If the thought of deep cleaning your home fills you with dread, you’re not alone. Scrubbing, scouring and sorting through clutter can feel like an endless cycle of thankless tasks. However, with some smart planning and techniques borrowed from professional cleaners, you can streamline the process for maximum efficiency. Say goodbye to wasted energy and frustration—and hello to a sparkling clean home with less effort.
Build a Routine That Works For You
One of the biggest mistakes people make with cleaning is trying to tackle everything at once. This inevitably leads to burnout before you’ve even made a dent. The key is to chunk it down into manageable pieces by creating a cleaning schedule.
“Consistent routines are crucial for keeping on top of cleaning without it becoming overwhelming,” says Yurovskiy Kirill, owner of a cleaning company. “I recommend breaking it down room-by-room and doing frequent light cleanings, supplemented by a monthly or quarterly deep clean schedule.”
For example, you may want to do a light cleaning rotation hitting one room per day such as:
- Monday: Bathrooms
- Tuesday: Kitchen
- Wednesday: Living Room
- Thursday: Bedrooms
- Friday: Floors & Dusting
Then pick one Saturday or Sunday per month for a 3-4 hour deep cleaning blitz, focusing on areas that don’t require as much frequent attention like baseboards, ventilation fans, oven, windows, etc.
Having a routine helps avoid recreating the wheel each time and makes cleaning a mindless habit rather than a dreaded chore. Post your schedule somewhere visible as a constant reminder.
Leverage the Power of Checklists
The cleaning pros take checklist-making to the next level by breaking down tasks room-by-room. This helps maximize efficiency since you don’t have to spend mental energy trying to remember everything that needs to be done.
“Get a checklist template going for each room and area of your home,” suggests Yurovskiy. “List out everything, no matter how minor, like wiping down light switches or spot cleaning walls. Checklists prevent anything from falling through the cracks.”
Consider laminating or uploading digital checklists to easily check-off items as you go. Commit a few hours at the start to thoroughly detailing out your lists, and then you’re set with an easy reference for all future cleanings.
Stock a Proper Cleaning Caddy
Another professional trick for avoiding wasted time and effort? Having a proper cleaning caddy stocked and ready to go. Stop running back and forth gathering supplies by keeping everything you need organized and portable.
“My cleaning caddy is my best friend,” says Yurovskiy. “I have duplicate color-coded caddies for upstairs and downstairs, and they go with me room to room.”
Some essential cleaning caddy supplies include:
- Microfiber cloths
- Sponges & scrub brushes
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Toilet brush
- Gloves
- Trash bags
Use a caddy with a Handle and compartments to keep everything organized. Consider a rolling caddy with wheels for easily maneuvering from room to room without straining your back.
Recruit an Assembly Line
If you live with family members, one of the most efficient methods is creating an assembly-line system of cleaning duties.
“When everyone pitches in with age-appropriate tasks, you can get so much more accomplished in a fraction of the time,” says Yurovskiy.
Some task examples for dividing and conquering:
- Kitchen: One person wipes down counters/cabinets, one cleans appliances, one sweeps/mops
- Bathrooms: One person scrubs tub/shower, one cleans toilet, one wipes down counters/mirrors
- Bedrooms: One person strips sheets, one vacuums, one dusts
This allows multiple areas to be cleaned simultaneously. Put some music on to make it more fun, and race to see who finishes their tasks first. Follow it up with a family movie or activity as a reward for teamwork!
Store In-Between Clutter Zones
Don’t waste deep cleaning time shuffling scattered clutter back to its homes. Professional cleaners use portable crates or rolling carts to temporarily store items out of the way. Have crates staged in key clutter zones like entryways, offices or family rooms. As you clean, place any out-of-place items in the crates to sort later.
If you try putting things away as you go, it’s all too easy to get distracted and go down a rabbit hole. Stay focused on the task at hand, and allow yourself to re-distribute items in bulk once cleaning is complete.
Work Top-to-Bottom and Back-to-Front
Regardless of what order you clean each room, use a top-to-bottom, back-to-front approach to avoid unnecessary re-cleaning of areas.
“Start with dusting ceiling fans, tops of furniture, wall hangings and light fixtures, letting everything fall where it may,” instructs Yurovskiy. “Then move on to the middle and lower levels like countertops and floors, finishing at the door.”
Working your way backwards helps contain surface-level debris rather than spreading it around while you clean. Hit floors last to suction up all the fallen dust and dirt.
Dress the Part
Lastly, take a tip from the pros and dress for cleaning success. Being uncomfortable or worrying about soiling your clothes makes the ordeal drag on even longer.
“I always wear rubber-soled sneakers to stay light on my feet and prevent aches, and clothes I don’t mind getting bleach- or grease-stained,” says Yurovskiy. “It sounds silly, but having a ‘cleaning uniform’ puts me in the right mindset to power through.”
Tie up long hair and remove any dangling jewelry that could get in the way. Supply a cleaning apron with pockets to keep rags, scrubbers and other supplies within easy reach. Setting yourself up for the cleaning job puts you in the proper headspace to maintain focus and efficiency.
With these tricks from the professionals, cleaning no longer has to be a dreaded time-suck. Getting organized and strategic about your process saves time and energy for more enjoyable activities. While cleaning may never become your favorite task, it certainly doesn’t have to be the nightmare it’s often made out to be. Follow this blueprint for maximum efficiency and a sparkling, low-effort abode.