We all lead very busy lives and if you are anything like me the last thing you want to spend your free time on is cleaning. While I love having a clean and organized home, I don’t love cleaning. The mister and I use to spend our Saturday mornings deep-cleaning the house. Looking back, we should have broken it down into smaller chunks spread out over the week, instead of wasting our Saturdays together cleaning.
Now that I am older and (wiser!), I focus on my 6 cleaning secrets and speed clean during the week. We never spend any part of our weekend deep-cleaning. Hooray! My entire speed cleaning routine takes about 30 minutes a day. On the days where I do deep-cleaning – such as cleaning the appliances, oiling the furniture or mopping and dusting everything, it takes 85 minutes. (I timed it!) I have broken it down for you below. First, are my speed cleaning steps and below it the deep-cleaning time. Read on to get started, and I hope you never spend another weekend cleaning your house.
#1: Getting Started
I always start in the room that is in the very back of the house. When we have lived in homes with multiple levels, I always start at the top floor and work my way down.
Tip: I keep the cleaners that I will need in the room where I will need them. For example, I keep all of the green bathroom cleaners and washcloths stashed in the bathroom vanity. That way I have everything that I need in that particular room – no toting cleaning products from room to room.
#2: Bathrooms | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I quickly spritz down the counter tops, toilet, sinks and mirrors with a great green multipurpose cleaner and wipe everything clean. Then, I sweep the floor and as I leave the room I take the garbage can with me.
Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
On the days that I do a deep-cleaning, I also wipe out the cabinet drawers, scrub the inside of the toilet and mop the floor.
Tip: I keep a bottle of green shower cleaner in the shower. I periodically spritz down the shower a few minutes before I get in, then scrub the shower while my hair conditioner soaks in. Our shower is always clean. Yay! I do this with the bathtubs too!
#3 Master Bedroom | Speed Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I start by throwing away any garbage (in the garbage can from the bathroom) and take any dishes to the sink, and clothes to the laundry room. Then, I make the bed, quickly wipe down the surfaces and tidy up my workspace.
Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
In addition to the speed cleaning tasks, I dust off the ceiling fan, television, shelving, wash the windows, change the sheets and vacuum the room.
Tip: If the duvet is super wrinkled, I spritz it down with a water bottle and pull until the wrinkles fall out.
#4: Kids Bedroom | Speed Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
Eben cleans his own bedroom, but I do stop in every day to quickly wipe down all of the surfaces.
Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
Eben will also wash his windows, change the sheets on his bed, dust the shelving, tidy his workspace and vacuum the room.
#Tip: Give your child the responsible of cleaning their own bedroom, this will save you a lot of time and teach them responsibility and pride too!
#5: Half Bath | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I clean the half-bath the same way as the master bedroom. Throw away any garbage, spritz the counter top, sink, mirror and toilet and wipe them down. Then, sweep the floor.
Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I also scrub the toilet, bathtub, tidy up the toiletries and mop the floor.
Tip: If you have a half-bath that you never use, don’t clean it every week, only when it gets dirty.
#6: Laundry Room + Hall | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I wipe down the top of the washer and dryer, throw away any garbage, and sweep the floors.
Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I also clean out the lint trap, wipe down the inside of the washer and mop the floor.
Tip: We do a load of laundry everyday or as soon as the washer is full. We immediately dry, fold and put away the laundry too. We never have a full laundry basket!
#7: Kitchen | Speed Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
I spray down all of the counter tops, while the cleaner soaks I unload and load the dishwasher. Then, I wipe down all of the counter tops and spot clean the front of the appliances and cabinets. Then, I sweep the floor.
Deep Cleaning Version (20 minutes)
I spray down the inside of the microwave, stove and refrigerator and clean them. I will also wipe out any drawers that need it. I wipe down the front of all of the cabinets and mop the floor too.
Tip: Again, if it isn’t dirty – don’t clean it. For example: if you wiped out the refrigerator last week and it still looks good, don’t bother moving everything around to clean it again – wait until next time.
#8: Living Room | Speed Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I quickly straighten up the sofa and fluff the pillows. I put away the remote controls, any odds and ends laying around and quickly dust the surfaces.
Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
On deep cleaning day, I also vacuum the rug, down the sofa, wash the windows and mop the floor.
Tip: If you are really strapped for time, simple straighten up the sofa and fluff all of the pillows – this will immediately make the room look cleaner.
#9: Dining Room | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I wipe down the dining room table and chairs and quickly dust all surfaces and sweep the floor.
Deep Cleaning Version (5 minutes)
I also wash the windows, oil the table and dust the chandelier.
#10: Staircase + Entry | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I sweep the entry way, dust the surfaces and put away anything left by the front door.
Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
I also vacuum the stairs, wash the windows and fingerprints off the front door and mop the floor.
Tip: If you don’t have an entry way closet to tidy all of your families shoes, coats and bags, add a few hooks and baskets to your entry way to quickly hang coats and bags and toss those shoes into a basket.
#11: Outside Areas | Speed Cleaning Version (2 minutes)
I quickly sweep off the front porch and back patio and straighten up the furniture.
Deep Cleaning Version (10 minutes)
I also wipe down tables and furniture and spray off the porch.
Total Speed Cleaning Time: 32 minutes
Total Deep Cleaning Time: 80 minutes (Eben does his own room)
How about you lovely readers – do you have speed cleaning tips, I would love to hear!
I have begun imparting the speed cleaning to the kids. I now make sure of the deep cleaning on Saturdays.