Category: Cleaning

How To Keep Your Kitchen Clean In 10 Minutes or Less!

Yes, you read it right. You can clean your kitchen in 10 minutes or less with this quick kitchen cleaning routine.

Studies have shown that an average person spends 2 hours cleaning per day.

That’s a good deal of time when you have so many important things in life. I’m sure cleaning is not one of them.

You can learn better techniques and cut your cleaning time in half.

All you have to do is implement smart techniques.

(So, knowing the importance of keeping the important areas of your home tidy and reducing the time and effort of cleaning, I’ve created a series of MINIMUM MAINTENANCE systems that you can implement in your home. These systems will help you keep your home clean and tidy at all times with minimal time and energy.)

The kitchen is the area that you should really spend time cleaning.

This is a place you cook your food; it should be clean and germ-free.

Each day after dinner or before going to bed, make sure to spend as little as 10 minutes tidying up this important area of your home — to prevent it from getting out of control, avoid frequent deep cleaning, and ensure it’s serviceable and welcoming. That also means you can wake up in the morning and get on with your other important work.

You can follow this routine at any time of the day (as per your needs) if you’re not able to do it at night.

Let’s just set the timer for 10 minutes and get started. The timer technique really helps me. I do this every time for all tasks. Knowing you’re under time pressure motivates you to move much faster.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR KITCHEN CLEAN IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS!

Empty the countertops: (2 minutes)

Remove clutter from the counters.

Fill the sink with hot, soapy water and start popping the dishes as you clear the countertops.

Start by chucking fruits and vegetable scraps and peels, empty boxes, or packs, bits of paper, plastic, etc

See to it that the leftovers — soup, salad, and rice make their way into the refrigerator.

Restore spice and condiment jars back in their place.

Have a basket to collect the items that don’t belong in the kitchen. You can go back to putting it in its designated place later.

Load the dishwasher: (3 minutes)

Unload the dishwasher — put away clean dishes, spoons, knives, and bowls into the cabinets if you haven’t already.

Load dirty dishes. Run the dishwasher if the load is full.

Shine your stove and countertops: (1 minute)

Grab an all-purpose cleaner. Quickly spray over the stovetop and wipe it down.

Now, quickly spray the same all-purpose cleaner on the countertops and then a good wipe down too. Rinse the cloth and repeat if necessary.

Rinse the cloth and give the refrigerator and cabinet doors a quick wipe.

Give the microwave a quick wipe-down inside and out.

Shine your sink: (2 minutes)

Place a drying mat or drainer and start washing the remaining stuff. Just speedily wash off any pots and pans to be hand-washed. Let them dry off.

Scrub the sink, rinse it off with hot water, and wipe it off with a dry towel quickly. Wipe the faucets as well.

Read: No more dirty dishes: 8 hacks to make dishwashing easier

Take out the rubbish: (1 minute)

Empty the trash can. And be sure to place a new garbage bag immediately.

Quick sweep floors: (1 minute)

It’s time for the floors.

Dust off the kitchen-floor mat of any crumbs.

Quickly sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor. Anything you choose.

Although it hardly takes less than a minute to run a damp mop over the floor, if you want to leave it out, just spot mop any spills, sticky juices, or grease on the floor for a cleaner look.

Last hand:

Pop the cloth rags or microfibre cloths in the washing machine. Place a fresh towel. Air out for a couple of minutes.

And there you go.

Now, take a moment to feel good about your job well done.

Cherish the calming results.

Feel the dust-free, squeaky-clean counters with your fingers. Have a look at your shining sink and stovetop. How relaxing is that?

Give yourself a pat on the back.

Final words:

So, no more dreading the housework. No more long days of deep cleaning. There you have quick tips to clean your kitchen in 10 minutes or less.

Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!

March 13, 2022
Quick Morning Cleaning Routine for Busy Moms
The simplest way to keep your home clean consistently without even realizing it is by following a good house cleaning routine. When your morning, nighttime, and weekly cleaning routines are easier, you’ll have an easy time keeping at them. Here’s a quick morning cleaning routine that’ll help — stay-at-home moms, work-at-home moms, and working moms keep their homes clean and tidy almost all the time.

Daily morning cleaning routine (for stay-at-home moms)
- Start one load of laundry
- Unload dishwasher
- Make beds
- Tidy up main living areas (including bathroom)
- Sweep/vacuum high-traffic areas
Morning cleaning routine before work (for working moms)
- Start a load of laundry
- Unload dishwasher
- Make beds
- 5-minutes tidy up (Put things back, straighten up pillows, fold blankets, put toys or things that don’t belong to that room in a basket)
You can either follow this routine on a daily basis or go for a Saturday morning cleaning routine. (More on this soon).

Morning cleaning routine (for work-at-home moms)
- Start a load of laundry
- Unload dishwasher
- Make beds
- Tidy up high-traffic areas
- Sweep or spot mop
Here’s what MY MORNING CLEANING ROUTINE looks like:
- Start one load of laundry
- Put away clean dishes (I do not own a dishwasher. I prefer to wash dishes by hand. But I always let them dry off so I put them back in the morning)
- Make the bed
- Take out trash
- Swish and swipe the bathroom before taking shower.
- Tidy up and clean the floors (I sweep & mop all three rooms every single day. My home is really small — 1 bedroom apartment so it’s easier for me)
- Clean up breakfast dishes
- Wipe down counters
Read: Homemaker Morning Routine: My Morning Routine As A Housewife

How to make the morning cleaning routine easier for you?

1// Prep up the night before:

A productive morning is a result of a thorough nighttime routine followed religiously.

In order to make your morning cleaning routine easier make sure you prepare the night before.

Preparing ahead you won’t have much to do in the morning.

2// Use timer:

I have tried both using a timer and setting the same amount of time on the clock.

But I must say the timer technique does wonder. It eliminates distractions and helps you concentrate on the task at hand.

Truly, I cannot explain how fast it gets the cleaning job done.

3// Purge unused items a few times:

Keep the counters clutter-free for no sweat cleaning.

