Speed cleaning: Kitchen

For most of us, kitchen cleaning requires the most daily attention. The key to keeping it under control lies in the mantra: Clean as you go. Clear away pots and pans, food ingredients and parings as you cook, instead of doing (or not doing) one big cleanup after supper.

Put pots in the dishwasher or a sink of soapy water. After supper, load the dishwasher or rinse and dry pots in the sink, and put away anything left out. Then (or the next morning), give the counters and sink a quick swipe, and sweep or quick-vac the floor.

Speed cleaning: Bathroom

No one likes to clean the bathroom. But a clean as you go attitude can help make it less work. Keep a package of disposable cleaning wipes under the sink to wipe off everything from glass, tubs and sinks to the outside of the toilet; even kids seem to enjoy using them.

Spritz the shower with cleaner each time you use it, while it’s still wet. Rinse with the handheld shower or run the shower for a minute, and you’re done. Use a squeegee to clean the shower door, to prevent water spots. Run the toilet scrubber around the inside of the toilet, with a squirt of cleanser if desired.

Pick up towels and put in laundry or hang; put away makeup and toiletries; empty the wastebasket. If needed, use the microfibre mop or wet-jet cleaner to clean the floor.

Speed cleaning: Bedrooms

If you take it out, put it back; if you take it off, hang it up (or fold it in the drawer, or put it in the laundry hamper); if you mess it up, tidy when you’re done. If you make this a habit, the morning bedroom tidy need be little more than making the bed and tidying bedside tables. But if you’re not a perfect practitioner make sure clothes are put away, the vanity table is tidy and the floor clear. Quick-vacuum traffic areas, and, if you’re so inclined, pass the vacuum under the bed and do a “one-of” dusting to a bookshelf or drawer front.

Instead of a weekly marathon laundry session, do one load a day. Gather a basket of whatever you’re washing that day as you tidy each room, and toss in the washer when you’re done. At lunchtime (or when you get home from work), toss in the dryer, and fold in front of the TV at night or the next morning.


Speed cleaning: Living and family rooms

Unless the living room is very disheveled, it’s a breeze compared to cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms. After decluttering, put remotes where they belong, recycle or put away reading materials, give traffic areas a once-over with the quick vac, and dust one bookshelf or the TV. If you have a little more time or energy, vacuum one upholstered piece. If every piece is done in rotation about every three weeks or so, that’s all they usually need.

Unless the living room is very disheveled, it’s a breeze compared to cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms. After decluttering, put remotes where they belong, recycle or put away reading materials, give traffic areas a once-over with the quick vac, and dust one bookshelf or the TV. If you have a little more time or energy, vacuum one upholstered piece. If every piece is done in rotation about every three weeks or so, that’s all they usually need.