How many times were you too tired to vacuum and dust? Maybe you rather wanted to go out with friends than spend the whole day cleaning. If done correctly, you will hardly spend a few hours every week keeping your home tidy. What you need are secrets to clean your house like a pro and still have time left for leisure activities.
Start with decluttering
Sure, picking up things and putting them in their place doesn’t sound fun at all. However, it can be therapeutic and keep your house in pristine shape for longer. Decluttering is also the first step you should take before cleaning to throw out unwanted things and make room to move around.
The good news is that you don’t have to declutter the whole house at once. Start with your closets, drawers, and cabinets, then proceed to larger areas. Not to mention this is something you won’t do often if you keep things at their designated spot once you finish with decluttering.
Create a cleaning plan
If you are busy or hate cleaning, you may postpone this chore until your house is an overwhelming mess. But, there is a way to prevent this from happening by following a plan. Go around your house and write down everything that needs to be done.
Some chores may not require your presence all the time, like washing laundry or dishes, so you can do something else while machines are doing their job. It might be helpful to create a schedule and hang it in a visible spot so you can tick the chores you finished. Also, you can create a schedule that will remind you to do some cleaning every day and avoid turning it into an exhausting task.
Let the products work first
When it comes to limescale stains, burnt-on spills, and other tasks that require scrubbing, you can just let the products do their magic. Specially design cleaners can dissolve and soften such persistent stains so in most cases you will only need to brush and wipe them.
Just keep in mind that some of these products contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals so wear a mask and gloves when you use them. Opening a window or turning on ventilation is also a good idea to avoid vapors getting into your eyes and lungs.
Clean stainless steel appliances with a microfiber cloth
Stainless steel appliances give a modern and slick look to your kitchen, but they are also a magnet for fingerprints and other stains. To have them sparkle and shine, use a microfiber cloth instead of a paper towel or a kitchen rag.
Start with a wet microfiber cloth and wipe down an appliance until you removed all the dirt and stains. Then, immediately after, use a dry microfiber cloth to dry it out and make it shine. The best thing is you don’t need any chemicals to do this and you won’t have to scrub to exhaustion to make your stainless steel appliances like new.
Use newspapers for windows
If you have old newspapers around the house, don’t throw them out when decluttering. They are excellent for window washing because of their abrasive properties thanks to a combination of paper and ink. Use window spray on the glass and then wipe it down with crumpled newspaper until it shines.
For those strong stains, spray your favorite window cleaner and use a razor blade to scrape off the stain while it’s still wet. Once you succeed, use the newspaper to dry it off.
Perform thorough cleanings few times a year
A thorough cleaning before each season is a good idea to remove accumulated dust and dirt from every nook and cranny. However, this is a big job so you may be better off with hiring house cleaning services and letting them do all the hard work. These companies use special equipment and chemicals that are not available for commercial use.
In addition, cleaners know how to deal with stains and dirt that may seem impossible to take care of to you. They will also move the furniture, wash every part of the house including the roof, and do it expertly without damaging anything in your home. After such an in-depth cleaning, you will only have to do the usual housework, like decluttering, vacuuming, and dusting.
Prepare your cleaning caddy
To clean your house like a pro, you will need special products and tools to do it. Instead of wasting your time on finding where you put which cleaning product, keep them all in one place. Moreover, prepare a cleaning caddy containing everything you need for keeping your house in order.
Some of the products every cleaning caddy should include are microfiber cloths, disinfectant, sponges, furniture polish, brush, all-purpose spray cleaner, and limescale remover. You can add anything else you like to use, even bring a vacuum with you, so you don’t have to go back and forth whenever you need something.
Leave vacuuming for the end
Vacuuming should be the last housecleaning chore on your list. It makes sense since dusting and doing other chores can have dirt falling to the floors and carpets. If you vacuum first and do everything else after, you will probably have to vacuum one more time in the end.
If you have carpets, it may be wise to brush them with a solution of soap and water to remove hairs and stains. It will also give your carpets a fresh smell and revive their colors, especially if you use specifically designed products for that. However, don’t put away your vacuum just yet and use it on the furniture, especially behind the cushions and between upholstery.
Lastly
House cleaning is something everyone has done, but not everyone is a fan of doing it. To encourage yourself to do it regularly and clean your house like a pro, you have to start with a plan and decluttering. Try to set a schedule for every household member or just to remind yourself when it’s time to do something. It’s also okay to hire a cleaning service from time to time since some things are done properly only when performed by professionals.
