Keeping your home clean and tidy doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore. Using these expert home cleaning ideas can help you get the job done quickly and efficiently.
These tips include decluttering, creating a cleaning schedule, and cleaning from top to bottom. They also recommend using microfiber cloths instead of sponges or paper towels.
Create a Cleaning Schedule
Creating a cleaning schedule can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Having a plan for what needs to be done can help you stay on top of your daily tasks and keep the bigger projects in check too. If you’re starting a new routine, or your current one has fallen off the rails, start by identifying what needs to be cleaned and when. Once you have a list, work through the following steps to create a home cleaning schedule that will meet your specific needs.
Decide how often you want to clean each room. Consider factors like your family’s lifestyle and how often you entertain guests. You may find that some rooms need to be cleaned more frequently than others, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, cleaning more frequently can give you the confidence to host parties without worrying about your house getting messy.
You’ll also need to decide whether you’re a task-based or room-based cleaner. This will have a big impact on your cleaning schedule and how much time you spend on each project. If you’re a task-based cleaner, you might be better off using a weekly schedule where you set aside 45-90 minutes to tackle each of your jobs, then stop and move on to the next. This type of schedule is ideal for those with busy schedules.
If you’re a room-based cleaner, you might be better off setting aside an hour or two each day to do your cleaning. Start with your two most important rooms, and then work your way through the rest.
You can use a timer to help you stick to your daily cleaning schedule. Try to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to make the most of your time, and remember to take a break in between tasks (even just for 15 minutes). This will keep you from overworking yourself and feeling tired at the end of the day.
Declutter
Everyone has a little bit of clutter around the house, but if you let it build up, it can make you feel overwhelmed and out of control. The good news is that decluttering your home is a relatively easy and quick way to make you feel more relaxed and in control of your environment. It’s also something that you can do a few times a year to keep your home in tip-top shape.
It’s easy to get overly ambitious when decluttering, but it’s important to start small and take your time. Tackle a single room or space each session. That way, you’ll be able to see the progress you’re making and stay motivated to keep going.
One of the best things you can do to help yourself keep clutter-free is to start using hooks and catch-all trays. This will give you a designated place for things like keys, hats, and bags so they don’t end up tossed about the house. It’s also a good idea to invest in some storage bins so that you have a place for things like paper, cleaning products, and seasonal items.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what to keep or throw away, try turning to a friend for advice. They can be a great support system to offer encouragement and give you honest feedback on what seems reasonable to keep and what isn’t.
Finally, don’t be afraid to put a time limit on your decluttering sessions. Setting a timer can help you stay focused and get the job done, even if it’s just for 10 minutes. This can be especially helpful if you tend to get distracted by Netflix binges or social media feeds.
Make a Cleaning Caddy
When cleaning your home, having the right supplies makes a huge difference in how quickly you can refresh areas. Rather than running back and forth between your closet or cupboards to grab the supplies you need, make a cleaning caddy with a kit of items that you can take from room to room with you. This will save you time and energy.
There are lots of cute options available, including a tote bag with divided sections and a cart on wheels that holds a bucket, sponges and brushes. Choose a caddy that’s large enough for all the tools you want to store in it, but not too big. Otherwise, you’ll struggle to fit everything in or find it difficult to maneuver when it’s full of supplies.
Stock the caddy with items that are grouped together by task, such as window cleaning or dusting. It’s also handy to include a pair of rubber gloves, since the last thing you want is for dirty hands to rub off on everything you clean! Our experts all recommend including microfiber cloths because they are more effective at removing grime and germs than paper towels or sponges.
If you don’t have a caddy, you can make your own DIY version by hanging a wire basket on the inside of a cabinet door to hold supplies. You can also mount a hook on the back of a cabinet or door to hang a squeegee or towel. If you have more space to work with, install a lazy Susan turntable under your sink to make it easier to reach cleaners and other products. You can also repurpose a small utility cart to store your supplies.
Clean from Top to Bottom
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a thorough clean. The endorphins that rush through your body can almost rival the satisfaction of a good jog, and the spotless finish gives you the same sense of accomplishment. However, the process of scrubbing tiles and steaming floors can feel like a marathon and a half, especially if you’re tackling a big clean or trying to get an end of lease or move out cleaning done in record time.
The trick to speeding up your home cleaning is to use the right tips and tricks. We spoke to the experts to find out what their expert tips and hacks are — so you can have a sparklingly clean home, in double-quick time.
When you’re getting ready to clean, it’s a good idea to set aside a specific spot for your cleaning supplies. Having one place for all of your cleaning products makes it easier to grab them as you work, and helps to avoid accidentally leaving something behind or forgetting a tool. This will also make it easier to put everything away once you’re finished.
Most professional cleaners work from top to bottom when they’re cleaning a room. They dust the tallest surfaces first, such as ceiling fixtures, and then wipe down the walls and windows. They may even vacuum the room, working around the furniture. They then finish up by wiping the floor and putting things back where they belong, says Sarah Karakaian of iMOM.
This method helps to ensure you’ve cleaned every surface in the room and won’t miss anything by moving a piece of furniture or knocking a newly-cleaned surface onto the dirtied one underneath. It also prevents you from spending a long time on something that will get dirty again in a short amount of time.