6 Simple Tricks For Cleaning Your House in Half The Time

After trying to find a little time to yourself somewhere in between a busy work schedule and spending time with family and friends, who’s got the energy to even contemplate cleaning the house? And for those who do seem to have cracked the code on having a healthy work/life balance, where does cleaning your home even begin to enter into that equation?

Fortunately, house cleaning doesn’t have to be an impossible task. By embracing several time-saving strategies and being intentional about your cleaning process and supplies, you’ll be able to get the house sparkling in no time at all. That’s why Mental Floss and Roborock have teamed up to share six easy tips for cleaning your house in no time.

1. Tackle each room from the top down.

Make gravity work in your favor and let the dust settle on the floor before you eradicate it once and for all. Start by dusting your ceiling fans and any tall shelves, beating the dirt out of area rugs or curtains, wiping the blinds, and cleaning any other surfaces. End by vacuuming and mopping all the dirt, dust, and other debris that’s collected on the floor. By working from top to bottom—and from left to right or by focusing on different sections of the room, one at a time—you won’t need to go back and re-do anything.

2. Develop a cleaning strategy that works for you.

The trick to cramming cleaning into your daily life is to make it not feel too overwhelming. Sure, you could set aside a day or two to do a deep clean and get it all done at once, but it’s also fine to break things up. Divide and conquer your cleaning duties by task—sorting through clutter, dusting, or mopping—or by room, taking on the kitchen one day, bathrooms the next, and eventually the bedrooms, the living and dining room, and other spaces. Plan to do a thorough top-to-bottom clean of each room every month, and smaller touch-ups between them so your home stays cleaner longer.

3. Set it and forget it.

If you’re someone who absolutely hates vacuuming, consider investing in a robot vacuum to do it for you. Instead of spending a few hours hunched over a heavy appliance, you could be doing any number of other things around the house. The most impressive robot vacuums will come with an array of helpful features, including smart technology that allows it to detect No-Go-Zones to avoid (such as stairs), 3D mapping so that it learns the layout of your home, and a customizable app that lets you control where and how you clean from the palm of your hand. Some models are self-cleaning, or can be connected to Amazon’s Alexa devices, while others are controlled via app and feature built-in cameras so you can set it, forget it, and move on to other things, like taking a much-needed break. If you want to give your floors an even deeper hands-free clean, invest in a robot vacuum that also features mopping capabilities (yes, they really do exist).

4. Clean with intention.

Cut down your cleaning time by being thoughtful about how you do it. If you are going to vacuum or mop, do it in rows so you know which space has already been covered. If you’re opting to go the robot vacuum route, choose a model that offers the highest-powered cleaning capabilities, like deep carpet cleaning. Use the same row technique for wiping down mirrors (with a microfiber cloth to avoid streaking). To save time cleaning your microwave, heat up a bowl of water and let the steam create enough moisture to loosen up particles before you wipe them off (some people like to add a whole lemon, sliced in two, to the bowl; the acid from the fruit acts as a detergent). 

When it’s time to clean the bathroom, spray your shower and other surfaces first, but let the cleaning solution set in for a few minutes before you start scrubbing to make it more effective. Use your dishwasher to clean common household items like soap dishes, plastic hair brushes, toothbrush holders, the shelves in your fridge, or your pet’s dishes.

5. Give yourself a reasonable time limit.

When it comes to cleaning the house, every little bit counts. Even if you don’t have time to devote an entire day to tidying up, see how much you can do in 15, 30, or even 60 minutes so you don’t get too overwhelmed. If possible, plan to do one massive deep-clean each month, then carve out some room in your schedule to do regular touch-ups in between. Again, this is where a robot vacuum can come in handy, as you can schedule it to do its thing while you’re not even home. If anything, get into the habit of cleaning up a little bit as you go, even if it’s in small intervals. You’ll thank yourself later.

6. Share the workload.

Get the whole household involved by delegating certain tasks so one person doesn’t feel like they’re doing it all. Plan a big all-hands-on-deck cleaning day once a month where everyone pitches in, or come up with a schedule so everyone can help with smaller everyday tasks like washing the dishes, doing the laundry, or taking out the trash.

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