Surviving a hectic week only to be met with a home that resembles a disaster zone as the weekend arrives can be incredibly frustrating. Instead of enjoying a well-earned break, you may find yourself confronted with the overwhelming task of tidying up. Or maybe you’ve been conscious of the mess for days, and the constant visual clutter is beginning to wear on you. So how can you avoid spending your entire Sunday cleaning and instead reclaim that precious time to unwind? We spoke to professional cleaners who shared their top shortcuts for maintaining a tidy home while preserving your peace of mind.
Everyone has their own cleaning techniques that help them stay sane by day’s end. For instance, one TikTok mom swears by her “cleaning cart”—a convenient three-tiered rolling caddy used to gather items that are out of place. This tool enables her to organize quickly and efficiently, keeping her calm amidst the chaos. Another mom cleverly engages her children as little cleaning helpers, handing out supplies and playfully assuming the role of a wicked stepmother. Sometimes, embracing the humor in the mess is essential!
Now let’s turn to the experts, who have tackled both their own homes and countless client spaces. They understand what truly works in everyday life.
Reset Your Space at Night
Which areas of your home experience the most activity? For many families, the kitchen and living room bear the brunt of daily life. Jessica Gonzalez, chief operating officer of Sparkly Maid San Antonio, highlights the value of a brief evening cleanup. “Every night before bed, I take ten minutes to reset those visual clutter areas in the kitchen, entryway, or living room. Waking up to a clean space makes the morning feel more manageable,” she asserts. Cleaning expert Scott Schrader echoes this sentiment, suggesting that spending just a few minutes each evening putting away toys and wiping surfaces can produce a significant difference the next day.
Repurpose Old Dryer Sheets for Dusting
Reduce waste while keeping your home polished! Before you toss those used dryer sheets, reconsider their potential. Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, recommends turning them into effective dusters. Simply glide an old dryer sheet over baseboards, blinds, and electronics. They not only pick up dust but also leave behind an anti-static barrier that helps repel dirt—what a fantastic twofold benefit! Personally, as someone who often folds laundry at the dining room table, I can easily envision grabbing a used dryer sheet to freshen the window sills before discarding it.
Use Tin Foil for Oven Cleanup
A straightforward yet clever tip is to place a sheet of foil or a silicone liner underneath your oven racks (ensure it doesn’t touch the heating element). This method can save you from the hassle of scrubbing burnt cheese off the oven floor later, making it a true lifesaver for busy evenings when all you want is to enjoy your meal.
Distribute Cleaning Supplies Throughout Your Home
Instead of cramming all your cleaning supplies into one inconvenient location (like cramped under the kitchen sink), consider distributing them around your home. Keeping a few microfiber cloths and cleaning wipes handy in the kitchen and bathroom can be transformative. Schrader often takes the opportunity to clean mirrors and sinks while waiting for his coffee to brew or brushing his teeth. Such small actions accumulate, he reassures. A portable caddy for your most-used cleaning items can also streamline moving supplies from room to room. You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to maintain tidiness when your tools are easily accessible.
Clean While You Cook
If you’re stirred up cooking dinner or boiling water, why not utilize that waiting time for a quick kitchen cleanup? Gonzalez likes to wipe down counters or load the dishwasher during these intervals. This strategy not only eases your workload after meals but allows you to fully enjoy dinner without anticipating the clean-up.
Incorporate Baskets for Easy Tidying
One more tip that Knoll swears by is keeping a small catch-all basket in each main room. At day’s end, simply gather items that need to be organized into the baskets. Personally, I appreciate having a basket at the staircase’s base—it simplifies collecting items that belong elsewhere for later retrieval. For Gonzalez, each child having their own catch-all basket helps contain clutter while instilling a sense of responsibility.
Always Have a Donation Bag Ready
Schrader refers to this technique as decluttering by default. Keeping a donation bin in your closet allows you to easily dispose of items that are no longer useful or cherished. This practice not only curtails clutter but helps maintain organization in your home. The less you have crowding your space, the less you need to clean and sort. It’s a simple yet powerful strategy that can liberate both your physical space and mental energy.
Use a Squeegee for Pet Hair
For pet owners, battling hair can often feel unending. Knoll suggests using a basic rubber squeegee to draw pet hair from your carpets—it’s surprisingly satisfying. It may require more time than vacuuming, but if you frequently feel unsatisfied post-clean, this might be the solution you’ve been searching for.
Tackle One Load of Laundry Daily
Laundry can often seem like a looming burden, but a bit of daily routine can change that. Schrader advises doing a single load of laundry each day, which prevents mountain-like piles of clothes from accumulating by the weekend. This can significantly reduce your weekend stress!
With these easy yet effective strategies, you can reclaim your weekends and transform cleaning from an overwhelming chore into manageable daily habits. It’s all about finding what suits your lifestyle, enabling you to enjoy both your home and the time within it. Now, grab those microfiber cloths and tackle that clutter!
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