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Touch Zone #5 - All Bathrooms, Laundry Room, Guest Bedroom and Office/Den

1/22/2012 2:35:00 PM

Final Touch Housekeeping’s Detailed Cleaning List

Touch Zone 5 – All Bathrooms, Laundry Room, Guest Bedroom/Den, and Office

Don't start the cleaning section until you have organized and de-cluttered each Touch Zone. If you have things out of place or too much clutter, you will quickly become frustrated and will not get optimal use of your time. See our De-Cluttering Tips on our introduction blog.

If you are organized and de-cluttered, you are ready to begin! Remember, just 15-20 minutes in each area of the Touch Zones. You won't get to everything so don't stress at each list. Over time and with the help of Final Touch Housekeeping, you will gain control of your home.

Once your home has been de-cluttered and organized, you are ready to start with our detailed list for cleaning Touch Zone 5. When you hire Final Touch Housekeeping, you pay us to do everything on our list every time we clean your home (except for the front porch). We don’t expect that you will get everything done, and that is fine. Just doing 15 – 20 minutes in each Touch Area will help you maintain your home in between our cleanings.

All Bathrooms Touch Zone

1. Using a Webster (looks like a big toilet brush and can be purchased at Home Depot), brush down all cob webs and/or spider webs starting at the ceiling down to the baseboards and the tops of any curtains

2. Throw away empty bottles

3. Clean the shower walls and glass

4. Use a SQUEEGIE on the walls AND the glass EVERYTIME they get wet – then dry the walls and glass

5. Use Turtle Wax or Pledge to wax the interior shower glass

6. Use a magic eraser to clean shower pan and tub, rinse and dry

7. Organize your medicine cabinet and vanity drawers – gather expired prescription medication and take to your pharmacy for disposal. DO NOT THROW AWAY OR FLUSH DOWN THE TOILET

8. Clean your scale

9. Spot clean your bathroom cupboard and drawer fronts

10. Clean interior windows

11. Wipe off window sills

12. Damp wipe your baseboards

13. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

14. Clean your floor – we do it by hand as it enables us to get into the corners

Laundry Room

2. Look behind washer and dryer for odd clothing (socks, towels, clothing)

3. Wipe off washer and dryer top and back splash with control panel

4. Clean the underside of the washer lid and interior lip where lid rests (top loading)

5. Wipe off washer and drawer front, door and pedestal (if applicable)

6. Clean the inside of the door and the interior lip where the door closes

7. Throw away empty bottles and boxes

8. Wipe off any shelving

9. Clean interior windows

10. Wipe off window sills

11. Damp wipe your baseboards

12. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

13. Clean your floor – we do it by hand as it enables us to get into the corners

Guest Bedroom / Den

2. Dust and polish furniture

3. Flip mattress

4. Wash bedding – comforter, sheets, mattress pad, pillow cases, bed skirt, replace bedding

5. Wash Curtains

6. Dust ceiling fan and blades

7. Dust or wet-wipe blinds

8. Dust any décor

9. Dust and polish furniture

10. Clean interior windows

11. Wipe off window sills

12. Damp wipe your baseboards

13. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

14. Vacuum carpet INCLUDING UNDER THE BED (if appropriate)

15. Vacuum hard flooring and damp mop (if appropriate)

Office

2. Dust and polish furniture

3. Dust ceiling fan and blades

4. Dust any décor

5. Straighten and dust bookcase – dust tops of books

6. Organize, dust and polish desk, hutch and drawers

7. Check lamp bulb and replace if necessary

8. Clean interior windows

9. Wipe off window sills

10. Clean phone

11. Damp wipe your baseboards

12. Use Magic Eraser to remove finger prints and dirt from walls

13. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

14. Vacuum carpet INCLUDING UNDER THE BED (if appropriate)

15. Vacuum hard flooring and damp mop (if appropriate)

Have you finished your 15-20 minutes in each area for Touch Zone #5? How do you feel? Can you see what you have accomplished? Don't worry if you don't see the big picture yet - you will and it will be AMAZING!