Purging unwanted items every now and then allows you to wipe down the surfaces faster and makes the place visually appealing.

4// Get help:

Make kids put their toys back in the basket. My dad is a super-organized person. He loves to do the tidying and dusting for my mom.

Sharing responsibilities and housework, irrespective of age group is always nice and helpful.

If nobody is willing to help, hold each person responsible for their own mess.

5// Have good nightly and weekly cleaning routines:

Aid your morning cleaning routine with good nighttime and weekly cleaning to keep your home clean consistently.

This will help keep your house clean on autopilot.

6// Make it interesting:

Put on some upbeat music, listen to a podcast, watch a cleaning motivation video, chat with your partner, or make it a family fun activity to make it interesting.

Final words:

This simple, quick morning cleaning routine will ensure your home is clean and tidy. The further part will be covered in our nighttime and weekly cleaning routine.

Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!
March 9, 2022
9 Habits Of Women Who Always Have A Clean Home

Learning these habits of women who always have a clean home will help you keep your home clean and tidy (all the time) too.

To some extent, we all get motivated to clean — when the holidays are here or when a company is expected.

But keeping the house mostly clean, all the time, amid a daily grind, seems an unachievable thing.

Especially after the holidays, when you’ve been already cleaning and hosting extensively.

I have never been a neat freak, be it cleaning or any part of homemaking. Nor do I aim for. I only wish for good enough results.

I swear by the beauty of a lived-in house.

A few things make a great deal of difference over others.

And so today I’m listing out some things that can make a difference in how clean or messy your home appears to someone.

I love watching YouTube for cleaning motivation videos.

Moreover, I am more into watching real-life homemaking vlogs and learning tips from them than the “cleaning experts”. I enjoy watching genuine homemakers’ lives. Their daily routines. The way they perform their household duties. I admire their hard work. And I keenly learn homemaking tips, tricks, and techniques from them.

Over time, I’ve observed one thing that all of these women (full-time homemakers and working moms) have in common. They knew what was next. They hardly got sidelined. I think that’s because they grew accustomed to the sequence of tasks. That’s the power of habits.

Today, I’m putting out habits these ladies had in common that helped them keep their house clean (all the time). Well, in particular, these tasks are more organizational than cleaning. Because they make your home come out more orderly or tidy than clean.

How?

We’re not working toward excellence here. So, there’s nothing like hard scrubbing, washing, or purifying — daily. Just executing the tasks, and doing them well. That’s it.

9 HABITS OF WOMEN WHO ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAN HOME

Habit #1 Clear sink:

Clean freak women never let dishes pile up in the sink. They’re just conditioned to wipe off everything in a jiffy. They never mind if things are spic and span. They just devotedly get them out of the way. Washed utensils, clear drain traps, and clear countertops are three mere tasks that keep your kitchen feeling nice and fresh, and easy to operate.

One habit of women who always have a clean home is deep cleaning. If they had a few spare moments, they would just remove the stuff from the drawers and give it a good wipe; purge unused/out-of-date things, and quickly place everything back.

They exercise their cooking time. So, they would just put away clean dishes, dust the cabinet tops, wipe down cabinet doors and surfaces, refill food jars, and so on.

Habit #2 Tidy surfaces:

Meticulous freaks make time to tidy surfaces every day.

They discard and clear trash like banana peels, tea or coffee cups, plates after eating; plastic wrappers, and clothes scattered on the bed or floor.

They place dustbins around the house and encourage kids (and ADULTS) to use them. Something that is of utmost help.

They pick up as they go. Example: They keep a basket near the stairs to put the items that belong upstairs. While going upstairs they look for anything that needs to go up.

Similarly, they make sure to grab the basket downstairs.

Habit #3 Clutter control:

Neat freak women know clutter can be paralyzing. They declutter and organize from time to time.

They assign “donate‘ or ‘discard‘ boxes. While dusting or tidying surfaces they review and discard musty, outworn, or things they don’t love or need anymore, then and there. Which helps them keep things super manageable.

They deal with the paper clutter — mail, newspapers, magazines, brochures, immediately.

Read: The Secret To Staying On Top Of Homemaking

Habit #4 Refrigerator care:

Refrigerator — one more thing that demands attention regularly.

One of the secrets of women who take care of the house is – they discard molded food from time to time.

They put placemats in the refrigerator. Quick tip — to make your fridge look clean instantly you can remove the placemats/sheets and ta-da you have a clean-looking refrigerator in no time.

Another tip is to keep a bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator. Baking soda absorbs the odor and makes your refrigerator smell fresh.

Habit #5 Spot-free floors:

They have a no-shoe rule.

In India, it’s a common rule followed by most households. Especially, traditional cultural families. I am one of those. We don’t bring shoes inside the house. And if we do, we have a shoe rack at the entrance. This not only helps prevent soil, dust, or dirt but also bacteria from getting into your home.

The women with clean homes also make sure to sweep/vacuum/mop the floors each day. They deal with the spots and spillage instantly.

Habit #6 Dusting/wiping down routine:

Neat women sense the importance of routinely dusting and wiping down surfaces. They know how to maintain dust-free walls and surfaces. Like removing cobwebs; and dust on walls, windows, furniture, and light fixtures.

Women with clean homes consider periodically cleaning windows, blinds, ceiling fans, carpets, doormats, upholstery, etc.

They learn about the newest tools and techniques that provide an effortless dusting and wiping experience.

Habit #7 Well-ordered bathroom:

Another habit of women who always have a clean home is they keep bathrooms well-organized. Not squeaky clean but enjoyable.

They ensure that they wipe off the shower glass and floor with a wiper.

I can guarantee that these prompt steps — restoring items, and a quick wipe down will make your bathroom clean and appealing.

Habit #8 Crisp bed:

While making the bed, I observed one woman — remove the sheets, shake them out well, and place them back neatly. She did that every single day in between the laundry intervals.

