A More Efficient Way to Clean Your House

With the weather starting to warm up, spring cleaning is looming over most of us as a “to-do” list item… sometime in the near future. We are here to help you hit the ground running with your spring cleaning with a secret that could revolutionize the way you clean.

The biggest mistake people make when cleaning their house is cleaning room-by-room — professionals in the cleaning space call this “zone cleaning” — it’s much too slow. Someone could spend four hours cleaning one room with traditional zone cleaning; a lot of people get caught focusing on just one area, like doing a super job cleaning the counters and then never getting to the stove, let alone the next room.

The secret to tidying up every room of your house quickly? Task cleaning.

Most pros are in favor of “task cleaning.” This involves completing one chore, such as dusting, throughout the entire house, before starting the next. You’ll also do a little more walking, so it’s a good workout. It also works faster because doing it this way keeps you in a mindset of constantly moving.

Here is our quick step-by-step guide to task cleaning your entire house:

STEP 1: DUST YOUR HOUSE
Start off by dusting each room, including the topsides of all the furniture, undersides of shelves, handrails, picture frames, TV screens, and knickknacks.

STEP 2: CLEAN FURNITURE FABRIC
Next, go through the house and strip and remake beds; then neaten any pillows and blankets. Finish by brushing furniture surfaces with a vacuum extension as needed.

STEP 3: CLEAN MIRRORS AND GLASS
Wipe down mirrors and windows throughout the house. Pro tip: use one wet and one dry microfiber cloth to avoid leaving streaks.

STEP 4: CLEAN SURFACES
Wipe down all surfaces and counters throughout the house. Pro tip: make sure to wipe down and disinfect all places that people’s hands touch, like door handles, light switches, TV remotes, and phones.

STEP 5: CLEAN THE KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS
Step 5A: Walk through and spray cleaner on tubs, sinks, and toilets.
Step 5B: Return and scrub.
Step 5C: In the kitchen, wipe down the inside of the microwave, and cabinet and appliance doors.

STEP 6: CLEAN THE FLOORS
Sweep, then mop or scrub the bathroom and kitchen floors, as well as any other floors that need it.

STEP 7: VACUUM THE HOUSE
Start from the farthest corner and vacuum your way out of each room. Start at one end, of the house, and work your way through. It’s not 100% crucial to vacuum every single inch. Just keep moving.

STEP 8: WINE
That’s it! Now that you’re done cleaning, pour yourself a glass of wine and relax in your beautifully clean house.

For more information, including even more pro tips from cleaning professionals, feel free to read Elle Decor’s article, "How to Clean Your House More Efficiently.”

And if your busy schedule gives little time or hey, you'd rather be at the beach in that spare time or spending time with family, read Elle Decor's article about Amazon's deep cleaning service.