Speed Cleaning Your Home

Cleaning supplies inside blue portable caddy.

Stock speed cleaning supplies in a portable caddy.

Speed cleaning your home is the perfect solution when you have little time to spend cleaning. Quick house cleaning can lift your spirits almost as much as if you had chosen to do a deep house cleaning instead.

Why? Because when you have a clean house - everything in life seems fresher. These speed cleaning tips will help you get the dirty jobs done quickly.

Speed Cleaning Your Home - Shift Into High-Gear by Stocking Up On Supplies

Shift into high gear by stocking up on cleaning products and supplies for the quick-and-dirty jobs that lie ahead.

Gather cleaners, rags, paper towels, sponges, and scrub brushes in the kitchen and bath, so you won't have to backtrack between rooms to get what you need.

By keeping a permanent stash of supplies in each of these rooms, you'll always be prepared to tackle those last-minute cleanups quickly and efficiently.

Speed Cleaning Your Home - Break Weekly Cleaning Into Smaller Daily Tasks

For a clean house each week, break down the big jobs into small, manageable tasks and tackle them day by day. Clean the microwave on Monday and the toilet on Tuesday. Mop the floors Wednesday and tackle the tub Thursday.

By Friday, your big target areas—the kitchen and bathrooms—are nearly done. A few minutes spent on surface duty on Friday, and your home is clean—and the weekend is yours.

Change Your Speed Cleaning Focus Weekly

You can also quicken the pace of your speed cleaning routine by focusing on a different type of cleaning each week.

Choose an all-purpose cleaner this Friday, and spend several minutes spritzing and wiping the main surfaces of your kitchen and bathroom.

Next Friday, use a disinfectant cleaner, spraying on countertops, toilets, and the tub or shower. Then, read the mail or relax; return to flush the toilet and wipe clean the countertops and bathtub or shower.

Dust this week, vacuum the next. This simple routine means no juggling clothes and paper towels, switching spray bottles, or putting away dust rags as you pull out the vacuum.

You focus on just one thing at a time.(For a definition of types of cleaners, check out cleaning products defined.)

If you've got better things to do this week - or you can't summon the energy for housework - even the speedy cleaning your home variety - it's OK to take a break from your cleaning routine.

Two weeks between disinfecting and dusting won't cause irreparable harm, and rest - even from speed cleaning - may do you good.