How to clean faster

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Cleaning your home shouldn't be too time-consuming. I am sure that each of you will find something more enjoyable and interesting for yourself. However, you should not neglect maintaining cleanliness, since dust in the corners and mountains of dishes in the sink cannot be justified by the concept of "creative disorder". To make regular cleaning of your apartment faster, consider the following tips.

Clean by the rules

The main cleaning rule: moving from top to bottom … You must always follow it. No matter how carefully you pick up the crumbs on the table, they will still fall on the floor. Even wet cleaning of various surfaces should be done before you start cleaning the floor.

Another important aspect is the development the most efficient route … Try to follow it every time, so as not to miss anything and do not return again to the skipped sections.

Define intervals

Many people clean the entire apartment at once on the same day of the week. But this is not the most efficient way. Actually different areas get dirty at different rates … Try to create a cleaning calendar for zones at different length intervals for each. Use reminder apps like DGT GTD or others.

Adjust the intervals depending on the time of year and in special cases (for example, if relatives come to visit you).

Use the right fabrics

Do not use rags or gauze as a dust cloth. It is better to take special microfiber napkins. They do not leave behind fibers, do not roll or shed, absorb much more water and at the same time absorb less liquids into the fiber (which means faster rinsing) and dry quickly. They can (and should) be washed. But do not dry such rags on the radiator.

Wash the dishes right away

Consider buying a dishwasher again. If this option does not work for you, then simplify the process of washing in the sink as much as possible.

Get into the habit of washing dishes immediately after eating, without waiting for the sink to fill up.

The advice is simple, but many neglect it, although it is the sink full of dried-up dirty dishes that scares you so much. Washing a few plates and glasses right after a meal will take just a few minutes.

If you are used to a long dinner of several courses, accompanied by a leisurely conversation, then for you an additional life hack: before dinner, fill the sink with warm water with a small amount of detergent and put the used dishes right there so that it does not dry out.

Clean the stove last

In a kitchen, the dirtiest surface is usually the stove. When you start cleaning the kitchen, apply the cleaner to the stove and let it sit for a few minutes. At this time, start wiping the surface to the right of the stove and move clockwise around the kitchen. You can move in the opposite direction - this is not a strict rule.:) The main thing is that this way you can avoid unnecessary trips to the sink to rinse the rags.

When you are the last to get back to the stove, removing even stubborn dirt does not require much effort. Especially if you do not neglect special cleaning agents for stoves: they are more aggressive than conventional detergents and remove dirt better. At the same time, due to the absence of abrasive particles, the stove cleaner does not damage the surface, in contrast to cleaning agents that contain soda. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from exposure to concentrated ingredients.

Keep your plumbing clean

Metal surfaces in the bathroom get dirty extremely quickly, becoming covered with drops and splashes. This can be pretty depressing, considering that you have to scrub off plaque and rust quite thoroughly. Therefore, try to prevent contamination of your plumbing between cleanings. When taking a bath or washing children or pets, wipe down the taps again. Remove toothpaste splashes right away while they are still easily washed off with water. Rinse your bathtub or shower with hot water after washing.

Don't forget the bathroom curtain

The polyester bath curtain also needs to be washed. You may not be doing this. Just wash it with any other items for which you use a program with not too hot water. Once or twice a month will be enough. And remember to straighten it out every time you shower to dry it out and avoid plaque and unpleasant odors.

Get rid of extra bottles in the bathroom

Take a critical look at your bathroom shelves. Do you really need that much? Shower gels, bath foams, scrubs, shampoos, balms, conditioners, masks, lotions, tonics … When cleaning a bathroom, you have to rinse each of them and wipe the surface under them. Leave only those that you really use regularly. Buy such tools that combine several functions at once, for example shower gel + scrub or mask + balm rinse. Those products that you use less often than once a week are best placed in lockers that get less dust.

Put things in order

Excess items require additional attention: they are all covered with dust, and each has to be given time when cleaning. Therefore, if there are dozens of cute things on the shelves in your apartment, you should definitely reconsider which of them are really dear and useful to you.

