Back in the day, spring cleaning was an annual ritual: curtains laundered, rugs beaten, windows washed, cabinets emptied and wiped, floors scrubbed. Rather than trying to make up for six months’ worth of neglect through one long, physically grueling attack on your home, I’m going to suggest something different: speed cleaning. It’s efficient, effective and, yes, life-changing.
- Pick one spot to focus on.
- Assemble supplies (which should be stored all together, in the same place) and put on some of your favorite music.
- Set the kitchen timer for 20 minutes.
- Clean like mad. Get spouses/roommates/partners/your kids in on the action, too. Even preschoolers can and should do chores like dusting, pairing socks and emptying small wastebaskets.
- Stop when the timer goes off. Or not: If you’re in the zone, just keep going.
Less than half an hour of churning and burning can make a huge difference in how you feel about where you live. Once the place is in shape, you can keep up it that way with a few short bursts of activity. This is much less onerous than thinking, “This weekend I have to clean the entire house.”
And yes, I know how busy you are. But as Thoreau asked, what are we busy about?
After a long day it’s so easy to lose oneself on social media, or crash onto the sofa and flip through channels/play video games 30, 40, 60 (or more) minutes at a time. It’s also easy to feel so overwhelmed by the mess that making a difference seems impossible, whether in 20 minutes or 200 of them.
The (house)work-life balance
Try this, then: Do just one thing. Toss in a load of laundry. Empty the litter box. Run the vacuum cleaner in a single room. Your place will be a little bit cleaner and you’ll have a sense of accomplishment.
At that point you might decide to do one more thing, especially something related to the chore you just did. If you just cleaned the toilet, why not give the bathroom sink a quick wipe? (I do it the other way around: Pour bleach into the toilet and while it’s sitting there, I do the sink.)
Once the laundry is done, put it in the dryer, with bonus points if you wind up folding it while watching TV later. After the dishwasher is emptied, you might as well load up the plates and glasses from dinner.
DF and I also like the “two-minute rule”: Anything that can be accomplished in two minutes or less should be done right away. Examples: Hanging up your coat, putting your cereal bowl into the dishwasher, tossing the junk mail into the recycle bin, wiping up a spill, taking out the almost-too-full kitchen trash vs. trying to stuff more things in there.
Some people believe paying a weekly housecleaner is worth it. That way they come home to clean spaces and have more free time. But if you want to keep costs down, dust your own furniture. You can still have Facebook, Netflix or Xbox – once you’ve done your chores.
Speed cleaning = affordable cleaning
Earlier I mentioned “cleaning supplies.” Despite what marketers would have you believe, you don’t need an arsenal of chemicals and specialized equipment (disposable toilet brushes?) to keep your place in order. Just a few basics will do the job.
Baking soda. It makes a great soft scrub, especially for fiberglass tubs or easily scratched cooktops. Mixed with water, it will clean and deodorize your fridge. Tamp a half-cup of it down a slow drain and follow with half a cup of vinegar; after the fizzing stops, slowly pour in a kettle of boiling water and your drain will run freely once more. Apply a paste of baking soda and water to spots of baked-on food in the oven or on the stovetop and let stand overnight; the next day they’ll wipe right off. These are just a few uses for baking soda; search online for others.
White vinegar. Mix half vinegar and half water to make a good all-purpose spray or window cleaner. A 50/50 mix of vinegar and blue Dawn dish detergent works as well as Scrubbing Bubbles and is much cheaper – yep, it stinks, but so does Scrubbing Bubbles (and the smell does go away). Set shallow bowls of vinegar in rooms where you’ve burned food or smoked a cigar and the charred odor will disappear. If you’ve got hard-water stains in the toilet, pour in vinegar and let it sit for a few minutes, then start scrubbing – this stuff is magic, I tell you. Search online for dozens of other uses (cleaning, health and beauty, even furniture care) for versatile vinegar.
Bleach. Not everyone’s nuts about the stuff, but my mother’s favorite fragrance was Clorox. To this day that faint swimming-pool smell signifies “clean” to me. I mop every week with a bucket of water and bleach (I use the generic – sorry, Clorox). That combo is death on mold and mildew. Pour a little bleach in the toilet rather than buy expensive commode cleaners (although if you have hard-water stains, as noted, vinegar will take care of that). Add a teaspoon to the dishwasher to brighten things up. Look for other uses online.
Cleaning rags. When I was solo in Seattle it took me a year to use up a roll of paper towels (yes, I wrote the date inside the cardboard tube). That’s because I had a full-to-overflowing bag of rags made from sheet scraps, worn-out flannel PJs, holey T-shirts and blouses, and threadbare washcloths and towels. Cloth rags are good for windows, mirrors, counters, the stovetop, the inside of the fridge and pretty much anywhere that needs cleaning. They’re also good for the environment: Instead of using and tossing paper towels, you’re giving worn-out cloth one more shot at usefulness. Or more than one shot, since often the cloth can be laundered and reused.
