SPEED CLEANING

It has come to my attention that one of my favorite bloggers over at the Gilded Cage who gave a raving review of a book, was noticed by the author, who had googled her own name and came across the entry.  That got me to thinking.... maybe I should do a review on a book and get noticed by the author as well.  And she might even be inspired to give me a free home make over, or at least maybe a 3 room spring cleaning (just be careful of the dustbunnies... they are our friends!)  So, here is my review for Speed Cleaning 101:
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I was clicking around online one day and I came across a site that required me to register to access a page.  Upon completion of my registration I was given the option of receiving a free gift.  The one that caught my eye was 'Speed Cleaning 101' by Laura Dellutri.  Hmmmm, that sounded like something I could use, so I entered my address and clicked 'send'.  And I promptly forgot about it.

Until the book arrived in my residential mailbox several weeks later.  The cover boasted that one could cut their cleaning time in half!  Right on!  My cleaning time per week is maybe 1 hour... combined.  Cut that in half and I'll only have to clean 30 minutes a week.  I can do that!

So I open the book and by golly, she's actually broken the entire cleaning schedule down into minutes!  I was really liking it until I got to her cleaning supply list.  Glass cleaner, dry microfiber cloth, damp microfiber clother, treated dust cloth, lemon oil, black ostrich feather duster, extention duster and telescopic pole system, vacuum cleaner, wisk broom.    Holy cannoli!  I don't even own half of that stuff!  And those were just for speed cleaning the living room.  She had another list for deep cleaning.

Start by high-dusting... high dusting?  People really dust up high?  I'm short so I can't see dust up high.  If I can't see it, it doesn't need to be cleaned.  Scratch that one off the list.  And whats with the vacuum and wisk broom?  Why waste time on two tools.  I just use the vacuum for everything, the floor, the upholstery, the table, the cobwebs in the corner.  A wet/dry shop vac will also clean out the aquarium.  Scratch the wisk broom off the list.  Woo hoo!  I've just shaved even more time off the clock.  I'm really liking this speed cleaning method!

There are sections on things like washers and dryers, and vacuum cleaners.  One topic tackles the question: How do I know if I needa new vacuum?'  She has some cute answers, like when the children play tic tac toe in the dust on the coffee table or your visitors ask for a towel before sitting on your furniture, but she missed the most obvious:  when your vacuum starts smoking and spits out more dust than it picks up... Thats how I knew my vacuum was shot.

The book has taken the place of my pocket yahtzee in the Throne Room.  There are some wonderful tips and great ideas, and I have found the book to be very informative and quite facinating.  I highly recommend it to all of the others who are motivationally challenged in the housecleaning department as I am.  If nothing else, it makes a great bathroom reader and who knows, you might pick up a trick or two.

Laura Dellutri:  The Healthy Housekeeper

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Okay, so I haven't actually used any of the techniques I've learned from the book yet... but I will... SOON!  We're hosting a Super Bowl party this Sunday and I need to do some major speed cleaning before then...

Go SEAHAWKS!