Cleaning doesn’t have to take forever. In fact, if you clean regularly and keep your house relatively free of clutter, overall maintenance shouldn’t take more than a few minutes a day. If you’ve been stalling, though, and now want to get your house looking speck-free in under an hour, here are some tips on how to clean well and clean fast.
Have two cleaning cloths ready: one wet and one dry. That way you can wipe and dry (when necessary) in one move, rather than having to come back later to do it.
If you plan on using cleaning products, such as furniture polish or window cleaners, have a third cleaning cloth handy just for that purpose. Most surfaces can be cleaned using just some warm water, so you should have a special cloth designated just for that.
Keep your pets and kids out of the room as you’re cleaning. Always start on the corner furthest away from the door and clean towards the exit. When you’re done, close the door and let things air dry without paws or dirty shoes tracking dirt around.
Scuffmarks on vinyl floors can be removed by rubbing an eraser directly on the mark and then wiping out any lint with a wet cleaning cloth.
If you used a cleaning cloth to clean your floors, you will need to put it aside, preferably on warm water and detergent, to help get rid of bacteria. Never reuse a cleaning cloth on a completely different surface without washing it and do not take a cleaning cloth from one room to the next to prevent bacteria to spread throughout the house. Start with a clean cloth for each room.