House-cleaning tips from a professional cleaner

Cleaning dos and don'ts
McSheffrey offers this tried-and-true list of dos and don'ts.

•Do dilute your cleaning products. Replace one-quarter of the bottle with water to thin out the product and make it less sticky and less likely to streak.

•Don't swirl. Wipe mirrors and doors using first vertical, then horizontal strokes. Swirling patterns show up when the sun hits.

• Don't use paper towels. Long fingernails or rings pierce them easily and can scratch the surface underneath. Instead buy a set of washable cloths or make your own out of old T-shirts or cloth diapers.

• Don't apply products directly to furniture or floors; instead, spray or dampen your cloth before dusting or washing. The saying “a little goes a long way” holds true for cleaning products, too.

• Do use some elbow grease -– especially on hardwood floors. “Unfortunately you're going to have to get down on your knees,” McSheffrey says. He says the oils left behind by bare feet don't come up easily with a mop. A prevention tip: wear socks or slippers at home.

• Do use an electro-static spray or mop to reach under furniture –- this lets you get the dust bunnies with no heavy lifting.

• Do follow the wall when dusting. “It's not rocket science,” McSheffrey says. “When you start jumping across the floor you're going to miss something.”

• Do clean as you go. Add a few preventive measures to your routine and your house will stay cleaner longer. “In our house you'd swear our shower has never been used because we wipe it every time we use it,” McSheffrey says.

• Don't worry if you don't have a big chunk of time to clean. It's amazing what you can accomplish in 10 minutes a day. “Just concentrate on one or two rooms at a time.” McSheffrey says.

• Do use duvets on your beds. Even McSheffrey –- whose service doesn't include making beds -– says duvets are so easy he doesn't mind throwing one over a messy bed to tidy a room.

Finally, and most importantly, don't make cleaning a chore. The hours McSheffrey spends cleaning are some of his most creative. “I have nobody to talk to so I write music,” he says. “I've just about completed my second CD. All the songs I write are in the same key as a vacuum, which is the key of A. Everything's in the key of A.”

Not a musician? Borrow or download an audio book from the library and listen while you clean. Or invest in a hands-free phone headset and catch up with all those people you never have time to call.

For more information and advice, check out the Homemakers Clean-up hub.

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