using these smart strategies to keep a cleaner home. You will need Cleaning schedule Supply

cart or caddy Storage systems Task delegation Relaxation of criteria Prioritization of tasks

Room checklists (optional) Old towels (optional) and expectations of children (optional). Step

1. Schedule chores, dividing tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly categories to maintain

order and cleanliness, and to avoid overwhelming tasks. Create cleaning checklists for each

room. Step 2. Use gravity to be a better housekeeper by cleaning from the top down and avoid cleaning

fixtures, shelves and other surfaces more than once. Recycle old towels into cleaning

rags. Step 3. Be efficient by keeping handy a supply cart or caddy that you can easily

move from room to room, and seek out new time-saving cleaning tools and products. Step 4. Organize

your home with storage systems for everything from food to toys and make sure each family

member puts things in their place. Establish the expectation that children put their things

away before going to bed. Step 5. Delegate cleaning tasks to family members according

to age and ability, making sure they understand how to complete a job. Step 6. Relax and avoid

obsessing over perfection so that everyone in the household can pitch in without you

re-cleaning what they've already cleaned. Step 7. Prioritize tasks in accordance with

your time and energy, and you'll not only become a better housekeeper by addressing

the essentials, you'll be a happier person with more time to spend doing what you love.

Did you know A 2009 study showed that on an average day that same year, 85 percent of

women and 67 percent of men spent time doing housework.