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There are very few people in the world who like cleaning. They do exist, but they are rare. Like unicorns. For the rest of us, we just want the cleaning over with as quickly as possible with minimal effort. Speed cleaning your house is an art form that can help you maintain a clean and organized living space without investing hours in the process. Whether you’re short on time, expecting guests, or simply want to enjoy a tidy home without devoting your entire weekend to cleaning, this ultimate guide to cleaning your house fast will provide you with tips, tricks, and techniques to get you back on the couch in no time.
Speed Cleaning Tips From The Pros
Gather Your Supplies
Save time by gathering all your cleaning supplies in a portable caddy or bucket before starting. This will make it easy to move from room to room without wasting time searching for supplies.
The essentials include:
- A trash bag
- A basket for junk that is left out and isn’t where it belongs
- A laundry bag for clothes that are strewn about
- A spray bottle with an all-purpose cleaner in it
- Glass cleaner
- A microfiber cloth
- Paper towels
- Dusters
- Cordless vac or vacuum
Set a Timer
I like to give myself 15 minutes per room. I know that doesn’t seem like enough and for the kitchen, I usually give myself two 15-minute sessions.
But the pros know they need to get a house done in a certain amount of time so that they can move on to their next client. You should tackle cleaning the same way. Only your next client is Netflix. Otherwise, as a goldfish will grow to the size of its bowl, your cleaning tasks will grow to the time you allow.
Declutter
Quickly declutter each room before you start cleaning. Pick up items that are out of place and put them in a laundry basket or box to be sorted and put away later. This will make it easier to clean surfaces and floors.
Clean top to bottom, left to right
In each room, clean from the top down and from left to right. This systematic approach ensures that you won’t miss any spots and helps prevent having to re-clean areas.
Multitask
Look for opportunities to multitask. For example, spray cleaner on surfaces and let it sit while you dust or vacuum, then return to wipe it down. This allows the cleaner to break down dirt and grime, making it easier to clean.
Use the right tools
Invest in quality cleaning tools that will make your job easier and more efficient. Microfiber cloths, for example, can be used for dusting, wiping surfaces, and cleaning glass without leaving streaks or lint.
Focus on high-impact areas
Concentrate your efforts on the areas that will make the most noticeable difference in your home’s appearance, such as countertops, appliances, and high-traffic floors.
Limit deep cleaning
Save time-consuming tasks like scrubbing grout, washing windows, or polishing furniture for a more thorough cleaning session.
Prioritize Which Rooms To Clean
For emergency cleaning purposes, I start in the room where a guest is most likely to spend the most time and then I immediately do the bathroom RIGHT after that. That’s not a place you can allow a guest to enter if it isn’t clean. And it’s not like you can say, “Sorry, you can’t use the bathroom while you are here.”. And hopefully guests aren’t going around and poking around inside bedrooms!
If you aren’t speed cleaning for a guest, you can follow this format:
Kitchen
In the kitchen, focus on cleaning countertops, wiping appliances, and cleaning the sink. Sweep or vacuum the floor and mop high-traffic areas. If you have a few spare minutes and the dirty dishes need to go in the dishwasher, tackle those.
Living room
Straighten cushions, dust surfaces, and vacuum or sweep the floor. Use a microfiber cloth or disposable cleaning wipes to quickly wipe down surfaces, such as coffee tables and entertainment centers.
Bedrooms
Make the beds, fluff your pillows, dust surfaces, and vacuum or sweep the floors. If you have time, quickly organize any clutter on nightstands or dressers.
Bathrooms
Spray cleaner in the toilet bowl, sink, and shower or tub. While it’s sitting, wipe down mirrors, counters, and fixtures. Then, scrub the toilet, sink, shower, or tub, and rinse with water. Sweep or vacuum the floor and mop as needed.
Touch-up high-touch areas
Pay attention to high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. Quickly wipe them down with a disinfecting wipe or a cloth dampened with all-purpose cleaner. I would also dust off shelves and knickknacks too because people do notice that stuff!
