Cleaning is a chore that no one really likes, but we need to do it to keep our homes clean and habitable. You don’t exactly have to lose an entire day tidying up your house; by making some small changes here and there, you can easily turn cleaning from a dreary, painstaking process to a faster and easier one. To help you, here are a few tips that will make cleaning a breeze.
- Upgrade your cleaning tools.Software and gadgets are far from the only things that have undergone a lot of technological changes in the past few years; even cleaning tools these days are more advanced and efficient. While there’s nothing wrong with cleaning your home using the same kind of tools that your parents or even grandparents have used, you should still check out improved tools and formulas that make cleaning a faster and easier affair. Trade in your old cleaning rag for a high-quality microfiber cloth, or swap out the bulky vacuum cleaner for a later and more powerful model, one that’s probably going to be easier to lug around the house. By using new tools, you’ll find that your cleaning tasks will be much more streamlined and take less time.
- Make it a family habit. The responsibility of cleaning and tidying up a house with multiple occupants shouldn’t rest on one person alone. If you live with other people, you should work together and divide chores that will help keep your house a more habitable space. If you have kids, teach them how to do simple chores and have them help you out. You can even make it more fun by turning it into a game where the best or fastest cleaner gets an award, or by rewarding the entire family with a special snack or meal once the task has been completed. Getting your entire family involved not only allows you to clean your house faster, but it also teaches your kids important habits and life skills.
- Stick to a schedule. One of the best things to do with cleaning tasks that take up a lot of time and effort – such as washing the car or doing the laundry – is to schedule them properly and stick to that schedule. This way, these chores will become a habit and you’ll have an easier time avoiding procrastination. Scheduling cleaning chores also helps you find more free time to spend with your family and loved ones.
- Clean as you go.Letting the dirty stuff— be it dishes, laundry, or dust— pile up is a common mistake that makes cleaning more difficult than it should be. Resist every temptation to let the dirty dishes stay untouched in the sink for too long, and if you see something out of place, put it back where it belongs, especially if doing so won’t take you more than 2 minutes. By taking care of the small stuff right away, you’re giving yourself more time to focus on the bigger, more complicated tasks during your weekly cleaning.
- Start from top to bottom. No matter what room you’re cleaning, it’s always a good idea to start at the top before working your way down. This is because the dust and detritus that will come flying down from your top shelves will eventually settle on lower surfaces, such as your tables and floor. By cleaning your home from top to bottom, you ensure that the flying dust and debris will be taken care of in one go.
Through these small changes, you’re making it easier to clean your home and bond with your family in one go. Just don’t forget to reward yourselves after a job well done!