Make a cleaning a caddy
First, keep all the essential cleaning equipment you need, including sponges, cloths, brushes and cleaners, in one easy to carry place. The idea is to move from one room to the next without having an excuse to leave. A bucket with a handle is perfect.
Declutter in a flutter
Along with your cleaning caddy, take a spare box with you from room to room. If something doesn’t belong, put it in the box and you can store it out of sight for sorting later.
Stay focussed and prioritise
This is no time for distractions. Put your phone on silent and start with the rooms in the most desperate need of attention. Stay in the rhythm with a playlist of your favourites or a binge-worthy podcast.
Time yourself
Seriously. The pressure of a ticking clock will keep you moving fast. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done when there’s no time to waste!
Start at the top
Always clean from the top down. Dirt, dust and other scraps that fall to the floor can be cleaned at the very end all at once.
Work smarter not harder
Instead of using cloths and paper towels that can leave streak marks, invest in a microfibre cloth or mop. When cleaning ceiling fans, slide an old pillow case over the blade so you catch all the dust at once. Use your dishwasher for more than dishes – it’s ideal for glass fixtures and heat-resistant plastic, such as toys. Pop small items in a laundry bag so they don’t get lost!
Disinfect your sponge
There’s no point cleaning with a dirty sponge. Once you’ve cleaned a few rooms, give it new life by zapping it in the microwave. First, make sure the sponge doesn’t have any metal parts, then thoroughly wet it, add a small amount of vinegar, and pop it in for a minute. Powerful microwaves may need less time.
Pre-steam your microwave
Speaking of the microwave, you can make it easier to clean those dried food stains by popping a bowl of water inside with a few lemon slices or drops of vinegar and turning on for a few minutes.
Do all your floors at the end
Finally. When everything else is dusted, scrubbed, wiped, folded and put away you can clean all the floors at once. Work your way out of the room backwards so you don’t miss anything or leave footprints.
