Photograph Credit: Flickr (atf300)
Have you ever considered how you clean? If someone asked me this question, my response would be: “Yes, I clean top to bottom and right to left.” But after watching someone else clean, I will now add to my previous answer, “with both hands.”
My Observation
Recently, I had the opportunity to observe someone clean a store’s glass windows. These windows were rather tall, and the washer was concentrating on the lower half. She kept her right hand busy with all these tasks:
- picking up the glass cleaner bottle from her cart,
- spraying the glass,
- placing the glass cleaner bottle back in the cart,
- picking up the squeegee, and
- working the squeegee in a zigzag motion from the middle of the pane to the floor.
Though her right hand was busy, she kept her left hand on her hip without utilizing it. I kept waiting to see if she would switch hands, but she did not. She was not in any rush, for she would stop to watch customers and to rest her right arm. (That right arm must have been quite tired.)
My Response
While watching her, I was thinking how this process could be improved to use her time wisely with the least amount of effort. These are my tips:
1. Use both hands. Hold the cleaner in one hand and the squeegee in the other. When one shoulder, arm, or hand gets tired, switch those products to the other hand.
2. Stay focused. Look at the window and keep working. As you complete a section, begin the next.
3. Continue to work from top to bottom. If you start at the bottom, you will likely need to re-do some or the entire lower portion when you clean the top.
Though I do not anticipate cleaning tall windows anytime soon, I will be emptying out my dishwasher, putting away folded laundry, and stacking grocery items in my pantry. So, as I accomplish these household tasks, I plan to use both hands, stay focused, and continue to work from top to bottom.
Question: What tips or tricks have you discovered from watching someone clean well or poorly? Please share your answer by clicking the Leave a Comment link below.