Swiffer hacks. At our home we use a broom, a Roomba, and a mop and bucket. But some folks swear by the Swiffer and the Swiffer Wet Jet. I say do whatever works to keep up with the chores – but it’s irritating to pay so much for supplies. If you’ve already got a Swiffer, try these two workarounds:
- DIY refills. Rehab the container rather than pay $9 to $14 for each cleaning fluid refill. It’s pretty simple: Stand the empty Swiffer Wet Jet bottle upside down in boiling water for a minute, twist off the cap, use a nail clipper to snip away the bottle’s locking tabs, and pour in the cleaning solution of your choice. Lifehacker.com put up a video on the subject.
- Microfiber cloths. Clothespin the edges together on the top of either the dry or wet Swiffer instead of paying for paper pads. You’ll need several or maybe more than several, depending on the dust/grime in the area. The cloths cost as little as 33 cents apiece at the dollar store and can be washed and reused for quite a while.
And speaking of the dollar store: You can pay a buck for a mop pail, or you can go to a department store and pay four or five dollars. Ditto sponges, brooms, scrub bushes and many other cleaning items. Get your vinegar and baking soda there, too, unless you’re a warehouse club member and can buy them in gallons and giant sacks.
Speed cleaning = savings
Your cleaner, calmer space will almost certainly save you money. The cleanliness and lack of clutter makes it more welcoming. Comfortable people are happier people, which means less need to spend your way into contentment. Gone, too, will be the need to replace things you can’t find in all the mess (reading glasses, nail clippers, keys and the like).
My mother was extremely house-proud. Her need for absolute order and control was the result of an impoverished, chaotic and at times violent upbringing. In retrospect, it all makes sense. The house always looked great, but her mania for cleanliness caused a lot of anxiety among her children. We always felt nervous about marring its perfection.
As an adult I was slightly ashamed of my own imperfect surroundings. After all, I didn’t sweep, vacuum, dust, scour the sinks and wash off the stovetop every single day. Nor did I launder bath towels after each use, wash all the windows twice a year or wax the floor regularly. The place wasn’t dirty but neither was it magazine-spotless, and I fretted over that for far too long.
I no longer feel that way, and I encourage you to banish that kind of self-sabotage in your own life. A clean, well-ordered home is a lovely place to be. Getting there shouldn’t stress you out.
You might be surprised by the way cleanliness and order can change your life. No longer will you dread coming home to a place that smells like old pizza boxes and looks like a cyclone struck it. Instead, you will truly come home, to relax and luxuriate in the comfort of a place where you love to be.
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I honestly can’t tolerate cleanig more than one area at a time. My Mom did the entire 1912 house we lived in and she was miserable. I decided that when it is dirty, pick a spot and clean it. That is me and my humble opinion.
That’s pretty much what I’m suggesting: Pick your spots and hit ’em hard, but only for 20 minutes.
My mom spent every Saturday cleaning (with help from her three daughters), which was kind of silly because the place wasn’t dirty. We swept the kitchen twice a day, vacuumed and dusted daily, cleaned the bathroom regularly. But again, she had bitter memories of living in a dirty, run-down place among exhausted adults who just didn’t care about cleaning. Keeping a spotless house was her way of showing how not-her-family she had become.
I absolutley agree with you. It’s amazing how much cleaning you can get done in 20 minutes to 1/2 hour if you just focus. This is the only way I can clean.
Doing 20 minutes of Cleaning, once a day, will turn your house around. It’s amazing how much you can get done in 20 minutes. If done consistently, in about two weeks you won’t believe your house. We are big fans
As far as cleaning in the kitchen I do it whenever I put something in the microwave! If I’m throwing in something that’ll take 5 minutes, say defrosting something, I’ll clean the stove. A shorter time and I’ll clean the sink or the countertops. Waiting for water to come to a boil on the stove and I’ll clean the fronts of the cabinets, sweep the floor or tighten the knobs on the lower cabinets which my husband likes to lean on as he holds the doors open looking for something.
Those sound like two-minute chores to me! My own version, while waiting for the rice sock to heat up, goes like this: “What can I do in the next 85 seconds that will make a difference in my life later?” Often it’s something like the stuff you mention: wiping off a counter, putting away the dishes that have air-dried.
These are all good tips, folks. Keep ’em coming!