Keeping things in order is not a one-time event. This "elephant" needs to be eaten piece by piece.

Schedule a cleaning schedule for your closets by clearing one of the blocks each week. Let only the essentials remain on the shelves, and distribute the rest or send it to the trash heap without unnecessary regrets. Do not get attached to things and henceforth try not to litter your home with trinkets.

Simplify your choice

The wardrobes of many women (and more and more men today) are full of things that have not been worn for months. Excessive variety only leads to wasted time choosing what to wear every morning. To make it easier to make choices, and at the same time to clean, reorganize your wardrobe. Try the following action plan:

• Store out of season clothing.
• Choose the clothes that you wear regularly and arrange them so that they do not wrinkle and are immediately ready in the right configuration.
• Pick a few things that are waiting in the wings and find a reason to wear them in the next fortnight.
• Put the rest in the box and date it. After a month, return to her and get rid of those things that you never needed.

Wash in a gentler environment

Long-term washing in hot water really only makes sense in the case of bed linen and towels. Modern washing powders are quite effective and, if you do not cover things, they can be washed even in cold water or at 30–40 degrees. Plus, in cold water, paint is washed out of fabrics less. And don't neglect the air conditioner: it makes clothes softer, easier to iron, and less static electricity. Just do not overdo it with its amount, so as not to leave a too intrusive smell.

I would advise using less spin (at least lowering the speed will be enough). So for many things, the need for ironing will disappear altogether - it will be enough just to dry them in a straightened form.

Don't be afraid of cleaning the floor

The floor is perhaps the largest object in your home. It causes despondency only from the awareness of the scale. But in reality, cleaning the floor is the easiest part. The main thing is to provide yourself with the right inventory (more on that below).

Additional life hack: To keep the floor clean throughout the apartment, try to clean up the most dirty areas more often (the area near the front door, next to the sink and stove in the kitchen, near the cat litter box). For example, once again wipe the floor at the front door, collect the sawdust scattered by the cat. This will take a couple of minutes, and the floor in other areas of the apartment will need to be washed less frequently.

Buy a good vacuum cleaner

For starters, if you have carpets, consider buying a more powerful vacuum cleaner so you don't waste time and energy on useless movements. Remember that a more powerful vacuum cleaner means saving you energy, not energy consumption.

A more powerful vacuum cleaner saves you energy, not energy consumption.

Clean the dust container more often, as the suction power decreases as it fills up. And it is better to use a vacuum cleaner with an aquafilter. Even if you do not have allergies, you should not provoke it by regularly inhaling dust.

Don't skimp on a mop

Be sure to buy yourself a good mop. Cheap mops are often made from materials that don't pick up dirt well, leave lint, and wear out after a few uses.

Washing with a cheap mop is a real torment! You have to go through the same place several times and even pick up dirt from the floor with your hands (wow!). So don't be greedy at the counter, it's not that much money anyway. The choice of shape depends on the geometry of your rooms and your style.

• A rope spin mop is more suitable for those who like to wash quickly, dexterously climbing into every corner.
• The rectangular microfiber mop is suitable for those who prefer to wash in a measured way, line by line.

Use quality detergents

Think again before buying a regular detergent. Try some alternative eco-cleaning products. You will really be surprised at the difference if you have washed with one of the popular detergents from the supermarket until now. You don't have to wipe it down a second time with a clean cloth to keep the floor sticky. At the same time, it will be enough to walk in one place only once, and the floor will already shine with cleanliness. In addition, the consumption of mass-market cleaning products is much higher. And this not only more than compensates for their low price, but also is not very useful for your pets or children, who somehow eat part of what is on the floor.

And finally

To make cleaning not only quick, but also enjoyable, listen to music or audiobooks while cleaning. And it's better to put on your headphones right away so as not to miss a piece of the recording when the water makes a noise or you go out onto the balcony. Dancing to your favorite tracks, you will make cleaning much more joyful, and the plot of an exciting book will even make you look forward to the next time.