There are usually different rooms in a household, each having a different purpose. Here are just a few notes because there is so much that can be done to maintain them nicely.
LATER NOTE: like cooking, my cleaning techniques have tended to evolve. The following is what I used to do when I was still a young householder:
IN THE KITCHEN
The most important room that needs cleaning every day-next to the Lord's personal residence, the family altar- would have to be the kitchen, the place where all His daily offerings are cooked. Since Krishna’s kitchen is considered an extension of the altar, one should strive never to leave it in an untidy state.
THE KITCHEN SINK
First of all, the kitchen sink is one of the most essential things to keep clean. When there are no dirty dishes and pots lying around, the whole house feels and smells better, and one's consciousness is clearer. Therefore, after every use, the sink should be cleansed. It can be dried also for a nice shine. Now, occasionally a pot or two may have to soak in it, but it shouldn't be for long. Especially the sink should be sparkly clean when first entering into the kitchen each morning. It really makes a difference.
FIVE STEP POT WASHING
1. Soak a pot if food is stuck on it. This is usually not a problem if you're good about washing your pots soon after they are emptied.
2. Scour away all food scraps with soap and hot water and s brush with a long handle to protect your hands.
3. Follow up with a metal scoring pad after removing the soapy water.
4. Rinse well. With your fingers you can tell if you got everything. The pot should feel smooth
5. Clean and shine the bottoms of the pots as needed. A fine scrub pad like Scotchbright works well.
SEVEN STEP STOVE CARE
Another very important area of kitchen cleanliness would be the stove, the place where Krishna's offerings are cooked. Here are ways to keep a stove looking like new...and get compliments on it:
1. First of all, if you have the chance to purchase a new stove, buy what's easy to clean. Choosing black grates, for example, makes easier maintenance. And either have a top that lifts up to clean under or which is difficult for spills and crumbs to get under. Also an oven window means extra cleaning. But good luck trying to find a model that does not have one and is in a decent price range.
Also, if you can't get a new stove and are stuck with one previously owned that looks neglected, there's still hope, beginning with step 4.
2. Prevention- The number one rule to remember is that a clean stove is easy to clean. Be careful about drips or spills or grease from the bottom of a pan. Cook carefully. Wipe up any spills immediately. Use a large spoon rest after stirring something. Use lids that fit. And (I am famous for this in regards to milk boiling over) do not leave something cooking unattended.
3. Diligent Clean up- Resist leaving any spills or drips to cook onto the stove surface during more than one cooking session. That means diligently wiping the stove top after preparing every offering.
4. Soak it- If an area is heavily soiled, either spray generously with diluted soapy water (or plain water) or soak a wet rag and let it sit before wiping.
5. Baking Soda- The number one choice. Tough spots can be safely scrubbed without harming the finish by using baking soda and a cloth for wiping, especially textured cloth like terry cloth or a plastic scrubber.
6. Shine it- Thoroughly wipe down the entire stove nightly and shine with a soft cloth.
7. Read the manual included with a new stove, or search the Internet for more tips and safe guards.
A WORD ABOUT FLOORS
First, one must realize just how filthy floors really are. So the number one rule in any decent household would be no outside shoes are allowed. Shoes that have walked onto germ ridden floors while out shopping, using public bathrooms, walking on sidewalks shared with a large population of pet dogs and the like. But let's not forget that there are floors in our own homes that are most likely contaminated every time we walk into them, namely bathrooms. Long ago indoor bathrooms were unheard of because of this, since after using them we end up in the other rooms walking on those floors, which can thus spread the contamination if it isn't kept under control on a daily basis. What to speak of kitchen floors which compound the problem because of the food processing going on in there. Sweep and mop kitchen and bathroom floors, therefore, at least once a day. Every. Day.
MORE KITCHEN CLEANLINESS
Use a clean dish rag and towels everyday.
Clean out the refrigerator whenever new groceries arrive.
Wash the garbage can after emptying.
Don't forget to clean the dish rack, as needed.
SRILA PRABHUPADA SAYS:
" Food which has been offered should never be put back into the refrigerator with the unoffered foods, or brought back into the kitchen. You should prepare as much as can be consumed, and after offering, nothing should be put back in the refrigerator, or kitchen. Refrigerator should always be very cleansed and pure. Everyone should be careful to make only as much as they can eat; they cannot keep any leftovers in refrigerator. I know this is a practice in your country, but in the temples or at homes of any Krishna Consciousness persons, a person should not indulge in such unclean habits. If there is any food extra, that should be kept separately; and if there is a separate refrigerator, not within the kitchen and not having in it any unoffered foods, then you may have such special refrigerator for leftover prasadam. But it cannot be kept within the same refrigerator as the unoffered, unprepared foods. That cannot be.
