Maintaining a tidy house is often low on a person’s list of priorities. Work, school, errands, family obligations, exercise and appointments all get in the way. A lack of knowledge about how to properly clean could also make it difficult for you to get started with cleaning. If you hate cleaning but dislike a dirty house, try these cleaning hacks.
Get Rid of Clutter
When you have too much stuff, cleaning is a hassle. Messes start when things do not have a designated spot to occupy. One of the top cleaning hacks is to get rid of your home’s excess stuff. Toss out things that are broken and you realistically won’t repair. Donate outgrown or rarely worn clothing. Collect duplicate items. Put them in a box for a charity shop.
Start from the Top
When cleaning, start from the top of a room. Use a vacuum hose to get dust off of the ceiling and light fixtures. Wipe off the light switches. Dust and clear surfaces. Vacuuming or sweeping the floor should be the last thing you do in the room.
Do a Daily 10 Minute Pickup
Set up a daily routine for a quick pickup of the entire house. Children can help with this. Set a timer for 10 minutes. During that 10 minute period, pick up things that are out of place. Return them to where they belong. During this 10 minute period, you could put junk mail in the recycling bin, take out the trash, wipe off a faucet, put dirty laundry in the laundry basket and put groceries or toys away.
Clean Messes As You Make Them
The longer a mess sits, the more difficult it is to clean. A sticky mess on a counter top hardens, making it difficult to clean up. Dirty dishes festering in the sink also become more challenging to clean when they sit for too long. When you spill something, wipe it up straightaway. If you find a mess that nobody takes responsibility for, be the bigger person. Attempting to determine who made the mess usually takes longer than cleaning does.
Keep Up With Laundry and Dishes
A mound of laundry or overflowing sink looks like a mess. The bigger the pile, the more of a turn-off it is to get it started. Keep up with the dishes and laundry. Do this by washing the dishes after each meal. If you have a dishwasher, load it after each meal. Run a load of laundry every day. You can put the laundry in the washing machine and do something else while it washes. During the 20 to 30 minute washing cycle, you could exercise, clean the bathroom or prepare a meal. When the laundry is done washing, switch it to the dryer or hang it on clothes racks. While the dryer runs, you could complete another chore such as vacuuming or mopping. Within an hour, you’ll have a much cleaner house.
