Does the idea of cleaning your house have you running for the hills? We have some cleaning secrets for you! House cleaning can seem like such a simple task, but if it were so easy to do, there wouldn’t be such a high demand for professional cleaners. Take a page out of the professional cleaners’ book! Here are some cleaning secrets from the pros for keeping your home in tip-top shape.
– The magic of multitasking: Nobody wants to spend their entire day cleaning. Keeping your house spotless takes a lot of work, not to mention regular upkeep. Multitasking isn’t just for the office— it can make home cleaning faster and more efficient. While you’re waiting for the toilet bowl cleaner to break down the grime, wipe down bathroom mirrors and surfaces. As you’re cleaning up your kitchen, let the dishwasher run. Maximize your time to get more out of home cleaning. It also helps to use cleaning products that can do multiple things. Get an all-purpose bathroom cleaner or a multi-purpose disinfectant. It will make cleaning easier, while also cutting down on costly supplies.
– Go “old school”: If there’s a maid in a movie or television show, they’ll probably have a feather duster somewhere around them. Despite this popular image, a lot of people don’t own one … and they’re missing out! A feather duster can be the perfect tool for cleaning. Not only can they get into places that are tough to reach with a rag, but they’re also gentle, and they can keep pictures and blinds dust-free without damaging them.
– Bow down to baking soda: Want to know about one of the most powerful cleaning tools around? It’s not found in the cleaning aisle of your nearest grocery story; it’s sitting in the baking aisle— baking soda! Baking soda is a non-toxic, gentle and powerful cleaning product, and it can be a powerful scrubbing tool that has the added benefit of whitening surfaces. Did you know that baking soda mixed with white vinegar can help unclog drains? After pouring the solution down the drain (and letting it work its magic for about 15 minutes), follow it up with boiling water for a non-toxic de-clogging agent that’s easy on your plumbing. Learn more about “green cleaning.”
– Brush your furry friends: If there’s one thing most cat and dog owners have in common, it’s the constant battle against pet hair. Even pets that aren’t big shedders are bound to leave a few strands laying around. A lot of extra pet hair can make vacuuming and dusting more time-consuming, and it could also aggravate allergies. The easiest way to handle pet hair is to take care of it while it’s still on their bodies. Every pet is different, but it’s helpful to schedule two brushing sessions for your furry friends each week. Eventually, there will be less hair around the house to clean, and as an added bonus, their coat will look flawless.
– Hit the “high-traffic” areas first: People have to use the bathroom every day, but they won’t be using the big dining room until the next major holiday. It’s natural to want to spend your time cleaning every room. Here’s a cleaning secret: Focus on places like the bathroom, kitchen and other shared living areas first. Other living spaces, like the basement and bedrooms, can be handled after “high-traffic” areas are cleaned.
– Embrace a clutter-free life: A surprising amount of mess is nothing more than clutter– that’s no cleaning secret. It’s easy to acquire a lot of clothes, appliances, and other things after you’ve been living in a house for a few years. Getting rid of clutter can help make cleaning homes much easier. Sort through all of your closets, cabinets, and shelves to cut down on clutter. Don’t feel the need to hold on to anything that hasn’t been used in the past year.
– Clean while you cook: Cooking can be messy (that’s no cleaning secret), and sometimes even the simplest meals can create a mess. This ties into our tip about multi-tasking, and it is especially useful for amateur chefs that want to keep their kitchens clean. As you cook, make it a point to clean up after yourself. Wash some dishes while the water for the pasta comes to a boil. Wipe down the counters after the chopping and seasoning is done. The more you get done in the process of cooking, the more time you’ll have to enjoy your delicious meal.
– Work from the top down: When it comes to cleaning your house, the order is everything. We’re not talking about always cleaning the kitchen before cleaning the bathroom. People can clean rooms in whatever order they wish, but cleaning by starting from the top of the room and working downward can make all the difference. Dust the ceiling fan, move on to surfaces like tables and shelves, and then focus on the floor. Doing this ensures you don’t spend time accidentally having to re-clean rooms as you move throughout the house. That’s why professional cleaners always work from the top down.
– Get a toothbrush: While this post is about cleaning and not proper dental hygiene, a toothbrush is one of the best cleaning tools you can use. Every house has nooks and crannies that can be tough to get to. A toothbrush is small, easy to maneuver, and can scrub out troublesome stains and build-up. What’s more, the bristles are tough but gentle enough, to not leave marks. Professional cleaners swear by them, and they can make cleaning much easier and more efficient.
