Simply Clean

What's "Simply Clean" about?

• Overview: "Simply Clean" by Becky Rapinchuk is a guide to maintaining a clean and organized home with minimal effort. It introduces a method that requires just 10 minutes of cleaning each day.
• Method: The book outlines the Simply Clean Method, which focuses on daily, weekly, and rotating tasks to keep your home tidy without overwhelming yourself.
• Structure: It is divided into parts that cover the method, a 7-day kick start, a 28-day challenge, and tips for customizing the routine to fit different lifestyles.
• Goal: The ultimate aim is to make cleaning a stress-free, automatic part of your daily routine, allowing you to enjoy a serene and welcoming home environment.

Why should I read "Simply Clean"?

• Efficiency: The book offers a practical approach to cleaning that saves time and reduces stress, making it ideal for busy individuals or families.
• Simplicity: It breaks down cleaning tasks into manageable daily routines, making it easier to maintain a clean home without dedicating entire days to cleaning.
• Customization: Rapinchuk provides tips for adapting the method to fit various lifestyles, whether you work from home, outside the home, or have a family.
• Sustainability: The book emphasizes using natural cleaning products, which are safer for your family and the environment.

What are the key takeaways of "Simply Clean"?

• Daily Routine: Implement a daily cleaning routine that includes making beds, checking floors, wiping counters, decluttering, and doing laundry.
• Weekly Tasks: Assign specific cleaning tasks to each day of the week, such as bathroom cleaning on Mondays and dusting on Tuesdays.
• Rotating Tasks: Incorporate monthly, bimonthly, and quarterly tasks to ensure thorough cleaning of less frequently addressed areas.
• Mindset Shift: Embrace a mindset that values consistency and progress over perfection, allowing for flexibility and grace in your cleaning routine.

How does the Simply Clean Method work?

• Daily Tasks: Focus on five daily tasks that take 10-15 minutes, including making beds and wiping counters, to maintain a baseline of cleanliness.
• Weekly Schedule: Assign specific cleaning tasks to each day of the week, such as vacuuming on Wednesdays and floor washing on Thursdays.
• Rotating Tasks: Integrate monthly and quarterly tasks to address areas that require less frequent attention, like washing windows or cleaning appliances.
• Flexibility: The method allows for missed tasks to be caught up on Fridays, ensuring that the routine remains manageable and stress-free.

What is the 7-Day Simply Clean Kick Start?

• Purpose: The 7-Day Kick Start is designed to jumpstart your cleaning routine by focusing on decluttering and cleaning key areas of your home.
• Daily Focus: Each day targets a specific area, such as decluttering on Day 1 and cleaning bathrooms on Day 2, to quickly establish a cleaner environment.
• Motivation: The kick start aims to provide quick wins and build momentum, making it easier to transition into the full Simply Clean Method.
• Flexibility: While the kick start is structured, it allows for adjustments based on your schedule and the level of clutter in your home.

What is the 28-Day Simply Clean Challenge?

• Habit Formation: The 28-Day Challenge is designed to help you build lasting cleaning habits by focusing on different areas of your home each week.
• Weekly Focus: Each week targets a specific zone, such as the kitchen or living spaces, with daily tasks that take 10-15 minutes to complete.
• Catch-All Days: The challenge includes catch-all days to address any unfinished tasks, ensuring that you stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.
• Long-Term Success: By the end of the challenge, you should have established a routine that keeps your home clean with minimal effort.

How can I customize the Simply Clean Method for my lifestyle?

• Different Schedules: The book provides tips for adapting the method to fit various lifestyles, whether you work from home, outside the home, or are a stay-at-home parent.
• Family Involvement: Rapinchuk suggests ways to involve family members in the cleaning routine, making it a shared responsibility.
• Cleaning Services: If you have a cleaning service, the book offers advice on how to complement their work with the Simply Clean Method.
• Flexibility: The method is designed to be flexible, allowing you to adjust tasks and schedules based on your unique needs and circumstances.

What are some room-by-room tips from "Simply Clean"?

• Kitchen: Create zones for efficiency, such as a baking zone or a coffee and tea zone, and use a speed cleaning checklist for quick cleanups.
• Bathrooms: Organize toiletries to reduce counter clutter and use a bathroom speed cleaning checklist for efficient weekly cleanings.
• Bedrooms: Implement three daily tasks for a tidy bedroom: make the bed, declutter surfaces, and put clothes away.
• Living Spaces: Use baskets to contain toys and clutter, and follow tips for decorating in a way that makes dusting easier.

How does "Simply Clean" suggest making your own cleaning supplies?

• Basic Ingredients: The book recommends using simple, natural ingredients like white vinegar, baking soda, and castile soap for homemade cleaners.
• Essential Oils: Add essential oils for scent and additional cleaning properties, with suggested combinations for different cleaning needs.
• DIY Recipes: Provides recipes for all-purpose cleaner, disinfecting cleaner, and more, emphasizing safety and cost-effectiveness.
• Environmental Impact: Making your own cleaners reduces chemical exposure and is better for the environment, aligning with the book's sustainable approach.

What are some of the best quotes from "Simply Clean" and what do they mean?

• "Every day a little something": This mantra emphasizes the importance of daily cleaning tasks to maintain a clean home without feeling overwhelmed.
• "Homekeeping is a learned behavior": Highlights that maintaining a clean home is a skill that can be developed over time, not an innate ability.
• "A cleaning routine that runs itself": Suggests that the Simply Clean Method is designed to become an automatic part of your daily life, reducing stress and effort.
• "Embrace a little mess now and then": Encourages readers to accept that perfection is not the goal, and it's okay to have some mess as long as it's manageable.

What are the monthly focus areas in "Simply Clean"?

• January: Whole-house declutter to start the year with a clean slate.
• February: Focus on the kitchen, including deep cleaning appliances and organizing food storage.
• March: Spring cleaning tasks like washing windows and deep cleaning carpets.
• April: Concentrate on bathrooms, ensuring they are thoroughly cleaned and organized.

How does "Simply Clean" address cleaning those hard-to-clean spaces?

• Basements and Attics: Provides a method for sorting through boxes and bins, emphasizing the importance of knowing what you have stored.
• Garages: Suggests a thorough cleaning process, including vacuuming and organizing tools and equipment.
• Cars: Offers tips for cleaning and maintaining a tidy vehicle, including using a lint roller and keeping a mini cleaning kit in the car.
• Seldom Used Spaces: Recommends a systematic approach to cleaning and organizing spaces that are often neglected, like utility rooms or crawl spaces.