Who doesn’t like coming home to an organized, clean house free of clutter? Science has proven that the stress you experience when your house isn’t tidy enough is not all in your mind. We feel more anxious and stressed when our homes look messy. Clutter can negatively impact our subjective well-being and home perception. One study found that women with cluttered homes had higher cortisol levels, the stress hormone.
Cleaning can be stressful for some people. We can get stuck if we still need to determine where to begin or how frequently to perform certain house chores. We asked three housecleaning professionals to share their secrets. Use these professional house cleaning tips to keep your home clean.
Stock up on these cleaning tools and products.
Have the correct tools to ensure that you are successful in your cleaning efforts. You don’t have to buy expensive products to keep your house clean. You can put together a caddy with a few reliable and essential items.
The microfiber cloth is a must-have for cleaning. All of our expert’s named microfiber cloths their preferred cleaning tool.
Debra Johnson is a home cleaning expert at Merry Maids. She says that microfibers are not only better for cleaning surfaces, but they’re also machine-washable and quick to dry, so they hold fewer germs.
Johnson recommends using distilled vinegar and microfiber cloths to clean surfaces. White vinegar, when combined with dish liquid soap and water, is a multipurpose cleaner that can be used to remove stains and clean surfaces.
She says they are three times more efficient than traditional cleaning cloths and can eliminate up to 99 percent of bacteria using only water. This is why many hospitals use microfiber towels, materials, and mops.
Spills and messes can be cleaned up throughout the day.
Johnson says, “Cleaning as you go.” She suggests cleaning your kitchen daily to prevent things from spiraling out of control. You can also avoid the spread of bacteria by tackling the mess and clutter that accumulates daily.
Johnson suggests that you keep a microfiber towel handy to treat spills immediately. So they will be easy and ten times harder to clean.
Simple tasks can be tackled quickly and often.
“Do your dishes after each meal,” Gregory says.
She also recommends keeping up with the mess in your kitchen daily and every hour to avoid dealing with too much later. She says that the same goes for the trash. “As it starts to fill up, throw it out.”
Gregory’s advice on making kitchen cleaning easier is simple: “Don’t procrastinate,” he says.
Cleaning up the daily clutter and sweeping your floor after work will keep your kitchen looking clean.
Baking soda is a great way to clean tougher messes.
Boone says a microfiber towel is excellent for cleaning minor spills on counters, appliances, and other surfaces. But for more giant food-related messes, she recommends Baking Soda. She says to use the baking soda in your pantry to remove grease.
Sprinkle baking soda onto a clean cloth and wipe any grease-covered areas. After a few minutes, wipe the area down with a damp, clean cloth.
Clean highly-trafficked spots several times per week.
Like in the kitchen, cleaning your bathroom daily can make doing more thorough, less frequent cleanings easier.
Johnson says, “Take care of a small task before it grows into a bigger one.” I’m talking about the toilet, shower, bathtub, and floors, mainly behind the bathroom. It would be best to clean it at least twice a week, as this is one of the germiest areas.
Still, trying to convince you should wipe down the toilet more often? Johnson says, “Every time you flush the toilet, water, and waste combine, sending plumes and microbes all over the toilet.”
By developing simple and consistent cleaning habits, you can avoid an enormous mess in the future. To make cleaning easier, squeegee the shower after every use. Wipe down the toilet and toothbrush holders at least twice a week.
Bathrooms are often overlooked for their smaller and more forgotten areas.
Gregory emphasizes the importance of cleaning up areas often forgotten in the bathroom. The toothbrush holder and faucet aerators are the most commonly overlooked areas. The toothbrush holder is the third most germy place in your home. You will want to clean it often.
Boone stresses the importance of cleaning all these areas and suggests using an old brush with warm water to clean the nooks and crevices around your faucet.
Focus on the hidden areas of your living room to keep dust at bay.
You, your family, and your guests will spend most of your time in the living room, so getting everything right is essential. Johnson suggests moving your furniture while you clean. Move the furniture around so that you can vacuum and dust the floor beneath it before putting it back.
Johnson says this will help you reach those places that have accumulated dust over the years. Remember the vacuum under the cushions!
Vacuum under and between furniture cushions monthly to stay on your game. You should vacuum under furniture and between cushions every two weeks if you or someone in your family has an allergy.
Dust can be dealt with using the correct tools.
Feather dusters may look cute, but they could be more practical. Boone recommends using a microfiber or cloth duster instead of a duster made from feathers to remove dust in the living area effectively. Boone says feather dusters are more likely to move dust than remove it.
Clean dust-collecting textiles regularly.
Gregory says that textiles are the biggest problem for cleaning a living room, unlike in the kitchen or bathroom. Gregory explains that cleaning regular carpets, upholstery, and linens can help control and reduce dust mites.
Even though you might want to clean your curtains or vacuum only some of your soft furnishings, this is important for keeping your home and family healthy.
Curtains need to be cleaned at least twice per year. You can vacuum them lightly with an attachment every month. Vacuuming and dusting should be done every week.