A New Year is full of resolutions and promises that may not be kept. It’s the ideal time to clean up your home after the holiday.
Here are 12 cleaning tips for incorporating into your cleaning routine. There are 12 months in a year. This year, you should work smarter and not harder.
All Laundry Duties
You don’t have to be overwhelmed by laundry piles. It is time to simplify your laundry process and get everyone involved. They can do laundry if they can read and use computers. Preschoolers can sort their laundry by color and bring it to the laundry area.
Initiate the one-touch rules. If you don’t like an item, return it to its original place. You can designate a place in your closet to store items you have worn and are confident could be worn again. You can put something in the hamper if you are wearing it.
Use a Cleaning Calendar
You can list chores for each week, month, and year to help you remember what you need to do. When it is not the season, schedule chimney cleaning in spring. Garden equipment maintenance will be done in the fall.
How to Use Cleaning Products
You can work smarter and not more challenging if you take the time to carefully read cleaning product labels to ensure that they are the right strength for the job. After applying the cleaner, let it work for 5-10 minutes before you begin scrubbing. It will make the task so much easier.
Don’t Allow the Dirt to Get Inside
Keep dirt out of your home to reduce cleaning time. You can place doormats at each entrance. Choose an entryway rug that is easy to clean. No matter if the main entrance is via a mudroom, or through the front door of the house, remind your guests to take off their shoes. A bench or chair is a good option for shoe removal. A shoe tray for wet shoes or muddy shoes is handy. Also, keep a bin on hand to collect the footwear of family members.
Handy Cleaning Supplies
If everything is available, you’ll be more likely to clean. You can find a place for cleaning supplies in almost every room with vertical storage in closets, overhead storage or even a rolling cart that you can move from one room to the next.
If you live in a multi-story house, consider purchasing multiple vacuums and floor cleaners. You can find a place for cleaning supplies in almost every room with vertical storage in closets, overhead storage, or even a roll-away cart that can be moved from one room to the next.
Clean Your Cleaning Tools
Your cleaning tools, such as the mop, vacuum, duster, and sponge, won’t give you the results that you want. The dirty mop will simply re-deposit dirt and/or move around every time it is used. If your tools and cleaning supplies are dirty, how can you expect to have clean houses? Make sure your tools are clean so they can do their jobs.
Quick Clean after Every Shower or Bath
Each week, a bathtub or shower should be cleaned thoroughly. You might be able to extend the time required to clean the bathtub or shower to two weeks if you only do 60 seconds of maintenance every time you use it.
After every shower, use a squeegee to wipe down the walls of the shower and clean out the doors.
Hang any tools, such as brushes or poofs, from the shower to dry completely. Finally, drain any excess hair.
This simple routine will maintain ceramic tile, fiberglass, and stone shower enclosures in their best condition and make it easier to clean them every week.
Reduce Dust
Finding ways to reduce dust is one of the best cleaning tricks. Keep windows and doors closed. Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter. Brush your furry pets frequently and change your HVAC filters regularly.
Finish Each Task
Everyone gets interrupted. However, you can still complete the task once it’s started.
Don’t forget to take a break on social media if you get out of your ironing board until you are done ironing.
Unloading a dishwasher takes just minutes. Dirty dishes can be put directly in the dishwasher instead of being left in the sink.
To make cleaning your house easier, divide the chores into rooms or tasks and do at least one per day.
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
Aim to get rid of as much clutter as possible in the new year. Reduce clutter by:
Go digital, recycle, or shred paper as soon as possible.
Keep a box of clothing in your closet that you don’t use anymore.
You can take small steps so it doesn’t seem overwhelming. Plan to clear out the whole house and get rid of any items that you don’t need.