Practice makes perfect. Experienced homemakers and house cleaners have learned from many years of trial and error how to most effectively clean a house. Getting house cleaning down to a science isn’t something that happens overnight.
Establish Routines
The easiest way to keep your home clean is to establish regular cleaning routines. This works to your advantage in a couple of ways.
First of all, doing the same things over and over again improves skills and speed. Second, regularly cleaning your house keeps it in good shape so that each time you clean, it gets better and better.
Cleaning your home on a regular basis requires commitment.
Set a schedule for yourself and follow through. Treat house cleaning like the job it is and buckle down on cleaning day. Turn off your phone, pull out your vacuum cleaner, and get going.
The following tips will help you maximize your efforts and make cleaning day a happy day.
Plan
Before you begin to clean, get an overview of what areas are most in need of attention. Grab a garbage bag and laundry basket and walk through your home, collecting trash, laundry, and miscellaneous clutter while also getting the lay of the land as you go.
It’s better to identify trouble spots before you start so you can plan accordingly. Set up a time “budget” for each area in your home and stick to your plan as you work.
Don’t Waste Your Efforts
Make every step count. Work methodically, always thinking ahead to the next step. Develop a routine that flows smoothly from task to task in a logical order. Divide your home into sections and work at a steady, meaningful pace. Pay attention to what you’re doing. Don’t clean what isn’t dirty.
Live to Clean Another Day
One nice thing about cleaning regularly is that you don’t have to do every single task every time you clean. Do as much as you have time to do today and know that the dust bunnies will still be waiting patiently under the couch next week.
Establishing a regular routine that you stick to means that high traffic areas always get the attention they need and the areas that get less use are cleaned periodically as well. All areas are cleaned on a regular basis.
Don’t Get Sidetracked
If you notice things that need to be done but which aren’t part of your regular cleaning routine (and time budget), make a mental note or write it down and then move on. Tacking on side jobs will slow you down and potentially prevent you from completing your cleaning day routine.
It’s important to stay on schedule to ensure that you’re able to complete the job. Running out of time or running out of steam before you’re finished defeats the purpose of a regular cleaning schedule.
Successfully completing the job motivates you to do it again next week. Unfinished, unsuccessful attempts at cleaning will discourage you and cause you to feel overwhelmed. House cleaning is totally manageable if you take control of the reins.
Just Do It
Go ahead and wipe away the handprint on the wall if it’s right in front of you and your cleaning cloth is in hand. If it’s one little thing that’ll only take a minute, just do it. House cleaning involves making a hundred little judgment calls just like this all day long. Time and practice give you a feel for what to do now and what to put off until next time.
There’s a learning curve to house cleaning. As you get more comfortable with your cleaning regimen you’ll get better at setting priorities. Knowing what’s been done, what needs to be done, and what can be put off until next time will help you with this. You’ll figure out plenty of shortcuts and time savers as you go along. Over time, experience will teach you what you need to know. Practice will make your cleaning day a happy day.
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