One of the hard truths of adulthood is recognizing that housecleaning is not a one-and-done situation—it’s a never-ending story. And if you create a negative narrative about this task, it will always feel like a heavy lift. Good cleaning habits and routines are an important part of any household, but sometimes life just gets busy. And let’s face it, we do get lazy. So how about a few hacks to make your life easier when things get hectic?
Pro Tip: Create a cleaning kit in a container that you can easily move around with you as you clean. Keep an empty basket near your cleaning kit, so you can grab items off the floor and either hide them or put them away temporarily.
Hot Spots First
Scan the kitchen and living room for hot spots, or areas that collect the most clutter and junk. Pick up shoes, toys, and clothes that have a home elsewhere.
Clutter Dump
If there are areas of the house that need proper attention, just pick them up and put them in a box or basket that you can store in a closet or out of sight. Leave the clutter the way you found it in the box, and deal with it during a time when you can thoughtfully go through it and organize.
Let Go of Laundry
If you have clean laundry in the dryer, leave it there. And same goes for dirty clothes, just take them out of the bin and drop in the laundry so you can run a load later. The goal of cleaning when you’re in a hurry is to keep it out of sight. Just don’t forget to go back and deal with your clothes when you have more time!
Bathroom Dupe
The most important areas to address in the bathroom when you’re short on time is the toilet and the handwashing area. Forget the floor. Just spray some cleaner on the countertop and the sink basin and wipe it down. Don’t forget to put out a clean hand towel. Put cleaner in the toilet bowl and let it sit while you tend to something else for five to 10 minutes. Go back and scrub the toilet bowl, wipe down the lid, the handle and the bottom of the toilet basin.
Take Out the Trash
Grab trash from the kitchen and bathroom and take it to your garbage dump area. Don’t worry about trash bins in bedrooms or areas that are less trafficked.
Dust Magnet
If you have a lot of dust bunnies or have animals that shed fur, grab a microfiber cloth, a wet paper towel or a dryer sheet and run it along the sides of your floors where dust accumulates. Alternately, run your vacuum across the entire surface of your floors, not just rugs. Vacuums will pick up dust quickly. Better yet, let a robot vacuum do all the work, if you have one.
Clean Air
Burn a candle, light some incense, or spray some natural aroma therapy mist throughout your communal spaces. A clean-smelling home will make your home feel cleaner than it really is.