Doing this helps knock off tiny dirt and dust particles and keep the bedsheet looking fresh until cleaning time. Plus, you know how good a crisp bed feels.

Habit #9 Laundry routine:

Organized women quickly squeeze in a couple of minutes to start a load of laundry. They stop being lazy and show care. To avoid buildup and to complete the cycle — they wash, dry, fold, and iron right off.

This is such a helpful tip to keep on top of things.

Final words:

Those were the habits of women who always have a clean home. That I’ve learned from some dutiful homemakers. And you guys, they work. THEY’RE. JUST. SO. EFFECTIVE.

Do try them and don’t forget to share your thoughts. Also, let me know if I missed out on something. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!

February 13, 2022
The Secret To Staying On Top Of Homemaking
Today’s fast and furious life has made staying on top of homemaking harder.

Relax, there’s a better way!

Juggling between work, home, and family is a challenging job. Full of ups and downs. Some days you’re more productive, you — rest well, spend good alone time, eat a healthy breakfast, and make sure everything goes as per plan. Other days are about rushing the soccer day, running errands, or doing church activities.

One day you’re out for a cause and your house is intolerable. What if you have side hustles or have to be out a few times a week – can you live in your house?

Will you have something in place to feed your kids when they get home from school/activities? Can you cook today’s meal on top of the mess from the previous night? Will you have a clean pair of work clothes in your closet? Could you find things easily before leaving for the office?

This is how things spiral out of control.

If you’re planning to attend an event, without prioritizing and getting your daily-havetos done, thinking you’ll get to it later, you’re setting up yourself for bigger and worsened chaos when you get home.

How do we get everyone on board?

What’s the secret, the magical potion to stay on top of homemaking regardless of whether or not you’re a working mom.

THE SECRET TO STAYING ON TOP OF HOMEMAKING

And the secret is:

— GETTING YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLE TASKS DONE AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR DAY.

What are the non-negotiable tasks?

There are a few household tasks that can directly affect our day-to-day living.

Like, you cannot cook in a messy kitchen. This makes dishwashing & tidying a non-negotiable task.

The dirty washing is all over the place because your washer and laundry basket are flooded with the older washing or there are still clothes in the dryer — making laundry a daily-haveto task.

Everyone will have their own set of non-negotiable tasks. These tasks won’t make your home super clean but homey. And put you at ease knowing that your most significant tasks of the day are done.

Keeping up with your daily havetos will ensure — you have a clean kitchen and living space, a fresh pair of clothes, and everything in place, readily available.

Related:

One Simple Trick That’ll Transform Your Homekeeping

5 Ways To Make Your Home A Haven

As for me, the daily-havetos are having dinner made, breakfast wiped, house picked, and floors swept. I can still manage to give laundry a miss for a day or two.

So, in case I get an unexpected call from my friends, parents, or in-laws asking me to accompany them somewhere, important or casual:

I’ll take 30-35 minutes before I leave to quickly throw some rice, and veggies into the pressure cooker (10-15 minutes).

My lifesaving one-pot meal recipe. Super healthy and tastes delicious!

Speedily clean the dishes and counters (10 minutes).

Do a quick pickup (5 minutes).

And sweep the floors real quick (5 minutes).

I cannot tell you how rewarding it is to return to an orderly home with a meal ready to satiate your hunger.

You guys, try it and let me know. You’re going to love it, I promise.

Steps to do this:
- Jot down 4 of your non-negotiable tasks in the order of their prominence. Duties that have the biggest, most prompt impact on your house. These tasks would have your home functioning smoothly as well as allow you to slow down and relax.
- Every day, try to get these 4 tasks done in the first one or two hours of your day. Remember, these are your daily-havetos, so learn to do them quickly and well.
- Identify how much time it takes to get your non-negotiable tasks done. And allot that much time to those tasks only. In between, avoid any deep cleaning and ignore all the messes no matter how noticeable they are. For the moment, focus on your non-negotiable tasks only.
- Include a 5-minute pickup for the widely-used parts of your home to achieve remarkable results.
With a planned outing or an unexpected one, while having someone over; on your office day off, on a sick day, or working outside or at home, in all instances — make sure to get your non-negotiable tasks done. And you’ll be well on your way to staying on top of homemaking.

Final words:

With this one secret, you can succeed in staying on top of your homemaking like never before. Yes, even on a busy day, regardless of how crazy life is. Accomplishing your daily-havetos will maintain your home between the deep cleaning sessions and keep it presentable and guest-ready.

Thank you so much for reading. Happy Homekeeping!

To keep up with my new blog posts follow simpleinspiredblog on Pinterest.
December 3, 2020
How To Keep Your Bathroom Clean In 5 Minutes A Day
Hate the bathroom chore? Want to spare days’ worth of cleaning? No reason to block off the entire day of cleaning. Here are some substantially quick ways to keep your bathroom clean in 5 minutes a day.

The bathroom can get messy, faster, whatever you do to keep it clean. Especially with little kids. Big family = cleanup.

Doing a tiny bit each day can help you keep things manageable.

The best way to keep your bathroom neat and clean is by assigning 5 minutes, every day.

You’ll be amazed at how much this 5-minute bathroom cleaning routine will save you labor and time, during your deep cleaning sessions.

Now, it is up to you. Either you allocate 5 minutes each day and do the cleaning in one stroke. Or break up the 5-minute routine and do a little bit of cleaning every time you’re in the bathroom.

Both ways work just fine provided you keep at it.

Pro tip:
- Following the steps in the same order every day – beginning and ending in the same place will prevent toing and froing.
- Another way to save time is by having an organized cleaning caddy — a bucket full of cleaning supplies ready.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR BATHROOM CLEAN IN 5 MINUTES A DAY

Prepare — Time: 30 seconds

Open the windows to air out the bathroom. Start by spraying the shower, toilet, sink, and counters with a cleaner to allow some time to let the product do the work while you complete step 2.

Clear the surfaces — Time: 1 minute

Store the out-of-place items. Including everything from gadgets (blow-dryers/hair straighteners) to knick-knacks (face wash, toothpaste, hairbrush, skincare/makeup products.

