For many people, cleaning and decluttering their homes isn’t as difficult as keeping it in the same condition throughout the day. And one is bound to feel unmotivated to clean when their efforts don’t reap long-term benefits.
If you have to return things back to their home many times a day, you know that the solution doesn’t lie in how much efforts you are putting in but how well you do it in a way that your home stays clean throughout the day. It takes time and efforts to tidy up your home and it would be a bummer if you are unable to keep it clean for more than an hour.
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I know that it takes collective efforts to clean and maintain your home. You can’t hope to keep your home dirt-free if your kids and spouse aren’t parking their shoes in the entryway while you are doing it diligently. And even if everyone in your home is helping you make sure that they don’t add up to the mess, your efforts will go in vain if there isn’t a proper cleaning routine in place.
In order to keep chaos and clutter at bay, you need to follow some practical tips that can help keep your home clean for as long as possible:
1. Start With The Areas You Hate The Most
If you’re aiming for a clean home throughout the week, make sure that you start with the corners and areas you hate cleaning the most.
Personally, I hate cleaning my refrigerator and microwave which is why I always prefer to clean them first. This helps relieve a major part of my stress and motivates me to move to the other areas of the house.
2. Have A Cleaning Schedule
If you are always procrastinating on cleaning your home, it’s best if you mark all the cleaning days on a calendar. While some rooms might need to be cleaned on a weekly basis, others need not be cleaned more than once or twice a month.
I deep clean my kitchen at least once a week because I’m way too paranoid about food-related hygiene. For the bathrooms, I prefer calling professional cleaners once every 10 days. Every other room in my house is cleaned twice a month wherein I always make it a point to reach every hidden corner. While the weekends are reserved for cleaning any one room of the house, I always make sure that the floors are mopped daily.
Apart from a room-by-room cleaning schedule, you can also try cleaning by category. For example, you can reserve the first weekend of the month for changing and washing the bedsheets, pillow covers and towels. On the second weekend, you can dust and wipe the flat surfaces, fittings and furnishings of the house. Reserve the third weekend for bathroom cleaning and fourth for the kitchen as these areas need a lot of time to clean.
3. Reserve 15 Minutes Every Day For A Quick Clean-Up
This little tip can be a game changer for your home. If you are tired of the mess piling up in your home with every passing day, make it a habit to stay on top of it by setting aside 15 minutes every day for a quick clutter pick-up. Whether it’s before you leave for work or before you go to sleep at night, spending just 15 minutes decluttering your home can help keep you sane.
You can start with clearing the kitchen countertops and wiping it clean with a damp cloth. Then move over to the living room where you rearrange the throw pillows, pick up everything that’s lying out of place and return it to its rightful home. Now go over to the bedroom and quickly clear the nightstand before picking random items lying on the bed and the floor.
4. Create A Habit Of Cleaning As You Go
If your busy life doesn’t leave you with much time to clean your home, it’s best if you learn to ‘clean as you go’. This is another great way to stay on top of the stains and dust.
For instance, when you are cooking food, use the downtime to wipe the appliances and the countertop. And wash the dishes immediately after you’re done eating. You must also create a habit of cleaning stains as soon as you spot them and return everything to its rightful place after using it.
5. Clean With The Right Tools
The tools you will be needing for cleaning are totally different from the ones you use for decluttering. Having the right tools while cleaning your house is extremely important if you want your efforts to bear fruits. Always use a good quality brush for scrubbing those stubborn stains on the floor and the sink. White vinegar, disinfectant liquids and baking soda can also do wonders while cleaning the inside of the refrigerator, the microwave and many other surfaces. Use gloves while dusting and microfiber cloths for cleaning and wiping.
Make sure that you keep all the cleaning supplies readily accessible to make it easier for yourself to clean. You don’t want to waste your time running around trying to find these supplies only to lose focus.
6. Call Professional Cleaners Regularly
No matter how good you are at cleaning and maintaining your home, make sure that you call in professional cleaners every now and then to help you deal with the allergens and termite. Getting your home professionally cleaned is extremely important to keep health-related issues at bay.
Accept the fact that there are many areas and corners in your home that get overlooked and can’t be accessed by you. Furthermore, professional cleaners are well-equipped to help you get rid of the contaminants and allergens that you didn’t even know existed in your house.
I hope these tips help you in making sure that you have an easier time keeping your home clean all day long. Now these may not be the only tips you can implement, but they will guide you in setting a groundwork for a cleaner-looking home.