Save Time While Cleaning

We spend a lot of time cleaning.

In fact, men and women spend about 45 minutes a day doing housework according to the federal government’s American Time Use Survey.

A separate survey, by Wakefield Research, said 36 percent of homeowners lie about how often they clean.

Many people just don’t like to clean, but want a clean house. The secret to effective cleaning is making sure that you’re making the best use of your time.

• Get rid of clutter: Do you really need all that stuff? If you haven’t used it in a year, you should consider donating or selling reusable items or throwing out junk. Author and organizational expert, Marie Kondo says to “thank it for its service and let go.”
• Use a multi-purpose cleaner: You can save time and money by using one cleaner for multiple purposes. One example: JAWS Kitchen Cleaner/Degreaser is non-toxic, doesn’t have a harsh smell and cleans appliances, tile, granite countertops, sealed wood floors and even hard surface outdoor furniture and grills. Each bottle of cleaner comes with an attached refill cartridge. “The refill pod not only saves you money, it cuts down on kitchen cabinet clutter since you reuse our bottles and just buy the small refills,” said JAWS Cleaners CEO Bruce Yacko.
• Clean spills as soon as they occur: It’s harder and more time-consuming to clean up after a spill has set in.
• Clean from top to bottom and back to front: Dust and grime often collect at the very top of furniture or cabinets. Start at the top and work your way down and then from the back to the front of an area to avoid cleaning do-overs.
• Choose the right air filter for your family’s needs: Many air filters come with ratings that range from good to premium. Some filter dust, pollen and pet dander while others filter bacteria, mold spores and particles that carry viruses. Replace your filter every 1-3 months based on the manufacturer’s recommendation.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed if you have a big cleaning job ahead. The best thing to do is to focus on one small project at a time. For example, clean all the windows one day and save the bathrooms for next weekend. Or clean the messiest room first and save the cleanest room for last. You’ll have a greater sense of accomplishment and a much cleaner house.