Take off used towels. Remove any dirty washing. Place it into the laundry basket.

Cleanup — Time: 2 minutes

Using a paper towel or microfibre cloth – wipe down the mirror, sink, counters, and bath fixtures that we had sprayed earlier. Squeegee shower walls and floors. Work your way top-down.

Quickly wipe off the toilet tank, the external face of the toilet, the lid, the seat, and the rim with paper towels. Scrub the toilet pretty quick and flush.

Dust the bath rugs — Time: 30 seconds

Dust off the bath rugs before you sweep or mop the floors. This small step makes a big difference in keeping the bathroom lint and soil-free.

Sweep/mop the floor — Time: 1 minute

Lastly, clean the floor.

I prefer wiping the floors with a damp mop over sweeping. Still, sweeping makes for a good option when pushed for time. This is the final step of your daily 5-minute bathroom cleaning routine.

End step — Time: 10 seconds

Lastly, place fresh towels. Turn on the fragrant diffuser filled with essential oils. And, you’re ready to go.

Read: How To Get Motivated To Clean

Final words:

There you have quick ways to keep your bathroom clean in 5 minutes a day. Following this simple routine (day after day) your bathroom will feel fresh and safe. The routine will be more of a habit and will take a little time to maintain.

Don’t forget to share your bathroom cleaning tips and tricks in the comment section below. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!
October 28, 2020
How To Create A Laundry System That Works
Drowning in the laundry? Does the laundry mountain keep growing despite the implementation of a good few hacks? There’s a big chance of you using a laundry system that isn’t working for you.

Miss a day or two of doing the laundry and you have the washer jam-packed with this monstrous pile of washing; some more overflowing the hamper. Plus, clean laundry is all over the place.

Where did you get that? You wonder.

All of that is a great sign of a terribly managed laundry system.

We’ve hundreds of different views about the laundry system. Everyone has their unique solution.

Our family size, occupation, execution of the system, and amount of assistance all play a part in the effectiveness of our laundry system. Now, how do you find a better method?

A laundry routine consists of – washing, drying, and PUTTING AWAY clothes. Failure to attain even one of these can cause the entire process to crumble.

Not only that but looking at the big picture, the entire functioning of your house could be affected simply by failing to do the laundry.

Today let’s take on this major chore and figure out how to create a laundry system that really works for you.

HOW TO CREATE A LAUNDRY SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR YOU

Establish a sorting system:

Have a basket assigned to each one of your family members. Kids should have their own laundry basket too. They should be encouraged to sort and put their dirty washing in their designated basket.

Play around with colors, and numbers as you have them sort their clothes.

Another way is having baskets with labels for sorting clothes by muddiness, color, fabric, usage, weight – heavier/lighter fabric, etc. Like one basket for whites and another for dark clothes.

Set up everything beforehand:

Sort the clothes. Pretreat the whites or stained clothes.

Soak denim/sheets/linens in warm water with a little detergent the previous night.

Load washer.

This will help you set the pace.

Daily or weekly routine

Some people prefer daily, others weekly.

Instead of arguing about the correct way, let’s find a balance between the two.

I do laundry every single day.

I recommend no less than twice weekly.
- Home wear, underclothes, towels, and sheets/bedcovering on weekdays as they don’t need much care.
- Office wear/delicate clothing (that needs special handling) on weekends.
Feel free to wash linens/sheets and towels with your regular clothing. If you wash them regularly, they don’t need presoaking/pretreating.

That way, you won’t have to wait until the weekend for a fresh pair of underwear.

And unnecessarily worry about the massive load of laundry on the weekend.

Additionally, if that moderates even one load of washing and putting away, if not more, you can utilize that time to complete ironing on the same day (weekend).

Your laundry routine will also depend on the size of your family. A large family must do at least one load daily to prevent a mountain of laundry.

Read: How To Get Motivated To Clean

Consider the size of the load:

The user manual states the capacity of your washing machine. It can help you determine the size/weight of your wash load.

Follow the instructions carefully to optimize the results.

A big wash load will prevent the flow of the wash cycle. Clothes won’t come out as clean as intended.

A smaller load will cost you more referring to — soap, hot water, and electric power usage.

Moderateness is the key.

Line dry:

Line drying will save the dryer time.

A big pile can easily be hung in one go.

When the weather doesn’t permit hanging clothes outside, these racks seem practical and cost-efficient.

put away the clean clothes immediately:

I know the likelihood of assuming I’ll fold all the clothes (together) at the end.

But folding all 6-7 loads jointly will make it more challenging.

And if you only want to get it done altogether in the end, you can have your kids fold with you.

Another basket for clean clothes:

Don’t have time to put away clean clothes?

It is understood. Things get in the way.

Keep a separate basket to fold & put the clean laundry as you take them off.

Rather than throwing clean laundry on a chair (which your kids might scatter sooner or later), fold and stack it nicely in a basket so that it’s easier for you to arrange later.

Another useful idea is to keep a small container around the washer to collect small objects pulled from the pockets before putting clothes into the washer.

Iron only if necessary:

One of my high school friends used to iron her underwear too.

I mean, really?

The point is, depending on the texture, usage, and occasion see if ironing is required.

If it’s truly necessary do not hesitate to reschedule it for a Monday evening.

Final words:

This simplest laundry system has helped me tame the laundry monster and reduce chaos. It makes me feel in control of things.

What laundry system do you follow? Don’t forget to share it with me in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!
October 22, 2020
How To Get Motivated To Clean

The holiday season is here, it’s time to shake things up a little bit at home.

During this time of the year, when you just want to get cozy snuggling up in your warm blanket with a hot cup of coffee. Cleaning is the last thing on your mind.

Sunny mornings have something to brighten up your mood and get you to clean without thinking much. Fall cleaning? Certainly calls for motivation.

If you’re still easing up, I’m here to help you with some tips and tricks to get motivated to clean.

