As someone who loves a tidy home but hates spending all my free time cleaning it, I’ve become quite the expert at finding time-saving cleaning tips.
After all, who wants to spend their precious hours scrubbing and dusting when we could binge-watch our favourite shows or try out a new recipe?
So, in the spirit of maximising our leisure time, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite cleaning hacks that will have your home looking spick and span in no time.
15 Time-saving cleaning tricks to clean your home fast
1. CREATE A CLEANING SCHEDULE
It sounds very clinical, but creating a cleaning schedule can help to ensure that all your household chores are completed when they need to be done.
For example, according to science you are meant to change your bedding at least once every two weeks.
Why not have a schedule for the whole family, so you get some help and your little ones learn about the importance of teamwork?
2. DECLUTTER YOUR HOUSE
Simply put, the less things you have, the less stuff you have to clean.
So, if you have a load of books that are just sat gathering dust, make sure you take them to your nearest charity shop. They get a new home and you don’t have to dust as much.
Win-win!
3. USE MICROFIBRE CLOTHS
Speaking of dusting, make sure you are using microfibre cloths, these will save you time and help you clean faster.
Alternatively, you can use something that is 100% cotton, such as a pillowcase or a t-shirt.
4. HAVE A CATCH-ALL BASKET
If you’re like me, having all the clutter in one huge pile is better than having them scattered all around. That’s why having a catch-all bin as you clean is such a great idea.
Toss all “found” items you run across into a lightweight basket you carry and put them back in their proper place as you go from room to room.
Also, you can leave a basket or bin in rooms with high foot traffic, like the living room or kitchen, where anyone can leave their things. Then, after every few days, you can sort through the baskets and return them to their rightful place. This way, everyone knows where they would most likely find stuff.
It just got easier for you to keep the house spic-and-span, and the kids spend less time bugging you with, “Mum, have you seen my…?”
5. BUY THE RIGHT PRODUCTS
Some cleaning products can seem like they are very expensive, but it will save you time.
Wouldn’t you rather clean the oven in 5 minutes, rather than spending an afternoon trying to scrub the grease off?
6. STOCK UP ON BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR
These kitchen staples don’t just make for a classic science class demo. They also have heaps of use, together or on their own.
Baking soda can be used to remove stains from stuffed animals, your couch, your cushions, your laundry, and even your sneakers, among others. On the other hand, vinegar can be used to get rid of water spots, clean blinds, polish glass, clean electronic appliances, and more. Together, baking soda and vinegar can unclog drains and clean burnt pans. Having these cheap kitchen ingredients on hand will save you time and money in the long run.
As an add-on, keep a record of when to use which for a faster reference.
7. SAVE MONEY AND THE PLANET
Always buying new sponges can feel like you are not being environmentally-friendly and like you are spending unnecessary money.
A quick way to clean them is by putting them in the microwave on a high setting for a minute or two. This will get rid of any nasty bacteria and you can use them again.
8. GET A LINT ROLLER
This can easily be your new favourite contraption.
Cheap lint rollers don’t just remove annoying fuzzy fluff clinging to your dark clothes. Some of the big things this little gadget does are collect pet hair from the couch, pick up tiny glass shards or glitter, dust off fabric lamp shades, and clean drapes.
Grab one from the hardware and start rolling!
9. REUSE YOUR OLD TOOTHBRUSHES
Another great way you can be more mindful of waste is be reusing your toothbrushes.
Toothbrushes are great at getting the dirt out of hard-to-reach places, especially in the bathroom.
10. SOAK IT
Whether it’s the toilet, the bathroom floor, or the bathtub, soaking it with cleaner breaks down the buildup and makes the gunk easier to scrub or wash down. Let the chemicals do their job while you do other things.
You can even leave the cleaning overnight. Before going to bed, douse the scummy areas you wish to clean with the cleaner. Then, you can resume cleaning when you wake up the following day. To keep everyone safe, ensure no one uses it at night, so it will be best if you do one bathroom at a time.
11. DON’T FORGET THE SHOWER HEAD
Whilst we are talking about cleaning in the bathroom, don’t forget to clean the shower head. Shower heads can gather built-up residue and grime in them.
A simple fix can be tying a bag of vinegar around it and leaving it to dissolve. Then you need to rinse the shower head, and it should be much cleaner.
12. INVEST IN A CLEANING ROBOT
Nothing’s better than having a helping hand around the house. So while we’re at it, why not one that won’t complain about the chores?
If you have funds to spare, let AI do the cleaning for you. Depending on your budget, you can now get a robot lawn mower, pool cleaning, window cleaner, vacuum, or mop to do the tasks you find the most difficult or time-consuming.
Cleaning robots can cost heaps of money. But with the time you save doing things you love more, it will be worth it!
13. GET ORGANISERS FOR YOUR FRIDGE
You’ve surely lusted over those immaculate-looking fridges on Instagram and Pinterest. Who hasn’t?
Do yourself a favour and get stackable storage boxes to make wise use of vertical space. Grab some uniform plastic baskets or acrylic boxes to keep things looking pristine. This will take your fridge game to a whole ‘nother level.
Also, don’t forget to stick a list of what’s inside, including the use-by date, to save yourself from spoilage and unnecessary food waste.
14. LEAVE YOUR SHOES OUTSIDE
If you’re still not banning outdoor footwear from the house, this is your sign. Doing so will save you heaps of time and effort from scrubbing dried shoe prints and vacuuming your carpets. Leaving shoes outside the door is common worldwide, including among our Kiwi neighbours. This is to maintain cleanliness in houses, schools, offices, and places of worship.
You can offer your guests disposable hotel slippers or cheap slide slippers. Meanwhile, you and your kids can wear anti-skid socks indoors: you’ll see your floors polished in no time!
15. PRACTICE CLAYGO AT HOME
The best helping hands are of the people you share your home with. Training your household to clean up after themselves could sound like a shot in the dark. But once it becomes part of their lifestyle, they will take this concept of responsibility everywhere they go.
Clean as you go, or CLAYGO, is cleaning up your mess before leaving. Throwing your trash, clearing the table after eating, and wiping dry the floor after you shower are just some of the simple things everyone can do to contribute to a clean home.
Remember that changing bad habits takes time. So, when introducing CLAYGO to your household, expect a bit (or heaps) of resistance. But with consistency and patience, cleaning after themselves will eventually become automatic.
CONCLUSION: Time saving cleaning tricks for your home
No matter who you are, where you live, or what you enjoy doing, there’s no denying that having a clean apartment or house always feels better.
Sometimes we are inspired to do some cleaning, such as in spring when many people like to do a spring clean. Other times you have to clean, for example if your family are coming round or if you are having a rental property inspection.
Cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a chore, just follow our top tips and tricks to help save you time and effort.
