Do you wish a clean home wasn’t so much work? We do too, but unfortunately, we’re still a long way from self-cleaning homes. That doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your free time on house projects, though. With these 11 shortcuts, you can be on your way to a cleaner house in no time!
1. Clean from Top to Bottom
When you clean, you don’t want to repeat steps. Therefore, you should always work from the ceiling to the floor. If you start by vacuuming, you’ll be frustrated when crumbs and dust get knocked onto it from dusting the ceiling fans or kitchen counters. That’s why we always recommend finishing your cleaning with the vacuum and mop.
2. Keep Cleaning Supplies Organized
Organization is one of the keys to a clean home. For that reason, we suggest organizing your cleaning supplies. There are a million different products, but multipurpose cleaners are often just as effective. Best of all, they reduce clutter!
We also suggest that you keep cleaning items accessible. For example, bathroom cleaners should be kept in the bathroom, while kitchen cleaning supplies should be kept in the kitchen. It’s a simple and effective organization method.
3. Clean While Things Soak
We love efficiency when cleaning the home. Some tasks take longer than others, so you should strategize your cleaning schedule accordingly. Soaking time is a great opportunity to work on other smaller projects. Cleaning your toilet is something quick and easy you can do as you wait on your shower cleaner to penetrate any soap scum or mildew.
4. Space out Your Chores
This tip goes along with the last one. We suggest that you space out your cleaning schedule so that you aren’t doing everything all at once. If you plan accordingly in a logical order, you can keep yourself from repeating steps and enjoy a clean home for longer. When you procrastinate and let everything build up, you end up feeling more frustrated on cleaning day.
5. Repurpose Your Dryer Sheets
Did you know that dryer sheets can serve multiple purposes? They are perfect for dusting blinds, baseboards, and any other surface. We think they are also great for mopping up messes because of their absorbency. Next time you do your laundry, be sure to keep your dryer sheets instead of tossing them!
6. Use Containers in Your Pantry
Pantry organizing is a great, affordable home improvement project. You can easily buy containers in different shapes and sizes to organize the goods in your pantry. The best part is that you can pick up the containers to wipe down your shelves, and if anything spills, you can remove the container and wash it.
7. Maximize Your Dishwasher Use
If the container is dishwasher safe, you can make cleaning even easier! However, your dishwasher isn’t just for your everyday plates and glasses. You can also use it to clean soap dishes, toothbrush holders, pet dishes, children’s toys, oven hood filters, and so much more.
8. Line Refrigerator Shelves with Placements
Spills and leaks inevitably occur in your refrigerator. However, you don’t have to go through the hassle of removing shelves and glass to clean them. If you line your refrigerator with plastic placements or shelf liners, you can simply pull them out and wipe them down.
9. Let Your Blender Clean Itself
Okay, so blenders aren’t completely self-cleaning, but they can do most of the work for you. All you have to do is toss some warm water and dish soap in them. Press the button and watch it clean! When it’s finished, you can rinse it out and be done with it.
10. Line Your Oven with Aluminum Foil
If you hate cleaning burnt-on food spills from your oven, you’re not alone. We hate it too, but we found a little trick to make that step a lot easier. With a layer of aluminum foil protecting the bottom of your oven, you can simply pull it out and throw it away when something spills.
11. Put a Lemon in Your Garbage Disposal
Does your garbage disposal have a lingering odor? If so, put some lemon slices and ice in it, and switch it on! The ice helps to sharpen the blades, while the lemon cleans and freshens the disposal.
Cut Down Your Cleaning Time
Stop dreading cleaning day and start implementing some of these helpful tips and tricks. We hope that you find these shortcuts to be useful. We encourage you to do some research and see if any other house projects can make your life easier when you clean your home.