Michelle

Touch Zone #1 - Family Room, and All Secondary Bedrooms

1/22/2012 2:27:00 PM

Final Touch Housekeeping’s Detailed Cleaning List

Touch Zone 1 – Family Room and All Bedrooms

Once your home has been de-cluttered and organized, you are ready to start with our detailed list for cleaning Touch Zone 1. When you hire Final Touch Housekeeping, you pay us to do everything on our list every time we clean your home (except for the front porch). We don’t expect that you will get everything done, and that is fine. Just doing 15 – 20 minutes in each Touch Area will help you maintain your home in between our cleanings.

Family Room Detailing Touch Zone

2. Quickly damp wipe down light switch plates, window sills and front door (both sides)

3. Using a Magic Eraser, remove any scuff marks or dirt from the walls

4. Soak plants or rinse off any fake plants in the shower

5. Re-pot any plants needing a larger pot

6. Straighten and dust book shelves and tops of books

7. Dust knick knacks – don’t forget the bottom or will appear not dusted

8. Clean off end tables and coffee table – toss any remotes no longer being used

9. Clean phone receiver and base

10. Clean interior windows

11. Dust and polish furniture

12. Dust or wet wipe baseboards

13. Clean wood burning fireplace and glass

14. Vacuum under furniture cushions

15. Vacuum and mop flooring – We sell mops + 1 microfiber mop pad for $40

16. Wash but DON’T dry any washable, small, area rugs

17. Straighten coat closet – we take all coat donations and deliver to The Mission

18. Replace plants

19. Replace area rugs

Secondary Bedroom Detailing Touch Zone

2. Dust and polish furniture

3. Flip mattress

4. Wash bedding – comforter, sheets, mattress pad, pillow cases, bed skirt, replace bedding

5. Wash Curtains

6. Dust ceiling fan and blades

7. Dust or wet-wipe blinds

8. Dust any décor

9. Dust and polish furniture

10. Clean interior windows

11. Wipe off window sills

12. Damp wipe your baseboards

13. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

14. Vacuum carpet INCLUDING UNDER THE BED (if appropriate)

15. Vacuum hard flooring and damp mop (if appropriate)

Children’s Bedroom Detailing Touch Zone

2. Straighten drawers and closet

3. Sort out small clothes – add to give away pile

4. Sort out toy boy – give away toys that are too young for your child, throw away broken toys or incomplete toys

5. Dust and polish furniture

6. Flip mattress

7. Wash bedding – comforter, sheets, mattress pad, pillow cases, bed skirt, replace bedding

8. Wash Curtains

9. Dust ceiling fan and blades

10. Dust or wet-wipe blinds

11. Dust any décor

12. Dust and polish furniture

13. Clean interior windows

14. Wipe off window sills

15. Damp wipe your baseboards

16. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

17. Put away stray items – arrange books, games, video games or CD/DVD’s

18. Vacuum carpet INCLUDING UNDER THE BED (if appropriate)

19. Vacuum hard flooring and damp mop (if appropriate)

Have you finished your 15-20 minutes in each area for Touch Zone #1? How do you feel? Can you see what you have accomplished? Don't worry if you don't see the big picture yet - you will and it will be AMAZING!

Michelle

Touch Zone #2 - Master Suite (Bedroom and Bathroom)

1/22/2012 2:16:00 PM

Final Touch Housekeeping’s Detailed Cleaning List

Touch Zone 2 – Master Bedroom Suite (Bedroom and Bathroom)

Once your home has been de-cluttered and organized, you are ready to start with our detailed list for cleaning Touch Zone 2. When you hire Final Touch Housekeeping, you pay us to do everything on our list every time we clean your home (except for the front porch). We don’t expect that you will get everything done, and that is fine. Just doing 15 – 20 minutes in each Touch Area will help you maintain your home in between our cleanings.

