Thrifty Mommy

Top 20 ways to save time while cleaning your home

by kellys on March 21st, 2008

I hate to clean. I am willing to admit that. But finding the time to clean is getting harder and harder now that I have 2 kids. I just want to play with them all the time. But the house needs to be cleaned and the floors need to be vacuumed. So I have found some great ways to save time while cleaning your house.

1. Use Lysol or Mr Clean wipes in the kitchen. I usually don’t even wipe with a rag first. It’s really fast, easy, and sanitary.
2. Find ways to clean with your kids.
3. Maintain, Maintain, Maintain.
4. Do a load of laundry a day.
5. Clean your bathroom while your kids are bathing. It works for me and it teaches your kids to clean as well.
6. Get a timer. You will be much more motivated to get more done if you are up against a timer. It’s the Flylady’s montra!
7. Get organized. It is much easier to clean if you know where things go. I tend to let things get out of control if I don’t know where to put things.
8. Keep a mobile cleaning cart. This will help you keep all your supplies in one place and easily accessible to tackle any room.
9. Wash your pets regularly. This will hopefully keep down on pet hair.
10. Wear gloves when you can. This will keep you from spending time trying to get that smell off your hands and having to work harder to keep them moisturized.
11. Have a cleaning party. Don’t laugh. I love helping others clean their houses but I hate cleaning mine. Imagine if you and a best friend have a weekly cleaning or organizing date. Things would get done and you would have a ball! I would much rather clean with a companion. I get much more done.
12. Get a routine. This way cleaning is a habit. I go against the Flylady’s #1 rule. Shine your sink before bed. My feet hurt too bad by the end of the day so I turn on the dishwasher and leave the rest. I finish it in the morning when I am rested and my feet don’t hurt.
13. Wash the dishes right away. Because of #12, my dishes take more time to wash some mornings. It’s a price I am willing to pay, unfortunately.
14. Don’t scrub your microwave clean. Put lemon water or vinegar water in the microwave and let it boil. The steam will cut the grease and grime and save you time. Be VERY CAREFUL though and make sure your vinegar water is mixed well. Vinegar tends to explode when you take it out.
15. Take 5 minutes a day for the hot spots. That way they don’t get overwhelming. Just pick one every couple of days.
16. Turn the TV off. The TV is a fantastic time sucker! I like to listen to the radio when I get to clean.
17. Find a babysitter if you get overwhelmed. This might cost more but I get 5 x done when my kids are at the sitter or my DH takes them out for a while.
18. Magic Erasers are wonderful and they cut the scrubbing time in less than half.
19. Get some sleep.  I am twice as fast and productive if I am rested.
20. Have a time table.  This is different from a timer.  I am most motivated when I know I have to leave at a certain time and need to get a certain amount done before I leave.  Usually I am not too late but I get all my things on my list done and then usually one extra.
21. Make a list and cross it off as you get it done.  This is a huge motivator!  (this one was a bonus)

Good luck!  Let me know how you do.

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POSTED IN: Top 10 lists, cleaning, time management