Cleaning hacks for busy people

Summer is a time of renewal and excitement, and what better way to embrace it than with a good cleaning?

“However, cleaning may be a necessity after a dusty winter, but just because it is summer doesn’t mean that we have more time on our hands to give our homes a good once over,” explained Bronwyn Ragavan, brand manager for Chemico.

“When the days start to warm up, our lives (both work and personal) seem to be even busier.”

The dust from winter and a lack of airing your home can leave your house a little stuffy, but if your schedule is packed, the thought of tackling a deep clean might feel overwhelming.

Luckily, there are plenty of hacks to get your home refreshed quickly and efficiently, without spending your entire weekend on it:

• Make a quick plan. Walk through your home and identify the areas that need the most attention. Focus on high-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. By prioritising the spaces you spend the most time in, you can get noticeable results faster.

• Clutter is the biggest obstacle to a clean home. Before you start scrubbing and dusting, take 10 minutes to clear out the clutter from each room. Use a laundry basket to gather items that don’t belong, then sort and put them away later.

• It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you try to clean the whole house at once. Instead, focus on one room at a time. Set a timer for 30 minutes, and clean as much as you can in that room during that period. This technique helps break the process into manageable chunks, making it easier to stay focused and productive.

• Save time by using multipurpose cleaners that work on multiple surfaces. Instead of grabbing separate products for countertops, glass, and floors, find an all-in-one cleaner. This not only cuts down on cleaning time but also reduces the number of products you need to juggle.

• When cleaning any room, start from the top and work your way down. Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and shelves first, then move on to counters and floors. This way, any dust or debris that falls gets cleaned in one go, saving you from having to redo areas.

Microfiber cloths are your secret weapon for fast and efficient cleaning. They’re more effective than paper towels or regular rags at trapping dust and dirt, meaning you’ll spend less time scrubbing.

• Busy people often overlook small appliances like the microwave, toaster, or coffee maker, but cleaning them doesn’t take long and makes a big difference. For a quick microwave clean, fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a few lemon slices, and heat for five minutes. The steam will loosen grime, allowing you to wipe it away effortlessly.

• If you live with family or roommates, divide tasks so everyone tackles a specific area or chore.

• Instead of saving all your cleaning for one big day, break it down into daily tasks. Spend just 10 minutes a day on small chores like wiping down counters, vacuuming one room, or cleaning the bathroom sink.

• After cleaning, make your home feel extra fresh by using natural scents. Open windows to let in the air, or use essential oils like lemon, lavender, or eucalyptus in a diffuser.

These scents not only make your space smell amazing but also have mood-boosting properties, perfect for a post-cleaning reward.

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