I follow a routine that works for me. On Monday I do all floors, vacuuming and mopping. Tuesday is dusting, Wednesday is laundry, Thursday is kitchen counter/cabinets, and Friday is bathrooms. My mom taught me to “put my house to bed at night,” meaning straightening/putting stuff away. Usually that takes me only ten minutes or so. Works for me!
I also am a minimalist. When my mom died, I had all of her stuff to contend with, and she had some lovely stuff both hers and her mother’s. Neither the kids nor I wanted much, so we kept things like wall art, jewelry, and some china pieces. The rest? She had stayed in a dependent living facility where the staff, mostly minimum wage earners, had taken splendid care of her. I told some of her favorite people to take what they wanted and they were so grateful to receive this nice furniture! She dressed well and had nice clothes, which we donated to the battered women’s shelter. (She was tiny and both my daughter and I are tall.)
We thought we had the memories which is much better than stuff. And memories do not have to be maintained.
My routine helps me keep my small bungalow clean and tidy. I do not spend a lot of money on supplies (love those Dollar Tree products), but I did spend on a good vacuum cleaner from a man who services them.
Once or twice a week I do take a bucket of warm water and clean the porch where the siding is. Birds. I love to watch them but hate cleaning up those little white spots. I also hire the outside windows washed twice a year as ladders and I do not have an affection for each other.
My daughter cannot follow this routine as she has a demanding job and kids. She hires it done and has taught her kids to pick up after themselves and keep the kitchen/bathroom areas picked up.
Medical issues make deep cleaning my house painful so I hire a cleaning team every month. This choice enables me to keep up with the day to day cleaning without hurting myself. We sweep, and I run a Roomba to keep up with my floors. I’m also a big believer in clean as you go. I consider myself a minimalist now and am pleased to live in an uncluttered, clean house.
Clean and uncluttered FTW! I’m sorry you’re hurting, but glad that you’re taking steps to reduce the physical stress.
Great post! We struggle with clutter in our house, so our family is undertaking a challenge during the month of March. On a daily basis, each family member must pick one item they own and either donate, sell, or trash it. I believe this exercise will help us more fully appreciate how lucky we are to have all of our needs met – and then some. It also forces us to reduce our material possessions and only keep the things that have special meaning or some other useful purpose – or as Marie Kondo might say, those items that “spark joy” in our hearts.
DF’s mom is 93 and still lives on her own. The rule she observes is: If I bring something new home, then two things have to leave. It helps her pare down clutter and decide what’s really worth it.
I love that idea!!! 😉
I love the dollar tree. I rent a small space and the dollar tree in my area sells many name brand cleaning supplies it’s cost effective for me since my space is so small. I also have taken the do small tasks when you can approach like when I’m washing the bathroom towels and mats that’s when I swiffer/vacuum/mop. It takes minimal time and I feel like I accomplished something.
And indeed you have.
I have a chronic illness that keeps me from doing the heavy cleaning so we have someone come in for two hours every Saturday while we run errands. We’ve known her for 20 years so am comfortable leaving her alone to do her stuff. It is amazing what she gets done in 2 hours! It is worth it to me to spend our “pin money” this way. During the week we manage the light stuff but it reduces my stress to think that someone else will clean the oven or clean windows or bathrooms. Worth every penny. That is why I am frugal, so I have money to spend on things I want or need without worrying..
Speed cleaning is the only way I manage! I go, go, go, and just get it over with. If I do it regularly the house stays relatively clean and tidy. I have a minute rule also, any chore that takes less gets done right away. Thanks for the cleaning supplies tips.
Besides what I consider the every day stuff…cooking, dishes and keeping up with laundry…most days I try to do something extra that takes under 30 minutes. I have to say I am retired so this didn’t happen as often while I was still working, usually due to fatigue and an aching back. It can be something routine like dusting the whole downstairs or washing the kitchen floor or something more involved like cleaning a cabinet inside and out. Also, I have a dishwasher but don’t put large items like pots, pans or large bowls and platters in there. I do these by hand but before washing them I pile them into the sink with detergent and the hottest water to come out of the faucet. I let them sit for about an hour. By the time I get to them they have pretty much washed themselves and the water is cool enough to handle. I go over them lightly with a dishcloth and rinse. This may be something others have done for years but thought I’d throw it in as a time saver. Donna, my mother was a “deep cleaner” and I remember her scrubbing walls, woodwork and windows on a regular basis. Floors were not to be washed with a mop but on our hands and knees with a sponge! I could go on but you get the picture…and by the way, she worked full time outside the home! So I get what you were saying about your mother’s cleaning habits.
I do a closet tithe. I count out 10 items and ask myself which of the ten would look better on someone else than on me. If you just ask, “do I like this?” and “do I need it?” you will end up saying yes. It is much easier to pick which one of ten items do you like least.
