How to clean up faster

House cleaning shouldn't take too long. I am sure that each of you will find something more pleasant and interesting for yourself. However, you should not neglect the maintenance of cleanliness, since dust in the corners and mountains of dishes in the sink cannot be justified by the concept of "creative mess". To make regular cleaning of the apartment faster, take the following tips into consideration:

Do the right cleaning

The main rule of cleaning is to go from top to bottom. It must always be followed. No matter how carefully you collect the crumbs on the table, they will still fall on the floor. Even wet cleaning of various surfaces should be carried out before you start washing the floor.

Another important aspect is the development of the most efficient route. Try to follow it every time so as not to miss anything and not to return to the missed sections.

Define intervals

Many people clean the entire apartment at once on the same day of the week. But this is not the most efficient way. In fact, different areas are polluted at different rates. Try creating a cleaning calendar by zone, with intervals of varying lengths for each. Use reminder apps like DGT, GTD, or others.

Adjust the intervals depending on the time of year and in special cases (for example, if relatives come to visit you).

Use the right fabrics

Do not use rags or gauze as dusting rags. It is better to take special microfiber cloths. They do not leave behind fibers, do not roll or shed, absorb much more water and, at the same time, absorb fewer liquids into the fiber (which means faster rinsing), and dry quickly. They can, and should, be washed. But do not dry such rags on the battery.

Wash the dishes right away.

Think again about buying a dishwasher. If this option does not suit you, then simplify the process of washing in the sink as much as possible.

Get into the habit of washing dishes immediately after eating, rather than waiting for the sink to fill up.

The advice is simple, but neglected by many, although it’s just the sink, overflowing with dried-up dirty dishes, that scares you. Immediately after the meal, washing several plates and glasses will take just a few minutes.

If you are used to a long, multi-course dinner accompanied by a leisurely conversation, then here's an additional life hack: before dinner, fill the sink with warm water with a small amount of detergent and put the used dishes right there so that they do not have time to dry out.

Clean the stove last

In the kitchen, the most dirty surface is usually the stove. When you start cleaning your kitchen, apply the cleaner to the stove and let it sit for a few minutes. At this time, start wiping the surface to the right of the stove and move clockwise around the kitchen. You can move in the opposite direction; this is not a strict rule. :) The main thing is that this way, you can avoid unnecessary trips to the sink to rinse the rag.

When you finally get back to the stove, removing even the toughest dirt will not require much effort. Especially if you do not neglect special cleaners for stoves, they are more aggressive than regular detergent and remove dirt better. At the same time, due to the absence of abrasive particles, the cooker cleaner does not damage the surface, unlike cleaners that contain soda. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your skin from exposure to concentrated ingredients.

Keep the plumbing clean.

Metal surfaces in the bathroom get dirty extremely quickly, becoming covered with drops and splashes. This can be pretty depressing, given that you have to scrub off plaque and rust quite carefully. Therefore, try to prevent contamination of the plumbing between cleanings. When taking a bath or washing children or pets, wipe down the faucets. Remove splashes of toothpaste immediately, while they are still easily washed off with water. Rinse the tub or shower with hot water after washing.

Don't forget the bathroom curtain.

The polyester shower curtain also needs to be washed. Perhaps you don't. Just wash it with any other items for which you use a program with not too hot water. One or two times a month will be enough. And do not forget to straighten it every time you take a shower to dry it and avoid the appearance of plaque and unpleasant odors.

Get rid of extra bottles in the bathroom

Take a critical look at your bathroom shelves. Do you really need that much money? Shower gels, bath foams, scrubs, shampoos, balms, conditioners, masks, lotions, tonics... When cleaning the bathroom, you have to rinse each of them and wipe the surface under them. Leave only those that you really use regularly. Buy products that combine several functions at once, for example, shower gel and scrub or mask and conditioner. For those products that you use less than once a week, it is better to put them in lockers where less dust gets in.

Put things in order

An excess of things requires extra attention: they are all covered with dust, and each one has to take time to clean. Therefore, if there are dozens of cute things on the shelves in your apartment, you should definitely reconsider which of them are really dear and useful to you.

