I’ll start this off with a little story,

Meet Sarah, a working mom who has a busy schedule juggling work and taking care of her family. She values a clean and organized home, but struggles to keep up with the demands of daily cleaning.

One day, Sarah stumbled upon an article that introduced her to different cleaning styles. She learned that there are different approaches to cleaning, and that finding the right style can make a world of difference, Sarah realized that her cleaning struggles were due to her not having a clear cleaning style that suited her needs and preferences. With this newfound knowledge, she was able to identify a cleaning style that worked for her and her family's lifestyle.

Many people can relate to Sarah's situation of balancing multiple responsibilities while trying to maintain a clean home. It's important to find a cleaning style that works for you and your lifestyle, so that you can keep your home clean and organized without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Whether you're a parent, a full-time worker, or both, finding a cleaning style that suits your needs can make a big difference in your daily life.

Just like Sarah, figuring out your own cleaning style can be a game changer in how you approach and manage cleaning tasks in your home. There are different cleaning styles that people may find helpful and effective depending on their preferences or lifestyle. Here are a few examples:

The Super Cleaner

• You attack dust and dirt with a vengeance.

• You are adept at germ warfare.

• You put cleaning high on your list of priorities.

• You take pride in your ability to maintain and present a clean home.

• You find that cleaning helps relieve stress and even consider it therapeutic.

• You tend toward a more traditional approach to cleaning: for example, you may scrub floors on your hands and knees and/or use tried-and-true-cleaning products.

• You are always cleaning something.

• Your home is considered immaculate by most standards.

Plain and simple advice: Go easy with harsh cleaning products that can damage surfaces over time. It’s always best to start with the least harsh cleaning solution first. Since you spend a lot of time wiping counters and knickknacks, be sure to disinfect kitchen sponges and dishcloths after use or you will just spread more germs every time you wipe. As a housekeeper extraordinaire, you can and should take pride in your work, but if cleaning starts to feel like an obsession, recognize that you may be using it as an excuse to avoid dealing with something else.

The Speed Cleaner

• You enjoy a clean home, but it’s not one of your top priorities.

• Cleaning frequently gets postponed for one reason or another.

• When you have free time, you don't want to spend it cleaning toilets.

• You seek quick and easy solutions to your cleaning challenges.

• You may have a tendency to purchase the latest and greatest cleaning products and tools.

• You may have a whole cupboard or closet full of products you’ve tried that moy or may not have lived up to their promises.

• If you could afford it, you would hire a professional cleaning service, you wish you could afford to have them come more often.

Plain and simple advice: If you want to spend less time cleaning overall, clean more often. Start with a thorough cleaning, and then get into the habit of doing a little cleaning each day. Keep cleaning supplies handy to where you use them or put them in a bucket or caddy that makes it easy to tote them to the job. Consider ready-to-use cleaning products such as disinfectant wipers for quick cleanups in between weekly or biweekly cleanups. Give away or discard cleaning supplies that did not work as well as you had expected or that you dislike for any other reason.

The Green Cleaner

• You prefer a softer, gentler approach to cleaning.

• You are not willing to trade dirt and germs for chemicals, nor do you believe that it is necessary to do so.

• You have a better-than-average knowledge and awareness of the ingredients in cleaning products.

• You prefer “natural” cleaning products and are willing to make your own cleaning solutions with natural ingredients.

• You or someone in your home may have allergies to some cleaning products, or you may be concerned about the use or storage of chemical-based cleaning products because you have children or pets or are expecting a child.

• You consciously choose nontoxic products in recyclable or refillable packaging and minimize your use of disposable products.

Plain and simple advice: There are some excellent commercial cleaners that contain natural ingredients on the market. But there are also products in your kitchen that will do the job just as well. White vinegar and water, for example, can be used to clean kitchen counters and floors. Baking soda is the perfect non-abrasive cleaner for the kitchen and bath.

The Catch-up Cleaner

• You have a fairly high tolerance for dust and dirt.

• You put off cleaning until it becomes something that you absolutely must do.

• By the time you decide you need to clean, it’s a monumental job that requires huge amounts of time and effort.

• You tend to accumulate clutter, which makes the task of cleaning seem even more overwhelming.

• You may have discovered that the only way you can keep your home clean is to hire the services of a professional cleaner like Mom and Pop Cleaning. But even then, your home quickly falls into disarray between cleanings.

Plain and simple advice: It’s a lot easier to keep up than to catch up. Consider hiring help to get your house clean, or arrange a work trade with family members or friends. Their cleaning help in exchange for your cooking or babysitting, for example. Once your home is clean, get in the habit of everyday cleaning. Set a timer for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night. Spend 10 minutes on everyday cleanup in your kitchen and bath and 10 minutes on one bigger chore, such as vacuuming. Offer yourself a daily reward for your efforts.

Most of us tend to fall into one of the four categories: super cleaner, speed cleaner, green cleaner or catch-up cleaner. Knowing what type of cleaner you are will help you choose the best cleaning products, tools, and techniques for you. Since many of us have traits from more than one category, it might be helpful to read the plain and simple advice for each one. Identifying your own cleaning style, you can customize your approach to cleaning, make it more enjoyable, and ultimately make it more effective in keeping your home clean and tidy. Whether you're someone who loves to clean or someone who finds it challenging, finding a cleaning style that works for you can make a big difference in how you approach this important aspect of home management.