House cleaning tips

House cleaning can be a chore – especially for parents with busy little ones. But with these house cleaning tips, you’ll be able to keep your home spick and span while still taking care of the family. Read on for some helpful house-cleaning tips that will make tidying up much easier!

Tips for quick cleaning

Exactly what your cleaning list looks like will depend on whether you are doing a deep clean or a quick spot clean.

But, whatever is on the agenda, here are some basic tips to clean the entire house in no time:

1. Make a checklist

Before you even start house cleaning, make a list of the tasks that need to be done and prioritize them. This will help you stay organized, focused and on track. Make sure to keep the goals reasonable!

Prioritizing tasks can make a big difference in how long it takes you to get things done. Start with the tasks that take a while but don’t require your attention, and take on smaller tasks while you wait. For example, get the laundry going or the dishwasher running, and while the cycle is going work on spot-cleaning.

2. Work room by room

Rather than trying to clean your house all at once, try breaking it down into smaller tasks. Start with one room and work your way through it before moving on to another. Breaking house cleaning up into smaller tasks makes it much easier to manage, as well as less overwhelming.

3. Keep your supplies easily accessible

Having all your house cleaning supplies handy will save you valuable time when it comes to house cleaning, rather than wasting time searching for rags or spray cleaners. Put them in a designated area such as a bucket or basket near the door so they’re easy to grab when needed.

When it comes to cleaning, remember that the cleaning supplies you are using are in the air you breathe and on the things you touch. That’s why cleaning expert Melissa Make, recommends using homemade cleaners as much as you can. She also shares her favorite recipes in her book!

We train our staff to use 70 percent “homemade” solutions by including dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar, and 30 percent store-bought products, for those times when whats available in the store is the simpler or more effective option

Melissa Maker, author of Clean My Space

Essential cleaning supplies

These are the basics you’ll want to have on hand:

• Vacuum cleaner: A vacuum cleaner is an obvious housecleaning staple. Look for one that has multiple attachments, so you can reach even the toughest spots!
• Mop and bucket: Mopping floors regularly is a great way to keep them looking clean and shiny. Using a mop with a bucket of warm water works best, but if you’re in a pinch, using a Swiffer wet jet is also fine.
• Microfiber cloth: Microfiber cloths work wonders when it comes to housecleaning! They can be used to dust, clean surfaces, and even mop. Plus, they’re usually machine-washable so you can reuse them multiple times. You can also wipe mirror and glass surfaces with a damp microfiber cloth.
• Assorted cleaners: There are some essential cleaners you will need, but this list also depends on your home.
  • All-purpose cleaner: Use it to easily scrub away dirt and grime from countertops, windowsills, and other surfaces in your house with ease.
  • Spray glass cleaner: For glass and stubborn smudges on stainless-steel appliances
  • Bathroom cleaner
  • Check out Blueland’s kit for awesome environmentally-friendly cleaners.
• Sponge: A good quality sponge is a must when house cleaning. It’s great for wiping down counters and appliances quickly without causing any damage. Make sure you replace your sponge regularly to keep it germ-free!
• Baking soda: To remove odors from fridges, simply open a box of baking soda and leave it in the fridge. Some people may encourage you to sprinkle baking soda onto upholstered furniture or carpets and then vacuum it up to remove unpleasant odors, but this could ruin the HEPA filter. in the vacuum.
• White vinegar: If you’re looking for a cheap and eco-friendly cleaner, vinegar is excellent. To make a homemade solution, fill a spray bottle with 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar. Learn what you can clean with it here.

4. Start from the top and work your way down

Dust, cobwebs and pet hair often accumulate on higher surfaces such as ceiling fans, shelves and tops of furniture. By starting at the highest point in each room and working your way down, house cleaning will be more efficient and effective.

One of the best tips I learned from Go Clean Co (who has an amazing and informative Instagram) is to vacuum before wiping. It seems obvious, but it’s so easy to forget! Vacuum surfaces and the inside of cupboards before wiping with a damp cloth or cleaner.

5. Use a timer when necessary

Set a timer to keep yourself on track if house cleaning is taking longer than expected or you’re having trouble staying focused. In addition, try breaking up house cleaning tasks into smaller chunks that are easier and more manageable.

6. Be consistent

It’s important to stay consistent with house cleaning – even if it’s just 15 minutes every day! This prevents messes from accumulating and makes deep cleaning less overwhelming.

Here are 11 quick cleaning hacks from But First, Coffee, who shares how her cleaning schedule has changed since she became a Mom. Skip to 1:30 for Hack #1.

Create a house cleaning schedule

Creating a house cleaning schedule is an essential step for parents to keep their homes tidy. Here are some tips to keep in mind when creating a house cleaning schedule:

Set realistic goals

It’s important to remember that house cleaning is an ongoing process and not something that can be done all at once. Setting realistic weekly or bi-weekly goals helps create achievable expectations and improve motivation.

Break it down

Create a list of tasks, such as vacuuming, dusting, laundry, etc., and break them down into manageable daily chunks. This will help you stay on track with housekeeping duties without feeling overwhelmed by too many tasks all at once.

Divide the work

Make house cleaning a family affair! Assign duties to each family member that are age-appropriate, such as taking out the trash and helping with dishes. This will help lighten the load for parents and teach kids valuable housekeeping skills. Be sure to never leave cleaning products where young children can reach them, though.

Set aside time

Put house cleaning time in your calendar or set an alarm on your phone to remind yourself when it’s time to clean. This will help you stick to your cleaning schedule and keep motivated.

