HomeBeautiful
  • Open Homes
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor
  • Decorate
  • Hamptons
  • Podcasts
  • Beach House
  • hacks
HomeBeautiful
  • Open Homes
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor
  • Decorate
  • Hamptons
  • Podcasts
  • Beach House
  • hacks
Subscribe
Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

{headline}

{headline}

Green cleaning: how to avoid chemicals in the home

Green cleaning: how to avoid chemicals in the home

5 ten-minute spring cleaning jobs

5 ten-minute spring cleaning jobs

4 things you didn’t know you could use your vacuum for

4 things you didn’t know you could use your vacuum for

7 mistakes to avoid when using bleach

7 mistakes to avoid when using bleach

{headline}

{headline}

Clean your oven in less than five minutes

Clean your oven in less than five minutes

Six things you shouldn't clean with vinegar

Six things you shouldn't clean with vinegar

How to clean your house in an hour

How to clean your house in an hour

{headline}

{headline}

How to keep your house clean for the entire silly season

How to keep your house clean for the entire silly season

5 things you need to know before hiring a cleaner

5 things you need to know before hiring a cleaner

4 things you should never clean with a Magic Eraser

4 things you should never clean with a Magic Eraser

5 eco-friendly tips for spring cleaning

5 eco-friendly tips for spring cleaning

17 places you're forgetting to dust at home

17 places you're forgetting to dust at home

7 ways to avoid dusting

7 ways to avoid dusting

This eco-cleaner can replace up to 20 cleaning products

This eco-cleaner can replace up to 20 cleaning products

  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle

5 habits that will reduce your cleaning time by half

Reclaim the hours in your day - by Diana Moore
  • 25 Jul 2018
5 habits that will reduce your cleaning time by half
Derek Swalwell

We can all use a little extra time in the day and certainly if it’s recouped from your cleaning schedule. Here are five ways you can change the way you do things do you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying life.

1. Soak it

This applies to just about every cleaning job in the house and all it takes is a little planning. Pretreating before you clean works to deal with dirt, stains and food that build up over time.

Kitchen

Remove baked-on food from  cookware and ovenware by submerging in hot water to cover the food and adding squeeze of dishwashing detergent. Soak overnight then remove with gentle brush or scourer.

Bathroom

Spray bathroom cleaner ahead of time and allow to soak before you scrub your basin, bath shower and toilet. Remove with brush or soft scourer and rinse clean.

Laundry

A presoak in your washing machine may be a cycle you never use but it works wonders to remove long-term stains and freshen sheets and towels to make them like new. Alternatively, use a bucket or your laundry tub and add a little nappy soaker or liquid washing presoak.

2. Clear before you clean

Tidy up and remove and toys, clothing, paperwork and clutter before your begin your cleaning. Clear benchtops, stack chairs on top of your dining table, lift waste bins off the floor and upend footstools and ottomans for a clear area to clean. Even a quick whip through will have your actual cleaning time and save lots of lifting and bending.

3. Keep everything dry

Wherever possible, hang up to dry items such as your bathmat, hand towels, shower curtains and tea towels. When things stay damp they’re in danger of developing bacteria, making them harder to clean.

4. Break it down

Adding an extra small job to your general cleaning each week means they wont become bigger jobs down the track. Cleaning windows, vacuuming the sofa, cleaning the oven and dusting your picture frames are all jobs that don’t have to be done every week so can all be tackled one-at-a-time when you clean week-to-week on rotation.

5. Lower your standards

This might sound shocking but not having a perfectly clean home is not a sin. Decide what your kind of acceptable looks like and aim for that, rather than insisting on perfection every single time.

  

You might also like:

The secret to spotless oven racks

8 simple ways to make your home smell fresh and clean

How to speed clean your bedroom

Diana Moore
Diana Moore
Content expert, florist and interior decorator Diana Moore has been passionate about helping others make the perfect home ever since she moved into her own. From styling her local bar to feel like your best friend’s lounge room, to randomly restyling people’s bookshelves, Diana is a firm believer in making the best of what you have in front of you.

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

by Royal Albert, when you subscribe

Subscribe Now
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

by Royal Albert, when you subscribe

Subscribe Now
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug

Recommended to you

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

{headline}

{headline}

Green cleaning: how to avoid chemicals in the home

Green cleaning: how to avoid chemicals in the home

5 ten-minute spring cleaning jobs

5 ten-minute spring cleaning jobs

4 things you didn’t know you could use your vacuum for

4 things you didn’t know you could use your vacuum for

7 mistakes to avoid when using bleach

7 mistakes to avoid when using bleach

{headline}

{headline}

Clean your oven in less than five minutes

Clean your oven in less than five minutes

Six things you shouldn't clean with vinegar

Six things you shouldn't clean with vinegar

How to clean your house in an hour

How to clean your house in an hour

{headline}

{headline}

How to keep your house clean for the entire silly season

How to keep your house clean for the entire silly season

5 things you need to know before hiring a cleaner

5 things you need to know before hiring a cleaner

4 things you should never clean with a Magic Eraser

4 things you should never clean with a Magic Eraser

5 eco-friendly tips for spring cleaning

5 eco-friendly tips for spring cleaning

17 places you're forgetting to dust at home

17 places you're forgetting to dust at home

7 ways to avoid dusting

7 ways to avoid dusting

This eco-cleaner can replace up to 20 cleaning products

This eco-cleaner can replace up to 20 cleaning products

HomeBeautiful
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
HomeBeautiful Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Instyle
  • marie claire
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

Shop This Offer
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug