Career, self-development, conscious parenting, healthy lifestyle, a pet, and a clean house… Modern lifestyle standards can be a headache to keep up with. The good news is that at least the last thing on the list — cleaning a house — can stop eating up your whole time once you learn some good cleaning habits. Maids from a New York cleaning services told us that smart cleaning is less about time and effort devoted and more about simple cleaning habits and everyday routines. Small steps help maintain a home clean in the long run, automatically. We asked them to share some expert tips on how to keep our homes neat and tidy.
Put your stuff back after use
You may think the Earth won’t fall out of its orbit if you leave a pair of jeans on a chair in your bedroom, dirty cups on a nightstand, or a pile of kids’ toys on your bed. However, on a micro universal scale (which your home is) a catastrophe is guaranteed. We take and use so many things during the day that not putting them back makes even the most luxurious home look post-apocalyptic by the end of the day. The habit of returning household items to where they belong after every use does wonders. Regular cleaning becomes effortless (due to the minimalistic interior), and your abode looks much tidier every day, even without cleaning.
Maintain your own organizational system
Sometimes returning things to their place is complicated because there is no such place. For example, your kids may have a lot of toys and board games, or you may be a big fan of books (magazines, video games, knick knocks, etc.)… However, without a proper organization system, storing them in an accurate way is impossible. Inspect your home and find those vagabond things and categorize them. Think about investing in containers or storage systems such as an ottoman, a shelving unit, a bookcase, or a pantry to store your belongings with love and order.
Home cleaners recommend putting away items you do not use daily in cabinets or other storage systems to create that stunning minimalistic look. Empty surfaces are much easier to clean than those crowded by dusty bric-a-brac. And, of course, declutter, declutter, declutter. Bringing one new item home, decide on the old item that will leave your home forever (either as a donation, a gift, or trash).
Clean spills right away
Wet accidents happen. However, every professional cleaner will tell you that not addressing spills immediately makes their further cleaning much more difficult. More aggressive and expensive cleaning supplies or services may be required. What is more, stained furniture, walls, or carpeting makes a home look miserable, nullifying your cleaning efforts. Maids from NYC home cleaning agency recommend keeping a multipurpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth in a bathroom and kitchen where most spills happen. Just grab a cleaner, spray over the mess, and wipe it away in a blink of an eye. Also, cleaning pros recommend storing all related cleaning supplies close to where you use them. Having easy and fast access to them helps fight “cleaning procrastination.” Now you have fewer excuses for not dealing with the spills right after you spot them.
Do not pile up dirty dishes
Tackle your dirty dishes right after you finish eating. Nothing looks grosser than a pile of stinky dishware in a sink. Having a dishwasher is not an excuse for piling up too. If you usually load it once a day, in the evening, encourage your family to put dirty plates, cups, and flatware directly in the dishwasher. This habit saves your time in the evening and helps keep your kitchen fresh-looking throughout the day. Here is another dish tip from NYC cleaning service for those in a hurry. Use one side of your double bowl sink to soak dirty dishes in hot soapy water. This technique traps foul odors and dissolves stuck food. So by the time you finally come to do them, all you need to do is to rinse them.
Stick to your nightly cleaning routine
Develop a habit of not going to bed without tidying up your kitchen and bathroom. Why are these rooms so special? Because your every new day starts here. Nothing can be more frustrating than starting a day with a dirty bathroom and kitchen. They tell your mind that you are out of control. So if you do not want to get such demotivational messages in the morning, prepare in the evening.
Do the dishes (or load the dishwasher) and put them away. Put all food in the fridge. Spray the all-purpose cleaner all over the sink, counters, and dinner table, and wipe them with a microfiber cloth. Sweep or vacuum the floor. Now move on to your bathroom to clean surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner, wipe the mirror, and remove water drops from walls with a squeegee. Now everything is ready for a good, uplifting morning, and you can go enjoy your well-deserved rest.
