Who doesn’t like tricks to make housecleaning quicker, simpler, and less painful?
A while ago I admitted I hate housecleaning. So naturally I am always on the lookout for tips and techniques to make cleaning less onerous. Here are some for you to try.
Ten simple cleaning hacks
- Clean in spurts. Set a timer for twenty to thirty minutes. Pick an area and clean until the timer goes off. You’ve now earned a break! Yay! Do something fun, then set the timer and tackle another segment.
- Turn the spurts into sprints. Challenge yourself to get as much done as possible in one half-hour segment. Can you get the entire kitchen cleaned, from dirty dishes, to stove top, to floor? Can you tidy, dust and vacuum the living room? Get in the zone and get it done.
- Use “in-between” time. Short cleaning tasks can be done during those odd moments between larger activities. If you finish what you’re doing ten minutes before you need to head to an appointment, don’t pull out your phone. Instead, empty the dishwasher, fold a load of laundry, or work on the “to be filed” pile on your desk. You might be surprised how much housework you can fit into odd moments.
- Fix it when you see it. When I notice my bathroom counter is in need of cleaning I spend 3o seconds right then and wipe it down. I haven’t cleaned the entire room, but I have dealt with one small task that makes life nicer the next time I use the bathroom.
- Start with what bothers you the most. Even if it seems insignificant in light of a whole house’s worth of mess. Dealing with the mess that bothers you most will give you an emotional boost that will help motivate you to tackle the “regular” mess.
- Remember your goal. Know what you want to accomplish and don’t get sucked into cleaning chores that won’t accomplish the main goal. If your goal is to tidy the house before friends visit, DO NOT waste time reorganizing bookshelves or scrubbing the smudge marks on the walls.
- Focus on your pile-it spots. Counters, coffee tables, desks, and other flat surfaces attract clutter like a lamp attracts moths. Keeping your main flat surfaces “de-piled” will go a long way toward keeping the house looking tidier.
- Don’t get sidetracked. While cleaning a room, you’re likely to find stuff that belongs elsewhere. Don’t let those stray items sidetrack you from the task-of-the-moment. Put all stray items in a box or crate. Deal with them after you’ve finished the main task.
- Round up the strays. Collect items that have wandered from their proper place in a single container. When the container gets full, use a cleaning spurt to put the stuff back where it belong. Corralling stray items can go a long way to tiding up your space.
- Take before and after photos. Need positive feedback to keep you motivated? Take a photo of the area before you start. Take another when you stop, even if it’s only a few minutes later. Look at the before and after photos side by side, and enjoy the difference.
I hope these housecleaning hacks help you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying life.