Of course my husband has to point out that if I bought 10% less it would have the same effect. Party pooper! I buy from thrift stores. Does he really want to deprive the widows and orphans (and abandoned pets)?
“Closet tithe.” I like this. I like it a lot.
And yeah, your husband is a killer of joy (and a denier of sustenance to widows, orphans and abandoned pets). You, Ann, are doing good deeds in the world.
I also love this idea! I work at a Thrift Store and usually get to buy some good stuff each week. However, when I get home I usually make up a bag to donate. I like the term “closet tithe”. I will be doing this pretty soon. I also buy almost everything I can at Thrift Stores to help keep the money rolling in for local charities.
My family is tidy, thank goodness. I’m at the age where a Saturday of deep cleaning leaves me barely able to move, so I do it more in moderation now: one room at a time and little bits as I go.
We are beginning to talk about having a landscaper come in and take out some plantings to simplify our yard. My husband and I just aren’t up to the labor of digging out bushes and hauling rocks any more, though we can still wash the windows.
I hate cleaning, organizing and tidying in general. I do have to say there is value in doing it. Sometimes when things get frustrating at work, I clean. I know I can’t solve complicated problems that take a team, but I can accomplish clearing a spot.
I am more of a gardener than a house cleaner. I had a hard time getting started, but when I did, I did what you suggested. I mapped out a very specific spot, usually about the size of car. I would weed, prone and replant. To reward myself I would add fresh mulch. I think I like gardening better than housework, because the good stuff only gets better with time.
We think of it as a hobby that we get to eat.
(And also frugality/food security, since we preserved a fair amount of stuff from a not-huge lot with relatively little hassle.)
If I get out the vacuum to do one area, I always end up getting on a roll and doing the whole house!
I also remember the time when I made my kids lunch, noticed something sticky in the fridge and ended up cleaning the entire refrigerator and pantry, finally eating my own lunch 1.5 hours later.
Now that my kids are elementary school age, I make sure their chores include my least favorite ones, such as dusting and wiping baseboards.
The biggest thing that helps me is that I don’t do clutter and try to limit “stuff” – I’m proud knowing there’s nothing under the beds and that if you open a closet or cabinet, they’re organized and orderly… no overflowing pile of shoved in stuff falling out at my house! My kids know that no matter how much they groan, there’s no out to putting their stuff away “in the proper location!” That matters more to me (neat and orderly) than things scrubbed and spotless.
When we’re tidying up, I tell my partner’s grandkids that “everything has a home, so put it in its home.”
And re chores: The daughter of a former co-worker would come to her moaning, “Mom, I’m bored.”
Oh, really? And mom would offer her activities such as cleaning out the fridge. Suddenly daughter came up with things to do on her own.
I like the idea of speed cleaning, but these days, I do so much rushing around at work, I like to go slowly at home. Also, I had to drop the perfectionism pounded into me at a young age. It sounds like our moms had something in common. Did your mom neatly fold dirty towels/clothes before placing them in a hamper? SMH
One cleaning method that’s really working for me is not pushing myself to sweep/dry mop/vacuum every room on the same day. My hands just can’t hack that any more.
I also try to stay on top of clutter. I’ve always got a donation bag set out that I add to whenever I can. Several times a year, it gets dropped off at Goodwill. I may have to move in October, so I’m really focused on getting rid of stuff. If I’m not willing to pay someone to move it, out it goes!
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“Would you pay someone to move it?” is one of the questions I’ve heard applied to the keep-or-toss question.
My mom never folded clothes before they went into the hamper. Wow.
Thanks for being such a consistent reader and commenter.
My house was built in 1936 with all the big wood moldings. With one inches ledges….sigh.
I try to use this trick. Just 10 Things. Walk into an area and pick up and put away (or throw away) just 10 things. That’s fast and easy. Inevitably I’ll think…eh another 10. So fast…..eg another 10. Pretty soon you’ve dealt with a lot of crap without it seeming like such a chore.
Once you’re in the zone….
Thanks for sharing your tip.
A book and company “Speed Cleaning” advertised on the last page of Parade magazine in the Washington Post years ago. I bought it and it changed everything. I clean every Thursday and that’s it. no more fooling around. As Donna says, when you clean, you clean. No one gets off the hook. Each person who dirties the house, gets an opportunity to clean it as a team. The approach is one that an engineer would take. My friends all know what Thursday morning is around here. One wanted to go kayaking. She pleaded with me “Come on Diane, your vacuum doesn’t know it’s Thursday.” I gave here a bottle of “blue juice,” the name of the light cleaning fluid in this method and we were on the lake in no time!