11 Tips That Can Help You Finish Cleaning in No Time

For most people, cleaning the whole house is not a fun pastime. Oftentimes, we just want to get it over with as quickly as possible. However, some things we do can make it harder for us. So to avoid collapsing on the couch in frustration, take a look at these tips for happy cleaning.

Bright Side is showing you what to do to make cleaning a 10-minute chore that needs less of your time and energy.

1. Avoid cleaning windows on sunny days.

Washing windows when the sun is strong can make the process worse. On sunny days, windows dry faster, and instead of sparkling windows, you get streaks and marks. It’s better to wait for cloudy weather.

2. Wash wooden cutting boards by hand.

Never soak wooden cutting boards in water, since it will breed bacteria and cause damage to the wood. Keep them away from dishwashers as well, and dry them in an upright position so that wood dries evenly on both sides.

3. Clean lampshades with a lint roller.

Microfiber cloths or sponges can leave even more lint and fibers behind, so the best way to clean lampshades is to use a sticky lint roller. This way, it’s easier to remove stubborn dust particles, and you can reach the inside and outside quickly.

4. Don’t bother scrubbing in stains.

It might be tempting to scrub stains with all your strength to make them come off faster, yet the correct way is to dab stains with a cloth. It’s also a good idea to soak them in baking soda, cornstarch, or vinegar.

5. Avoid mixing cleaners.

Mixing some cleaners together can bring about dangerous chemical reactions that are detrimental to your health as well as your furniture. For example, bleach and vinegar produce chlorine gas. Similarly, hydrogen peroxide with vinegar turns into highly corrosive acid.

6. Clean from high to low.

You probably don’t want to clean the same place twice, and that’s why you should clean from top to bottom to avoid spreading dust all over your room. For instance, if you clean floors first and then dust off your furniture, all the particles will land on the floor again. Start off with the higher shelves, gradually moving down, then finish cleaning by mopping and/or vacuuming the floor.

7. Use a walnut to fix wood scratches.

Take a walnut without the shell, rub it in the scratch for about 30 seconds, and let it sit for 2-3 minutes to let the oil sink in the wood. After that, use a microfiber cloth to polish the scratched area. Make sure the walnuts you’re using are raw and haven’t been cooked or spiced in any way.

8. Don’t pour too much laundry detergent.

Use laundry detergent in moderation, otherwise, half-rinsed out residue will make your clothes crunchy and scratchy. Plus, it can also be the cause of bacterial buildup, as excess suds can get caught in hard-to-reach areas, like collars.

9. Avoid pre-rinsing your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

By pre-rinsing the dishes, you “confuse” the dishwasher. It automatically detects the duration of a wash, the amount of water, and its temperature. If the dishes have no debris, the dishwasher chooses a lighter wash. As a result, the dishes come out half-dirty or not squeaky clean.

10. Use vinegar instead of bleach to remove mold.

Bleach doesn’t remove mold, it only hides it by removing its color. The best remedy is vinegar, which removes more than 80% of mold species. It also prevents its regrowth. Spraying mold-prone areas with vinegar at least once a week will discourage fungal growth.

11. Keep zippers straight.

Sometimes zippers on clothes get wavy after they’ve been washed. To avoid that, simply zip everything up and wash like usual.

What are your favorite tips that never fail to work? Which ones only make everything worse?