(ARA) - Keeping your house and your family clean can be easier than you think if you keep in mind a few quick -- but effective -- cleaning tips.

* Blot the carpet, don’t rub. As the nice weather approaches, kids will be playing outside more frequently and will most likely track more dirt and mud through the house. If you do find a muddy footprint on the carpet don’t rub, blot! Blot the stain working from the outside in. Allow the mud to dry completely and then vacuum up.

* Make your own furniture polish. Dusting furniture can be a never ending job. Try making your own furniture polish with one cup of olive oil and a half cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle. Spray mixture onto your dusting cloth and rub with the grain.  Never spray directly onto furniture, over-spraying can leave a residue.

* Do laundry faster with large capacity high efficiency washers. Having a family also means having a lot of laundry. If you currently use a standard agitator washing machine, now is a great time to switch. By using a high efficiency (HE) washing machine you can double your load capacity and save money and energy. Just remember to use an HE specific detergent, like Tide HE, which is specially formulated to provide a deep clean in HE washing machines.

* Sanitize the bathroom in seconds. Bathrooms are one of the most over-used rooms in the house and can be the messiest. However, dirt and bacteria in the bathroom often goes unseen until it’s too late. Keep a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide full strength and spray all your areas as they become dirty. Ordinary hydrogen peroxide is a great cleaner that sanitizes without harsh fumes! Next time you are in the bathroom, give a quick spray to countertops and other areas to keep surfaces clean and sanitary.

* Remove unsightly scuff marks in seconds. Your floors can take a beating, especially in the kitchen. Whether it’s your children’s sneakers or your own dress shoes, scuff marks are inevitable. The next time you notice scuff marks on the vinyl kitchen floor, use a rubber eraser and rub over the mark until it disappears.

* Sanitize your dishes. The dishwasher is one of the greatest shortcuts to cleaning up after a big family dinner. To keep your machine clean, put a cup of bleach into the empty dishwasher and run it through a cycle. This will disinfect and keep it from leaving food residue on your dishes.

* Keep up on pet hair. Sometimes families extend beyond our spouses and children and often times include a family pet. Next time you go to sit down on the couch and you notice that it is covered in your pet’s hair, grab a lint roller or rubber glove. Roll or rub your hand over the furniture and make a quick pick up.

Laura Dellutri, “The Healthy Housekeeper,” is the author of the new book White Couch, with Kids?! and Speed Cleaning 101. Laura is a mother of five and travels all over the country to share her savvy tips.  For more information, visit www.healthyhousekeeper.com