“A clean home is a happy home,” as the saying goes. But did you know that keeping your house clean also has positive effects on mental health?
In a 2019 study, 100% of participants agreed that cleaning their home gave them a sense of calm. 81% said that after cleaning, they felt a sense of accomplishment and determination.
Visual clutter, like a messy desk or an unorganized shelf, can inhibit productivity and lead to stress. By removing the clutter and making things organized, you’re simultaneously relieving stress and being productive!
Of course, cleaning can be a time-consuming process. It can be hard to fully dedicate yourself to cleaning your home on top of all your other responsibilities.
So, how do you effectively clean a home in a short period of time?
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Spot Cleanings
Spot cleanings are a great way to keep your house clean throughout the day. The trick is to tackle all the smaller things as they pop up, rather than wait and deal with them later on.
For example, if you have a lot of mail piled up, take a few minutes to go through it all. Organize it based on what’s important and what isn’t, then dispose of the junk mail and store your priority mail someplace else.
If there are multiple loads of laundry waiting to be done, do the smaller ones first. The bigger laundry piles can be saved for later.
By focusing on lesser chores during these spot cleanings, you’re ultimately leaving less work for yourself when you do have time to do a full cleaning of your house.
Cleaning Caddies
A cleaning caddy is a small bin that contains all of your cleaning supplies. These can include things such as polish, dusters, or other assorted cleaning products.
By having a cleaning caddy on hand, you can easily bring your cleaning supplies from room to room. Alternatively, you could have multiple caddies to hold different supplies.
One caddy, for instance, could contain any items you would need to clean your bathroom. Another cleaning caddy might have supplies for cleaning your living room.
With this system, you’ll always have all of your cleaning tools on hand and ready to use!
Home Depot has many durable caddies available for sale.
Mopping & Vacuuming
Mopping a floor can be a time-consuming procedure. You have to fill a bucket with water, add in cleaning product, run a mop over the entire floor, and then wring the mop out.
And if you use a disposable mop, you have to replace the mophead every time you clean.
This is where dry mopping comes in…
Microfiber dry mops collect a variety of substances like dirt, dust, and pet hair. You can run it over a variety of floor types, cleaning the surface in record time.
But a dry mop can’t cover everything. While mops are good on hardwood floors, they’re impossible to use on carpet.
That’s when a vacuum cleaner comes in handy. It only takes a few minutes to run a vacuum over your carpet and remove any dirt or debris lying around.
How To Clean Your Kitchen
The kitchen is arguably the most important room in any house. This is where all your food is stored, cooked and prepared.
Because of its frequent use, keeping the kitchen clean should be a top priority.
In a 5-minute cleaning session, you should focus on the following:
- Dishes: If you have a dishwasher, load up all utensils and dishware into the machine. Any dishes you have on a drying rack should be properly put away.
- Garbage: In a kitchen, garbage tends to pile up fast. Regularly take out the garbage and remember to put a fresh garbage bag in the bin. If you have a built-in trash disposal, you can toss in citrus slices to negate any lingering smells.
- Food storage: Cooking is a lot easier when you know where everything is. Regularly organize your pantry and fridge, and throw out any foods that have either expired or are close to expiring.
- Appliances: Ovens and microwaves take the brunt of a cooking session. Run a wet cloth over them to get rid of any stains leftover from past meals.
How To Clean Your Bathroom
Bathrooms are an integral place for any home.
Be sure to disinfect your toilet regularly. Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush at least once a week, and wipe down the rest of the toilet with a disinfectant product.
You’ll want to keep your mirror and sink-top clean, too. Spray the mirror with glass cleaner, making sure that no streaks are left behind. Then wipe down the sink with disinfectant to get rid of any germs.
The bathtub and shower will require the most effort. Use products that are designed to get rid of soap scum and other grime, and spray them along the walls and faucet-heads.
Lastly, be sure to replace your towels with fresh ones after every cleaning.
Deep Cleanings
While spot cleanings are fine if you’re in a hurry, they don’t cover everything. Even if you do regular house cleanings periodically, there are still areas that are easy to ignore.
That’s why it’s important to do a deep cleaning.
Deep cleaning means that you are cleaning your house as thoroughly as you possibly can. This process often includes the following:
- Washing and dusting baseboards and mold work
- Dusting or vacuuming lampshades and other light fixtures
- Wiping down all countertops
- Cleaning all windows and windowsills
- Washing doors
- Organizing cabinets and pantries
Naturally, such extensive cleaning is going to take a long time. If you dedicate a whole day to deep cleaning, however, you can accomplish a lot.
And if there’s still work to be done, focus on it little by little throughout the week!
Written By Maurine Emerson
Beyond her exceptional cleaning abilities, Maureen possesses excellent writing skills, making an avid contributor to the cleaning industry online. She treats every client with respect, kindness, and professionalism, ensuring that their satisfaction is her top priority. In her free time, Maureen enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. She believes that maintaining a clean and organized space contributes to a balanced and harmonious lifestyle.