Reward yourself

Celebrate small victories throughout house cleaning week by rewarding yourself and the family with something fun like going out for ice cream or watching a movie after completing a big task (like deep-cleaning the bathrooms!).

On a similar note, reward yourself with a break between tasks! We’re more effective at tasks when we take breaks.

To sum it up, house cleaning doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. By creating a house cleaning schedule and breaking it down into manageable tasks, housekeeping will become easier as the family works together to keep their home tidy. Plus, rewards for progress along the way are sure to make house cleaning more enjoyable for everyone!

Purge clutter

One of the best house cleaning tips is to get rid of things that you don’t need or use anymore. Take a few minutes each week to go through closets, drawers, and shelves and get rid of the items that you don’t need. This will help keep the house clutter-free (and give you fewer things to clean!).

Room-by-room cleaning tips

Here are some tips and tricks for quickly cleaning specific rooms.

Cleaning the bathroom

First, start by gathering all the necessary cleaning supplies such as paper towels, sponges or cloths, cleaners, disinfectant wipes, toilet brush, and a dedicated dirty rag or mop for floors. Keep a dedicated rag for cleaning the toilet, too.

Once you have everything on hand, clean strategically. Begin by wiping down all surfaces with disinfectant and rinsing out the bathroom sink and tub or shower. Use a bathroom cleaner to scrub any areas with built-up soap scum or mildew. You may also want to submerge your shower head in vinegar to remove stubborn stains from hard water. Do this by tying a plastic bag filled with vinegar around the shower head and letting it soak for about 10 minutes.

Clean the toilet bowl by applying toilet bowl cleaner and letting it sit for five minutes. Then, scrub it with the toilet brush and flush. Wipe the rest of the toilet with a disenfecting spray, including the handle and seat.

Next, move onto mirrors, fixtures, and doors using glass cleaner or vinegar and water. Finally, mop bathroom floors and dispose of all paper towels and throw reusable rags into the wash. If you are cleaning other rooms, wait to start the cycle until you’re finished to save water so you’re washing a larger load.

Laura Hoyda has a great video on YouTube where she Cleans her bathroom like Go Clean Co. Watch it here!

Cleaning the kitchen and dining room

Start by clearing any clutter from the kitchen countertops and tables, including dishes and other items. Next, sweep or vacuum the floor, paying special attention to corners and hard-to-reach areas. Then, take a damp cloth and wipe down all kitchen surfaces and furniture, including the kitchen table, chairs, countertops, cabinets, refrigerator and microwave.

For cleaning a stainless steel sink, follow Better Home and Garden’s advice and wet the sink then coat it with baking soda. Next, add some mild dish soap onto a sponge, wet it, and srub the sink clean. Then just rinse and let dry! They also remind us not to use bleach, as it can ruin the finish on stainless steel.

For a white sink, they recommend the same process but rather than using dish soap, sprinkle hydrogen peroxide over the baking soda and scrub it with a sponge or brush.

To clean a garbage disposal, Home Depot recommends pouring 1/2 a cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar into the dispoal. Let it sit, then turn the dispoal water on with hot water to clean it out. They also recommend putting citrus peels into the disposal to help with odors.

In the dining room, remove dust off of furniture such as tables and chairs. Vacuum the floor to remove any dirt and debris. Finally, clean any windows or mirrors using a cleaner or by filling an empty spray bottle with two parts water and one part white vinegar.

Cleaning the living room

For the living room, start by organizing and decluttering. Put all toys back in their bins or on their shelves and tidy up bookshelves. Gather any items that don’t belong in the living room and put them back where they belong.

Next, use a damp cloth to wipe down any surfaces such as the coffee table or shelves. Vacuum or sweep up any visible dirt or debris on the floor. Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum hard to reach spots like between cushions. Finish off by cleaning windows and mirrors, dusting furniture, and spot-cleaning any upholstered items like couch cushions.

Every once in a while, take time to do some deeper cleaning like cleaning fur rugs, washing pillowcases, or washing couch cushion covers.

Cleaning bedrooms

Cleaning a bedroom is much like cleaning the living room. The first step is to declutter, then make the bed and vacuum or sweep the floor. Be sure to vacuum the baseboards as well. Next, dust all furniture surfaces, walls, and shelves. Finally, clean windows and any mirrors in the room.

At least once a month, do a deeper clean with an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down hard surfaces such as the door frames, window sills, and baseboards. You can wipe a dryer sheet across baseboards to keep dust away. (Check out their article for a bunch of alternative ways to clean with a dryer sheet!) Be sure to wipe other high traffic areas too, like light switches and door handles. With little ones, consider checking the walls for fingerprints.

Conclusion

Keeping a house clean can be challenging for any parent – but it doesn’t have to be! By following these house cleaning tips, parents will be able to keep their house tidy without having to spend hours doing housework. Designate tasks to family members, purge clutter and clean room by room – these house cleaning tips will help make the job much easier for all involved!

FAQs

Resources

Looking for other cleaning tips? Check out these articles!

• How to clean the inside of a windshield
• How to get mascara out of clothes
• How to clean seat belts
• How to get crayon stains out of clothes
• How to get detergent stains out of clothes
• How to clean a sheepskin rug

References

Clean My Space, by Melissa Maker

Alternative Uses for Dryer Sheets, by Molly Maid

How to Clean a Sink and Drains, by Better Homes and Gardens