HOW TO GET MOTIVATED TO CLEAN

Have a cleaning caddy:

Firstly, in order to make the cleaning process convenient, buy yourself the appropriate tools. Trying a new appliance or product is a great way to get motivated to clean.

Having a well-organized caddy will make cleaning the entire house a lot easier (grab and go).

Check out why you must own proper cleaning tools and some affordable options here

Dress suitably:

Outfit changes our attitude. So dress up for success.

I have a separate pair of cleaning outfits. Something comfortable and nice-looking. I also like to tie my hair up in a bun and wear my apron and gloves.

Identify your cleaning personality type:

Do you like to get the cleaning done in one go or one thing at a time? Determine your cleaning personality type to work accordingly.

If you’re someone who likes to clean in one go, set aside two or three days depending upon the level of cleaning. Dedicate those days to cleaning only.

What I do on the days I deep clean is – order food from outside and use disposable cups and plates to save additional workload – cooking and cleaning. I also skip the laundry that day. I don’t blog and don’t exercise. Instead, I only spend my time cleaning to get it done as quickly as possible. That saves me energy and time from my daily activities and helps me get the deep cleaning done real quick.

Limit the time:

I love how The fly lady says “your house didn’t get messy overnight don’t expect it to get clean in a night “.

Ascertaining time is the key to getting motivated to clean. The timer technique does well in this case.

Stopping amidst a project you could no longer resist the urge to clean the next day.

Speed up:

Often, the chores take lesser time than we think.

Getting lost/consumed in thoughts or distracted by your phone or TV reduces our pace of work drastically. But actually being sluggish is a huge stumbling block too. Nobody wants tedious tasks.

Similarly, some mistakes can impede speed.

For many years, I didn’t realize what was taking me so much time to do just a few dishes. Then I figured I was using the dish detergent excessively. By excessively I mean awfully.

I don’t know what got me thinking more product means cleaner utensils. In fact, more product means 5x times more rinsing; more waste of water; more cleaning to do. Plus, it is harmful to your health if the dishes didn’t get rinsed properly.

One way to increase your working speed is by recording the time it takes you to complete each task (from start to finish). Then, next time, while performing the same tasks set the timer five minutes early than the time you require to finish them.

Challenge yourself to finish the task before the timer goes off, and do it well.

Practice this every day to increase your speed of work.

Make a cleaning checklist/use free printables:

Having a visual checklist will keep you sane. You’ll have a basic idea of what you want to accomplish.

With a list, nothing will be forgotten or undone. Printables will point out unremembered tasks.

It’ll help you keep track of your progress as well.

Conquer OCD:

Once you have cleaned one thing really well. Proceed. Don’t get stuck in one place ensure everything is clean over and over again.

As we saw in the earlier post, there’s no such thing as perfection.

Don’t strive for it. Or you will feel unfulfilled all the time.

Remember done is always better than perfect.

Related: One Simple Trick That’ll Transform Your Homekeeping

Avoid needless cleaning:

Clean only what needs care and attention. You shouldn’t get caught up with things that are clean already.

Watch someone clean:

Watching someone else cleaning or working hard on their home is a surefire way to get motivated to clean. I have learned far simpler dusting, cleaning, and organizing techniques from YouTubers.

You can check out a few cleaning YouTube channels to see how they do things differently than what you’re doing.

Are you following an inappropriate cleaning sequence, using the wrong tools, or following improper methods? Is there anything you do inaptly?

A friend or an aunt who always has a clean home can be your perfect cleaning guru as well.

Final words:

Forget about festivities, for ones like me, need the motivation to clean – Every. Single. Day.

So, I keep on looking for ways that make cleaning dreadless.

I hope these tips will come in useful and get you motivated to clean.

Would you like to add something to the list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you for reading. Happy Cleaning!

October 19, 2020
8 Daily Habits For A Clean Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home and how orderly it is can make or break your day.

It is hard to make time for deep cleaning the kitchen. Bi-annual deep cleaning is a good idea when you’re a busy mom. But, sincerely, that’s a long period of time for such a busy place (like a kitchen) to stay clean. As for being the most active area, it is sure to become a disaster zone.

Similarly, being the primary room, it should be ready to use at any time. A pleasing place for family meals, and for when no-notice guests arrive.

Another reason to have a clean kitchen is to ensure a germ-free, bacteria-free kitchen area that will reduce the likelihood of attracting pests – ants, cockroaches, and rats.

I throw up my hands in despair and look forward to eating out when I have a sink full of dishes or an unruly messy worktop.

Establishing these daily habits will help you overcome all of the aforementioned inconveniences, and experience a squeaky-clean kitchen all the time:

8 DAILY HABITS FOR A CLEAN KITCHEN

1) Begin your day in a clean kitchen:

Is there any mess from the last night? Food ingredients, dirty dishes, garbage, or spills on the kitchen top? Take a few minutes to get that away, first.

Move all the dirty dishes out of the sink. Run the sink with hot water. Add dish soap. Let the dishes soak well while you clear the countertops.

Put away spice jars, sauce bottles, or anything that should go inside the refrigerator or cabinets.

Complete one task before moving on to the next.

Gather all garbage. Pick all of the wet garbage, wrappers, and boxes.

Now you’re halfway there.

Quickly wash the dishes in case of handwashing or start the dishwasher. Wash down the kitchen top.

Preferably this cleanup should be done after each meal or at least twice a day.

But it can still be done once at night to clear off anything that is remaining from the day and enable a fresh start with fresh energy.

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2) Clean the sink after dishes:

Two things have made me habituated to this and I’m so thankful for it. One is the FlyLady shining your sink method.

Second, I can’t remember where I read once – how vintage homemakers kept their homes clean.

In that article, it was referred that they washed their sink after washing dishes following every meal. It struck me hard.

Those homemakers tried their hardest without any modern conveniences like we have today. I was really embarrassed.

The kitchen sink is the place where all the important tasks are carried out: washing – fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, utensils, pet eating/drinking bowls, and whatnot. Hence, it collects dirt, and grease, and is brimming with various kinds of bacteria and microbes.

