To remove baked on grease from your broiler pan, apply a solution of 1 cup apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the hot pan and let it soak for an hour or so. Clean up should now be easy. For slow-running drains, try pouring a large quantity of very hot water down the drain. This could save you the cost of Drano or a plumber’s visit.

Give Mom the gift of free time in a sparkling clean house. Whether you choose a one-time gift of a set number of hours or a recurring schedule of weekly, biweekly, or every 4 weeks, her life will be easier and she will appreciate your thoughtful generosity.

The results were satisfying. I love looking out through windows that look like the glass was knocked out, especially on a beautiful, sunny day. The very next day, (wouldn’t you know it?) the clouds blew in and it rained. Guess what. No problem. Because the screens were clean, the rain made very little impact on my wonderfully clean windows. So there’s no real need to fret about the timing of your window cleaning job. It will last, rain or shine, for quite awhile.

However simple that goal appears, there are a number of factors that must be present to achieve it.

1. Competency – A professional must have the knowledge, training, and experience in his/her field that is necessary to perform the service that has been promised.
2. Tools of the trade – Appropriate equipment and supplies are an important element in delivering good service.
3. Friendly, but Focused - A true professional will be friendly, but stay focused on the job at hand.
4. Integrity - Above all, the Golden Rule must be incorporated into any truly successful professional business. Customers will soon sense if a company is more interested in profit-making than in providing good service. In the long term, honesty pays the best dividends.

These are just a few of the requisites for professionalism that come to mind. What others would you add?

What makes the difference? There are a few basic steps to getting things sparkling clean. Eliminate loose dirt, dissolve the “stuck-on” dirt, completely rinse, and dry completely. Remember these four simple steps and your surfaces will come out sparkling clean. When drying mirrors, faucets, or shiny tile, I like to reserve one soft, absorbent cotton cloth for the final buffing. It makes all the difference, and helps to economize on cleaning cloth usage.

Perhaps it comes down to getting our priorities straight. Meaningful relationships probably head the list, if we really think about it. Carving out some quiet time alone is important, too. Why not let someone else help out with the cleaning to make your home the sanctuary that you crave, where you can nurture your own spirit and spend time with your family? Hiring a reputable cleaning service can free up hours of your time that can be much better spent. Scheduling weekly, biweekly, or every-four-week cleaning service will ensure that a major chunk of your homemaking responsibilities will be done without your constant attention, like the commercial that says “just set it and forget it!” You may even find the time to accomplish a few more of those New Year’s Resolutions.

The time-saving convenience, the ability to evaluate your purchase without pressure, the ease of comparison shopping, these are all important factors in our decision to shop online. Retail may be the leader in online sales, but Service is on its way up as well. I was amazed at how easy it was to schedule a service call for an appliance repair the other day, without even picking up the phone!

The holidays are upon us, with all the extra to-do lists. Many on your gift list are also feeling the pressure. What could be better for them than receiving a gift certificate for free housecleaning from you? Think of all the people on your Christmas list, your Hanukkah list, your Birthday list, your Anniversary list. How many of them would appreciate receiving 3, 4, 5, or 6 hours of housecleaning? If they live in the HomeLife Housekeeping service area (check their zip code against our drop-down list), you have it made. Follow this link for some easy online shopping. With the time you saved shopping, curl up with a good book and your favorite hot beverage for some valuable “me” time.

But if you’ve ever tried to do that yourself, you have probably come to realize that it is a skill that requires training and a lot of practice. So for amateur window cleaners, I recommend sticking with time honored methods like crumpled newspaper, paper towels, or (here’s a new one) coffee filters. To make your own glass cleaner, take a 32-oz. spray bottle, add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 3 tablespoons of white vinegar, and 2-3 drops of dishwashing liquid soap. Fill the spray bottle with water and away you go. Be sure to buff the glass completely dry to ensure a streak-free shine. I like to use a cotton rag to spread the solution around the glass first, then buff it dry with one of the paper products mentioned above.

To clean a crystal chandelier, mix together 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol and 3/4 cup water in a container such as a drinking glass or plastic cup. Cover the table or floor under the chandelier with plastic or towels and set up a ladder so you can easily reach the light fixture. Submerge each crystal in the solution for a few seconds, swishing it around a bit, then leave them to dry.

If that all sounds like too much work, you know who to call, right? Windows (and chandeliers) cleaned now will probably still be pretty sparkly through the holiday season.

That may be great stuff for comedies, but it is downright aggravating to live with, day in and day out. Having a well-organized, functional closet space can go a long way toward maintaining sanity and helping you get to your appointments on time. So how shall we start the daunting task?

1. Less is more when it comes to organizing any batch of stuff. Start by eliminating items that have outlived their usefulness to you. Recycle “gently-used” items to your local Thrift Shop. Don’t forget to ask for a receipt so you can report the donations at tax time. Discard heavily-worn garments and shoes.

2. Take advantage of all your closet space. Having two rods, one over the other, in part of your closet, allows just the right-sized space for slacks and shirts. Be sure to allow at least 26 vertical inches for this space.

3. Shoe racks that get shoes up off the floor are wonderful, space-saving devices.

4. Shelves are appropriate spaces for hats, purses, and sweaters. Clear plastic bins, with or without shelves, are great organizational tools.

5. Belt and Tie racks take up very little space and enable you to find your accessories quickly.

6. Don’t forget to use the inside of your door for storage (if it opens out). Over-the-door racks for shoes or other non-bulky items are available to bring function to this often-overlooked space.

7. If your closet still does not accommodate all your clothing, consider storing out-of-season clothes in the guest room closet or in those space-saving bags.

Predictable schedules replace the laid-back spontaneity of summer, making planning ahead a little easier. It is not too early to begin planning for the holiday season. Don’t leave all your deep cleaning chores until then. Get them done now so you can enjoy the holidays with less stress. Windows, ceiling fans, baseboards, blinds, cabinet fronts, are all ready to have their summer dust, fingerprints, and cobwebs removed, making your house the welcoming place you love to come home to.