My house doesn't seem clean when it is.?

Question

Now matter how I clean, it always seems my neighbor's houses are cleaner than mine! What am I doing wrong? Any favorite products? Any tricks/techniques/websites?

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Perhaps you have many collectibles around ? a few are nice but too many can make a house look dirty.
I always try for a totally clear kitchen counters-I never achieve totally clear but i do come close.That always makes a house look cleaner.

Answer 2

Hi, It could be a number of things. Last year i got to do some remodeling and i took out some old carpet and hung drywall. The carpet may look ok but the underlayment may need to be replaced, it shouldnt be too bad in cost is you do just that. Pull up the carpet and replace it and have someone clean the old one. It may sound extreme but sometimes a new coat of paint makes things fresh. I live in a older home so no matter how i cleaned, {i worked as a custodian} the older stuff just wont give you that sparkle. The difference in my remodel made hugh differences in smell. The place i was in was rental before i bought it and all the smells from amimals and smoke that got into the wall were still lingering. Big offenders will get into the carpet and into walls. Cammie had some good advice, down sizing clutter is very helpful. Collectables can have lots of dust. removing lots of these things, cleans the appearance and makes it feel clean to the eye. I bet your doing a fine job of cleaning, maybe its time to sit back and see if a really deep clean can help or if the house needs a few new things to get that fresh smell back in. You can do it,home depot and Lowles have free classes that will guide you in any repairs or how tos. For me the old cleaners are the best, clorax, comet, not at the same time! vinigar and some good brushes.

Answer 3

I personally have liked to do a room a day. I have found a website that helps to not be a perfectionist, but get and keep your house cleaning up. It's flylady.net. Opening up a window in each room just an inch or so is helpful too in helping the air circulate better. Even if it's only for about 15 minutes. Please do not become obsessive in your house cleaning! If your neighbors work full time-do they have a maid service come in to clean? That might be why they "seem to be so clean". Or, if you are the one working, and they stay home-they have all the time to do this stuff. Keeping up on it on a daily basis (washing dishes, etc.) is one thing, to do, and that is good. Your house is your home, Enjoy!

Answer 4

First I bet your home is just fine! Sometimes we get too wrapped up in being clean. Alittle dust, dirt usually won't kill anyone.

I do have a good friend who is anal about cleaning to the point her family is miserable. There is never laundry to be done, she irons everything nightly. Honey life is too short to be that compulsive about cleaning.

In fact, her family is going to have a meeting. They want her to go see a shrink. When someone comes over she is constantly cleaning, she's kinda stop living. No one wants to go over. It's sad so lighten up but here is a few things I try to do. Good luck

When is the last time u vacumn the corners of ceilings and crown molding? U'll be suprised how much dust gets on top. Your air conditioner, heater when is the last time u had it cleaned and serviced?

Sometimes the not clean feeling is coming from the vents. How often do you vacumn the filters or r yours disposalble for heating/airconditioner? They catch so much dust, particles that they were well worth the money I spent on them Mine have to be wash/rinsed and air dry so I have 3.

How often r u changing the bag in your vacumn cleaner? I had a friend who was literally spreading germs with her vacumn cleaner. Long story...

Carpet I clean twice a year (lots of teen traffic) now and borrow a friends steam machine for small jobs. It really cleans great in the bathroom and the curtains. OMG you will be amazed what comes out of the carpets when u steam clean. Ater my first time I called a local steam cleaning service to clean the carpets once I pulled out so much junk. I was going to pull the carpets out. They deodorized and cleaned. Then it was just up to me maintaining. Now I vacumn every other day religiously because of all the foot dirt that creeps in from outside.

At the beachhouse it's tons of sand, sand, sand and it's brand new carpet! It does stay clean, the biggest job are all the bathroom showers/tubs. I finally had to put a list of must do when others stay there. It's too much keeping up with 4 bathrooms plus the shower outside...

Answer 5

Girl i hear ya...I used to be so anal about everything in my house down to the way the towels were folded...After i had my baby girl (now 13 months old) i was so wrapped up with her that i never can keep it how i want it. Its still clean but its not how i want it. On the weekends i am more worried about spending time with her and doing things with her because i also work full time that i just enjoy my time with her. The way i had to get over it was to tell myself that she is only going to be a baby once and i am only going to have this short time that flies by once withher and i need to make the most of it. When she goes down for naps on the weekend i love to jsut relax and then here and there during the week i will do some chores. Maybe try this (what i do) I soend my time with my baby from the time i get home til she goes to bed then i do like 2 chores, dishes and kitchen floor one night then the next night i do vaccuming and dusting, then the next night i clean bathroom...that way you are not having to be exhausted and up late doing chores...Then i get a shower and crawl in bed and watch TV or read a book! Some nights i dont do anything and i just have me time because that is important!

Answer 6

This is tough because you didn't cite any particular area of concern. Perhaps it is not some much your cleaning technique or products, as much as preventing recurrence?

Tracking in dirt: Have everyone in your household take off their shows when they come inside. This is a big source of dirt in general, and scuffmarks on kitchen and bathroom linoleum or tile.

Dust: Consider a quality canister vacuum with brush for the bulk of your dusting, with a good bag or quality bagless type. If you must use a rag, make sure there's adequate spray/polish on it to retain, not push around the dust. Clean your dryer filter with every load. Make sure the exhaust line is not clogged. (Helps prevent fires as a plus!)

Oil Mist: Use your kitchen exhaust fan when pan frying or sauteing to get as much oil particles out of your house. If you have a hood that just recirculates the air, make sure it has a fresh and clean filter. These are a pain to clean, when they have activated charcoal in them, so I just get anoher at Home Depot or similar.

Heater/Airconditioner: Buy higher quality pleated filters designed to nab smaller particles than those $.89 ones you can see through.

Answer 7

First of all, STOP TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONES'. Secondly, you may clean, but unless you power clean, it won't be clean. Most cleaners nowadays just clean the surface when the smells and dirt are further down. Try steam cleaning your carpets with a deodorizer, get one of those steam cleaner deals you see on TV. You will be surprised at how UNclean your house really is.

Answer 8

try some frebreeze
light some candles
put away anything you don't use on a daily basis(if you only use you toaster once a week store it under the counter)
always dust before you vacuum
use one use dust clothes
try a swiffer sweeper
ask your neighbours
hire a maid to come in once a week

Answer 9

Every house has its own smell. It is a result of a combination of lot of different things.

Answer 10

idk