• Rules for housekeeping are easy to follow, but sometimes hard to uphold.glass cleaner image by Randy McKown from Fotolia.com
  
  Believe it or not, there is a science to housekeeping. Keeping a home clean requires planning, precision and a concerted effort from everyone involved. Although it is rarely easy, cleaning house can be simple if you follow a few ground rules.
  
  

Top to Bottom

• When housecleaning, its important to clean from top to bottom. This way, all the dust, dirt and grime shaken free from the top layers will be wiped away once you get to the bottom. If you clean from bottom to top, you run the risk of contaminating the areas you've already cleaned. Houses should be cleaned from the attic to the basement; house and apartment levels should be cleaned in this order: cobwebs, light fixtures, furniture, countertops, fixtures and appliance surfaces, then floors.
  
  

Everything in Its Place

• It's important to follow the golden rule of housekeeping: if you use it, put it back. This requires organizational skills; develop a system that everyone in the house can adhere to. Children, teenagers, spouses and frequently visiting friends should know where everything goes, from shoes and winter coats to cotton swabs and knitting needles.
  
  

Multi-Task

• Multi-tasking is a house-cleaning necessity. If you do your chores consecutively, rather than concurrently, you might never get everything done. Wash the dishes while drying your laundry, scrub down the oven while the fridge is defrosting, or wipe down the blinds in the living room while waiting for the dining room floors to dry. Cleaning can be time consuming; it's important to use every moment wisely.
  
  

Dry, Then Wet

• This is a fairly simple rule: dry clean surfaces before applying soap and water. This eliminates annoying dust and dirt buildup. Wipe down surfaces with a dry cloth before applying a cleaning solution, and sweep floors before scrubbing and mopping. And, always vacuum thoroughly before shampooing the carpet.
  
  

Keep Supplies Accessible

• No house cleaner wants to go traipsing about searching for her supplies each time she's ready to clean something new. Keep all your cleaning supplies accessible in a central location, such as in the laundry room, or tucked in cabinets below kitchen and/or bathroom sinks. Reader's Digest suggests you carry a caddy with you as you clean, to keep all your spray bottles, rags and sponges handy.
  
  

Enlist Help

• Your home wasn't built in a day, nor can you clean it by yourself on a Saturday afternoon. Ask those who helped you make the mess to help you clean it up. Spouses and children can pitch in; even little hands can be taught how to put their toys and shoes away, put their dirty clothes in the laundry basket and dust low surfaces, such as coffee tables and base boards. Losing your power of persuasion? Tell your family the kitchen is closed and won't be reopened for business until the chores are done.