‘Satisfying, speed-cleaning techniques’ – even the phrase makes me feel productive and happy! With Santa’s visit fast-approaching, we thought it would be a great time to share some our favourite speed-cleaning ideas to get your house feeling warm and inviting in record-time, so that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy Christmas and New Years’ with your family.
We’ve broken this blog down into two sections - the first section is aimed at helping you quickly create a tidy and welcoming space, while the second section is geared towards helping you keep your cleaning tasks more painless in the future. Let’s jump in!
Cleaning Apron or Caddy
Carry your supplies with you so you don’t have to go hunting for them as you move from room to room. Keep each item in its own pouch and always put them in the same place, and you won’t even have to look for the correct product – it will be exactly where it is each time you reach for it.Use the Right Tools
The right tools may be the biggest time-saver you can access. Figure out which tool makes each cleaning job easier and keep it with you as you clean. For example, a longer handled, narrow brush makes cleaning around the faucets and any nuts or bolts much quicker than trying to work a cloth into a narrow area. Products are also designed for specific types of crud and dirt so having the appropriate solution is critical to a quick and effective clean.If It Ain’t broke Don’t Fix It
Or… if it isn’t dirty, don’t clean it. Do a quick visual as you enter each room and quickly deal with the one or two areas that stand out as requiring treatment. Often a speedy dusting with a duster will make your living room lamps and tables shine, while making the beds and moving dirty clothes from the floor to your newly-labeled laundry baskets will put you en-route to a lovely nighttime sanctuary.Work Top to Bottom
Always start at the top and work your way down so you aren’t re-cleaning areas that become dirty or dusty from the areas above them. Higher-up mouldings and shelves should be cleaned first, while vacuuming and washing floors should be last on your list.Warm the Space
After finishing up in each room, stage the space with a candle, plant, or christmas decoration such as some freshly trimmed cedar boughs. A festive candle is my personal favourite as it creates a wonderful ambiance. And don’t forget to dim the lights if possible, to create that cozy Christmas feeling!Appliance Allies
Appliances are great tools for cutting down on your cleaning time. Put them to work for you with these handy tips:
Your dishwasher can be a great workmate for all those knick-knacks that collect dust, kids bath toys and even ball caps. Place them on the top shelf and run through a quick wash cycle. Your dish cloths can also be cleaned while you do your regular dish cycle.
Blenders can clean themselves – really! Put a drop of dish detergent in your blender, add warm water and hit ‘blend’. Just rinse and wipe dry, no more scrubbing.
Invest in a robotic vacuum; it works while you work – or it works while you enjoy a cup of tea. Either way, they’re a wonderful time-saving appliance that will cut down your cleaning time.
My personal favourite – the Microwave! Place a bowl or cup of water and heat on high for 3 or 4 minutes. Let sit another 5 minutes and then voila – simply and easily wipe the inside with a damp cloth. No scrubbing required! The microwave is also a great tool for sanitizing germ-ridden dish sponges. Simply soak, microwave for a minute, and say goodbye to bacteria!
Many of the following tips involve staying on top of things on a daily or even ‘as-they-happen’ agenda, so fasten your seat belt!
Tackle Spills Immediately
When the inevitable spill happens, usually on the stove, counter or floor, wipe it up immediately. You’ll save valuable time by not having to scrub a baked-on mess, or having pasta sauce tracked from the kitchen into the dining room and beyond.Store Garbage Bags in Trash Can:
Keep several folded garbage bags in the bottom of all trash cans and they’ll be handy to changeout. Take the dirty one out and a clean one is waiting on deck.Keep Cleaning Supplies Handy
Keep a couple of microfiber cloths and your cleaner of choice in each bathroom. Quickly wipe the sinks and faucets after each use and there’s never a buildup of hard water or soap scum. Toilet bowl cleaner, stored out of sight behind each toilet makes it easy for a quick rinse and scrub everyday.Donation Box
Keep a donation box in each closet so you can instantly discard any piece of clothing you try on that either doesn’t fit or you no longer love. Win-win; your closet stays organized and someone else will benefit from clothing that is likely still in style.Laundry Baskets
Keep a few laundry bins, labeled according to your own personal sorting style and laundry day becomes quicker and easier. All your clothes are pre-sorted so there’s no more going through mounds of dirty laundry, some going into the load you’re going to wash, and most going back into the community laundry basket to be sorted again for another load.
Incorporating one, two, or even all these tips and conventions into your daily routine will save you time and energy in the long-term. In addition, you’ll find yourself more relaxed and content as your home transitions from organized chaos to organized. Enjoy that cup of tea…
And, as always, if cleaning just isn’t YOUR cup of tea, contact us and let’s chat about creating a COVID-conscious cleaning plan for you and your household!