There’s an old saying that a woman’s work is never done…and if you’re a busy working mum, it can often feel like it’s true.
The fact is, like all these old wive’s tales, you can either choose to believe it and give up, or take control of your situation and get the results you want and need…and cleaning is no different.
Here are some tips to get on top of your cleaning list, and more importantly, cut your cleaning time so you can get more done in less time:
- Stay on top of it
Little and often doesn’t just apply to diets – it can apply to your chores around the house, too. Trying to clean weeks, months, days’ worth of dirt can be a real slog, but if you stop dirt and grime from accumulating in the first place, it takes a lot less time and effort to keep it clean.
Did you know that 85 percent of all dirt that comes into the home is on the bottom of shoes? By placing mats at the entrance of your home so people can wipe their shoes, you’ll reduce the amount of dirt coming in-and the amount you’ll have to clean later.
- Keep cleaning supplies close to hand
Have all of your cleaning supplies and equipment nearby while you’re cleaning so you don’t have to keep stopping to retrieve missing tools or products.
A cleaning caddy, bucket or bowl, cleaning apron or laundry basket can all be used to transport cleaning supplies from room to room (and they make great storage containers,too).
Carry a few damp cloths (which can be used to clean 90 percent of the surfaces in your home) to save time running back and forth from the sink.
- Get more for your money
Look for products with ‘two-in-one’ benefits, like glass cleaner with disinfectant can be used on a variety of surfaces, eliminating the need for multiple spray cans (and the time to fumble for them). Failing that, an all-purpose cleaner can be a great product to have around the house, at it will work on just about every cleaning job around your home.
- Clean your home from top to bottom
This doesn’t mean give it a thorough clean – you’ll do that anyway! Cleaning from top to bottom means starting at the top of the house and working your way down.
Dust and dirt fall to the floor while you clean, so start at the top to avoid having to re-clean lower areas twice. For the same reason, always dust first and vacuum last.
- Don’t clean what’s already clean
As tempting as it is, don’t keep cleaning areas that you’ve cleaned already – use that time and energy to tackle parts of your home that haven’t been touched. You can shave hours off your routine by cleaning only the dirty areas of furniture, fixtures or appliances, and shining the rest of it with a slightly damp cloth.
- Get the whole family involved
If it took more than one person to cause the mess, then it should take more than one person to tidy it up. Assign everyone in the family a particular cleaning chore and have each person complete his or her task in each room of the home.
When everyone helps with cleaning, the house can be cleaned in practically no time, and you can give yourselves a nice family treat at the end.
Cleaning together can also be a great bonding session – even for the grumpiest of teenagers – and it makes it look fair, so it’s harder for anyone to back out!
