How do I avoid spending energy on cleaning? I use the good old clothes line instead of an expensive clothes drier, I stick to one full load of laundry a day (difficult with two small children), and I check the Energy Star rating of cleaning appliances when we’re in the market for new ones.

When you’re looking for energy efficient appliances, take a look at the Dirt Devil AccuCharge Stick Vac and Hand Vac. They say it uses 70% less energy, and is the first cordless cleaning technology to earn Energy Star approval.

Do I dial up a maid? Absolutely not. Just think how much money down the drain that would be!

Do I call in the dog to lick up any food spilled on the kitchen floor? Absolutely yes! That’s his job as canine vacuum cleaner.

Or do I just avoid cleaning all together? No. I wish I could live with the mess like my darling husband, but mess really stresses me out. The house has to be clean by the end of the day. I even have a system of “intensively cleaning” one room a little each day, and this way I slowly move around the house getting to all those little jobs like paint touch-ups that otherwise get pushed to the bottom of the to do list.