One should never eat within the kitchen, there is ample place to eat so why should one eat in the kitchen? Kitchen should be considered as good as the Lord's room, and nobody should wear shoes in the kitchen, smelling and tasting of foods being prepared for the Lord should never be done, talking within the kitchen should be only what is necessary for preparing the prasadam, or about the Lord, and dirty dishes (those taken from kitchen and eaten from) should not be brought back into the kitchen (but if there is no other place to wash them, then they should be put into sink and washed immediately.), hands should always be washed when preparing prasadam, and in this way, everything shall be prepared very cleanly and pure.
"What is the difficulty of enforcing these rules? They are rules, and they are simple rules, and must be followed. One must be prepared to follow the rules for Krishna. Otherwise where is the proof that he loves Krishna. And they are not very difficult to follow." -letter, 6/16/68, Montreal
IN THE DINING ROOM
Cooking and eating is messy business! So make sure to get underneath that dining room table, ideally after every meal or at least once a day. It makes you think that Asians have the right idea of keeping the tables low or just eating on the floor!
IN THE BEDROOM
Now for suggestions in bedroom care:
If you sleep on a futon, the floor should be wiped after folding and putting the bedding away, a habit I was taught in my woman's asrama days. In any case, sweeping and wiping the bedroom floor daily is a high standard.
If you sleep on a regular bed, it is helpful to fix the bed right away, after getting up. Others recommend pulling down the covers a bit to air the bed while you bathe and dress. Then go ahead a fix it afterwards.
Fluff pillows or put them out in fresh air and sunshine to freshen. My late mother-in-law used to hang him in the rain and then let the sun dry them.
If possible, air out blankets and comforters outside, too, at least once a month.
It's important to sleep with a top sheet or cover a blanket with a duvet for cleanliness and to prolong the life of a blanket.
Flip the mattress over once a month for even wear.
Sheets and pillow cases should be washed at least once a week.
Change into clean bedclothes before sleeping.
A SIMPLE BED MAKING SUGGESTION
1. Lift up and shake out the bottom of a fitted sheet from the lower end of the bed, then fit it securely and smoothly once again.
Here's the old fashioned way to secure the corners of a flat sheet when there is no fitted sheet:
Another method is to tie each separate corner of a large flat sheet into a knot and tuck the knots under the respective mattress corners for a fitted sheet look.
2. Fluff the pillows.
3. Fold the blanket used and put it away or carefully fold and place it at the foot of the bed.
Ideally, the blanket should have a washable cover or duvet. Then an additional top sheet becomes unnecessary. The blanket also should be aired out often on sunny days. And washed at least every 6 months.
4. Finally, smooth the bed skirt at the bottom of the bed (if any).
IN THE BATHROOM
Because we are not meat eaters, instead of harsh chemicals for killing germs, hot water and antibacterial dish soap should be sufficient if the bathroom is cleaned every day. For a finishing touch, I might add something like Nimyle Neem detergent to my final rinse. It contains an alcohol base, but i consider it a lot less dangerous to work with than bleach and other chemical detergents.
The best time for me to clean a bathroom, I've discovered, is right before I take my morning bath. It only takes five minutes if done regularly. Other times, extra effort (such as dusting or washing walls) is needed some other time of day.
THE BIGGEST BATTLE
How to keep the scum off? Scum has been my biggest bathroom battle. One suggestion is to spray the shower stall and floor generously with a mixture of water and dish soap each night before bed and scrub each morning before bathing. Done regularly, the surface gets and stays clean. For quicker relief, make a strong solution of water and citric acid to spread over the area that needs cleaning. Citric acid is an ingredient in shower scum removers and works amazingly well.
THE SINK
Wash well and rinse with very hot water. Drying with a towel afterwards helps keep the fixtures shiny.
THE TOILET
Here's my method: First, fill and pour (with the top cut off) a milk jug full of water down the toilet or use the toilet brush to push the water down to a lower level. Next, add antibacterial soap full strength. Now, fill another bucket full, this time with very hot water. Slowly pour the hot water into the toilet bowl while swishing with a toilet brush. Use the last bit of water to rinse the toilet brush.
A good way to store the toilet brush is near the toilet in a clean milk jug with its lid cut off. That way you can replace the container as needed, cost free.
Next, wipe down the entire toilet with hot water, diluted soap and a sponge. A separate sponge should be kept for cleaning the toilet only.
The advantage of an Indian bathroom is a drain in the floor near the toilet. That way hot water can be poured over the entire exterior of the toilet as it runs down to the drain. Excess water can then be assisted toward the drain by a large squeegee to keep the floor dry.
Ideally, there should be a window in the bathroom to let in fresh air and to keep the bathroom dry.
Wipe the floor and walls as needed.
Do not use bathroom cleaning rags anywhere else in the house and change them regularly.