Master Bedroom Detailing Touch Zone

2. Dust and polish furniture

3. Flip mattress

4. Wash bedding – comforter, sheets, mattress pad, pillow cases, bed skirt, replace bedding

5. Wash Curtains

6. Dust ceiling fan and blades

7. Dust or wet-wipe blinds

8. Dust any décor

9. Dust and polish furniture

10. Clean interior windows

11. Wipe off window sills

12. Clean off desk and organize drawers

13. Damp wipe your baseboards

14. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

15. Vacuum carpet INCLUDING UNDER THE BED (if appropriate)

16. Vacuum hard flooring and damp mop (if appropriate)

Master Closet Detailing Touch Zone

1. Straighten shelves removing anything that should be given away or thrown away

2. Arrange your shoes, cleaning each shoe as you arrange them. Give away any shoes you haven’t worn in the last year or has an outdated style

3. Take any storage containers to your storage. Remember the give-away, throw away technique or the 1-year box.

Master Bathroom Touch Zone

2. Throw away empty bottles

3. Clean the shower walls and glass

4. Use a SQUEEGIE on the walls AND the glass EVERYTIME they get wet – then dry the walls and glass

5. Use Turtle Wax or Pledge to wax the interior shower glass

6. Use a magic eraser to clean shower pan and tub, rinse and dry

7. Organize your medicine cabinet and vanity drawers – gather expired prescription medication and take to your pharmacy for disposal. DO NOT THROW AWAY OR FLUSH DOWN THE TOILET

8. Clean your scale

9. Spot clean your bathroom cupboard and drawer fronts

10. Purge your make-up bag. Throw away any old or expired make-up.

11. Clean interior windows

12. Wipe off window sills

13. Damp wipe your baseboards

14. Wash area rugs – DO NOT DRY, replace

15. Clean your floor – we do it by hand as it enables us to get into the corners

Have you finished your 15-20 minutes in each area for Touch Zone #2? How do you feel? Can you see what you have accomplished? Don't worry if you don't see the big picture yet - you will and it will be AMAZING!

Michelle

Touch Zone #3 - Front Porch, Entry/Foyer, Formal Living Room and Formal Dining Room

1/22/2012 2:05:00 PM

Final Touch Housekeeping’s Detailed Cleaning List

Touch Zone 3 – Front Porch, Entry or Foyer, Formal Living Room, Formal Dining Room

Once your home has been de-cluttered and organized, you are ready to start with our detailed list for cleaning Touch Zone 3. When you hire Final Touch Housekeeping, you pay us to do everything on our list every time we clean your home (except for the front porch). We don’t expect that you will get everything done, and that is fine. Just doing 15 – 20 minutes in each Touch Area will help you maintain your home in between our cleanings.

Front Porch Detailing Touch Zone

1. Using a Webster (looks like a big toilet brush and can be purchased at Home Depot), brush down all cob webs, spider webs and any debris stuck to your exterior

2. Clean off light fixture and replace bulb if necessary

3. Clean off stairs, banister, and welcome mats

4. Wipe off outdoor furniture

5. Sweep off patio

6. Remove dead leaves from potted plants. If plant is dead, throw the plant away and replant another plant in the pot. (Seasonal)

