Assuming you don’t have a housekeeping service taking care of your home or an army of cleaning elves to help, here are some tips on how to clean your house fast.
Depending on the size of your house and how cluttered it is, you may need to set aside more than one day for cleaning. But if you focus and work efficiently, you can get the job done quickly.
Table of Contents
1. Keep Proper Tools at the Ready
One of the best ways to make cleaning faster and easier is to keep the proper tools at the ready. This way, you won’t have to waste time looking for a dust cloth or searching for a spare trash bag.
Instead, invest in a few key items, like microfiber cloths, an all-purpose cleaner, and a good vacuum. These tools will help you tackle any cleaning job, big or small.
2. Get Everyone Involved
If you live with family members or friends, it’s important to get them involved in the cleaning process. Assign each person tasks that need to be completed and have everyone pitch in. This will help you get the job done faster and make it easier to keep your home clean in the future.
3. Have a Clean System
The first step to having a clean house is to have a system in place. This means having a cleaning schedule and designated tasks. Having a system will help you keep your home clean on a regular basis without feeling overwhelmed.
If you don’t already have a cleaning schedule, sit down and map one out. Write out which tasks need to be completed first and when you’ll do them. For example, you may want to vacuum the downstairs for 15 minutes and dust the living room for 10 minutes.
Be realistic about how much you can accomplish in a given time and don’t try to do too much. It’s better to have a manageable schedule that you can stick to than an ambitious one that quickly falls by the wayside.
4. Start with the Biggest Jobs
When you’re trying to clean your house fast, it’s important to start with the biggest and most time-consuming tasks. These are the jobs that will make the biggest difference in the overall cleanliness of your home.
Vacuuming, mopping, and scrubbing bathrooms are all big jobs that can take a lot of time. If you start with these tasks, you’ll be able to check them off your list quickly and move on to smaller jobs.
5. Break Down Cleaning into Smaller Tasks
Once you’ve tackled the big jobs, it’s time to move on to smaller tasks. Rather than trying to clean your entire house all at once, focus on one room or one area at a time. This will help you stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed.
Clean Top to Bottom, Left to Right
It is recommended to start at the top and work your way down. This will help you avoid missed spots and make dusting ceilings and high surfaces easier.
Once you’ve dusted the ceiling, move on to cleaning the walls. Then, you can focus on the floor. Start in one corner of the room and work your way towards the door. This will help you make sure you don’t miss any spots.
Walk Around Your Home and Pick Up Trash
The first step in cleaning your house is to walk around and pick up any trash that you see. This includes items like wrappers, paper, cans, and bottles. If you have kids, they may have left their toys around the house as well. Pick up anything that doesn’t belong and put it in the garbage can.
Dust All surfaces
Once the trash is taken care of, it’s time to start dusting all of the surfaces in your home. This includes things like tables, chairs, countertops, shelves, and anything else that collects dust. If you have hardwood floors, you’ll also want to use a dust mop to get all of the dust off of them.
Vacuum all Carpets and Rugs
After you’ve dusted everything, it’s time to vacuum all of the carpets and rugs in your home. This will help to get rid of any dirt, dust, and hair that has been left behind. If you have a pet, you may want to vacuum more often to keep the fur from building up.
Wash all Floors
The next step in cleaning your house is to wash all of the floors. This includes sweeping and mopping the hard floors and shampooing the carpets. If you have tile floors, you may need to use a special cleaner to get them clean.
Start with the Bedroom
Start with the bedrooms because they are usually the most cluttered and messy rooms in the house. Strip the beds and put all the dirty laundry in a hamper. Dust all surfaces, including ceiling fans, windowsills, and blinds. Vacuum the floors and mop if necessary. Don’t forget to clean under the bed.
Move on to the Living room, Den, or Family room
These rooms tend to be the gathering places in the house, so they can get pretty messy. Pick up any toys, books, or clothes that are lying around. Dust surfaces and vacuum or mop the floors. If you have a fireplace, make sure to sweep it out as well.
Clean the Kitchen
The kitchen is usually one of the cleanest rooms in the house, but it still needs to be tidied up on a regular basis. Start by cleaning out the refrigerator and throwing away any old food. Then, scrub the sink and counters. You may also want to disinfect the doorknobs and light switches.
Wipe down all surfaces, including the stovetop, backsplash, and counters. Sweep and mop the floor. Don’t forget to empty the garbage can and wash out the recycling bin.
Clean the Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the most important rooms to keep clean. Start by cleaning the toilet and then move on to the sink, counter, and tub or shower. Sweep and mop the floor. Wipe down any mirrors or glass surfaces.
Other Rooms
Once you’ve finished cleaning the main rooms of your house, you can move on to smaller tasks like doing laundry, taking out the trash, and cleaning the windows. If you have other rooms in your house, such as an office, mudroom, or laundry room, make sure to dust and vacuum those as well.
Wash the Windows
The next step is to wash all of the windows. This will help to let in more light and make your home look brighter. You may need to use a special cleaner for the windows, depending on what type they are.
6. Finish with the Details
Once you’ve taken care of the big jobs and tackled one room at a time, it’s time to focus on the details. This is where you’ll do things like wipe down the backsplash in the kitchen or dust the baseboards.
These tasks may not seem like they make a big difference, but they can help your home look and feel cleaner. Plus, taking care of the little details will help you avoid neglecting your home in the future.
7. Know When to Stop
One of the most important things to remember when you’re trying to clean your house fast is that there’s no such thing as a perfect home. No matter how hard you try, there will always be dust in the air or a smudge on the mirror.
Rather than trying to achieve perfection, focus on making progress. As long as you’re making an effort to keep your home clean, you’re doing a good job.
8. Set a Timer
One of the best ways to motivate yourself to clean is to set a timer. This will help you stay focused and on track. Once the timer goes off, you can take a break or move on to another task.
9. Make Cleaning a Habit
One of the best ways to keep your house clean is to make cleaning a habit. Rather than waiting until your home is a mess, set aside time each day or week to tidy up. This way, you can avoid letting dirt and dust accumulate.
Final Thought
Cleaning your house doesn’t have to be a huge chore. By following these tips, you can learn how to clean your house fast and make the process a little bit easier. So what are you waiting for? Get started today.
