Growing up in a very clean house contributes to the good health of its inhabitants. You know what people say…messy homes, messy lives. Here are some useful tips (and valuable cleaning hacks) you could have at hand, for whenever you want to clean your home quickly, improve the tidying game, and send grime and germs away for as long as possible!

The Good Housewife’s Guide

1. Think of Everything as a Grid, when Cleaning the House

Of course, we don’t mean to become a complete clean freak or hypochondriac! Just concentrate on small areas at a time (i.e. a countertop, a mirror, etc.) or even larger spaces, such as the floor. By breaking up the space into grids you actually help yourself clean faster and better. Visualize the space like that and you will see that you won’t be missing anything. Plus, you will stop going over spots more than the times necessary!

2. Have a Plan: Always Clean from Top to Bottom

This is a great tip if you are doing major clean-up (see Spring Cleaning Checklist). In this case, leave the floors for last. That way, any shaken down dirt and dust from your chores and all the things you have already cleaned will be also removed without having to go back again and again.

3. Keep the Most Valuable Helping Aids in your Cleaning Kit

I) Baby Diapers

Yes, admittedly, these could be some really weird stuff (but amazingly helpful), such as washable cloth baby diapers! They make excellent buffing tools and are perfect for shining things like mirrors, granite, windows, and countertops. That aside, you significantly reduce the number of paper towels you require for your chores.

II) Microfiber Cloths

Most of us use microfiber cloths, and we just can’t imagine how life used to be inside the house without them! However, instead of heading for the cleaning section to get one, consider purchasing one from the automotive section. They are much cheaper and do the exact same job, so why not save a couple of bucks there?

III) Squeegees

Yes, a squeegee is a fantastic tool to clean the windows, but it is also a superb cleaning tool that you can’t afford to not have in your stash. You can sweep up dusty stairs, crummy countertops, and many more, considering that it can get right into the tightest corners. On top of that, you can use a plastic pan scraper to remove stuck-on messes off floors and keep your fingers and beautiful mani in perfect shape.

Tip: You can also squeegee your shower to help keep it as dry as possible, preventing mold from developing. Fight soap scum and mildew build-up and squeegee not only your shower, but also the lip of the shower door frame and the shower curtains, as well.

4. Coral your Cords

Electric cords attract dust bunnies like honey does to bees. Therefore, by neatly zip-tying them together helps keep dust from gathering. You can also take them off the floor for the same reason.

5. Keep Things Tidy With the Help of Hooks

When we have everything well-organized with efficient organizing systems, we feel more content with ourselves and the environment we live in. For those of you that putting things away in bins is not your cup of tea you can always hang them up! So, install hooks here and there (where you think fit) and enjoy a neat home.

6. Avoid Hairspray

Skip hairspray, at least inside the house and here is why: dust practically adores hairspray. How many times have you noticed a sticky, dusty mess every time you used hairspray in the bathroom (or anywhere else)?

Tip: If you have find yourself in a sticky situation like the one described above, a super-effective cleaning tool is Magic Eraser!

7. Don’t Walk in the House with Shoes on

Keep the dirt outside of the house by taking off shoes when you enter the house. Slip your feet into a house-only shoes or slippers/flip-flops. That way, you keep the house clean for longer and skip germs and disgusting grime you step on when walking outside the home from entering the space you live and breathe in.

8. Make the Best of your Cooking Time

A great time to start cleaning is when you put have your pot boiling. It is a superb opportunity to make time for you and sit down to dinner with only the plates requiring cleaning. So, put ingredients away, rinse your preparation tools, wipe down counters etc. while the food is cooking.

9. Attend to Stains Immediately

Treating stains the soonest possible will make things so much easier for you because the longer a stain stays, the harder it gets to remove it. This actually means more cleaning time for you. What a waste of time indeed! Wipe up spills and get your hands on a pre-wash stain remover the moment you spot a stain.

10. Keep Clutter Tidy

The smallest task, such as folding a blanket, fixing your stack of mail, or straightening a pile of books or magazines, as equally important, so don’t devalue them. Attending to these little things will make your space feel clean, even if you haven’t done any serious cleaning there. Of course, it is also paramount to put away or even toss anything you feel doesn’t have a place in your home anymore.

11. Do a bit of Cleaning every Single Day

There is no need to get bogged down in the tiniest details. Look at the whole cleaning stuff another way. Spend 10-15 minutes every day to tidy up and clean your countertops (or any other quick cleaning task) and you will soon realize how much good you do to yourself and your mental well-being. Plus, you help yourself with the deep clean later on.

12. Clean the Kitchen Sink Wisely

Unquestionably, everything taking place in the kitchen from cooking to kids’ craft projects involve the kitchen sink. No wonder it gets stained so frequently (and so easily we would add). If you have resin or light porcelain surfaces (even stainless steel sometimes), I am sure you had to deal with splotches showing up. To get rid of marks fast and easy, you can use an eraser-type sponge (i.e. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser) or a solution of bleach and all-purpose cleaner for more persistent spots. Don’t forget to rinse!

Sanitizing is also essential. After cleaning, plug the drain and fill the sink with warm water (one-third of the basin) and swish in bleach (one tablespoon per gallon of warm water). Dip in your sponge and wipe down the handles and faucet. Let it sit for a few minutes (4-5 minutes will do) and rinse well.