Take out the trash
Empty all trash cans and replace the liners. This simple step can make a significant difference in the cleanliness and odor of your home.
Freshen up
Open windows to let in fresh air, or use air fresheners, candles, or essential oils to create a pleasant scent in your home. This can help create a welcoming atmosphere for guests and make your home feel cleaner.
Sort and put away items
Once you’ve finished cleaning, go back to the laundry basket or box you used for decluttering and sort the items. Put them away in their proper places.
Maintain A Clean Home
Establish a quick cleaning routine
To make future speed cleaning sessions even faster and more efficient, establish a regular cleaning schedule. This will help prevent the buildup of dirt, dust, and clutter, making it easier and faster to maintain a clean and organized home.
Stay organized
Organize your belongings in a way that makes it easy to find and put away items. This will help you maintain a tidy home and make future cleaning sessions more manageable.
How do house cleaners clean so fast?
1. Experience: Professional cleaners have a lot of experience and have developed a routine that allows them to work quickly and efficiently.
2. Planning and organization: House cleaners usually have a plan and a systematic approach to cleaning, which helps them avoid wasted time and redundant tasks.
3. Proper tools and supplies: Professionals use appropriate cleaning tools and supplies for each task, which helps them work more efficiently. They also carry their supplies in a portable caddy, allowing them to move quickly from room to room.
4. Focused and efficient: House cleaners are focused on their job and avoid distractions. They also use efficient cleaning techniques, such as cleaning from top to bottom and left to right, to ensure they don’t miss any spots or have to redo any areas.
5. Multitasking: Professional cleaners often multitask to save time. For example, they might let a cleaning solution sit on a surface while they dust or vacuum another area, then return to wipe down the surface.
6. Time management: House cleaners are aware of the time they have allocated for each task and work to stay within that timeframe. This helps them maintain a steady pace and avoid spending too much time on any one task.
7. Regular maintenance: Professional cleaners know that regular maintenance makes cleaning faster and easier. A house that is cleaned regularly will require less time and effort to clean than one that has been neglected.
8. Expertise in cleaning techniques: House cleaners have expertise in cleaning techniques and know the best methods for cleaning various surfaces and materials. This allows them to work more efficiently and achieve better results.
9. Teamwork: In many cases, professional house cleaners work in teams, which allows them to divide tasks and clean more quickly.
How to quickly clean your house?
In summary, to quickly clean your house, focus on high-impact tasks and use efficient cleaning techniques.
• Gather supplies: Collect all your cleaning supplies in a portable caddy or bucket. This will save time as you move from room to room.
• Declutter: Quickly go through each room and pick up items that are out of place. Put them in a laundry basket or box to be sorted and put away later.
• Focus on high-impact tasks: Prioritize tasks that will make the most noticeable difference in each room. For example, in the kitchen, focus on cleaning countertops, wiping appliances, and cleaning the sink. In the living room, straighten cushions, dust surfaces, and vacuum or sweep the floor.
•Clean top to bottom, left to right: Clean each room systematically by starting at the top and working your way down, and moving from left to right. This will help ensure you don’t miss any spots.
• Multitask: For example, spray cleaner on surfaces and let it sit while you dust or vacuum, then return to wipe it down.
• Limit deep cleaning: Focus on making your home look clean and presentable, rather than deep cleaning every surface. Save tasks like scrubbing grout or cleaning baseboards for a more thorough cleaning session.
• Maintain a brisk pace: Keep moving and avoid getting bogged down in small details. The goal is to clean your house quickly, so don’t spend too much time on any one task.
• Put away items: Once you’ve finished cleaning, go back to the laundry basket or box you used for decluttering and sort the items. Put them away in their proper places.
Remember, quickly cleaning your house is about making it look presentable and tidy in a short amount of time. Focus on high-impact tasks, work efficiently, and maintain a brisk pace to achieve the best results.