Developing a habit of cleaning the sink once a day and disinfecting it a couple of times a week will ensure proper cleanliness and safety.

Learn how to clean your kitchen sink here.

Related: No More Dirty Dishes – 8 Hacks To Make Dishwashing Easier

3) Deal with the leftovers immediately:

I have been really bad at this.

I use to let the leftover food sit there for hours and come back only to know the food has gone bad.

I regret dumping so much food because of my poor habit of negligence.

Now that I tend to it immediately, it saves me a lot of time and energy to cook fresh meals a couple times every week.

4) Have a trash container:

Have a bowl to collect scraps and waste in one place while prepping food.

This helps prevent frequent trips to throw the waste.

Having the garbage bin under the sink is a nice plan too.

5) Make use of cook-time:

This technique has been so much helpful.

Most recipes call for at least 30 minutes of cooking/baking time. That’s a lot of time to clean up all the cooking messes.

Clear up the trash, clean the utensils, wipe off grease from the walls, and clean up the countertops.

Challenge yourself to get more done during this time. If this is done and there’s still some more time in your hands, move forward and quickly declutter a cabinet drawer or wipe down cabinet doors.

There will be considerably less to clean later on.

6) Make organizing a top priority:

Declutter and organize every now and then.

Do you have to move spice supplies, knife rack, and so, in order to use your worktop? Chances are you have a cluttered space.

Start by removing things that are occupying space in your cabinets that you no longer use. Sell them. Donate them. Just get rid of them.

Now you have more room to store daily essentials – blenders, canisters, etc

Store things in the order of their usage. Things that are used often in the front and occasionally used at the back.

Cleanup is easier when you don’t have to move things around.

7) Don’t forget the floors:

Having the floors swept or vacuumed makes a huge difference. Your kitchen clean-up would be incomplete without this step.

Quickly go through — pick up things and give the floors a good sweep before your call it a day.

8) Have a basket:

Have a basket to gather the items that don’t belong to the kitchen – mail, papers, toys, books, stationery, etc.,

If your kids are older they can help you restore things.

Else, get back to it later. For now, focus on the kitchen.

Keeping a basket will make tidying cinch.

Final words:

Now we have it. 8 easiest daily habits for a clean kitchen. Don’t try to follow them altogether.

Don’t overstress even when you haven’t been doing any of them.

Just pick one or two habits (whichever you find easier) and work on them until they come naturally to you. Then proceed with a few others.

Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!

July 18, 2020
15 Affordable Cleaning Tools For Every Home

Cleaning is an essential part of making a home. We’ve got to do it no matter how busy life is. But we can make it easier by having the right cleaning tools.

First off, cleaning is difficult to accomplish. With that, not having the right tools can make it a more tedious task. Making us procrastinate endlessly. Hence, picking the right tools is going to be a smart move, that’ll favor not only your cleaning efforts but will keep your home in tip-top shape.

Getting new advanced cleaning tools and products motivates you to clean as they make the job easier. That said, there are countless cleaning supplies and tools on the market. You do not need a lot of them. Especially, if you’re a frugal homemaker like me, you want something that is multitasking or cost-effective.

Along with intense cleaning checklists and motivation tips, having essential cleaning tools are important. Because to be honest, no one have I ever seen loves to clean. Today, we’re going to take a look at the essential cleaning tools and supplies that could be useful.

15 AFFORDABLE CLEANING TOOLS FOR EVERY HOME

1) Sweeper/Broom and Mop

Ever thought about what all our floor surface collects in a day?

Dropped sticky food, dried food crumbles, pet hair, dirt underneath our shoes, dust, and soil can build up when the floors aren’t cleaned regularly.

One of the easiest ways to get control over this is by sweeping and mopping the floors regularly.

Sweeping before you mop is a quick and effective way to remove dirt, debris, hair, or any harmful substance on the floor.

The good old broom is an economical, handy dandy tool that helps clean the floor quickly, on a daily basis.

Mopping is very important with kids or pets around the house.

It is a good way to disinfect the floor if you add a little bit of disinfectant to the rinsing water. Disinfecting the floors is necessary to eliminate harmful germs and viruses.

A spin mop takes forward the cleaning which a broom cannot. It removes all the moist, sticky foodstuffs, spillage, spots, and micro dust particles that still remain after sweeping the floor.

A broom and mop are your low-cost cleaning tools to clean up the house the simpler way.

2) Lint-roller

This is such a multi-tasker. You should add one to your cleaning kit if you don’t already. A lint roller isn’t only for clothes, it has plenty of domestic uses.

Dust or pet hair on the carpet or furniture? Just quickly brush a lint roller.

Want to clean up tiny pieces of paper, and glitter after kids’ craft projects? A lint roller can come in handy.

Quickly clean the drapes before the unexpected guests arrive? A lint roller is your bestie.

3) Dish Soap, baking soda, and white vinegar:

Having caught up buying expensive cleaning products is understood.

I endorse them also.

The effectiveness of the products specialized to work precisely interests us. Namely, glass cleaners, metal cleaners, disinfectant cleaners, and the rest.

We want powerful solutions to treat stains, which is true at times.

But did you know that dealing with stains untimely makes them more stubborn?

If you get into the habit of cleaning everything and also something specific like treating the stains promptly. Then the basic household products – dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar can clean everything just as great.

It’s way less costly. And safe, unlike heavy-duty cleaners.

4) Sponge cloth and squeegee:

These two are the secret and most inexpensive tools to have a top-notch kitchen.

Honestly, these two things have entirely changed the way my kitchen used to be.

Since the sponge cloths are highly fluid absorbing, they work perfectly for spot-cleaning, wiping up spills, and quick cleanup of the gas stove and countertops.

Not only that but the sponge cloths can be used anywhere and everywhere in the house – electronic appliances, glass, mirrors, tiles, wood, fixtures, etc.

A squeegee can be useful after you’re done handwashing the dishes. To instantly dry the area around the sink.

