A joyful home is a clean home! Who doesn’t love to walk into a tidy, sparkling house? Everything is where it should be, it smells fresh (because it is), and it’s got that wonderful feeling of tranquility. Breath in deep and exhale – your happy place just got happier.
While I sincerely enjoy cleaning (for me, it’s very therapeutic), I realize not everyone feels the same way. The effort it takes to achieve the finished product can feel like more of a chore than therapy, so I put together these tips to help keep your place spick and span without burning lots of precious time.
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1. Schedule it.
That’s right, pick a day (or two) of the week and a time of day for your cleaning. It helps you organize your time better so you’re not constantly kicking the “cleaning can” down the road.
For me, it’s a two-day process. Friday mornings are my primary cleaning day and time. Everything gets done except for my kitchen floor, which waits till Saturday (I hand wash it since it gets the most traffic and the slip resistant tile requires a bit more effort.). Every other week, I clean the upstairs on Thursdays. That level doesn’t see much use (mainly guest rooms), so twice a month is enough.
2. Organize your supplies.
Keep your supplies in a convenient spot. If you have a multi-story house, having a set of supplies on each level can be really handy so you’re not lugging buckets and mops and cleaners all over the place.
I keep all of my supplies for downstairs cleaning in our laundry room. I have another set in a closet upstairs for cleaning that floor. (I’m looking forward to getting a second vacuum for upstairs!)
3. Be methodical.
You don’t want to spend all day cleaning, so map out the most efficient plan possible. Go room by room and complete each room before moving on to the next. Follow these steps to get things done quickly:
- Declutter. Put everything back in its place. Newspapers and magazines all over the living room, laundry on the floor in the bedroom, dishes out in the kitchen. Move items to their proper spots, whether that’s a drawer, cupboard, hamper, recycling bin, or other area.
- Vacuum. With the clutter gone, move on to vacuuming. This goes for carpet and hard surfaces. Vacuuming raises dust, so you want to do that early. Investing in a good quality vacuum can make this task a lot easier. We use the Miele C3 Complete canister vacuum. It is very expensive, but it’s fantastic. Ours is more than 10 years old and still performs like it did when we first bought it. For a more budget-friendly option that still delivers performance, check out the Shark Navigator upright vacuum – it consistently gets good reviews.
- Dust. Now it’s time to dust the furniture and other flat surfaces (windowsills, open shelves, etc.). For stained and painted wood, a soft, lint-free cloth paired with your favorite cleaner is best. I use old cotton t-shirts that are no longer wearable – they make great dust rags. Just be sure they are 100 percent cotton (read: no scratchy, synthetic fibers). Microfiber cloths also work well.
- For furniture polish, I’ve used Endust for years on my stained wood, and I also like Guardsman Clean & Polish. The problem with most commercial brands, though, is that they contain chemicals. For a more natural option, it’s easy to make your own furniture polish. I’m working on switching to a natural, non-toxic version permanently – one step at a time! A simple solution of warm water, a bit of dish detergent, and some white vinegar does the trick (this also works wonders for cleaning glass).
- If you have porcelain, stone, or laminate surfaces (as in your kitchen and bathrooms) clean those now, as well. I’m an avid recycler, so I’ll use old wash cloths or towels I’ve cut into cleaning-sized squares for these surfaces; again, be sure these are 100% cotton, or you can opt for microfiber cloths. Sponges are okay, but they can wear out quickly. A list of the best cleaners by surface type includes:
- Laminate: warm water with a bit of dish detergent.
- Porcelain: warm water and vinegar (1 gallon of water with ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar). Barkeeper’s Friend does a great job of removing stains – I use it weekly to keep my kitchen sinks white and bright.
- Stone (granite, quartz, marble): warm water with a bit of dish detergent is a good choice (ALWAYS avoid vinegar when cleaning your stone surfaces). Stone can be porous, especially if it hasn’t been sealed, so use extra care when cleaning and be sure to wipe things dry with a microfiber cloth; this will help keep water from penetrating the surface and keep it streak-free. Weiman’s Granite and Stone Daily Clean & Shine is a good commercial option for non-porous stone surfaces (sealed granite, sealed marble, sealed slate, etc.).
- Mop. If you have hard surfaces like wood and tile, wash those last. I recommend running a Swiffer over these floors as a prep step to pick up any dust the vacuum may have missed (I have found them to be amazing for fine dirt and dog hair!).
- Handwashing is really the best way to get flooring clean, but it can be time consuming. If you have small spaces or adequate time, you can do this every week. If not, invest in a good quality mop to get the job done, but still plan to hand wash your floors at least monthly.
- Regarding mops, I recently purchased the O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop. I’ve struggled to find a really good mop and after reading lots of positive reviews, decided to give this one a go. I love it! The microfiber mop head does a great job of getting the floors clean and the spin action lets you control how wet it is – you can spin it till it’s barely damp, which is great for hardwood floors. I use it for all of our flooring: hardwood, marble, and ceramic tile.
- For floor cleaners, I use Dawn dish detergent mixed with warm water. It cleans gently and doesn’t leave any sticky residue. I use it for all of my surfaces (marble included), but I make sure it’s very diluted. Having one solution for everything equals optimal convenience and efficiency. For those times when I need a deeper clean for my hardwoods, I’ll do a separate solution that incorporates white vinegar (again – keep vinegar and any acidic ingredients away from your stone).
Smile! You’re finished – yay! Go forth knowing you’ve amped the joy in your home and bask in that sense of accomplishment while you conquer your next home project (even if that means taking a relaxing break or even a nap!).
To make cleaning even easier, check out the rundown of our favorite household cleaners.