Home Improvement Information

Cleaning House and the 80-20 Rule


Cleaning house is one of those things that needs doing again... and again... and again! How can you make it less of a burden?

When I taught time management classes, one of the things I loved to teach was the 80-20 rule. It's best explained by examples. Eighty percent of the time, you wear twenty percent of your wardrobe. Eighty percent of the phone calls you get come from twenty percent of your friends. Eighty percent of the dirt is on twenty percent of the floor. Twenty percent of salespeople make eighty percent of sales. Okay, sometimes it's 90-10 and sometimes it's 70-30 but you get the idea.

Eighty percent of the dirt is on twenty percent of the floor? Hmm, what does that suggest about cleaning your house? Often a quick pass through the parts of your house that really need it will make cleaning house much easier. If you are in a hurry, let the dust behind the sofa and under the table alone and just clean a swath through the heavy traffic areas. Sooner or later, you'll get to them as well -- or hire someone else to do a thorough cleaning occasionally.

You can probably make up lots of examples of the 80-20 rule that apply to your own ways of cleaning house and of keeping things picked up. Perhaps eighty percent of the dirty dishes left lying around come from one person. Perhaps eighty percent of your frustration with how your house looks could be solved by doing twenty percent of what you think you should.

Rosana Hart tries to put eighty percent of her work time into the twenty percent of activities that will be most effective. She tells you about the opportunities for cleaning houses and offices for a living at her website, http://infoandhelp.com. There are also more tips there for cleaning houses (your own or anyone's).


MORE RESOURCES:

Ahead of the Bell: Home improvement retailers
Forbes, NY - 2 hours ago
The home improvement retailers are part of a sector that has "competitive dynamics, stable gross margins through the downturn, and clear cyclicality ...


Medill Reports

How home improvement chains fared in 3rd quarter
The Associated Press - 18 hours ago
Here's a summary of how the nation's two largest home improvement chains performed. Home Depot: Profit: $756 million, down 31 percent from last year. ...
Home Depot Posts 31% Fall in Net Income, Cuts View Wall Street Journal
Tough economy takes toll on Home Depot Atlanta Journal Constitution
Net earnings fall for US home improvement retailer Stockhouse
CNNMoney.com - Atlanta Journal Constitution
all 531 news articles


Economic Downturn Sparks New Home Improvement Trend
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
With the harsh reality of uncertain economic times, and the average consumer shouldering $10000 or more in credit card debt, a new trend in home improvement ...


Canada.com

Endeavour Docks at Space Station on Home-Improvement Mission
Bloomberg - Nov 16, 2008
16 (Bloomberg) -- NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station today just after 5 pm New York time on a home-improvement ...
Video: AP Top Stories AssociatedPress
Shuttle Endeavour docks with ISS on 'home-improvement' mission RIA Novosti
Endeavour to launch on 'home improvement' flight Spaceflight Now
EastDay.com - Space Fellowship
all 5,714 news articles


TheHomeMag Experiencing Continued Growth in Slow Housing Market
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
Additionally, revised numbers from HIRI (Home Improvement Research Institute) show the long-term outlook for the home improvement industry remains strong ...


Royals need home improvement
Reading Eagle, PA - Nov 17, 2008
By Don Stewart Reading, PA - Since the Reading Royals' inaugural 2001-02 season, the Sovereign Center has been a rough place for opposing teams. ...


$2 Million for Home Improvement in Elmira
WETM-TV, NY - Nov 17, 2008
ELMIRA- About two million dollars is up for grabs in the city of Elmira for you to use in home improvement projects. All you have to do is apply! ...


The Republican - MassLive.com

Holyoke officials, residents debate benefits of proposed Lowe's ...
The Republican - MassLive.com, MA - Nov 16, 2008
by The Republican Newsroom By KEN ROSS HOLYOKE - Planning Board members are touting the economic benefits of a proposed Lowe's home improvement store in ...


Kudzu.com Survey Reveals DIY Projects Are an Unreliable Way to ...
MarketWatch - 2 hours ago
In fact, one in four (25%) Americans have hired a professional to fix or finish a home improvement project they first attempted themselves. ...


Key Challenges and Issues facing the World Home Furnishings Market ...
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
Canada 60 Home Improvement Products - A Market Overview 60 Wall Coverings Market 60 Furniture and Fixture Market 61 Growth Drivers 61 3. ...

Home-Improvement - Google News

home | site map
© 2006