If you insist on trying to clean on your own, here are 5 tips for cleaning as you go >click here< for the full list. It's suggested you keep those cleaning items you'll need for that room. You might need the same item in more than one room. It states to buy a small cordless upright vacuum to suck up those crumbs under the table. The article says you might want to buy one for each level of your house.
To me that sounds like a whole lot of work, so why not call You've Got Maids and have them do the hard work for you, so you can enjoy a day out. Sit back and read that book that you've been attempting to read for weeks!