Posted on August 23rd, 2021
What if we told you it’s possible to shave hours off your weekly cleaning routine, without cutting corners? If you clean the same way most people do – i.e., haphazardly tidying up messes as you find them – reducing your total cleaning time may be as simple as adopting a more strategic approach to housekeeping. By planning tasks ahead of time, you can avoid spreading dirt around your home and reduce the amount you travel between areas, thereby making cleaning much less work-intensive.
In this article, we’ll explain what order you should clean your house in and provide some useful tips for cleaning more efficiently. And, if you want to save even more time, you can contact our licensed, bonded maid services in Edmond, Oklahoma for additional cleaning help.
7 Tips For Cleaning Your Home in The Right Order
Put away clutter
It’s impossible to clean efficiently if you’re constantly tripping over misplaced items. Before you dive into your weekly housekeeping, take a few minutes to pick up dirty laundry, toys, junk mail, and anything else that isn’t in its proper location. Not only will quickly tidying up clutter save you time later, but it will also instantly make your home look neater and more organized, which is a great confidence booster.
(Need more advice on how to declutter your home? Check out our list of 6 essential tips for a clutter-free life.)
Take care of any prep work you need to do.
Some cleaning tasks involve a waiting period, such as soaking very dirty dishes, running the dishwasher, cleaning the oven, bleaching the toilet bowl, or using baking soda to deodorize carpets and upholstery. To streamline your cleaning routine, take care of these tasks immediately after you tidy up clutter. That way, appliances and long-acting cleansers will have time to work their magic while you’re taking care of the rest of the house.
Start by cleaning the most difficult room in the house.
Beginning with the most challenging room in your home is smart for two reasons: First, it ensures you won’t end up tackling the biggest job on your “to do” list when you’re already tired from cleaning. Second, knowing the hardest job is already done will help you stay motivated to clean the rest of your house.
In most homes, the most difficult room to clean is actually one of the smallest: the bathroom. Between scrubbing the toilet, cleaning the shower, removing mold and soap scum, polishing fixtures, and sanitizing surfaces, cleaning the bathroom can feel like a full-body workout. Once you have this task out of the way, everything else on your list will seem comparatively easy.
Next, clean the kitchen.
Most of us do a bit of kitchen cleaning each day (e.g., wiping up spills, sanitizing surfaces, and washing dishes), so tidying this area is usually easier than scrubbing the bathroom. However, the kitchen should still be treated as a priority because keeping it clean is crucial to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, and viruses in your home. By cleaning the kitchen immediately after the bathroom, you’ll ensure your home remains a healthy environment, even if you run out of time before finishing the rest of your weekly housekeeping duties.
Dust the rest of your home.
Once you’ve taken care of the most labor-intensive items on your “to do” list, it’s time to start freshening up the common areas of your home. Using a damp microfiber cloth or a microfiber duster, thoroughly dust all of the surfaces in your bedroom, living room, and dining room, starting with the upstairs and working your way downstairs. Similarly, make sure you dust each room from top to bottom: Dust walls, ceiling fixtures, and the tops of cabinets first, then work your way down to shelves, mantles, and furniture. This way, any dust that’s released into the air while you work will gradually be transferred to the floor.
Vacuum and mop the floors.
Finally, you’re ready to put the finishing touch on your home by getting rid of all the dust, grit, and grime that’s accumulated on your floors. Vacuum first to remove crumbs and debris, then mop the floor with hot, soapy water to kill germs and dissolve stains.
Leave the little details for later.
Perfectionism can be just as harmful to efficiency as procrastination. If you try to take care of all the little details in every room during routine weekly cleaning (e.g., cleaning baseboards, windows, and hard-to-reach places), you’ll almost certainly run out of time. You’ll also expend more energy than you need to, because many of these areas don’t need to be cleaned frequently. Unless you have allergies or strongly prefer living in a spotless home, it’s safe to allocate one day per month for this type of deep cleaning.
Feeling Overwhelmed by Housework? Our Oklahoma City Maids Can Help
Cleaning in the right order can help you stay on top of your housework, but it still takes time. If you’re too busy to devote a few hours to cleaning each week, there’s no amount of planning, organizing, or strategizing that will keep your home truly fresh and gleaming. Fortunately, there is an easier way: Our flexible, affordable cleaning services in Oklahoma City can help you keep your environment tidy and manageable, no matter what your schedule is like.
To arrange an appointment with one of our licensed, bonded maids today, use our convenient online booking form or contact us by phone at (405) 353-2665. We look forward to helping you create the home you’ve always dreamed while you have a wonderful day relaxing in E.C. Hafer Park.