If you seem to spend hours doing housework and everything still looks like a mess, you're not alone. Keeping your home clean and tidy is a never-ending task, however, it doesn't have to be a nightmare.
Whether you want to spend less time cleaning the kitchen or you need some housework advice from experienced cleaning professionals, we've got some tried and tested housework techniques. Here are some simple tricks and tips to make housework easier so you can get more done in less time.
Set a schedule
If there are household jobs you never seem to have time to do, it could be a good idea to create a cleaning schedule so nothing gets missed and you don't even have to think about it. Try a weekly schedule – for example, on Thursday’s you throw everything out, from out of date food in the fridge to sorting the recycling.
You can even download a cleaning schedule to make sure you never miss a job. If you're living with housemates, make sure everyone can see the rota and if you're a family, ensure everyone takes a turn.
Use an all-purpose cleaner
Instead of having to sort through bottles, cans and sprays before you've even started cleaning, switch to an all-purpose cleaner that you can use for all sorts of different chores. If you're passionate about the environment, you could try making a homemade all-purpose cleaner. This uses natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals, to protect both your home and the planet. Cutting down on the number of cleaning products you use saves time and money, so try decluttering your supplies.
Clean smarter
One of the best ways to speed up cleaning is to follow a logical plan and so avoid messing up anything you've just cleaned or put away. When it comes to the kitchen, work from top to bottom so you don't mess up freshly cleaned floors or drop any crumbs onto clean surfaces.
If it's time to clean the fridge, take everything out so you can clean it thoroughly, get rid of any out of date food and wash the shelves in hot soapy water. Make sure you clean down the sides with a damp cloth and then you can fill your sparkling clean fridge with organised, fresh food.
Quick ways to clean appliances
You can also count on many of your appliances to clean themselves. Add some hot soapy water to your kitchen blender, let it run for a minute and then empty it in the sink for a super clean and shiny blender with minimum effort.
You can also steam clean the microwave by cutting up a lemon and putting it in a bowl of hot water. Run the microwave for a few seconds, wipe down any grease and your microwave should be good as new and smelling fresh. Keep an eye out for self-cleaning appliances if you're updating your kitchen, as these functions can really save time in the long run.
