Very few of us love to spend hours cleaning our homes, so if there’s a strategy or shortcut to get the job done faster then most of us would welcome it.
Taking a few minutes every day to complete a few 60-second cleaning tasks will make your home better organised and cleaner.
If you have family, it’s a great idea to encourage them to play their part.
You don’t need to persuade a teenager to fire up the vacuum cleaner – when has that ever happened! – but ask them to make small contributions to make everyone’s life easier.
So, here are eight cleaning hacks you can do in 60 seconds – and I promise, you’ll notice the results immediately.
Accidents happen – Small spills, especially in the kitchen, can be cleaned quickly and easily if you act immediately. Don’t ignore the splash of cordial on the kitchen floor because it will only stay sticky and attract dirt. Dropped food will attract ants and be trodden through the home. It usually takes less than a minute to wipe away these little accidents.
Dish towels – Change your dish towels the moment you notice they’re smelly or dirty. Throw them into the laundry hamper or straight into the washing machine, and pull out a fresh replacement. When we see a spill on the countertop, a dish towel is usually the first thing we grab. So, make sure they’re clean.
Countertop blues – Where does all that grime around our faucets and on the countertop come from? Spend 60 seconds giving the base of the faucets and the backsplash a quick wipe with a cleaning solution that will keep mold at bay.
Shining sinks – It takes a few moments to wipe down the bathroom sink after everyone has gone through their morning routines. If you spend one minute wiping the sink, it will make a world of difference to your bathroom.
Make-up blotches – The bathroom counter is long-suffering when it comes to spills and sprays. Again, in less than 60 seconds, you will be able to wipe away make-up dust, eyeliner marks, toothpaste blotches and hair blown by hair-dryers.
Zero tolerance – When it comes to clothes being dropped on the floor, you should adopt a zero-tolerance policy. The floor is not a wardrobe. Clothing that has not been put away should go straight into the hamper. It takes just a few seconds to get this done, and your home will look so much better for it.
Tidy nightstands – There are a few dumping grounds that are common to most family homes – the nightstand is one of them. Free them of all the books that are not being read, return empty glasses to the kitchen, and put away other odds and ends like pens and notebooks, and eyeglass cases. Make the bedroom a sanctuary.
Stamp your authority – Don’t let the mail pile up. Spend 60 seconds of your day sorting through letters, circulars and random magnets from plumbers and electricians. Recycle everything you don’t want. Don’t let the mail become an unmanageable pile of confusion and unpaid bills that sits in the corner.