How to Clean Your Home Like a Pro in Less Time
Updated: Feb 2
And keep it that way! For holiday guests, spontaneous get-togethers, or whatever.
Assuming you don't have a housekeeper (and if you do, kudos to you!), cleaning your home can be a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be! With a little organization and the right tools, you can make light work of even the biggest cleaning jobs.
The goal of good housekeeping should be minimal effort to maintain cleanliness each week. This way, you have more time to spend on things you enjoy doing. Having a process for managing day-to-day living can go a long way in keeping your place tidy. Anticipating and having designated zones for things like sorting incoming mail and packages, sorting and folding laundry, and putting up groceries will help immensely in keeping the clutter at bay.
In this article, we will share some general cleaning best practices, outline the most efficient cleaning method with some of our favorite tools, and highlight a few expert cleaning and organizing influencers to keep you motivated and inspired while maintaining your clean house goals.
Our Cleaning Best Practices:
Make a Schedule
Before you start cleaning, take a few minutes to make a plan of action. What needs to be done? What can wait? This will help you prioritize and make the most of your time.
For example, based on the frequency of use and number of people living in your home, you may only deep clean your shower once every other week.
On the other hand, if you have a full house of five or more people plus pets, you may find it necessary to vacuum and maintain some cleaning tasks on a daily basis.
Bonus Tip: Use apps like Reminders in IOS to set a schedule for all your cleaning tasks. The reminders will be very helpful for things like changing air or water filters, which need to be done less frequently. They can also help you remember if it's an on or off week for your semi-regular chores too!
Gather your supplies
Once you know what needs to be done, make sure you have all the supplies you need on hand. There's nothing worse than starting to clean only to realize you're out of paper towels! If you're not sure what all you need or may be out of, check out our Home Care shopping list here
Start at the top and work your way down
Dust high to low. This includes any ceiling vents, potential cobwebs, and ceiling fans. This way, any dust that falls will land on surfaces that you haven't yet cleaned. The same goes for multi-story homes. You don't want to be tracking more dirt, garbage or clutter through the clean lower levels.
Work from left to right
Another helpful tip is to start cleaning at the far left side of a room and work your way around to the right. This method ensures that you won't miss any spots!
Focus on one task at a time
Trying to do too many things at once will only slow you down and make the job seem more daunting than it really is. So, take it one step at a time and focus on completing one task before moving on to the next. You'll build momentum as you start making progress.
Our Cleaning Method Tasks - in order!
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1. Grab your step stool and duster.
Dust the top corner of the room where the walls and ceilings meet to remove any pesky cobwebs. It takes no time for cobwebs to form, even in the tidiest of homes, especially in the fall.
Recommended tools:
2. Windows next!
It can be surprising how dirty windows get even if there aren't any small humans or wet noses in the house. Keeping windows clean will instantly brighten the room. Depending on the season, you may want to consider cleaning and storing your screens for winter. Taking screens off will also allow more light in.
Recommended tools:
3. Declutter and tidy.
By this time, we've made it about halfway down our walls. So it's time to tackle counters and surfaces that always seem to collect random items. Have your duster at the ready, so you can dust surfaces as you go. Tidy bookcases, sort mail, and put away any other items that are not intended to stay out. This includes straightening bathroom and kitchen counters, side tables, or any other surfaces in your home.
Recommended tools:
Bonus tip: Don't forget chair rails, ledges, or any other architectural details in your home that create a space for dust to collect.
4. Clean sinks, showers, and toilets.
These frequently used spaces in our homes are a haven for germs and residual dirt buildup. It's essential that these items be sanitized regularly for the health and well-being of your household. While cleaning sinks, be sure to wipe your counters down as well.
Recommended tools:
Toilet Bowl Cleaner & Scrub Brush
5. Don't forget the little things.
It's easy to overlook things like door knobs and light switches when you're cleaning, but don't forget about them! A quick once-over with a disinfecting wipe will help to keep germs at bay.
Recommended tools:
All Purpose Cleaner & Cleaning Cloths
6. Sweep & vacuum.
We've nearly made it to the floor now. But before we get there, don't forget you can also vacuum any soft surfaces in your home, like mattresses, chairs, and sofas. Give these items a good once over with your handheld vacuum, or try our favorite vacuum designed specifically for the job. It includes a UV light to help sanitize the fabric beyond what can be picked up by a vacuum. Then, of course, please vacuum or sweep your floors next.
Recommended tools:
7. Mop and sanitize floors.
Now your home should be starting to sparkle. Ideally, by this time, the laundry is done, and you're looking forward to doing something fun with the rest of your day. It's always best if you can get everyone out of the house after moping so the floors can have time to dry fully. Plus, there's hardly anything better than coming home to a clean home.
Recommended tools:
8. Take out the Trash & Recycling, and bring items to Goodwill
It's easy to call a job done when it's not really all the way done. Don't give the dust, dirt, and yuck a chance to settle or find their way around the house. Take all the trash outside and head to goodwill with any gently used items you no longer need. After a little time away, you'll be proud to walk into the fresh smell of your clean home.
Recommended tools:
There's no need to feel overwhelmed by the task of cleaning your home. By taking some time each week to tidy up, you can keep your home clean and clutter-free.
Just take it one step at a time, and you'll be finished before you know it. But in case you need a quick break, here are some accounts to check out the best cleaning tips and hacks.
Ones to Watch:
So there you have it! A few simple tips and best practices to help make cleaning your home a breeze. We hope we have given you some ideas for how to make your cleaning routine quicker and more efficient.
Let us know how this article has helped improve your cleaning routine in the comments below. Is there any part of your home you still struggle with? Leave us a suggestion for future topics you would like to see covered here!
