Check out surprising tips and tools
from guys who get the job done better
Ever watch a man detail his car? I’m always amazed at how meticulous my husband Jeff is when he’s hard at work on his station wagon. He methodically dusts, wipes, scrubs, vacuums and polishes that car top to bottom, inside and out, until every last speck of dirt is history.
It makes me want to run out to the driveway and ask, Honey, how about detailing the kitchen next? I mean, if he’s that good with a vehicle, imagine what he’d do with the house! Luckily, plenty of other guys have a way with a sponge and a spray bottle no matter what they’re cleaning—be it a Mustang or a microwave. And we’ve rounded up a bunch of them to share their best tips and techniques.
Imitate Your Mate
While you’d never want to emulate certain male behaviors, there are a few that you can actually put to good use around the house.
Gather Your Gear
Men love checklists, from making sure everything’s turned off in the house before your vacation to detailing all the essentials they’ll need to go fishing. Do the same when it comes to cleaning: Pull together the tools you’ll need in a carryall tray, a bucket or a bib-style cleaning apron. “This way your supplies are in one place and ready to go when you’re ready to clean,” says Jeff Campbell, author of Speed Cleaning.
Plan Your Attack
“Men like to have a clear action plan and they don’t waver from it,” says Kevin Ward, co-owner of Teresa’s Family Cleaning in Rocky Point, New York. They like to know how they’re going to do something before they even begin. Follow their lead: Once you decide what you’re going to clean and how you’ll do it, stick to that strategy. It will help you stay focused and finish faster.
Make Every Minute Count
“When men clean, they want to get in and get out as fast as possible,” says Ward. That’s why they’ll have the dishwasher going and the clothes washing while they’re cleaning the rest of the house. Make that part of your game plan too. “When you’re done, everything is done,” says Steve Parker, a former restaurant cleaning business owner in Wallingford, Connecticut.
Add an Incentive
What man would turn down the promise of a beer? Not my husband. Of all the chores Jeff does, the one he despises most is cleaning the pool. To stay motivated, he sets a cold beer at the opposite end of the pool. Here’s a similar tip to get you moving when you’re cleaning: Turn on music in the room you’ll finish in, not the one you start in, says Parker. “It will ‘lead’ you to your endpoint faster.”
Quick Tips
Shine a Shower
Men are resourceful when it comes to cleaning products. “Wipe your shower walls with car wax to prevent soap scum from building up,” says Steve McQueen, a Merry Maids cleaner in Roswell, Georgia. “But you shouldn’t do it too frequently. Once a year does the trick.”
Make Glass Gleam
Forget paper towels. There’s a reason guys at the gas station use squeegees. “They’re the best tool for windows, mirrors, tile and shower doors,” says Steve Zeitler, cofounder of the Citra Solv natural cleaning products company. One to try: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Squeegee ($12.99)
Unclog a Drain
A few bucks is all it takes to fix this problem. “A $7 tool called the Drain Claw removes hair from the drain with a simple push-and-twist movement,” says Lou Manfredini, host of the national TV show House Smarts. Bonus: no harsh chemicals down your drain.
Tools of His Trade
These four surprising tools get the job done—man-style.
Guy gear: A wet/dry vac
Manly use: Cobweb collector
“I tape together my two vac hoses, add a soft brush attachment and then secure everything to my skylight crank, so I can clear the spiderwebs that accumulate on our 12- and 16-foot ceilings,” says Chuck Miller, an editor who lives in Newtown, Connecticut.
Guy gear: A leaf blower
Manly use: Vacuum hose cleaner
“Remove the hose from your vacuum, then head outside and use the blower to clear out the inside of the hose,” says Lori Dolnick, an advertising executive from East Windsor, New Jersey, who got the tip from one of her male clients. “Whatever is stuck in the hose will come shooting out.” Another great use for a leaf blower: Sweep up your patio or deck with it. It cleans out all the corners a broom can’t reach.
Guy gear: Steel wool
Manly use: Pot scrubber
“Grade 3 synthetic steel wool pads from the hardware store, normally used to strip paint, can clean stainless steel and aluminum pots that are crusted solid with cooked-on gunk,” says Andrew Engel, a writer and father of two in Roxbury, Connecticut. “And it doesn’t clog as quickly as a normal green scrubbie.” What about scratching? Andrew swears it won’t, but to be safe, opt for a fine synthetic steel wool pad.
Guy gear: A tennis ball
Manly use: Scuff eraser
“Spray the ball’s fuzzy abrasive surface with an all-purpose cleaner to easily remove scuff marks from floors and walls and to clean patio furniture,” says Tom McNulty, author of Clean Like a Man.
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