Making Cleaning More Efficient

The more cleaning products you buy, the more time you’ll spend reading the labels and questioning which to use. Keep it simple and keep it multi-purpose. ”Don’t overbuy,” says cleaning and organizing expert Jennifer Ford Berry, author of the Organize Now! series. “Use natural products like vinegar and water when you can, too.”

Dad may have a tool belt to tackle his least favorite tasks, and mom should have one, too. “Always wear an apron,” says green-cleaning expert Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning. “That way, you have all your tools with you and you aren’t retracing your steps.”

If you have to head to three different locations to get your vacuum, duster and mop, you’re wasting valuable time. Keep it all in one spot. “Or just have all your cleaning products in a caddy and bring that caddy from room to room,” says Reichert.

If you know exactly what you’re doing, you can clean for just a few minutes a day during your spare time. “Make each day a different clean,” says Ford Berry. “Monday is laundry, Tuesday is bathrooms, Wednesday is dusting, and so on.”

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You’ve likely been using paper towels for years to clean your windows, but you’re actually creating more work and producing more waste. “Use microfiber cloths for cleaning glass and windows,” says Reichert. “These are smear-proof and much more efficient than paper towels.” Fewer smears means clearer glass, so you’ll have to clean less often.

Do you have a haphazard method of attack, moving back and forth … and sweeping over parts of the room you’ve already covered while missing other key areas? “Work in a circle when you are cleaning a room,” says Reichert. “Pick a point to start, and work around the outside of the room in a circle. Then move to the center of the room to finish.”

Similarly, cleaning an item with no rhyme or reason will cause you to skip over areas without realizing it. So, when cleaning any item—vase, mirror, cabinet, doesn’t matter—always start at the top and work your way to the bottom. “Also work back to front,” says Reichert. “‘Top to bottom, back to front.’ This mantra will help you clean efficiently without missing a spot.”

We know, we hate them too: bathrooms. But this tip will get ‘em clean as fast as possible. “Before cleaning a bathroom, always vacuum the hair out so you don’t have to battle it when it’s wet,” Reichert advises. Think about it: when dust and hair get wet, they also get seriously sticky. “Just vacuuming up hair and dust will save you lots of time,” says Reichert.

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Want to avoid shower and bath scrub-downs? Use a squeegee! It’s that simple. “If you use a squeegee after every shower you will never have to clean it,” says Reichert. “Really, the squeegee removes all the soap scum before it can dry on the sides of the shower.”

After you step out of that hot shower, open the door, and get that steam out of there. And make sure to “run your bathroom fan for 20 minutes after the shower,” says Reichert. “This will keep the mold and mildew away from the ceiling and tile grout.”

Ford Berry suggests setting aside some serious time for cleaning just a couple times of year, when you know life is about to get hectic. “Give yourself a thorough, clean-sweep of the house before a busy season,” she says. “I do this right before summer and right before the holidays. That way, I can just keep doing quick tweaks throughout the season.”

Cut back on clutter, and your home will look instantly cleaner. “I used to be anal about my house, but I’ve learned it’s always going to be there. You could clean constantly,” says Ford Berry. “However, get organized and you’ll be surprised how much cleaner everything will look.

Pay for help if you need it once or twice a month. “It doesn’t mean you’re a failure,” says Ford Berry. “If you have a lot on your plate with a full-time job and raising kids, it’s a good option. If it’s worth it to you, do it.”

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Kids can help save you time on your cleaning routine, and you’ll teach them skills to operate an efficient household one day, as well. “I have my kids dust, clean bathroom counters, sweep and sort laundry, which can take forever,” says Ford Berry. “Maybe with some things I will do it once per month to make sure it’s done the right way, but let the kids do it weekly. Give up on perfection—just let it go. It’s much more important to spend time with your kids than to have a spotless house.”