Posted on November 8th, 2021
Our daily habits have a significant impact on our overall quality of life. Sticking to a positive routine improves time management, reduces stress, promotes better sleep, and helps us make healthier choices. Still, despite knowing the benefits of good discipline, many of us forget to apply it to housekeeping. All too often, we let chores pile up during the week, only to find ourselves faced with an overwhelming amount of cleaning to do on the weekend.
To change this pattern, we recommend doing a bit of cleaning each day. Taking just 15 minutes to complete the daily chores outlined below, along with learning how to clean your home in the right order, can make weekend cleaning a breeze. Alternatively, you can use our cleaning services in Oklahoma to take care of the bigger jobs for you – and keep your weekends free for relaxation.
The 6 Essential Daily Chores, According to Our Oklahoma City Maids
1. Wash the dishes.
Leaving dirty dishes out overnight is never a good idea. Not only does this practice give food debris time to harden onto dishes, but it also attracts pests and allows dangerous foodborne pathogens to grow in your kitchen. If you have dirty dishes left over after loading your dishwasher at the end of the night, take a few minutes to handwash them, dry them, and put them away. Your kitchen will look and smell fresher as a result of your efforts and your family will have a lower risk of food poisoning.
2. Sanitize cleaning sponges.
Sponges are one of the most versatile cleaning tools at our disposal thanks to their ability to absorb liquid while whisking away grease and grime. Unfortunately, this absorbent quality also means sponges tend to stay damp for a long time after we use them – making them an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, the average used kitchen sponge contains about 82 billion bacteria per cubic inch. Even more concerning, researchers identified potentially dangerous species, like E. coli and salmonella, living in some of the sponges they sampled. With a few simple precautions, however, it’s fairly easy to avoid spreading these bacteria around:
At the end of each day, gather up your used kitchen sponges and place them on the top rack of your dishwasher, then wash them along with your dishes. The extremely hot water and detergent in your dishwasher will kill any bacteria inside them, readying them for use the next day.
Alternatively, if you don’t own a dishwasher (or you need to sanitize a sponge quickly for reuse), you can clean used kitchen sponges in the microwave. To use this method, soak the sponge in a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar for five minutes to remove crumbs, break down grease, and saturate the sponge with liquid. (Microwaving a dry sponge could cause a fire, so you should always soak sponges thoroughly before heating them.) Then, place the still-wet sponge in the microwave and run it on high for two minutes. Studies show that this cleaning method effectively kills 99.9% of germs.
3. Make the bed.
Making the bed every morning may not be necessary from a hygiene standpoint, but it’s still a highly beneficial habit. By turning bed-making into a daily ritual, you’ll start each day with a sense of order and accomplishment, which may help you feel more in control of other aspects of your life. Research from the National Sleep Foundation also suggests that people fall asleep more quickly, and enjoy a better night’s rest, when their room is tidy and organized.
4. Wipe down hard surfaces.
Hard surfaces, like kitchen and bathroom countertops, tend to collect crumbs, spills, and grime throughout the day. To keep these areas free of stains and bacteria, make sure you clean up liquid spills as soon as they happen. Then, at the end of the day, get a microfiber cloth and dip it in a mixture of hot water and white vinegar. Wring excess moisture out of the cloth and vigorously scrub your countertops to remove bacteria and debris. When you’re finished, grab a broom and quickly sweep the floor to pick up any crumbs that spilled off the counter.
5. Take care of clutter.
If you don’t stay on top of clutter, it can quickly pile up – and make weekly cleaning much more time-consuming than it has to be. To prevent clutter from taking over your house, remove junk mail, magazines, and other miscellaneous items from your dining room and living room tables each day. Place dirty laundry directly into a laundry bin and make sure your children tidy up their toys and electronics at the end of the day.
6. If you have pets, clean up after them frequently.
To keep your home smelling fresh, scoop litter boxes daily and vacuum the areas where your pets sleep. If you take your pets outside, install pet gates near your home’s entryways to create small areas where you can wipe off their paws and fur after outdoor play. This way, your pets won’t inadvertently track dirt, pollen, and bacteria around the house.
Need Extra Cleaning Help in Oklahoma City? Contact Happy Cleans
Creating an effective daily routine means finding the right balance between work, rest, and time for friends and family. If you’re struggling to keep up with weekly cleaning despite doing the daily chores above, hiring a maid can make your schedule more manageable, so you don’t get burnt out. Aside from quickly tidying up before your house cleaner arrives, using a maid service leaves you free to structure weekends your way – ensuring you feel rested and rejuvenated by Monday.
To discover the benefits of our affordable cleaning services in Norman, Oklahoma, call us at (405) 353-2665 or use our convenient online booking form to arrange your first appointment today.