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How Do I... Reduce My Cleaning Time?
None of us want to spend all our precious time cleaning the house – here are some tips for keeping it to a minimum
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and garden questions. Here, Lisa Lamond, Kärcher ambassador and former winner of House Rules on the Seven Network, shares her top time-saving cleaning hacks.
Start the day on a clean note
Personally, I always like to ensure that my bedroom is tidy, otherwise I don’t feel organised and ready to tackle the day. I can function and feel at ease when my home is tidy but a little dirty; I can’t relax when it’s clean but cluttered.
Personally, I always like to ensure that my bedroom is tidy, otherwise I don’t feel organised and ready to tackle the day. I can function and feel at ease when my home is tidy but a little dirty; I can’t relax when it’s clean but cluttered.
Run a load
I always try to put on a load of washing before I go to work or head out for the day (a delay-start timer can help if you’re worried about leaving a wet load sitting in the machine for too long). I then hang it up as soon as I get home. This one simple habit means far less loads to do at the weekend, which saves oodles of time.
I always try to put on a load of washing before I go to work or head out for the day (a delay-start timer can help if you’re worried about leaving a wet load sitting in the machine for too long). I then hang it up as soon as I get home. This one simple habit means far less loads to do at the weekend, which saves oodles of time.
Create a cleaning schedule
Following a simple, weekly cleaning schedule ensures that my house isn’t just tidy, but actually clean. It’s not an exhausting schedule, but it outlines which days I do certain tasks and it keeps me accountable. I look forward to including my children in this schedule in the future.
As part of this schedule, I try to give myself 20 minutes of uninterrupted time each day (around my children’s sleep times) when I carry out as much cleaning as possible.
It helps to have a fully stocked cleaning basket that I carry with me from room to room – this way I’m not wasting time searching for that elusive cleaning product.
Following a simple, weekly cleaning schedule ensures that my house isn’t just tidy, but actually clean. It’s not an exhausting schedule, but it outlines which days I do certain tasks and it keeps me accountable. I look forward to including my children in this schedule in the future.
As part of this schedule, I try to give myself 20 minutes of uninterrupted time each day (around my children’s sleep times) when I carry out as much cleaning as possible.
It helps to have a fully stocked cleaning basket that I carry with me from room to room – this way I’m not wasting time searching for that elusive cleaning product.
Have a few cleaning hacks up your sleeve
- A basket in every room: I have a basket in most rooms of the house that I can quickly toss things into when I’m cleaning. It helps me declutter a room pretty quickly and my girls then help me sort through the basket.
- Wipe down the shower screen: My bathroom-cleaning hack is to wipe down the shower screen and tiles after every use so that I can remove soap scum (or in my case, purple shampoo!) before it hardens and becomes difficult to remove. I wipe down the mirror too, which makes the room look really clean with very little effort.
- Quick cleaners: I leave a packet of disposable, biodegradable surface wipes in most rooms of the house so I can quickly wipe down surfaces to remove germs, dust and dirt.
Seek out time-saving appliances
- Cordless vacuum: I use my cordless vacuum for those quick cleans when I don’t want to pull out the heavy, clunky cleaner that needs to be plugged in – and it’s been a lifesaver.
- Steam cleaner: I only recently discovered the benefits of steam cleaning: it is a powerful eco-friendly and non-toxic way to clean and sanitise the hard floors and surfaces in your home. The extreme heat also eradicates mould, bacteria and dust mites.
- Hard-floor cleaner: I have a model that vaccums and washes floors simultaneously, which makes it quick and easy to keep my tiled floors clean.
If time is short, focus on the areas that count
If I am in a hurry, I focus on cleaning the high-traffic areas of my home that tend to get grubby quickly, such as the front hallway. I also focus on those rooms that need to be kept hygienic, such as the kitchen and bathrooms.
I’d leave the cleaning of rooms that are used less frequently, such as the guest bedroom, for another day when I have more time.
If I am in a hurry, I focus on cleaning the high-traffic areas of my home that tend to get grubby quickly, such as the front hallway. I also focus on those rooms that need to be kept hygienic, such as the kitchen and bathrooms.
I’d leave the cleaning of rooms that are used less frequently, such as the guest bedroom, for another day when I have more time.
Tell us
What are your quick cleaning hacks? Tell us your tips in the Comments section below. And remember to like and bookmark this story, and subtly share it with those living under your roof. Go on, join the conversation.
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Find a cleaning service near you
What are your quick cleaning hacks? Tell us your tips in the Comments section below. And remember to like and bookmark this story, and subtly share it with those living under your roof. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Find a cleaning service near you
Having a few simple habits, such as putting things away, tidying as you go and wiping up spills the moment you see them, makes it far easier to stay on top of housework. Best of all, it means that you won’t end up with a huge, overwhelming cleaning job at the end of the week.
It may sound obvious, but when we made the rule that the whole family would sit together at the table to eat every night, rather than in front of the television, my cleaning time reduced considerably.