7. Prune back any overgrown trees or bushes blocking the entry

8. Refill bird feeder (yes, even in winter) and bird baths

Entry or Foyer Detailing Touch Zone

2. Quickly damp wipe down light switch plates, window sills and front door (both sides)

3. Using a Magic Eraser, remove any scuff marks or dirt from the walls

4. Soak plants or rinse off any fake plants in the shower

5. Re-pot any plants needing a larger pot

6. Clean interior windows

7. Dust and polish furniture

8. Dust or wet wipe baseboards

9. Vacuum and mop flooring – We sell mops + 1 microfiber mop pad for $40

10. Wash but DON’T dry any washable, small, area rugs

11. Straighten coat closet – we take all coat donations and deliver to The Mission

12. Replace plants

13. Replace area rugs

Formal Living Room Detailing Touch Zone

2. Quickly damp wipe down light switch plates, window sills and front door (both sides)

3. Using a Magic Eraser, remove any scuff marks or dirt from the walls

4. Soak plants or rinse off any fake plants in the shower

5. Re-pot any plants needing a larger pot

6. Straighten and dust book shelves and tops of books

7. Dust knick knacks – don’t forget the bottom or will appear not dusted

8. Clean off end tables and coffee table – toss any remotes no longer being used

9. Clean phone receiver and base

10. Clean interior windows

11. Dust and polish furniture

12. Dust or wet wipe baseboards

13. Clean wood burning fireplace and glass

14. Vacuum under furniture cushions

15. Vacuum and mop flooring – We sell mops + 1 microfiber mop pad for $40

16. Wash but DON’T dry any washable, small, area rugs

17. Straighten coat closet – we take all coat donations and deliver to The Mission

18. Replace plants

19. Replace area rugs

Formal Dining Room Detailing Touch Zone

2. Quickly damp wipe down light switch plates, window sills and front door (both sides)

3. Using a Magic Eraser, remove any scuff marks or dirt from the walls

4. Soak plants or rinse off any fake plants in the shower

5. Re-pot any plants needing a larger pot

6. Clean china cabinet glass and doors

7. Dust dishes and shelves inside china cabinet

8. Clean and straighten china cabinet drawers

9. Dust knick knacks – don’t forget the bottom or will appear not dusted

10. Clean interior windows

11. Dust and polish furniture

12. Remove hair from felt pads on bottom of chair legs

13. Dust or wet wipe baseboards

14. Vacuum chairs

15. Vacuum and mop flooring – We sell mops + 1 microfiber mop pad for $40

16. Wash but DON’T dry any washable, small, area rugs

17. Straighten coat closet – we take all coat donations and deliver to The Mission

18. Replace plants

19. Replace area rugs

Have you finished your 15-20 minutes in each area for Touch Zone #3? How do you feel? Can you see what you have accomplished? Don't worry if you don't see the big picture yet - you will and it will be AMAZING!

Michelle

Touch Zone #4 - Kitchen and Eat-in Dining Room

1/22/2012 2:02:00 PM

Final Touch Housekeeping’s Detailed Cleaning List

Touch Zone 4 – Kitchen, Eat-in Dining Room

Once your home has been de-cluttered and organized, you are ready to start with our detailed list for cleaning Touch Zone 4. When you hire Final Touch Housekeeping, you pay us to do everything on our list every time we clean your home (except for the front porch). We don’t expect that you will get everything done, and that is fine. Just doing 15 – 20 minutes in each Touch Area will help you maintain your home in between our cleanings.

Kitchen Detailing Touch Zone

1. Clean microwave inside and outside

2. Clean stove top and start self-clean on oven

3. Clean stove top vent, fan, hood and replace bulb if necessary

4. Clean refrigerator

a. Empty ONE shelf at a time

b. Remove shelf; wash and dry

c. Clean refrigerator walls

d. Replace shelf

e. Toss expired food

f. Clean condiment bottles

g. Replace items

h. Repeat for each shelf or drawer

i. Clean exterior and top of refrigerator

5. Clean all counter top appliances and knick knacks

6. Straighten drawers and cupboards

7. Using a Webster (looks like a big toilet brush and can be purchased at Home Depot), brush down all cob webs and/or spider webs starting at the ceiling down to the baseboards and the tops of any curtains

