Let's face it, nobody likes doing their chores at home, especially the ones that seem to pile on forever. It can be very tedious and tiresome to clean after your kids and pets, especially since you don't have a choice. And if you let the tasks pile up, they may seem like an endless nightmare.

But why should we only look at cleaning like it's a chore? When you make a system to do it, and distribute tasks, cleaning can almost become a family hobby. Let us teach you how to do it by reading below to find out:

What are the top 5 tips for home cleaning?

When you come home after a long day of work, you feel like sitting down on the sofa and relaxing. However, the kids have just made a mess on the floor, and the bathroom needs a scrub. And you can't ignore the long overdue hoovering of the staircase carpets for much longer. When you look at it this way, it all appears to be too big to handle.

Yet, the easiest way to handle a big task is to break it up into many small tasks. Which brings us to our first cleaning tip:

Top 5 musts for cleaning

Create a routine

Daily Tasks

1. Morning Routine:

  • Make Beds: Everyone makes their own bed.
  • Tidy Up: Quick clean of living areas—put away any items out of place.

2. Evening Routine:

  • Wipe Down Surfaces: Clean kitchen counters, dining tables, and other high-touch areas.
  • Quick Sweep: Check for any immediate spills or messes and address them.

Weekly Tasks

1. Monday - Living Room

  • Dust: All surfaces, including electronics, shelves, and furniture.
  • Vacuum: Carpets and rugs. Consider vacuuming upholstered furniture if needed.
  • Clean Windows: Wipe down windows and mirrors.

2. Tuesday - Kitchen

  • Clean Appliances: Wipe down fridge, microwave, and stove.
  • Disinfect Sink: Scrub and disinfect the sink and faucet.
  • Sweep and Mop: Clean the floor thoroughly.
  • Pantry Check: Remove expired items, reorganize as needed.

3. Wednesday - Bathroom

  • Clean Toilet: Scrub and disinfect.
  • Shower/Tub: Clean the tiles and grout. Remove soap scum.
  • Wipe Mirrors: Remove streaks and smudges.
  • Empty Trash: Replace with a fresh liner.

4. Thursday - Bedrooms

  • Dust: Surfaces, including night stands, dressers, and any other furniture.
  • Vacuum/Sweep: Clean floors and under the beds.
  • Change Bedding: Replace with fresh sheets and pillowcases.
  • Organize: Tidy up closets and drawers.

    5. Friday - Hallways and Stairs

    • Dust: Clean railings, light fixtures, and any surfaces.
    • Vacuum/Sweep: Clean hallways and stairs.
    • Check and Organize: Address any clutter in these areas.

    6. Saturday - Deep Cleaning & Special Projects

    • Deep Clean Focus Areas: Rotate tasks such as cleaning baseboards, behind appliances, or organizing storage spaces.
    • Special Projects: Take on one-off tasks like cleaning air vents or windowsills.

      7. Sunday - Family Task Day

      • Review the Week: Touch up any missed tasks or address specific problem areas.
      • Collaborative Task: Engage the whole family in a fun or collaborative activity related to home upkeep (e.g., gardening, decorating).

      Tips for Success

      • Assign Roles: Clearly delegate tasks based on family members' abilities. Younger children can handle simpler tasks like dusting, while older kids can tackle more involved chores.
      • Create a Checklist: Maintain a visible checklist of daily and weekly tasks to keep everyone on track.
      • Set Timers: Use timers to help family members stay focused and complete tasks efficiently. A 15-minute cleaning burst can be effective.
      • Rotate Tasks: Ensure tasks are rotated to avoid monotony and share the workload evenly.

      Engaging Children

      • Make it Fun: Turn chores into games or use music to make cleaning enjoyable. Consider using a reward system to motivate kids.
      • Teach Responsibility: Explain the importance of each task and how it contributes to maintaining a clean home. Praise and encourage their efforts.

        Conclusion

        By following a structured routine and involving the entire family, maintaining a clean home becomes a collaborative and manageable task. Regular cleaning not only keeps your home looking good but also instills important life skills in children. With clear roles, a manageable schedule, and a bit of teamwork, you can keep your home organized and your weekends free.

        But knowing where to clean is not knowing how to clean efficiently. The best way to simplify your cleaning is to:

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        Follow a system

        Systematic Cleaning Routine

        To maintain an efficient cleaning routine and ensure that each area of your home is properly addressed, follow these steps:

        Dust High Surfaces First

        Begin by tackling high surfaces such as ceiling fans, light fixtures, and vents. Dust these areas first to avoid having debris fall onto the surfaces you’ve already cleaned.

        Clean Middle Surfaces

        Once high surfaces are dusted, move on to cleaning middle surfaces like furniture, countertops, and shelves. Wipe and dust these areas thoroughly to remove accumulated dust and grime.

