Guest Author - Jill Florio

Ready to have a perfectly clean house? You want your home to STAY spotless? Ha! Try these easy resolutions and give yourself a break this year.

Buy Ring in the New at Art.com
Ring in a relaxing New Year
Resolve to:

1. Pull out your fridge and vaccuum those coils! You'll get big energy savings and your appliance will run longer.

2. Run a hot vinegar rinse through your empty dishwasher, just to clean out the interior. Add lemon juice for a fresh scent.

3. Stop apologizing when people stop by and the house is a 'mess'.

4. Bring in your dog for a professional grooming. PetsMart does a good, reliable job, and their groomers can teach you how to brush, bathe, clip nails and care for doggie teeth on your own.

5. Get rid of your seriously clunky old vaccuum cleaner. Buy one of those fabulous new wet/dry bagless vaccuums that work like a charm. Or an Robotic Vacuum that does it all for you while you sleep.

6. Have a professional clean your place at least once every season, for peace of mind and that extra-special attention to detail.

7. Go get your car detailed while you're at it. And wouldn't that make a nice Valentine's gift for someone special?

8. Tackle massive cleaning projects one stage at a time, even if that means over a series of weeks - don't get overwhelmed by ANYTHING. Life is too short to worry about the details.

9. Here's a quickie: purge leftovers from your fridge. And old condiments, or weird food items you just don't know what to do with. It's easier to cook, and keep your fridge interior clean, when you can see what you have.

10. Next sunny day, turn off the heat, throw open the windows and doors, and let the clean air carry out your musty indoor atmosphere. Fluff your bed pillows outside in the sun, and turn them over to air after an hour or so. Drag everything outside: couch cushions, blankets, dog beds, upholstered chairs, your sock drawer. The ultra-violet sunshine will kill off any clinging microbes, while the fresh air will linger inside your home for weeks.