8. Quickly damp wipe down light switch plates, window sills and front door (both sides)

9. Using a Magic Eraser, remove any scuff marks or dirt from the walls

10. Clean interior windows

11. Clean cupboard doors

12. Clean light fixtures

13. Clean under sink – re-line with shelf paper

14. Clean pantry and replace shelf paper

15. Clean pantry floor by hand

16. Clean dishwasher exterior and interior seal where food accumulates

17. Dust or wet wipe baseboards

18. Vacuum and mop flooring – We sell mops + 1 microfiber mop pad for $40

19. Wash but DON’T dry any washable, small, area rugs

20. Replace area rugs

Eat-in Dining Room Detailing Touch Zone

2. Quickly damp wipe down light switch plates, window sills and front door (both sides)

3. Using a Magic Eraser, remove any scuff marks or dirt from the walls

4. Soak plants or rinse off any fake plants in the shower

5. Re-pot any plants needing a larger pot

6. Dust knick knacks – don’t forget the bottom or will appear not dusted

7. Clean interior windows

8. Dust and polish furniture

9. Remove hair from felt pads on bottom of chair legs

10. Dust or wet wipe baseboards

11. Vacuum chairs

12. Vacuum and mop flooring – We sell mops + 1 microfiber mop pad for $40

13. Wash but DON’T dry any washable, small, area rugs

14. Replace plants

15. Replace area rugs

Have you finished your 15-20 minutes in each area for Touch Zone #4? How do you feel? Can you see what you have accomplished? Don't worry if you don't see the big picture yet - you will and it will be AMAZING!

Michelle

De-cluttering Tips and Tricks

10/17/2011 7:02:00 PM

De-cluttering Tips and Tricks

De-cluttering is the first thing you have to do before you can begin maintaining in any Touch Zone. When you de-clutter, think in terms of throw away, give away and put away. We still want you to spend just 15-20 minutes in each area of the Touch Zones but not more than 20 minutes. Don’t forget to set a timer so you will stop at your time limit.

We suggest getting a trash bag, and 2 boxes labeled give away and put away. We are GREEN and suggest using a fabric box with handles on the side instead of a cardboard box, but you should use what you have just to get started.

Spend 15 – 20 minutes in each area of the Touch Zones filling your trash bag with trash and items you can’t give away to a charity or put away some place in your home. Once the trash bag is filled, THROW IT AWAY. Don’t look at what is in the bag or question your decision. Fill one box with items that belong in another room. Once the box is filled, take it to each room in your home and put away all the items in the box. Fill the last box with items you don’t use or love and can give those items to charity. Also, don’t wait to donate the items. The longer they sit in your home, the more you are apt to find a new place in your home for them. Don’t forget your tax credit for giving items to charity. Use this program to keep track of what you are giving away and include a picture for the IRS, just in case.

http://www.itsdeductableonline.com/

Here are some great tips to stop clutter and start de-cluttering.

Always start at the door or at an entrance to the room

The door or entrance is a good place to start as it is easily remembered. You can work clockwise or counter-clockwise, either is fine. The trick is to work around the room without skipping items, piles, drawers, shelves, whatever is next in your path. No cheating!

2. Things to ask yourself when de-cluttering?

Have I used this item in the past year? (Think about a 1-year box)
It this paper trash or an important document?
Do I have something that works better than this item?
Do I need two of this item or is one just as good?
Do I love this item or am I indifferent? If indifferent, consider giving away
Does it have sentimental value that causes me to love it?

3. Don’t allow things into the house in the first place

It doesn’t matter if you have started to de-clutter or not. The easiest way to stop increasing clutter is to stop bringing things home and don’t wait – stop NOW. If you only start one habit at a time, stop bringing home “stuff.” When you instill the ‘”no-more-stuff” habit, it will be easier to start a new habit – “de-cluttering.”

4. Use the “one in, two out” rule

When you bring in an item, you have to throw away or give away two other items. Don’t cheat by throwing away trash when you bring in another desk. It should be “like” for “like.” All items should be similar.

5. Make your storage space smaller

Think back to your first place. You didn’t have a lot of room and likely didn’t have a lot of stuff. As you moved from your first place into a bigger place, you gather more stuff. Clutter attracts clutter and if you have a lot of storage or storage space, you’ll fill it with stuff.

6. Clothing rule

If you haven’t worn an item in 6 months, sell or donate it.