Read: 5 Steps To A Cleaner Home

5) Disinfectant cleaner:

Cleaning surfaces with soap and water isn’t enough, sometimes. Soap and water do well in some cases.

But, off and on, you just need extra protection.

Which areas need care?

Certain parts such as doorknobs, cabinet handles, door keys, mobile phones, tv remotes, keyboards, touchpads, and air-conditioner remotes require to be disinfected.

Again, the floors and bathroom need to be disinfected too.

Be sure to read the instruction written on the product carefully before using it.

6) Bathroom brush:

There are days when your shower area or bathtub needs a good wash.

That might sound impractical on a daily basis. Yet it becomes totally easy with a bathroom brush like this one.

You can give the bathroom floors or bathtub a quick scrub when you’re in there to take a shower.

7) Bathroom wiper floor mop:

The wet shower area or bathroom is a breeding ground for bacteria.

A good way to keep it clean hygienically and looking good is by keeping it dry.

A small squeegee is great for instantly wiping down the shower glass and tiles. And, the big telescopic-handled brush works fine to dry the floors in a single swipe.

8) Wall Duster:

Dust removal is a real struggle in our homes. We require a good solution for that. Though this is called a wall duster it’s a multipurpose tool. It can be used at home, car, office.

As per your requirements, there are a variety of options in the market. This one is a light-duty microfibre cleaning duster. The expandable rod makes it easier to clean ceiling fans, corners of walls, and window edges as well.

9) Toilet cleaner balls:

You get two types in this category – one which you can put inside the flush. So like the first one gets dissolved in the flush water. And the toilet rim hanger. Both are great to maintain good hygiene in between cleaning intervals.

10) Hand Gloves:

Last but foremost, don’t forget to buy yourself good quality gloves. You don’t want to harm your hands by exposing them to different harsh chemicals and also hot water temperatures.

Particularly, when you’re the one who cooks at home. You have to be very careful. Because there are some awful cleaning tasks to do at home.

Hand gloves safeguard against abrasive cleaners and germs while cleaning. And makes your manicure last longer.

Final words:

A clean house is important for our well-being and peace of mind. But there’s no reason to drain yourself. By having a proper cleaning kit you can make life easier. All the items mentioned here are super affordable.

Do you think I have missed out on something? Let me know which cleaning tool should I add to my list? Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!

June 25, 2020
5 Steps To A Cleaner Home
Want to learn simple steps for a cleaner home? You’re in the right place.

Cleaning, as much as we hate the process we admire the results. We all value a neat & clean home.

An uncluttered home with a shiny kitchen sink and counters, dust-free furniture, and clean walls and floors is something we dream of and intend to have. But the process of achieving the same seems daunting. It not only seems daunting it is a lot of time.

We’ve got to simplify the cleaning tasks and split them into micro-segment daily routines for us to keep motivated.

Housework becomes less challenging when essential chores are taken care of daily. And when daily cleaning tasks are built into habits.

It becomes our second nature as we get accustomed to seeing things a certain way.

Example: when you form a habit of putting things back right after use. You may feel uncomfortable seeing things scattered. And you would be inclined towards straightening up as soon as possible. The same goes for dishwashing, laundry, bathroom cleaning, and other areas.

In this fashion, cleaning can be put on autopilot.

Dividing the chores into morning-evening routines make things less laborious.

Daily cleaning routines are important because who wants to spend the weekend cleaning when you should be relaxing or enjoying your holiday?

Your work day off should be your official rest day, you should get a break from cleaning and housework as well.

Here is the list of daily cleaning tasks:

“Cleaning and organizing is a practice not a project” -Meagan Francis.

5 STEPS TO A CLEANER HOME

Step 1. Wash the dishes every day:

I know how tempting it is to leave the dishes in the sink (or wherever there are) after meals and do some fun stuff like scrolling through social media feeds, watching television, or napping a bit.

I mean, let’s face it, no one wants to do the boring job of doing the dishes when there are so many other interesting things in life?

Even though I am writing this article I am in the same boat.

But letting the dishes pile up is the only recipe for a massive mess to deal with later on.

To make the job simplest I have discovered some ways. Here’s your ultimate dishwashing guide.

Step 2. Do one load of laundry every day:

Have you noticed that half of the clutter in the house is caused by the unsorted clothes lying around? Whether small or full, doing a load of laundry every day really helps control this clutter.

Try to complete the whole cycle — washing, drying & putting the clean laundry away. It is so satisfying to have a clean pair of clothes available whenever you need them.

Step 3. Quick tidy-up session:

A good tidying-up session involves things like:
- putting toys and other things back into their place
- making the bed
- quick bathroom clean-up
- arranging things in order
- dusting furniture
- wiping down the coffee/dining tables and counter-tops
- sorting mails
These steps are important for the house to look aesthetically pleasing. Doing a bunch of these 5-minute activities will save you hours of work on the weekends.

Related Topics:
Step 4. Sweep and mop/vacuum:

Never underestimate the power of a good sweep and mop. The messy floors make the house unclean however well-kept it is. Therefore, weeping & mopping are vital tasks. It makes the home look more presentable in case of unexpected visitors.

Step 5. Daily 15 minutes activity:

This includes:
- decluttering a cabinet or a junk drawer
- decluttering or rearranging closets
- vacuuming upholstery
- cleaning kitchen cabinets
- organizing pantry
- cleaning refrigerator
- Deep cleaning bathroom and toilet,
- Cleaning windows, etc.,
Start clockwise in a room, taking care of one thing at a time. Set the timer for 15 minutes & stop once the timer goes off. Leave the work just there and continue with the same, the next day.

In that way, you don’t need to do too much and can still achieve pretty much.

Final Words:

So those were 5steps to a cleaner home.

This daily cleaning routine is sure to help you run your home smoothly.

Having said that, the tasks here are clearly not enough and a further setup of weekly/monthly deep cleaning is required.

However, practicing these 5 steps every day has helped me keep on top of housework and I’m sure it’ll help you too.

