We hate 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:
How to Clean Home Step by Step…
1. Clean the whole Home, not one room at a time
Cleaning is much more efficient if you pick one task (dusting, vacuuming, mopping) and do the same task in every house, rather than cleaning the kitchen, the bathrooms, and then the bedrooms. Doing it that way prevents you from feeling like you are in an endless cleaning cycle, starting the same task repeatedly.
2. Gather all your cleaning tools in a caddy
Whether 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 will not waste time looking for tools while you clean and do not have to worry about gathering them before your next go-around.
3. Clear the clutter
Before cleaning, go room to room and pick up the clutter. As you pick up each item – magazines, well-read paperbacks, old sneakers – consider whether you should put it away, toss it or donate it.
4. 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 shelves, tie a microfiber cloth to the end of a mop or broom. Change the sheets in the bedrooms before you vacuum.
5. Wipe mirrors and glass
Use one damp microfiber cloth, followed by one dry cloth to clean all the mirrors and glass surfaces.
6. 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 help if you disinfected some of those 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 a cup of water.
7. Focus on tubs, sinks, and toilets
Spray cleaner on the kitchen sink and then on 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 make sure your garbage disposal is in tip-top shape. If you need help with the best way to clean a garbage disposal, for some useful DIY garbage disposal cleaning tips.
8. 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, do not mop yourself into a corner). Rinse the mop every time you complete a 4-by-4-foot area.
9. Keep moving when you vacuum
Stay calm 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 do not 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.
10. Do not forget to routinely wash your cleaning tools
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 will end up spending more time trying to clean.
11. Make cleaning a group activity
Making cleaning a team effort is one of the best ways to clean a house fast. Schedule a time in advance with your family, and assign tasks to each person. Working together can add some fun to cleaning, and your house will be sparkling in no time.