7. The One-Year Box

As you are going through each Touch Zone in your home, de-cluttering as you go, you will likely find things that you are unsure about. You are not sure you should give away the item and you are not sure it has a place in your home and you should keep it because you “might need this someday….” When you find yourself in that situation, take all of those items that you unsure about getting rid of and put them in a box or storage container (not a clear storage container), seal it with tape and date it for 1 year in the future. When the date comes, and you still didn’t need to open it to get anything, donate the box WITHOUT OPENING IT. You probably won’t even remember what there was in the box.

Touch Zones Introduction

10/16/2011 5:08:00 PM

Touch Zones

Our clients ask us all the time if we have any tricks or tips on organizing our homes. Everyone has those one or two areas that are a growing monster. We have taken a look at how we keep our homes. We have learned from organizing professionals what their tips and tricks are but we have modified them to fit our personal needs. After having our friends try our Touch Zones, we believe we have found the magic combination.

We have taken your entire hrouse and have divided it into 5 Touch Zones plus a Monthly Monster. We call our weekly focusTouch Zones because it requires that you touch each area and slowly transform it. If you spend just 15 – 20 minutes each day in each of our scheduled Touch Zones de-cluttering and organizing, you will discover an amazing transformation. A Monthly Monster is one area that can easily become a huge mess in our homes. The 5 Touch Zones will be basically the same each month. The Monthly Monsters will change every month. So long as you follow our schedule, you will be a Touch Expert!

Before you start working on your Touch Zone, we suggest a few rules.

1. Make sure you are completely dressed. This doesn’t include your shoes because I don’t wear shoes in my home and I know most of our clients don’t wear shoes in their homes either. However, you shouldn’t start cleaning in your pajamas as you will find a reason to stop and get yourself dressed and ready for the day. If you stop your routine to get dressed or ready for the day, you likely won’t be motivated to finish what you started.

2. Your Touch Chores should be done completely before starting on your weekly Touch Zones. Touch Chores are two or three routine chores that you do in the morning and two or three routine chores that you do in the evening. We suggest picking up any dirty clothes on the floor and putting them in your hamper, hanging up any towels from showers and making your bed in the morning and wiping off your kitchen counters, shining your sink, and hanging up any clean laundry at night. Your personal Touch Chores may differ so long as you make a habit of finding two or three routine chores that fit your lifestyle. We call them touch chores because you have to physically touch the chores.

3. Touch, clean, organize or de-clutter one pile, drawer, shelf, or cupboard at a time. Distracted cleaners will start cleaning the first area, find something to put away, move to the second area to put away the item from the first area, and start cleaning the second area rather than finishing the first area. This is not an effective way to touch, clean or organize any Touch Zone.

4. Stay on task and be consistent. It takes 21 days to change or instill a habit. If you skip just one day, you will find it harder to start a habit or stay on task. Touch each zone every day for 15 – 20 minutes. You will find it easier to stay on task and organize if you stay in the “zone.”

5. Make each Touch Zones a race! Set your timer for 15 – 20 minutes and see how much you can accomplish. Even if you are on a roll, don’t spend more than 20 minutes in any area of the Touch Zones. If you spend more time in any one Touch Zone, you can become burnt out and may not return to that zone the next time justifying that you already put in your time for that zone.

We suggest getting a trash bag, and 2 boxes labeled give away and put away.

http://www.itsdeductableonline.com/

Once each Touch Zone is completely de-cluttered, you are ready for a detailed cleaning of each Touch Zone.

These are our October Touch Zones. The appropriate Touch Zone will be published Sunday morning and removed Saturday night. Don’t worry about starting late – you will get caught up and in our routine. Not every home will have rooms in every Touch Zone so feel free to start any time. We will rotate the same Touch Zones next month so it is easy to catch up! Print out the schedule below and put it somewhere that will remind you to spend 15 - 20 minutes on each Touch Zone.

Congratulations! You are taking the first step to declutering your home and maintaining it in between your cleaning service. Of course, we suggest using our cleaning service, but if it won't fit into your budget now, these tips will help you maintain your home.

Michelle