10 quick cleaning tips for the house

Using these quick and practical cleaning tips means you will spend less time cleaning and give you more time to do other things. As the kitchen, bathroom and living areas are usually the ones that see the most traffic in the home, these are the quick cleaning tips are designed to provide practical and effective strategies for cleaning them up.

The general guidelines for effective cleaning are if you spend twenty minutes a day doing daily cleaning it would mean that your homes would run more smoothly. If you invested that time on a daily basis, you’re less likely to be overwhelmed with massive cleaning up chores at the end of the week or fortnight instead.

These quick cleaning tips are a combination of ones you should do on a daily basis, through to ones that only need doing once a week.

1. A sparkling sink – lots of items will pass through your sink. Everything from dirty dishes, through to little hands covered in paint and in need of a rinse. So this hardwearing surface can start to lose its lustre if it isn’t looked after.

• Pop some gumption on a damp sponge and clean the sink thoroughly.
• Once you’ve washed it down, rinse it thoroughly.
• Wipe down with a dry cloth in order to get a polished finish.

2. Tidy up the toaster – this little crumb catcher is likely to attract unwanted visitors if you aren’t cleaning it out regularly.

• Make sure the toaster is completely cold before cleaning.
• Unplug the toaster
• Turn it upside down and empty the crumbs into the bin.
• Wipe down the outside of the toaster with a damp cloth soaked in vinegar to buff it up.

3. Polish up the kettle – this item is often a focal point in a kitchen and it is great to ensure it looks clean and shiny. Remember only to clean it when the kettle is completely cool!

• Ensure the kettle is completely cold.
• For stainless steel kettles you only need a gentle detergent, mixed with some warm water and a soft sponge to wipe it down.
• Alternatively, place some bicarb on a sponge and wipe the kettle down. Follow this with a rub down of the kettle with a sponge soaked in vinegar.

4. Cleaning the microwave – this is a great place to heat up things but can also get very messy when things explode or overheat! Cleaning it is a fairly straightforward process especially if you mop up straight away.

• Pop a handful of wet paper towels inside your microwave.
• Turn the microwave on high for 2-4 minutes.
• The steam from the towels should help soften up stains and spills.
• Leave the paper towels to cool down and then use them to wipe out the inside of the oven.

5. Cleaning your cast iron pots – usually the last thing you want to do is wash your pots by hand, but this is actually much better for them then washing them in the dishwasher.

• For basic marks simply rinse clean with water and a soft dishcloth.
• For more difficult stains pop several tablespoons of salt on the base of the pot and leave for ten minutes.
• Rub the salt in using a paper towel.
• Rinse the pot.
• Replace the oil film by coating the base of the pot with a teaspoon of oil.

6. Bin it – you should empty your bathroom bin on a regular basis.

• Once a week you should pop a spray of bleach in the bin
• Rinse the bin thoroughly with warm water.

7. Wipe it – it’s useful to have a cloth specifically for wiping down your vanity or other bathroom surfaces as soon as you have finished using them.

• Wipe your surfaces daily
• Apart from making it safer in terms of using hair dryers or straighteners near a wet space, it will also help protect the surface itself from being marked with water rings and stains.

8. De-clutter it – your bathroom is usually a fairly small space and can look cluttered very quickly. The good news is that cleaning it up can be done quite simply.

• Collect containers that have lost their lids and place them in your bathroom drawers and cabinets.
• Use these to store items in. For instance, hair clips can go in one container, razors in another. It also makes it easier to find objects when you are looking for them as well.

9. Cleaning the couch – these quick cleaning tips will help you restore your couches to their former glory.

• Pop on some rubber gloves and then run your hands all over the couch. You will collect up fur and stray hair as you go. Discard the gloves after use.
• Vacuum your couch thoroughly using the smaller heads to get into difficult to reach corners.
• If you have a water-proofed couch, pop some mild dishwashing liquid into 1 cup of water. Create lot of suds.
• Place a clean sponge only into the cup of suds and gently blot at the stains on the couch
• If your couch is not suitable to clean then you will need to check with the product designer what stain remover you should use

10. Cleaning your screens – to ensure you’re getting maximum enjoyment from the big screen you need to wipe it down regularly.

• Use a cloth specifically designed for wiping down your TV screen or a microfibre cloth.
• Do not use water or detergent to clean it.

Be prepared

To ensure you can carry out these quick cleaning times in the minimum time possible you need to use the Boy Scouts motto “Be prepared!”
Remember to arm yourself with your trusty cleaning kit before you start cleaning. A portable nappy bucket is a great container for most of the items you will be using. Make sure to restock it regularly. This should include:

Dust cloths	This is for wiping down surfaces like bedside lockers. It’s best to dampen this down before using and then squeeze it out tightly before use.
Rubbish bags	Once you start cleaning it can be surprising how much rubbish you collect along the way. Have this bag at hand so you aren’t making trips back and forward to the rubbish bin. It’s a great time saver when cleaning
Cleaning sprays	You can use store bought or home made ones depending on your preference.
Squeegee	This is a great item for wiping down the shower area.
Gloves	Protecting your hands is really important. You really don’t want them being subjected to chemicals. In addition, hot water can really dehydrate them. You’re also dealing with some potentially grotty surfaces as well and you don’t want to be dealing out cuddles to your little one with them straight afterwards either.
Dustpan and brush	Great for picking up stray crumbs or food stuffs that have been dropped on the floor.