Keeping things in order is not a one-time event. This "elephant" must be eaten in pieces.

Plan a cleaning schedule for your cabinets by clearing one of the blocks every week. Let only the essentials remain on the shelves, and distribute the rest or send it to the trash without unnecessary regrets. Do not get attached to things, and henceforth, try not to litter your house with knickknacks.

Simplify your choice.

The wardrobes of many women (and increasingly men today) are full of things that have not been worn for months. Too much variety only wastes time choosing what to wear each morning. To make it easier to make choices, and, at the same time, clean up, reorganize your wardrobe. Try the following course of action:

• Store out-of-season clothing.
• Choose clothes that you wear regularly and arrange them so that they do not wrinkle and are immediately ready in the right configuration.
• Choose a few things that have been waiting in the wings for a long time, and find a reason to wear them in the next half month.
• Put the rest in a box and put a date on it. After a month, return to it and get rid of those things that you never needed.

Wash in more gentle conditions

A long wash in hot water actually makes sense, except in the case of bed linen and towels. Modern washing powders are quite effective, and, if you do not wear things, they can be washed even in cold water or at 30–40 degrees. Plus, in cold water, paint is washed out of fabrics less. And do not neglect the air conditioner: with it, the clothes become softer, easier to iron, and accumulate less static electricity. Just do not overdo it with its amount, so that there is no too intrusive smell left.

I would advise you to use the spin less (it will be enough to at least reduce the speed). So for many things, there will be no need for ironing at all; it will be enough just to dry them in a straightened form.

Don't be afraid to clean the floor

The floor is perhaps the largest object in your home. It causes despondency only through awareness of the scale. But actually cleaning the floor is the easiest part. The main thing is to provide yourself with the right inventory (more on that below).

Additional life hack : in order to keep the floor clean longer throughout the apartment, try to clean up the places of greatest pollution more often (the area at the front door, next to the sink and stove in the kitchen, near the cat tray). For example, once again wipe the floor at the front door and collect the sawdust scattered by the cat. This will take a couple of minutes, and the floors in other areas of the apartment will have to be washed less frequently.

Buy a good vacuum cleaner

For starters, if you have carpets, consider buying a more powerful vacuum, so you don't waste time and energy on useless movements. Remember that a more powerful vacuum cleaner is about saving you energy, not using electricity.

A more powerful vacuum cleaner saves you energy and does not waste electricity.

Empty the dust bin more often, as the suction power decreases as it fills up. And it is better to use a vacuum cleaner with an aqua filter. Even if you do not have allergies, you should not provoke them by regularly inhaling dust.

Don't skimp on the mop

Be sure to buy yourself a good mop. Cheap mops are often made from materials that don't pick up dirt well, leave lint behind, and wear out after just a few uses.

Washing with a cheap mop is a real torment! You have to go through one place several times and even collect dirt from the floor with your hands. So don't be greedy at the counter; it's not that much money anyway. The choice of form depends on the geometry of your rooms and on your style.

• A rope wringer mop is more suitable for those who like to wash quickly, deftly climbing into every corner.
• A rectangular microfiber mop is suitable for those who prefer to clean line by line.

Use quality detergents

Think again before buying a regular cleanser. Try some of the alternative eco-cleaning products. You will really be surprised at the difference if you have so far washed with one of the popular detergents from the supermarket. You don't have to wipe it a second time with a clean cloth to keep the floor from getting sticky. At the same time, it will be enough to walk through one place only once, and the floor will already shine with cleanliness. In addition, the consumption of mass-market cleaning products is much higher. Not only does this more than make up for their low price, but it's also not very good for your pets or kids, who somehow eat some of what's on the floor.

And finally

To make cleaning not only quick, but also enjoyable, listen to music or audiobooks while cleaning. And it’s better to immediately put on your headphones so as not to miss a piece of the recording when the water makes noise, or you go out onto the balcony. Dancing to your favorite tracks will make cleaning much more joyful, and the plot of the exciting book will even make you look forward to the next time.