Cleaning your home doesn’t have to be an all day affair.
All it takes to keep your home in a “company ready” state at all times, is a few tweaks to your daily routine (i.e. your habits) and a plan to tackle the cleaning chores in a fast, organized manner.
The process
Begin by starting at the top. No matter what room you’re cleaning, start at the top, pushing dirt and dust from higher surfaces to the floor below where they can be swept up.
Bedrooms
Time: 6 minutes per bedroom
Process:
- – Wipe down fan blades (if applicable)
- – Change sheets and make beds, lifting up the mattress corners to tuck in the sheets
- – Put lost items away in their homes (or if there’s not enough time, toss any clutter or items that belong elsewhere into a basket to be dealt with later)
- – Dust mirrors with a duster then clean furniture with a microfiber cloth and dusting spray
- – Sweep or vacuum floor
- – Empty trash can
Bathrooms
Time: 7 minutes per bathroom
Use the following process for each bathroom at the same time:
- – Put lost items away in their homes (or if there’s not enough time, toss any clutter or items that belong elsewhere into a basket to be dealt with later)
- – Clear counters, then spray them and the tubs/showers with cleaner and let sit while you
- – Clean toilets inside and out from top to bottom
- – Go back to the counters and tubs, washing away the cleaner and giving them a good rinse
- – Clean mirrors
- – Sweep and mop floors
- – Empty trash can
Living/Dining/Family Room(s)
Time: 7 minutes per room
Use the following process starting in one corner and working your way around the room:
- – Put lost items away in their homes (or if there’s not enough time, toss any clutter or items that belong elsewhere into a basket to be dealt with later)
- – Dust all surfaces from top to bottom starting with the blinds and/or ceiling fans
- – Vacuum upholstery
- – Vacuum floors
Kitchen
Time: 12 minutes
Process:
- – Dirty dishes into dishwasher (or wash by hand)
- – Fill sink with hot, soapy water
- – If possible, soak your oven burners and their drip pans and rings in the water
- – Clear your counters – put lost items away in their homes (or if there’s not enough time, toss any clutter or items that belong elsewhere into a basket to be dealt with later)
- – Working from top to bottom, wipe down cabinets, counters, etc.
- – Wipe down appliance surfaces
- – Scrub (if necessary), rinse and replace your oven’s burners and drip pans
- – Sweep and mop the floor
Bare minimum
This won’t tackle the deep cleaning that every house needs (e.g. cleaning out from under your refrigerator) but it will keep your home presentable and “company ready”.
- – Set a timer for 15 minutes to help you stay on task
- – Stock each bathroom with the essential cleaning items; do a quick swish of the toilet and swipe down the counters and mirrors when you use the bathroom
- – Fluff the couch pillows
- – Spray air freshener and/or upholstery spray
- – Stash clutter out of site to be dealt with when you have more time
Prevention
Finally, make your house cleaning sessions easier by preventing messes in the first place!
- – Begin by making sure everything you own has a home
- – Next, get into the habit of putting things back immediately when you’re done using them. Ideally, your family would follow your lead, but even if they don’t, it’s still possible to clean your home quickly – and efficiently
- – To cut down on clutter, if you bring something into your house, discard something else that you no longer use or need
