When Cleaning a House Where Do You Start?

According to Statista’s survey of 2019, 64% of Americans thinks that having a clean home is very important. The other 29% think that it is somewhat important, and the remaining percentage thinks that it is only partially important. Maintaining a clean house is not an easy task, especially if you are so busy with work, or you may have kids that frequently leaves a hodgepodge of things laying around. Regardless of what you think, having a clean atmosphere can give you a lot of good benefits like being less stressed, the feeling of more relaxed, and of course, you will have a lesser chance of getting sick. Sounds wonderful, right? If you feel inspired to clean, you must know how to clean your house the right way. We are excited to share and let you know some of the house cleaning secrets that will make your cleaning routine a whole lot easier.

✨Zone Cleaning vs. Task Cleaning

We usually clean the house in random order. We start to clean in any room we felt like cleaning. The most common type of cleaning is room-by-room or also known as zone cleaning. Zone cleaning may take so much of your time and energy as you are only focused on one area. In this type of cleaning, your goal is to complete all the house works in a particular room before moving onto the next room.

On the contrary, the cleaning experts suggest that you can tidy up your house by using the task cleaning approach. In task cleaning, you will need to complete one task, like dusting through every room before starting another chore. They find this method faster than zone cleaning as you keep on moving each time you finished a task in one room, then on to the next. It also gives you a little bit of a workout since you will keep on walking to each room to complete the house works.

These are just cleaning techniques that you may want to try and what cleaning experts suggest. It will still be up to you on what cleaning method you prefer and what works best.

✨Making a Plan

Planning your house cleaning is a good start towards a successful clean-up. You need to determine what kind of cleaning you are motivated to do and how much time you can spend doing it. Planning will also help make your tasks more manageable. Preparing your mind for the clean-up will help you to be more focused and complete tasks on time. We know that a busy average person may have other errands to think about, so planning your clean-up will help you to be undistracted with other things. It will help you finish the tasks fast and efficiently. Here are other ideas that you may want to include in your plan:

• A Cleaning Kit. Have a tote of cleaning tools. Fill it with a set of cleaning materials such as brushes, dust cloths, and other antibacterial cleaning solutions. It should be handy, so you can bring it anywhere when needed. You do not have to search where you last used the cleaning solutions. A tote will help you keep your cleaning items organized.

• Set a Cleaning Schedule. Scheduling a cleaning day will keep you on top of the chores. It is best to follow it to avoid more clutter build-up. The lesser the mess, the lesser time and effort you need to put on cleaning. It is a good practice to schedule your cleaning day and stick to it.

• Stay Motivated. It is best to stay away from distractions at the time of cleaning. Avoid using gadgets or browsing social media websites while doing your chores. A good tip would be listening to your favorite playlist to get you in the mood and stay focused on your cleaning tasks.

✨Clear First the Clutter

Stay on top of the clutter. Clearing the clutter first will help you clean an area effectively. It is best to put things in their proper places every time the day ends, so on cleaning day, you are all set to clean rather than spending your time de-cluttering.

✨Clean the Most Difficult Area First

When you clean, you can start at the most hard-to-clean part of the house, as experts suggest. The bathroom is an example of this. It will take time to scrub and disinfect the shower, tub, sink, other little fixtures, and of course, the toilet. Cleaning the bathroom should be the top priority on your cleaning list, as it can use up a lot of your time and energy. Furthermore, you can be so tired if you clean the bathroom last and may end up not cleaning it at all.

✨Vacuum then Dust

We know you might be questioning this tip, but there is a good reason why you should use the vacuum first. Vacuuming kicks up a lot of dust, which is not helpful if you already have dusted every surface. Vacuum cleaners kick up dust when using its agitator (the cylindrical brush that sweeps the carpet) or blowing exhaust steam. So if you dust first, then vacuum second, you’ll end up having to dust again. It can save you more on cleaning time. Use the proper attachments for areas like the steps, furniture, and windowsills and go over them multiple times. It is also best to vacuum high-traffic areas at least once a week.

Also, another good tip would be turning on your thermostat’s fan. It keeps the furnace’s blower on even when the system is not heating or cooling the air. The technical explanation for this is, the blower will absorb the air through the return vents, past the air filter, and back through the supply vents. In the process, the airborne particles like dust will get stuck inside the filter. It seems like you’re cleaning the air while vacuuming the floors. Do not forget to turn the fan setting back to AUTO when you're done. The blower should not be in constant use, as it may cost you a high electric bill if left on.

✨Cleaning Up from Top to Bottom

It is recommended that you start to clean from the topmost part all through the way down. Start by dusting door frames, fan blades, shelves, and other items that are on high-ground. This way, if any dust falls, it won’t be falling on any newly cleaned spaces. On the other hand, other cleaning experts suggest starting in the bathroom upstairs as it is a good place to leave the cleaning items. For dusting, cleaning from top to bottom, and from left to right, avoids spreading dust on the lower surfaces that are already cleaned. To effectively clean a room, don’t forget to look up and dust the very top part of the furniture. Dust accumulates on those spaces and falls off easily to other exteriors. Dusting from top to bottom makes you work only once instead of cleaning surfaces you have just cleaned.

A good way of collecting dust is to use electrostatic dusters or microfiber cloths. This will prevent the dust to fly back into the air. It is also convenient to use a regular damp cloth too.

✨Mopping

After de-cluttering, vacuuming, and dusting, it is now time to mop the floors. All the dust that got in the air and onto the floor can be cleaned by mopping. You should mop in high-traffic areas such as dining areas, kitchens, entryways, hallways, and the bathroom. You should be careful about what cleaning solutions you use and make sure it matches the type of floor that you have.

✨The Last Place to Clean

The Kitchen. Besides mopping the floor, you will need to clean the outside of your refrigerator, appliances, and cabinets. You will also need to clean your stovetop, sink, and microwave. If you regularly wipe spills on your kitchen counters, cleaning the kitchen will not be a problem.

The said cleaning plan and tips are suggested to be done every weekend to maintain the cleanliness of your place. If you need more help in thorough cleaning, you can hire professional cleaners to do the magic for you. You can know more about the cost of hiring cleaning services by reading our blog about, “How much does it cost to clean a dirty house?”

✨Don’t Have Time To Clean?✨

Sparkly Maid of North Shore is here to help you! We want you to relax while we do all the cleaning, and we are known for providing the best premium quality cleaning services in Chicago. You can call us at 224-600-5487. Or you can get a free quote online. Our team will be glad to answer your inquiries. We also provide services to business and commercial areas as we promote a fresh and healthy atmosphere within the workplace. It’s now the time for you to have peace of mind and make your soul happy. Let us make your home clean and sparkle! Call Us Now!