        Address the Floors

        After cleaning surfaces, focus on the floors. Vacuum or sweep to get rid of dust and debris, then mop if needed. This step ensures that dust from higher surfaces doesn’t settle on already-cleaned floors.

        Effective Bathroom Cleaning

        For a more efficient bathroom cleaning:

        • Use Warm Water: Clean tiles and fixtures with warm or hot water. This is more effective at dissolving grime and soap scum compared to cold water.
        • Choose the Right Products: Use appropriate cleaning products for mold or mildew, and always follow the instructions for best results.

        Bedding Maintenance

        To keep your bedding fresh:

        • Weekly Washing: Wash sheets and pillowcases once a week using the hottest water they can handle. Check care labels for specific instructions on water temperature.
        • Extend Linen Life: Regular washing in hot water helps maintain hygiene and extends the life of your linens.

        Involving the Family

        • Assign Tasks: Involve family members by assigning specific cleaning tasks to each person.
        • Set Times: Establish specific times for cleaning tasks to keep your home consistently tidy.

        By following this structured approach, you can efficiently clean your home while minimizing the need to redo tasks and ensuring that every area is thoroughly addressed.

        Now that you know where and how to clean, let's discuss another big step in home cleanliness:

        How to clean a sisal rug

        Declutter before cleaning

        Having your property deep cleaned or doing it yourself is not just said and done. So many people get this wrong, and it costs them valuable time and energy in the process. There's a way to cut your cleaning time in half, and that's to remove your personal items from the shelves and furniture.

        You heard us - pick up your clothes, clear your desk from all those pens and notes, and take the toys off the floor. Only then should you reach for the paper towels and your choice of home remedy or cleaning product. After all, if you pour white vinegar or baking soda on the carpet, then it gets on your clothes, why bother? That just adds to the laundry basket, which is already full enough as it is.

        Now that I mentioned vinegar, on a somewhat related note, how do you clean a coffee maker? Personally, I use white vinegar and water in equal parts by pouring them in the tank. Then, I let this mixture be brewed for a bit, and after an hour or so passes, I wash it with clean water.

        Anyways, let's get back to decluttering, and why it is so important. Think about how the children's room looks when you haven't made them clean it for even two days. How do you expect to run a hoover past the dozens of toys, the out of place chairs, and the pencils? All of that needs to be picked up before you can grab your vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dust.

        Think you're prepared for efficient domestic cleaning, and need not read any further? You are mistaken, because spring is coming:

        What methods can I use to kill mould found in my carpet

        Prepare for seasonal cleaning

        There is a reason spring cleaning is considered scary to young housewives, and you're about to find out why. Winter can be depressing, as it's really cold outside, and the wind doesn't help one bit. When you also take into account the holidays, who thinks about cleaning at all?

        But then the snow is gone, the trees are green, and the birds are singing again. Now, everyone remembers they were putting off cleaning all winter, and they panic. Why should you go through the same stress as anyone else?

        Instead, by willing through the winter worries and cleaning little by little, when spring comes, you will be prepared. Circle back to the beginning of our article, where we said breaking up a big task is the easiest way to complete it. If you clean bit by bit every day of winter, spring cleaning will be amusing for you. What I mean is that you'll get to see your friends overwork themselves cleaning, while you relax and giggle about it.

        On another note, winter is probably the worst time to use steam cleaning services. Due to the cold, and the very high humidity in the air, the drying time will be longer than usual. However, you can compensate for it by turning your heating up some and periodically leaving your windows half-open.

        But don't forget, if you think spring cleaning was rough, remember that summer is on its way too. There are three things you think about before summer comes, and none of them are cleaning. Holidays, summer break, and exotic countries are the top priority, hence why fall cleaning is also a staple of many homes.

        And this is completely unrelated, but you should always clean even harder if you're a tenant. If you keep the place nearly spotless, your checkout report will be nearly flawless when you end your tenancy. As a result, you will have no issues claiming back your deposit from the landlord or agency. Additionally, some agencies require the property to be professionally cleaned before they return deposits, so be ready.

        So, you made it this far, and now assume you know all about home cleaning. Well, there's just one last thing to it:

        Cleaning products

        Choose your deep cleaning solutions wisely

        Out of all things to get wrong in cleaning, poor choice of products is the most frequent one. I'm sure you all know a person who uses bleach to clean their black carpets or their mattress. If you are that person, we apologise for breaking it to you, but you're doing it wrong.

        Bleach is a harsh chemical, whose vapours and residues have negative side effects for people and pets. As a professional cleaning company, we do not advise you to ever use it on fabric materials of any kind. Even when diluted, if not properly removed from the material, it can permanently alter its colours.

        Instead, what we advise is looking for eco-friendly alternatives to clean your carpets and sofas with. Should these be trusted home remedies, or WoolSafe approved cleaning products, is entirely up to you. We only ask that you be careful, as improper cleaning may lead to permanent stains on your costly furniture.