1. Clean one room, or thing, at a time.
If you struggle to stay on track while doing chores, redditor mrsbono2u has a simple suggestion: “Clean one room at a time; otherwise you’ll get too distracted.” This one room rule is a favorite with professional cleaners, as it’s one of the most efficient ways to tackle a home. Speaking of efficiency, this user added, “Don’t put things down; put them away!” Also called the OHIO method (which stands for “only handle it once”), this tip is a game changer that can save tons of time and make for a less cluttered, more orderly space.
2. Let cleaning products sit and work their magic.
Nobody wants to work harder than they have to, especially when it comes to scrubbing out the tub, oven, and other grimy areas. Helpful_Corgi5716 dropped a handy hint into the thread, saying “Let the cleaning products sit for a while to actually do their work.” So next time you’re busting buildup, spray your cleaner of choice ahead of time and tackle one or two 10-minute cleaning tasks to save yourself some elbow grease.
3. Use rags instead of paper towels.
If you’re new to the debate on whether to use rags versus paper towels for cleaning, let’s preface this by saying that there isn’t a “right” method, and there are times when you may want to reach for a paper towel. However, GlitteringGrocery605 raised a valuable point when they advised redditors to opt for rags over paper towels, observing that they simply work better. The primary reason for this is that rags and cleaning cloths are sturdier, which enables you to press harder.
4. Save your old toothbrushes for scrubbing grime from grooves.
Northern_Owl_Who chimed in with an upcycling tip, saying, “Save your old toothbrush; they make good scrubbers for those tiny cracks around your faucets.” If you have particularly finicky crannies to clean, you can even bend old toothbrushes using hot water and some pliers into an ergonomically angled tool that makes scrubbing grime from awkward areas even easier.
5. Set a timer for 15 minutes and tackle a cleaning task.
Sometimes cleaning tasks require a couple of hours, but oftentimes they can be broken down into bite-size chunks. If you struggle with getting started or feel overwhelmed, time-boxing your cleaning checklist might be the solution. SageBrush83 says, “You can do anything for 15 minutes.” This technique isn’t just for small chores, either. “It’s helped me get big jobs done, in lots of little jobs,” they added. Before you know it, this approach could naturally turn into a 20-minute daily cleaning routine that ensures you don’t have to tackle the entire house on a Saturday (yes please).
6. Work your way from top to bottom.
To make sure you don’t dirty surfaces you’ve just cleaned, another Reddit user advises starting at the top of rooms and working your way down. This could look like dusting the ceiling corners and fan blades, then moving on to shelves, bookcases, and surfaces, and ending things off with the floor.
