How Do I... 'Clean Over' My House in 30 Minutes?
No time for a proper clean? An expert shares some tricks of the trade for tidying your home in just half an hour
Georgia Madden
8 February 2019
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and design questions. Here, Elke Keeley, co-founder of home-cleaning company UrbanYou, reveals how to get your home neat and presentable in just half an hour.
What is a ‘clean over’?
A ‘clean over’ is a rapid-fire version of a full clean. It’s a great way to spruce up your home when you don’t have time for a proper clean, say when guests suddenly announce they are coming over. With a clean over, you focus on those areas that will give you the best bang for your buck in the shortest time possible.
A ‘clean over’ is a rapid-fire version of a full clean. It’s a great way to spruce up your home when you don’t have time for a proper clean, say when guests suddenly announce they are coming over. With a clean over, you focus on those areas that will give you the best bang for your buck in the shortest time possible.
Which areas should I clean?
Focus on the three or four most-used and visible places in your home. These are usually the kitchen, living room, bathroom and hallway. Start with the largest and messiest areas and work your way down to the ones that need the least attention.
Focus on cleaning and tidying visible surfaces and removing mess. Leave fiddly, time-consuming jobs such as cleaning window sills, dusting, wiping out kitchen drawers and the fridge for another day when you have more time. And for safety’s sake, this is not the time to tackle any cleaning tasks that require the use of a ladder.
Focus on the three or four most-used and visible places in your home. These are usually the kitchen, living room, bathroom and hallway. Start with the largest and messiest areas and work your way down to the ones that need the least attention.
Focus on cleaning and tidying visible surfaces and removing mess. Leave fiddly, time-consuming jobs such as cleaning window sills, dusting, wiping out kitchen drawers and the fridge for another day when you have more time. And for safety’s sake, this is not the time to tackle any cleaning tasks that require the use of a ladder.
If you have guests popping over for a visit, prioritise those areas they are likely to travel through and use, such as the living room, powder room and hallway. If they’re only coming for a short visit, shut the doors to the bedrooms and clean these when you have more time on your hands.
If, however, your guests will be staying overnight, you’ll need to give the guest room some attention. Quickly vacuum the floor (don’t forget under the bedside tables), wipe down flat surfaces, and give mirrors a once-over with glass cleaner. Make the bed with fresh sheets and place a clean, folded towel at the end of the bed.
If, however, your guests will be staying overnight, you’ll need to give the guest room some attention. Quickly vacuum the floor (don’t forget under the bedside tables), wipe down flat surfaces, and give mirrors a once-over with glass cleaner. Make the bed with fresh sheets and place a clean, folded towel at the end of the bed.
How do I clean over the kitchen?
- Clear benchtops and put things in the rubbish, recycling bin or dishwasher.
- Spray and wipe down benchtops with multi-purpose cleaner and a microfibre cloth.
- If you don’t have a dishwasher, fill the sink with warm soapy water and let the dishes soak while you clean the rest of the space to save you some elbow grease later.
And the bathroom or powder room?
- First, coat the toilet bowl with detergent to give it time to work.
- Clear vanity benchtops.
- Replace the towels and bathmat with fresh ones.
- Give mirrors and the shower a quick once-over with multi-purpose cleaner.
- Empty the rubbish bin.
- Open windows to let the area air and dry quickly.
- Clean the toilet and sink.
What about the living room?
- Clear the coffee table and wipe it down with a multi-purpose cleaner and a microfibre cloth.
- Put books, remote controls and anything else that belongs on your coffee table back neatly.
- Remove cushions from the sofa, take them outside and bang them together to remove dust. Redress the sofa.
- Dust the television and cabinet.
- Vacuum around the couch and tables as these are the most high-traffic areas (now is not the time to vacuum under the couch or behind potted plants).
- Open a window to let in fresh air.
- If it’s safe to do so, light a scented candle to fill the room with a beautiful aroma.
And the hallway?
- Remove keys, mail and other miscellaneous items from the console table and give it a wipe with a multi-purpose spray and a microfibre cloth.
- Remove all shoes, coats and bags from the hallway and return them to the cupboards or shelves where they belong (get family members who have left items here to return them to their own rooms).
- Pick up the outside doormat and bang it a few times to remove dirt and leaves, gather up leaves and debris with a dustpan and brush, and toss them into the garden.
- Ensure the line of sight from the front door to the inside of your home is clutter-free.
What equipment do I need?
- A garbage bag for any rubbish and scraps.
- Multi-purpose cleaning spray and a microfibre cloth.
- A lightweight, cordless hand-held vacuum cleaner can be a great time-saver as it’s easy to move around, and you don’t need to plug and unplug it as you move from room to room.
- Playing some great upbeat music on a little speaker can speed things up and make it more enjoyable.
Tell us
Do you have any tricks for a super-fast clean? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Looking for a cleaner or someone to help you clear the clutter? Find a professional home cleaner near you
Do you have any tricks for a super-fast clean? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Looking for a cleaner or someone to help you clear the clutter? Find a professional home cleaner near you
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Gad! The thirty-minute cleaners must be fit. Or have a 'horror room'.
My instant clean really involves just a tidy up - clear surfaces - kitchen bench, table and coffee table. Remove papers, clothing, other junk to work room to deal with later, make sure the bathroom is OK. Straighten my own bed if not already done. That can all be done in about 5 mins. A trick I have up my sleeve is a robotic vacuum cleaner! This gets turned on every morning when I walk the dog - he is docked back on his charger and the floor is clean by the time we return! Fantastic!
That clean of the guest bedroom described above would take me a good half hour! What about the rest of the house?
My 30 minute cleans are focused on vacuuming, wiping down bench tops, giving the bathroom a quick once over and a light dusting.