10 steps to a cleaner home

House cleaning is one of those time-consuming chores many busy people would rather not face on their days off. Some have professionals tackle the job.

Karen McClean of Merry Maid, Lori Timms and Louise Grobbellar of Wives Unlimited Cleaning Services and Paula Whitehorn of Molly Maid share their knowledge:

Ten things to avoid:

1. Monster houses

It might take up to five hours for a 4,000-square-foot house, which adds to cleaning costs.

2. Glass shower stalls

"The soap film has to be removed with soap scum remover, and the surface cleaned with a glass cleaner," McClean says.

3. Stainless steel appliances

McClean employs a mild cleaner for marks and a small amount of lemon oil to moisturize the surface.

4. Dogs and cats

Grobbellar suggests brushing the upholstery with nothing more than a pair of rubber gloves.

5. Dark colours

"Anything dark shows dust," Timms says. She points to the current fashion for floors with a dark cherrywood finish. Pale wooden floors don't show the dust so obviously.

6. Ceramic stove tops They look beautiful, but liquids will quickly burn onto the hot surface, and can be hard to remove, Whitehorn says. Act quickly.

7. Marble countertops or floors

Marble tends to stain easily if spills, such as red wine, are not cleaned up promptly.

8. Louvred doors and wood blinds

Try a paintbrush to clean every crevice of dust

9. Cork, laminate and engineered wood floors

Cork and laminate floors can absorb water and swell. Clean up immediately!

10. Jetted bathtubs

Soap scum trapped around the jet openings is not easy to clean out. Try a toothbrush.

(prepared by Pedro Arrais/Vancouver Province)