How to Make Cleaning Easier

That "urgent" cleaning task can loom over you for days, getting steadily worse and preventing you from enjoying your home. Develop a routine to stop this from happening. Motivate yourself with small goals and frequent rewards. Remember: unless you scrub floors with your ears, there's no reason you can't multitask with a fun music playlist at the same time.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Motivating Yourself

Play music as you clean, and even dance to it as you mop the floor. Listen to audiobooks or language lessons.
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Break everything into smaller tasks. Tackle one room at a time, and break that room into smaller areas. Instead of wading in without a plan, focus on one thing at a time. This makes it easier to motivate yourself by seeing your progress. Here's an example:^{[1]XResearch source}
- Remove everything that does not belong in the room by tossing it into a laundry basket or other large container. You can sort this later.
- Dust all furniture and surfaces with a damp rag.
- Wipe down windows and walls.
- Sweep or vacuum the floors, then mop them.
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A time limit motivates many people to work faster and stop procrastinating. If you broke the cleaning into smaller tasks, as described above, set a time limit for each one.^{[2]XResearch source}
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Give yourself a reward. Each time you complete a task, reward yourself. Take a break and do something you enjoy — though you should set a time limit if you're prone to turning that break into full relaxation mode.^{[3]XResearch source}
- For daily tasks, change your routine so the cleaning is always followed by something you enjoy. For example, start saving your morning cup of coffee until after you clean the kitchen.
If you have young kids, make cleaning into a game. For example, whoever can make the counter the shiniest or the bathtubs the whitest gets a piece of candy.
Open the windows to bring a breeze into the house. Fresh air feels wonderful when you've been cooped up in a room that smells of compost spills and bleach fumes.
If you plan out the meals for your household, plan the cleaning in the same way. Write down which cleaning supplies you'll need, and make sure you have them in advance. This works especially well for occasional cleaning tasks, such as going through the fridge contents or cleaning the stove and oven.^{[4]XResearch source}
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Improving Your Cleaning Routine

These cloths can be washed in the washing machine, and they don't develop bad smells as quickly as sponges do.^{[5]XResearch source}
Wear gloves whenever you use cleaning products. They'll protect your skin and let you handle unpleasant messes more quickly.^{[6]XResearch source}
3
Find a general-purpose cleaner. You'll save a lot of time if your regular cleaning involves one bottle instead of six. A solution of mild dish soap and a little liquid bleach cleans most surfaces for daily upkeep. A commercial all-purpose cleaner works well for heavy dirt.
- If you're scrubbing and scrubbing and nothing's happening, you need a more specialized product. Maybe it's worth having that "blue glass cleaner for humid days" under the sink... just don't use it for your everyday cleaning.
Wouldn't you rather clean before you splash water all over the bathroom? Make it a habit to check the sink, toilet, shower stall, and bathtub before each shower or bath. Scrub anything that needs scrubbing, then hop in the shower and rinse away the gross feeling.
5
Scrub everything with one disposable scourer. Use one scouring sponge for all dirty surfaces. Scrub the toilet last, then throw away the scourer.
- If you prefer not to waste cleaning products, use washable microfiber cloths.
If you notice a minor spill, wipe up the toilet seat and surrounding area with toilet paper and throw it away. This saves you the bother of cleaning or storing a filthy scrubbing tool.
Wipe down all counters, the oven range, and the microwave with a single microfiber cloth dampened with a general cleaner. Dry with a second microfiber cloth or kitchen paper.
It's not a good idea to use concentrated chemical cleaners in the microwave. Instead, insert a glass bowl full of hot water and two freshly cut lemon halves. Run the microwave for at least three or four minute, then wipe down with a cloth or paper.^{[7]XResearch source}
If you're dealing with clutter, keep extra laundry baskets or boxes around to use as storage. Toss objects into "keep," "give away," and "throw away" boxes whenever you pick them off the floor or clear out a closet shelf. Deal with the boxes as soon as they become full.
If you decide to clean a mess up tomorrow, there's a higher chance you'll forget or procrastinate. Add to that the fact that spills, stains, and encrusted food are much easier to deal with right away, and you have two great reasons not to wait.
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What is an easy and cheap way to clean my oven?
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Try doing this once your oven has cooled down enough that it's still warm but safe to touch. First, wet some steel wool and use this to scrub the oven to remove any caked-on food leftovers. Rinse and repeat as often as needed. Once you've gotten the worst of the caked-on food off the oven sides, sprinkle the whole oven, sides and base with baking soda. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then, using a damp cleaning cloth, wipe over the entire oven to remove both the baking soda; rub the cloth to lift off any remaining grime. Finish with one last wipe to ensure it's all clean and your oven will be ready for use again!
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My shower curtain is always getting mildew, what can I do?
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A really good tip is to always pull the shower curtain out completely after each shower, so it's not scrunched up. When the curtain is scrunched up, it doesn't dry properly and creates the ideal surface for mold and bacterial growth. By keeping it fully open after each use, you'll reduce the opportunity for mildew growth. Try to wash it at least once a month, using a vinegar rinse, to keep it in good condition.
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Why is it bad to leave dishes in the sink?
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A number of problems crop up when leaving dishes in the sink. One is that it makes it harder to use the sink for getting water and hand washing. Another is that it looks unsightly and it gets hard to find things you need during the day. There is also a risk of hurting yourself if you try to fish something from the bottom of the pile, as you might get stabbed by something like a knife or fork tine sticking out the wrong way. But the most important reason is that by leaving dishes to pile up in the sink too long, especially during hot weather, you're creating an ideal environment for bacterial growth and free feasts for cockroaches and other insects!
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Tips

There's no need to complete large projects in one day. Give yourself a goal each day: clean one area of the room, or finish one task.
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Make sure cleaning cloths and sponges are separate for each area of the house, e.g. some for the kitchen and some for the bathroom. Color-code them if necessary.
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For more stubborn stains, directly apply washing powder to clean damp cloth so the powder acts as more of an abrasive.
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Warnings

Many cleaning products can irritate the skin, eyes, or lungs. Ventilate all areas with open windows and/or a fan before using them.
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