We're all busy in this modern age. Between juggling work and personal life, fitting in a run or workout, cooking meals, sorting out bills, and more, we have little time - or energy - left for cleaning. Because of this, it can be hard to maintain a clean, neat home.
But cleaning doesn't need to take up all your time if you set some house rules and know a few hacks. Follow these rules (and get members of your household to follow them!) to make your home low-maintenance to clean and drastically cut down the time you spend cleaning.
Cleaning doesn't have to be back-breaking labour; it can be quick and easy. Like they say, work smarter, not harder.
Household rules and hacks to keep your home clean even if you're a busy person
Hint: Prevention (of dirt) is key with these rules!
1. No shoes inside, please
To slow down the build up of dirt on your floors and carpets, start by keeping dirt from the outside, outside! Put a no-shoe rule in place and ask that all visitors and household members leave their shoes at the door.
We step in all sorts of things when we're out and about; even if you don't step in dog mess or mud, your shoes will still be picking up dust, dirt, and bacteria from the places you walk.
When you go inside with your outdoor shoes on, they track in the dirt and germs. This doesn't just make floors get visibly dirty more quickly, it is also unsanitary.
So kick off your shoes when you enter your home and opt for house slippers, socks or barefeet instead, and save yourself some vacuuming.
Extra tip: Keep doormats at entrance doors to trap some of the dirt from your shoes before you remove them.
2. Put it back - the tidy-as-you-go rule
Get in the habit of putting things back where they belong as soon as you're done using them, and instruct other members of your household (including kids) to do the same. This will prevent clutter in your home and save you time tidying up.
This includes things like toys, toiletries, electronics, and clothes. When you're done wearing an item of clothing, either hang it up to wear again later or throw it in the laundry basket straight away.
When it comes to junk like papers you don't need or food wrappers, throw them away as soon as you're done with them.
Extra tip: Give everything a home if you haven't already. This will make it easier to make sure all things are returned to a place where they can be found again.
3. Vacuum, then empty the dust canister
If you have a vacuum with a dust canister or container, follow this simple rule: vacuum, then tip the dirt out of the canister and into the bin when you're done.
4. You make a spill, you wipe it up
An easy way to prevent gunk buildup and keep your kitchen clean is to wipe downcounters and surfaces right after you've used them to prepare food on. This includes the stove top and the inside of the microwave if there's a spill.
Wiping away food spills and crumbs as soon as you make them makes them a lot easier to get rid of and keeps pests away, so make it a rule for everyone to do this.
The same rule goes for any surface in your home when you create dirt, make a mess, or spill something.
Extra tip: Use a clean, damp microfibre cloth to wipe dirt, grime and spills off any surface. They easily pick up germs and dirt and are gentle enough to use on all kinds of surfaces.
5. Take out your washing
Make it a rule that the person who turns on the washing machine must also take the washing out and hang it up. In addition, they must remove the laundry from the drum right after the wash has ended and leave the machine door open to air.
Don't leave wet laundry to sit for hours (or days) in the machine drum, or you'll be left with mouldy-smelling clothes. It's also important to air out the washing machine after a cycle to prevent mould buildup and bad odours as well as to keep the machine working well.
6. Don't let dishes pile up
Whether you're cooking and want to wash as you go, or would rather leave your dishes for after you've eaten, don't wait to clean dirty dishes - deal with them now, and make this a house rule.
Either place dirty dishes in the dishwasher directly after making them, or wash them in the sink straight away, then leave to dry so you can put away nice, clean dishes later. Better to spend a few minutes on a few dishes now, than an hour on a huge pile of them later.
Extra tip: If you don't have a dishwasher and really don't have time to do the dishes right away, rinse them or fill them with water to soak, and leave them by the sink. This makes it easier to get food off them when you do get around to cleaning them.
7. Swap in a new bin bag
When the bin bag is full, take it out and replace it with a new one straight away, so the next person who needs to can throw their rubbish away instead of finding a dustbin with no bin bag in it.
8. Set a timer and clean!
You'd be amazed how much you can get done in even a few minutes if you just focus all your effort on it for that entire time.
You might not have much free time in your busy day, but you likely have 15 minutes to spare. So gather your household together, decide what you're going to clean or tidy, and start the clock for 15 or even just 10 minutes.
During that time, focus completely on the task at hand and see how much cleaning you can get done! Then after that, you can let yourself relax. It's a way to make cleaning more of a fun challenge than a tiresome chore.
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