Cleaning the house takes regularity, not perfection. As The Flylady says “housework done incorrectly still blesses your family.” So Just put on your favorite music & get started.

Thanks so much for reading. Be sure to share your secrets to a cleaner home in the comments section below. Happy Cleaning!
December 21, 2018
No More Dirty Dishes: 8 Hacks To Make Hand DishWashing Easier
If handwashing dishes is your least favourite task too, go easy, I have some dishwashing hacks that will make your job way easier.

Washing dishes post every meal is the best thing you can do for you, your family and your home (for hygiene and an orderly home), it is easier said than done.

Over and above how much you dislike a chore, it’s always good to take charge of your own housework. Appreciate doing things for your loved ones without expecting someone else to do it for you.

Because no one (not even hired help) can do the cleaning for you as you do for your family with a sense of responsibility and care.

It could be dreary in the beginning. But with these steps, you’ll have an easier time doing dishes. Maybe you start liking it or at least don’t mind doing it.

NO MORE DIRTY DISHES: 8 HACKS TO MAKE HAND DISHWASHING EASIER

1. Make rinsing a priority:

The greasy food particles on the dishes dry up and harden when left unsoaked for a long time. These dishes, pots, and pans (with dried food buildup) take great deal of time and energy to clean.

We, generally, tend to procrastinate activities that take time and grind — resulting in piling up of the dishes.

That’s when my very own “The Quick Rinse method” helps to prevent the situation.

It’s pretty easy.

After finishing your meals or while cooking — make sure to give all the dishes and utensils a good rinse.

I brought them from IKEA. They’re super affordable and effective.

You can use a brush too to ensure that grease and residue are washed. Then, stack them nicely to clean later.

Even in the case of a dishwasher — this habit of rinsing will make your life so much easier.

Sponging and having the dishes separated (kept out of the sink) will keep the sink empty. Now the only thing remaining will be — soaping and rinsing the dishes.

Because of this step, your dishes and utensils will be pretty clean already. Now all you’ll have to do is soap them, place them into hot water, and pull them out on the drying mat/rack.
- In the case of two sinks — you can use one side to stack the rinsed dishes, pots, and pans. And keep the other side empty. This will save you the extra work of unloading the sink before you actually begin washing the dishes.
- With one sink you can keep the rinsed dishes and utensils out on the counter, in a way that shouldn’t block your worktop.
- You can straightway place them into the dishwasher in case you own one.
- Last but not least, if you feel motivated to step forward and get the task done then there is nothing better.
Rinsing dishes immediately is an alternative to the soaking method. Since soaking leaves odour, it’s off-putting to tackle a sinkful of dirty dishes that are sitting there too long.

Related Topics:

5 Steps To A Cleaner Home

8 Ways To Enjoy Being A Stay-At-Home Mom/Wife

11 Inexpensive Ways To Beautify Your Home

How I Save Money On One Income With No Kids

2. The 5-minute trick:

In this technique, you set the timer and allow yourself to wash dishes only for 5 minutes. This step serves in 2 ways –
1. Most of the time, getting started is the main hindrance to getting things done. You can overcome that by tricking yourself to do the cleaning for the minimum time frame of 5 minutes. By the moment your timer goes off, either you’ll have finished your task, or will be driven to complete the job as only a few items would be left. The likelihood of this first situation is really high.
2. Still, if you’re not prompted to continue washing till the end, at least you’re halfway through it (in the case of a large pile of dishes).
Always a win-win.

3. Add baking soda to dishwashing detergent liquid/Bar:

Add some baking soda to the cleaning product. Be it ceramic/glass dishes or stainless steel cookware, it’ll make cleaning a breeze.

You have to take baking soda and dishwashing liquid in a ratio of 2:1.

That means the dish liquid is half the quantity of baking soda.

Using less detergent will ensure the soap rinses off quickly, make dishwashing super easy.

The baking soda will remove the odors and cut off grease/oil/burn smoothly, making the dishes come out squeaky clean in no time.

No elbow grease and you’ll have spotless dishes before you even know it.

Adding baking soda will not only save you time, effort, and water, but the dishes will come out really clean.

4. Use fewer utensils throughout the day:

For instance – each member will use the same cup of drinking water the entire day. Noone need different cups every time you want to drink water. Also, while cooking, start ahead of your time to be mindful & use fewer utensils.

Because if you watch carefully we tend to use lots of bowls, cups, and plates when cooking in a hurry.

5. Have a routine:

Decide how many times in a day would you prefer to wash the dishes.

A mountain pile of dishes — once a day; the whole stack in two shots, or a small number of dishes post every meal?

Whatever you choose for yourself — having a routine will make things easier.

6. Air dry dishes:

As far as possible, bypass the insignificant and time-consuming step of cloth-drying the dishes for lint-free dishes, pots, and pans.

7. Put on some peppy music or enjoy quiet time:

Some people like to enjoy music while doing the dishes. But, if you’re someone like me, you’ll appreciate the quiet time washing them with full attention – to get it done faster and cleaner.

8. Make it a family-time activity:

Regardless of all of the steps — dishwashing is sure to be dreadful with a large family.

How about asking each member to wash their own dishes?

Here’s how:

Take a soap dispenser bottle; fill it with dish detergent, baking soda, and water. Mix it well and keep it near the sink in a tray along with a sponge.

Post every meal, each member will be in charge of washing their own dishes — they’ll take one pump soap on their plate, lather, rinse, and place it on the drying mat and they are done.

Another way is having kids unload the dishwasher. Or dry and put away clean dishes as you wash them.

Additional Tip:

Make it a habit to clean the stove, surfaces, and sink every time after doing the dishes, to experience clean kitchen countertops, any time you/someone else enters the kitchen.

Once you start keeping your kitchen clean you’ll always want to have it that way all the time.

Developing the habit of having a clean kitchen most of the time will inspire you to maintain it.

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to share your dishwashing tips and tricks in the comment section below. Happy Dishwashing!
December 15, 2018

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