Are you looking for some cleaning hacks that actually work? Interested in ways to clean your home fast so that you can spend more time doing just about anything other than cleaning? Today I am sharing some brilliant cleaning hacks that really do work. I use these hacks every day as a Mum of Four to stay on top of cleaning in order to spend more time actually living.
Table Of Contents
Embrace The Power Hour
As a busy Mum, I know that taking all day to clean my house from top to bottom is not always practical. As nice as it is to get everything done in one hit and have a sparkly house all over, things like work, school runs and actually caring for your children seem to get in the way of this!
What’s the answer? The Power Hour.
Power Hour cleaning is the only way in which I can manage to keep on top of the housework without my home descending into chaos. Yes, there will be a very rare day where my husband is around to watch the children so that I can get the whole house cleaned, but these days are few and far between. Power hours can be slotted regularly into my weekly routine without taking over my life.
Key things to remember for the power hour;
Schedule in your power hour
Look for blocks of time before you have to dash out or make dinner or whatever it is that you have to do, then book it into your calendar. You’ll be so glad that you did.
Set a timer
The “race against the clock” element will spur you on to do more and achieve as much as you can before the timer runs out.
Make a list, either written down or as a mental note, of what you want to achieve and in which order. The priority of what needs doing will depend on which areas of your house need your attention on that given day.
Supplies at the ready
Gather everything you need before you begin to avoid wasting even one of your precious 60 minutes hunting for supplies.
Treat it like a cardio workout
Really go for it! Cleaning van totally be “cardio” if you are giving it your all to really squeeze all you can out of your hour. It’s great motivation when you also feel like you’re getting in a mini-workout.
When the timer goes off, stop & let it go
And don’t beat yourself up! We are all busy and stressing over all the things that still need doing because we didn’t get to them will get us nowhere. Instead, celebrate the win. You did 60 minutes of full out power hour cleaning, go you!
Master The Microwave Minutes
No time for a power hour today? Then microwave minutes are for you.
What are “Microwave Minutes” exactly?
You know those minutes where you are waiting for the kettle to boil, the bath to run or the microwave to finish? These are your microwave minutes and you need to start using them to conquer the mini wins.
Waiting for the kettle to boil? Empty the dishwasher. Waiting for the microwave to finish? Sort through that pile of junk mail cutter by the front door.
You get the picture.
By starting to use these tiny pockets of time to conquer quickfire tasks and claim your mini wins, you will find it far easier to stay on top of your home.
Get Motivated With Music
Go to your music platform of choice, be it Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music etc, and create yourself a motivational cleaning playlist. Choose upbeat, uplifting and blood pumping songs that really prompt you to get off the couch and get cleaning.
Keep Supplies Where You Need To Use Them
Now, with the obvious caveat of “make sure that cleaning supplies are kept out of reach of children” storing cleaning supplies where you need to actually use them is a game-changer.
Think about it; if you are in the loo and you notice your bathroom is looking a bit skanky, how much more likely are you to give it a quick blitz if everything that you need is on a (night high, out of reach of children, obviously) shelf in the bathroom cabinet?
Silly as it may sound, often one of the barriers to cleaning, is simply not having the right things to hand when inspiration to clean strikes.
Make sure you check out my posts about the best reusable and consumable cleaning products…
Clean The Shower While You Are In It
Again, obviously only using natural products without harsh chemicals (bleach burst skin, no thanks!), the ideal time to clean the shower is while you are in it! By using the last tip and keeping bathroom cleaning products in the bathroom, this makes cleaning the shower while you are in it even easier.
Don’t want to scrub the shower? Try a daily shower spray to keep grime at bay.
I like the Method Daily Shower Spray, especially the passion fruit scent which leaves the whole bathroom smelling divine.
Before you throw in the towel…
…. wipe something with it!
Unless the towel in question is utterly filthy (which it is unlikely to be if you change your towels regularly), make a point of wiping over the nearest sink with the towel before chucking it in the laundry.
I usually damp a corner of the towel, wipe away any toothpaste that my children have inevitable spat all over the sink that morning, then use the dry end to wipe dry.
Although this is no replacement for regular cleaning with actual products that can clean and disinfect, it certainly helps with the build-up and means that when you get to do a proper clean, it’s not such a mammoth task.
Invest In Some Microfibre Cloths
I used to go through a lot of kitchen towel. I just figured that it was far more hygienic to use something once then throw it away.
The truth of the matter is that this is not kind; not to the planet and not to your pocket.
Then I discovered micro fire cloths and I have not looked back. As long as you care for them properly, they will save you loads of money, reduce your environmental impact and make cleaning easier too.
You can clean almost anything in your home with microfibre cloths as long as you care for them properly.
Here are some top tips for microfibre cloth care;
Wash them before you use them
Washing your cloths before using them will mean they are less likely to shed bits of fluff over your home. They also become more absorbent the more you wash them, so they will actually improve with time.
Wash on a hot setting with an extra rinse
Check the care instructions on your cloths, but I wash all of my cleaning cloths at 60 degrees on a long washed with an extra rinse, to get rid of any lingering chemicals or germs.
Add a scoop to sanitise
As a long time cloth nappy user, I have always had nappy sanitiser in stock and add a scoop to my usual detergent to sanitise the cloths. I like the MioFresh Nappy Sanitiser.
Another way to do this would be to add a cap of Zoflora to the load. The Zoflora makes the cloths smell great too. My favourite scent is Linen Fresh at the moment.
Avoid The Softener
Although fabric softener makes fabrics soft and smelling delicious, it’s a big no-no for anything that you’d like to remain absorbent, such as microfibre cloths, flannels, towels and cloth nappies.
Choose Products That Make You Happy
The truth is, if you are excited about something, you are more likely to use it. Maybe it’s your favourite colour of rubber gloves? Maybe it’s that fancy vacuum cleaner that you wanted?
For me, it’s anything that makes my home smell nice that encourages me to clean. There are lots of cleaning products that have a distinct “chemical” smell and lots that are “ok”. A few that I’ve tried, however, I simply adore the smell of and these are the ones that I repurchase, as I know they are the ones they get me cleaning.
My current cleaning favourite scents are;
Switch Your Mop For A 1-2- Spray
As a Mum of tiny humans, I’ve always found soaking the floor with a traditional mop and turning the tiled floor into a slippery death trap, a bit of a nightmare.
I’ve been through phases of using the antibacterial floor wipes for convenience, but then we were back to added expense and negative environmental impact.
Since I bought my Vileda 1-2 Spray I haven’t looked back.
You fill the spray compartment with your cleaner of choice (I use either diluted Zoflora or the Method floor cleanser), squeeze the trigger then wipe over with the washable pad to clean and dry all at once. Honestly, it’s so incredibly easy to use.
I have 2 cleaning pads, one on and one in the wash, and I chuck them in the machine with my microfibre cloths. I don’t even own a traditional mop any more.
Scrub The Sonic Way
Here’s another product that a) makes me happy, so I like using it & b) makes cleaning easier.
The Sonic Scrubber is like an electric toothbrush, but for cleaning. It comes with various head attachments and is amazing for stubborn stains and hard to reach places.
From hob tops to grout to the inside of the washing machine detergent drawer, this fab little gadget makes the job a cinch. More than anything, it’s kind of fun and satisfying to use, as the results are quick and easy, making me far more likely to tackle those demanding cleaning jobs with it.
What are your top tips and hacks for keeping your home clean? Let me know in the comments.
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