Everyone wants a clean home, but not many of us like cleaning. What if you could have a home that was practically self-cleaning? Guess what—with an ounce of prevention here and a little streamlining there, you can clean your home in less time and even save yourself a little money in the long run. Here’s how.
Clean Your House Up Quickly With These Easy Tips
Keep Dirt and Grime Out
The secret to a cleaner home is preventing dirt, grime and clutter from accumulating in the first place. For example, you can keep your floors cleaner by placing doormats on both sides of every exterior door, including the door to your garage. Mats will absorb moisture, trap dirt and minimize tracking. For extra measure, vacuum your main entryway often and clean your mats regularly.
To prevent clutter from accumulating, don’t just set things down. Put them where they belong. It only takes a few moments, and your future self will thank you. Designate a bin for collecting things you realize you no longer want or need and donate the contents when the bin gets full. Consider establishing zero-tolerance rules for clutter in certain areas of your home, such as the living or dining room.
In the kitchen, line electric stove drip pans and the bottom of your oven with foil, and replace them as needed. Line refrigerator crisper drawers with a few layers of paper towels or place fruits and veggies in designated produce storage bags that will help them last longer as well as keep your drawers cleaner. To keep your microwave clean, wipe it out right after using it, while there’s still some residual steam to aid in cleaning.
In the bathroom, rinse the sink after brushing your teeth to prevent toothpaste and soap from hardening. Wipe glass shower doors with a squeegee after every shower to slow the build-up of water spots and soap scum. Better yet: Dry the glass with a microfiber cloth to keep it cleaner even longer. Pour boiling water down the tub drain once a week to keep it clear and prevent those hard-to-scrub tub rings that result from a slow drain.
Make Cleaning Easy and Convenient
Keep your cleaning tools and products in an easily accessible place, and be sure they are in good working order. That means emptying the vacuum cleaner bag when it’s one-half to two-thirds full and replacing chewed-up mop heads and brooms with worn-out bristles.
Corral essential cleaning supplies in a bucket or caddy that you can carry from room to room. Stash everyday cleaning supplies under kitchen and bathroom sinks for quick, easy clean-ups. Choose products with scents you love so that you’ll want to use them. Give away or discard cleaning products you don’t like or never use to make it easier to find and store what you do use.
Invest in some microfiber cloths. They pick up dirt like nobody’s business! Just wet the cloth, squeeze it dry, then wipe away dust, greasy film and even germs. They’re washable and reusable. Just be sure to wash them separately from other items and let them air dry to maintain maximum effectiveness.
Finally, let your cleaning products do the hard work for you. Read the label. If the manufacturer advises you to spray the product on the surface and wait 10 minutes before wiping or rinsing off, it’s not just a suggestion. That’s how long it takes the product to penetrate and loosen grime, leaving you more time and energy to relax in your beautifully clean, clutter-free home.
Donna Smallin Kuper is the author of a dozen best-selling books on uncluttering and organizing your space. She shares her tips for The Home Depot. Her advice ranges from putting door mats at the entrance to using storage bins to help keep things cleaner and uncluttered. Visit The Home Depot to find an array of door mat options.