, clean the microwave after each use, and wash/mop the kitchen floor on a weekly basis.
• Use the principles of "over cleaning." Clean well beyond the working space or area in order to ensure that you reach all soiled areas:
  • The areas around handles on cupboards and appliances, switch plates, and doorknobs are likely to have finger marks.
  • There are usually splashes and drips on the counter and walls near the coffee maker.
  • Check the wall behind the trashcan for dirt and splatters.
  • If you spill something on the counter, it usually runs down the outside front of the cupboard as well as inside it.
  • When making spaghetti sauce, it is likely that there are splatters on the stovetop, as well as on the counter or walls.
• When sweeping or mopping, divide the floor into smaller sections by using furniture or appliances as "landmarks."
• Remember to end up near the dustpan or dust buster when you sweep and not "lose track" of the pile of dirt.

Additional Resources for Cleaning

• If you would like additional instruction in cleaning skills, you can contact a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. See Vision Rehabilitation Services on this web site for more information.
• Find Vision Rehabilitation Services
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