Secret Tip 1: DOOR LOCKS
If a room clearly can't be whipped into shape in 30 days, much
less 30 minutes, employ the "Locked Door Method" of cleaning.
Tell anyone who tries to go in the room that you accidentally
locked the door and, gosh darn it, you can't find the key.
Of course, the locksmith can't possibly come until tomorrow.
CAUTION: It is not advisable to use this tip for the bathroom.
(Time: 2 seconds)
Secret Tip 2: DUCT TAPE
No home should be without an ample supply. Not only is it handy
for plumbing repairs, but it's a great way to hem drapes, table-
cloths, clothes, just about anything. No muss, no fuss!
(Time: 3 minutes)
Secret Tip 3: OVENS
If you think ovens are just for baking, think again. Ovens repre-
sent at least 9 cubic feet of hidden storage space, which means
they're a great place to shove dirty dishes, dirty clothes, or just
about anything you want to get out of sight when company's coming.
(Time: 2 minutes)
Secret Tip 4: CLOTHES DRYER
Like Secret Tip 3, except bigger!
CAUTION: Avoid hiding flammable
objects here.
(Time: 2.5 minutes)
Secret Tip 5: WASHING MACHINE & FREEZER
Like Secret Tip 4, except even bigger!!!
(Time: 3 minutes)
Secret Tip 6: DUST RUFFLES
No bed should be without one. Devotees of Martha Stewart believe
dust ruffles exist to keep dust out from under a bed or to help
coordinate the colorful look of a bedroom. The rest of us know
a dust ruffle's highest and best use is to hide whatever you've
managed to shove under the bed. (Refer to Secret Tips 3, 4, 5.)
(Time: 4 minutes)
Secret Tip 7: DUSTING
The 30-Minutes-To-A-Clean-House method says: "Never dust under
what you can dust around."
(Time: 3 minutes)
Secret Tip 8: DISHES
Don't use them! Two words: Paper. Plastic. (Just kidding!)
(Time: 1 minute, if you do.)
Secret Tip 9: CLOTHES WASHING
This secret tip is brought to you by an inventive teenager.
When this teen's mother went on a housekeeping strike for a month,
the teen discovered you can extend the life of your underwear by
two ...if you turn it wrong side out and, yes, rerun it.
CAUTION: This tip is recommended only for teens and those who
don't care if they get in a car wreck.
(Time: 3 seconds)
Secret Tip 10: IRONING
If an article of clothing doesn't require a full press and your
hair does, a curling iron is the answer. In between curling your
hair, use the hot wand to iron minor wrinkles out of your clothes!
Yes, it really does work, ...or so I'm told, by other disciples of
the 30-Minutes-To-A-Clean-House philosophy.
(Time: 5 minutes (Includes curling your hair.))
Secret Tip 11: VACUUMING
Stick to the middle of the room, which is the only place people
look. Don't bother vacuuming under furniture. It takes way too
long and no one looks there anyway.
(Time: 5 minutes, entire house; 2 minutes, living room only)
Secret Tip 12: LIGHTING
The key here is low, low, and lower! It's not only romantic, but
bad lighting can hide a multitude of dirt.
(Time: 10 seconds)
Secret Tip 13: BED MAKING
Get an old-fashioned waterbed. No one can tell if those things are
made up or not, saving you, oh, hundreds of minutes over the course
of a lifetime.
(Time: 0)
Secret Tip 14: SHOWERS, TOILETS, SINKS
Forget one and two. Concentrate on three.
(Time: 1 minute)
Secret Tip 15: GUESTS
If you already knew at least 10 of these tips, don't even think
about inviting a Martha Stewart type to your home.
(Time: 0)
If'n ya gots a hint ter share, puhleeze e-mail me. Ah'll list it and give yer credit (and a link if ya pervide it).
