This post is sponsored by Clorox®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Every year the topic of “Spring cleaning” overwhelms social media. For some of us, we’d rather hide in the back of the broom closet rather than embrace this seasonal rite of passage. Cleaning out the dust and debris from the long winter months is important, though, for our health, our homes and our sanity. So what do you do to get motivated?
If you need a little inspiration, first consider these motivational benefits of spring cleaning:
- A fresh clean home is the best day brightener! It feels great to have a clean and organized home.
- You’ll be able to find stuff once it’s organized.
- Stress is reduced when you rid yourself of the mess, a clean home is far easier to relax in.
- If you work in your home, you’ll get more done. A cluttered home hinders your productivity.
- Improves your health and wellness. When you are free from mold, mildew, dust and bugs, you breathe a lot easier.
- Improves the health and wellness of your pets, too!
- Your electronics and appliances may last longer. Dust, dirt and grease accumulation can degrade your electronics and appliances over time. By cleaning them up, you can extend their life and help avoid replacing them or hefty service repair bills.
Feeling a little better about the subject?
Now focus your attention on smart spring cleaning tactics that will help you clean up life’s big messes in your home lickety-split!
Have you ever wondered how professional cleaners get the job done? What tips and tricks they know that you don’t? And how they can clean an entire home, top to bottom, in just an hour or two when it seems to take us all day to do the same?
Me, too! I consulted a family member who is a professional house cleaner and found that there are, indeed, a few skills they’ve mastered well to get the job done more efficiently.
You, too, can cut your time spent Spring cleaning in half and tackle this project the smart way. Use these professional tips and tricks to help motivate you even more.
Control Your Time
When the average homeowner cleans their home, they generally move from one room to another, doing a little in each room. Or you get distracted by items you find when emptying cupboards or closets.
Next thing you know, the phone rings, you start reading your text messages and then you find you are hungry and head off to make a snack. This is a recipe for disaster when it comes to carrying through with your Spring cleaning efforts.
A professional cleaner often turns their phone on silent and sets time limits for each room. Do the same! Make a list of all the areas of the home you want to spring clean and set time limits for each task. To energize yourself with each one, play some upbeat music while you are cleaning and set a pre-alarm to remind yourself that there are only a few minutes left to finish up.
Another way to control your time effectively like a professional cleaner does is to group tasks. Instead of just cleaning your bathroom mirror, then moving onto the sink, clean all of the mirrors in your home. Then move onto cleaning all of the sinks and so on. You don’t have to complete one room at a time, you can move about your home, staying focused on one aspect of the home at a time.
When you control your time and focus, you’ll pay more attention to detail and you will finish your checklist faster. It will also be easier to ignore distractions and to not waste time by having to switch out cleaning products and supplies constantly.
Use the Best Cleaning Supplies and Tools
Speaking of cleaning supplies, it’s as simple as this – buy cleaning products that get the job done. Whether you are Spring cleaning or simply dealing with every-day messes, using a quality cleaning product will save you time and money. When you use cheap products that don’t work or use a product that isn’t right for the job, you will waste more by having to use more or worse, waste time having to re-clean the area again.
We’ve just been introduced to one tough product that should be on the top of your list for deep cleaning tasks and quick clean-ups: Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes with Ultra Strength Blue Fibers (now available at Walmart!)
These powerhouse wipes stand up to tough messes and are 15 percent thicker than standard antibacterial wipes. The textured side of the wipe helps remove tough soils like soap scum and baked on grime. The smooth side wipes dirt and dust away.
Perfect for high traffic areas where germs tend to lurk, like bathrooms, Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes with Ultra Strength Blue Fibers trap particles and according to the manufacturer, help kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses* in as little as 30 seconds.
They’re also suitable for multi-surface use – a great attribute to consider when purchasing a cleaner as it will save money by cutting down on the number of cleaners you will need to buy.
In addition to having the right cleaners, be sure you have the best tools for the job, too, like a quality mop, broom and vacuum cleaner with attachments. Many professional cleaners also carry toothbrushes to help with tough corners and a variety of cleaning cloths to help make surfaces sparkle.
Using the best cleaning supplies and tools also includes dressing for the occasion. Wear light-weight clothes that allow you to move easily and be sure they are clothes you won’t mind getting soiled or stained. Invest in a good pair of cleaning gloves, too, to protect your hands. If you will be cleaning in areas with poor ventilation, you may also want a face mask and/or a fan (to draw air from the room) to help minimize fumes from cleaners.
Hire Help
Professional cleaners hire assistants when needed to get complex jobs done faster. The time they save is well worth the investment.
If Spring cleaning your home is completely overwhelming to you and you feel you have way too much ground to cover on your own, involve all your family members in the project. Even little ones can help with small tasks like picking up toys and clothing from the floor (make a game of it.)
Don’t have enough family members in your home to help? Consider enlisting the aid of relatives or friends to help you out for a day. Offer to take them out for a nice lunch or dinner in return.
You can also hire a professional cleaner to help you out with just the areas you’re uncomfortable with or don’t have time to do the deep cleaning required, such as your bathroom.
Ultimately, the key is to focus. Don’t treat your Spring cleaning as a dreaded chore, treat is as a job that you are getting paid for, because you are! The benefits of having a fresh clean, healthy home are priceless and a reward you well deserve!
*Use as directed
