Sometimes cleaning can feel like a chore so Use These 10 Tips to Clean Your House More Efficiently.
As a parent, you’re busy with work and taking care of your kids, and you have less time to get everything done.
Photo by Katie Pearse on Unsplash
Table of Contents
Do the Whole House at Once
Often we feel like we only have enough energy to tackle one room a day.
But doing the whole house saves you time and takes advantage of your current motivation.
Pick one task, such as mopping, and do that in each room.
Then move on to the next task.
That way you don’t feel like you’re starting over in each space.
Remove Any Clutter
Before you start, remove any excess clutter from each room.
As you pick up items, divide them into three categories-keep, toss, or donate.
When deciding what things to store, consider the function and value of each item.
Getting rid of unused objects clears a pathway and makes tidying up more efficient.
Remember to Dust and Vacuum
Removing dust can improve your indoor air quality.
Before you start dusting, turn off your ceiling fans. T
en wipe the tops of furniture, undersides of shelves, and television screens.
For hard-to-reach places, like blinds, tie a microfiber cloth to the end of a broom.
When you move onto the bedroom, change your sheets before vacuuming.
You want to try to wash your sheets once a week.
Wipe Down Your Mirrors
Over time your mirrors accumulate smudges, from fingerprints and dust.
This is inconvenient when you go to fix your hair or check your outfit.
Wipe down your mirror once a week, using a damp microfiber cloth followed by a dry one.
You can also spray glass cleaner onto the mirror.
For built-up smudges, use running alcohol and a cotton ball.
Disinfect Your Countertops and Surfaces
Your hard surfaces accumulate germs, transferred from your hands.
There are about two to 10 billion bacteria on your fingers and elbows.
So, wipe down the following household items:
- Countertops
- Light switches
- Doorknobs
- Appliances
- Television remote
- Cell phones
To wash these spots, use a disinfecting product, such as bleach.
Before using the product, wash the surface with soap and detergent.
In addition, have some windows open to allow for proper ventilation.
For a more natural solution, use a mix of cider vinegar and water.
Pay Attention to Tubs, Sinks, and Toilets
These areas often get overlooked but easily accumulate bacteria.
In fact, a study found staphylococcus bacteria in 26% of the tubs they tested.
So, spray a cleaner on your sinks, tubs and toilets.
Let the chemicals sit for a few minutes to dissolve all the dirt and stains.
For washing your sinks, you can also use a mix of vinegar and baking soda.
This is a non-toxic solution that is even cost-effective.
While in the kitchen, wipe down the inside of your microwave and take out the trash.
Sweep Before Mopping
First, remove any dust from your floors.
Keep in mind it’s harder to mop after you wet the surfaces.
When mopping, start from the farthest corner and move backward toward the door.
Regularly rinse out the mop as you go.
Wash high traffic areas, such as kitchens, bathrooms and entryways.
You want to mop these at least once a week.
Get the Whole Family Involved
Cleaning will go much faster if you have help.
Plus, it’s a good way to bond with the family.
Ask your kids or partner to pitch in with the chores.
You can even give your children an allowance or a reward for helping out.
Pick a day in advance and assign everyone tasks.
Consider blasting some music to get everyone motivated.
As you tidy up, also check your structural items, such as your bathroom pipes.
Organize Your Cleaning Supplies
To make tidying up more efficient, have your cleaning products all in one place.
Buy a caddy or bucket, so you can easily transport items.
This saves you time and is much more convenient.
Also, take stock of your disinfecting products and the ones you like.
In addition, remove products you never use and refill the ones you’re out of.
When buying more, consider getting multiple of the same items.
That way you can place products in different rooms or levels of your house.
Another thing to remember is to regularly wash your sanitizing tools.
Regularly Wash Your Dishes
It can be tempting to leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
After a long day of work, doing the dishes may not be your top priority.
However, the leftover food causes bacteria to build up, which can stay for up to four days.
Therefore, wash your dishes each night or load your dishwasher.
If you have a scorched pot, cover the burned spot with baking soda and pour in boiling water.
Once the water cools down, use a sponge to scrub away the stain.
Then wash the pot with hot spray water.
If you decide to use your dishwasher, load the dishes in from front to back.
How to Clean Like a Pro
Part of being a homeowner is keeping up with daily maintenance.
While there are lots of projects to do, there are tricks to make the process faster.
Consider some of these strategies the next time you go on a cleaning spree.
