Everyone hates to clean, but everyone loves a clean house. Is there a best way to clean your house fast?
Most novices are still determining if they should dust or vacuum first. They wonder whether they should clean the kitchen before the bathroom or vice versa.
Follow this step-by-step guide, based on years of hard-earned experience, to make the most of your time and clean your house fast:
Clean the whole house, not one room at a time
Cleaning is much more efficient if you pick one task (dusting, vacuuming, mopping) and do the same in every room rather than cleaning the kitchen, the bathrooms, and the bedrooms. Doing it that way prevents you from feeling like you’re in an endless cleaning cycle, starting the same task repeatedly.
Gather all your cleaning tools in a caddy
Whether it’s a caddy, bucket, or tote, having everything you need to clean in one portable place makes it much easier to get the job done. You won’t waste time looking for tools while you tend and don’t have to worry about gathering them before your next go around.
Clear the clutter
Before cleaning, pick up the clutter from room to room. As you pick up each item – magazines, well-read paperbacks, old sneakers – consider whether you should put it away, toss it or donate it.
Dust and vacuum
Before you start dusting:
Make sure the ceiling fans are turned off.
Concentrate your dusting on the tops of furniture and the undersides of shelves, handrails, picture frames, knickknacks, and TV screens.
For hard-to-reach areas, like blinds and upper brackets, tie a microfiber cloth to the end of a mop or broom.
Change the sheets in the bedrooms before you vacuum.
Wipe mirrors and glass.
Use one damp microfiber cloth and one dry cloth to clean all the mirrors and glass surfaces.
Disinfect countertops and surface areas
Go through your house and wipe down the hard surfaces – from countertops, appliances, and cabinets to doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, and telephones. It would be best to disinfect some surfaces, particularly those that might deliver germs to people’s fingers and faces. Make a nontoxic disinfection solution by mixing one-fourth to a half cup of white or apple cider vinegar with water.
Focus on tubs, sinks, and toilets
Spray cleaner on the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, tubs, and toilets. Let it sit for a few minutes so the cleaner has time to dissolve dirt and stains. Then return to the kitchen and start scrubbing. Remember to wipe down the inside of the microwave. Clean toilets last.
While in the kitchen, you also want to ensure your garbage disposal is tip-top. If you need help with the best way to clean a garbage disposal, click here for helpful DIY cleaning tips.
Sweep, then mop
Sweep the kitchen and bathroom floors. Start mopping from the farthest corner of the room and move back towards the doorway (that is, don’t mop yourself into a corner). Rinse the mop every time you complete a 4-by-4-foot area.
Keep moving when you vacuum
Don’t worry about getting every nook and cranny when you vacuum. Just keep moving through the house, running the vacuum in every carpeted room in one pass-through.
Some tasks don’t need to be done each week. These include waxing the furniture, cleaning the windows, and washing area rugs and bath mats. Inspect these accessories and use your judgment.
Don’t forget to wash your cleaning tools routinely
An often overlooked part of cleaning the house is maintaining your cleaning tools. Using a dirty mop or a vacuum with a full bag is much less effective, and you’ll end up spending more time trying to clean.
Make cleaning a group activity
Making a team effort is one of the best ways to clean a house quickly. Schedule a time in advance with your family, and assign tasks to each person. Working together can add some fun to cleaning, and your home will spark quickly.
While cleaning, check on home maintenance items, such as a faulty sink that may cause water damage.
Follow this step-by-step guide to make the most of your time and clean your house fast.
Clean the whole house, not one room at a time.
Pick one task and do it in every room to prevent you from feeling like you’re in an endless cleaning cycle.
Gather all your cleaning tools in a caddy.
Gather all your cleaning tools in a caddy, bucket, or tote to have everything you need in one portable place to do the job.
Go room to room and pick up the clutter.
Begin dusting and vacuuming.
Wipe mirrors and glass.
Wipe mirrors and glass with one damp microfiber cloth and one dry cloth.
Disinfect countertops and surface areas.
Disinfect countertops and surface areas, particularly the ones that might deliver germs to people’s fingers and faces.
Focus on tubs, sinks, and toilets.
Spray cleaner on the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, tubs, and toilets. Let it sit for a few minutes so the cleaner has time to dissolve dirt and stains. Then return to the kitchen and start scrubbing.
Sweep the kitchen and bathroom floors. Start mopping from the farthest corner of the room and move back towards the doorway.
Keep moving when you vacuum.
Keep moving through the house as you vacuum, and don’t worry about getting every nook and cranny.
Don’t forget to wash your cleaning tools routinely
Make sure you routinely clean your cleaning tools.
Make cleaning a group activity.
Make cleaning a team effort by scheduling a time in advance with your family and assigning tasks to each person.
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