Home sweet home is the goal, right? But with the pressures of modern life - kids, partners, jobs, and bills - how much time do you really have left to do the cleaning? Take heart - you can keep your home tidier with a few new techniques that'll cost only minutes a day - not hours!
Step One:
 Cleaning bursts
Quick bursts of cleaning get things straightened up. Arm yourself with a kitchen timer and set the time that you can afford - 5-20 minutes. Your first goal is to do a cleaning burst every morning, and then add a cleaning burst last thing in the evening. Focus your attention on what I like to call impact zones - those areas of your home that you and your family live in the most.
For most of us, these include the kitchen, the bathroom, and living areas. So set that timer, and... go! You'll be amazed at the difference just keeping on top of things will make. And remember, you can get the whole family involved. If you make it quick, nobody has time to complain.
 Step Two:
Focus Rooms
Cleaning bursts skim the surface, while focus rooms go deeper. Once you're used to cleaning bursts, add a focus room every day. First, develop a simple list of the major rooms or areas in your home. Pick a room for the day and budget your time. Take about 15 minutes in your focus room, cleaning a bit deeper.
For most of us, this is an excellent time to declutter. We all have a cupboard or two just begging to be cleared out. And what about that bowl or bottom drawer in the kitchen that has become the catch-all for all the bits and pieces you accumulate each day. Think of the time you'll save when you know precisely where everything is at all times!
 Step Three:
Clean for All
Now you're ready for the final step: a clean for all. During your other cleaning sessions, write down larger jobs that can't be finished in those brief sessions. These cleaning tasks are perfect for a clean for all. Major decluttering, window cleaning or cleaning up the backyard would fall into this category.
By tracking these larger tasks, you'll gradually be able to cross them off your list. Aim for a clean for all once a week if you can. Get the family involved. For instance, in the garden while Mum is mowing the lawn, Dad and the kids can be weeding.
Christina Spence is the author of No Hassle Housecleaning, a fun guide to housecleaning without all the stress. You can visit her online at happyslob.com.
Do you have any tips on how to tackle easy cleaning around the house? Share them by leaving a comment below. |
