Have you ever tried cleaning shortcuts? You may think you're fine without them, but we have a few facts that are likely to change your mind.
How long does the average Brit spend cleaning?
"Why do I need cleaning shortcuts?", you say. It may surprise you to learn that the average British person spends a whopping 20 hours a week doing chores, which totals eight years over our lifespans!
Some of the most time-demanding chores include cleaning the bathroom, hoovering, washing up and cleaning the kitchen.
Whilst an hour or two spent on these tasks might not seem like much, it certainly all adds up.
How many people hire a professional cleaner?
Given the above figures, it's no real surprise that half of millennials now deem themselves too busy to clean even a one-bed flat. Despite the economic downturn in the UK, this isn't a trend that's expected to change any time soon - demand for commercial cleaning services in the UK is predicted to continue to rise until at least 2019.
Why try cleaning short cuts?
Expert Home Tips are always on the lookout for any tips that make chores easier and quicker. Cleaning shortcuts certainly do that, and we've got a whole set of them for you to try.
These aren't just any kind of shortcuts, they're clever shortcuts that will get the job done just as well, in less time.
Don't believe us? Next time you clean, ditch your old methods and try some of these cleaning shortcuts out instead.
1. Wear rubber gloves to make life easier
Adding another step to your cleaning routine may not seem like an obvious way to cut time off the process, but wearing rubber gloves will make your life so much easier!
Rubber gloves not only protect the hands, but they also prevent direct contact with dirt and grime. This makes the whole cleaning process much less disagreeable, and you'll be able to crack on quickly without worrying about what you're touching.
2. Let products sit
Not having much success with your cleaning products? This could be due to the fact you're not letting them sit for long enough.
Ideally, you want to be spraying products on around 30 minutes before you plan to clean. This will give cleaning products a chance to tackle grime so you don't have to.
An easy cleaning shortcut to reduce your scrubbing time dramatically.
3. Spot clean
Another great cleaning shortcut is to spot clean rather than do the whole area. If only a certain area of the floors, walls or carpet is dirty, focus your energy on that.
To cut cleaning time down, prioritize the visible dirt.
4. Why is decluttering important?
Don't waste time trying to clean around clutter. Slash your cleaning time by gathering all clutter into a large basket before you start.
This cleaning shortcut will allow you to get the job done quicker. All that's left to do then is tidy away the items in your basket - easy.
5. Clean the shower while you're inside
This sounds like a silly idea, but once you've tried it you'll never go back.
Cleaning the shower whilst you're in the shower means you don't have to worry about getting clothes wet, or stained with products.
You'll be able to get on with the task in hand quicker than ever before - now that's what we call a top cleaning shortcut!
6. Make use of your dishwasher
Despite the name, your dishwasher can actually be used to clean other things than dishes.
Nail clippers, hairbrushes, your kid's toys - they can all go inside for a deep clean.
7. Keep cleaning stuff organised
There's nothing worse than having to spend time looking for cleaning products and tools when you've already got hours of cleaning ahead of you.
Start keeping your stuff organised, and you'll be able to get stuck into cleaning straight away, with all the right products on hand when you need them.
8. Make life easier with a squeegee
If you live in a hard water area, this cleaning shortcut will definitely come in handy.
Giving your shower screen a quick wipe over with a squeegee after every use will prevent limescale build-up and save loads of time on scrubbing.
We love this one from Amazon. It comes in several colours to match your bathroom and also has a suction hook to make it more accessible - the kids will have no excuse not to use it!
9. Keep disposable wipes in every room
Spills take so much longer to clean up if you allow them to dry. A wonderful cleaning shortcut to get into the habit of is wiping up spills as soon as they happen.
To make this easier, keep a packet of disposable wipes in every room.
10. How to make bin emptying easier
Taking out the trash isn't pleasant at the best of times. Make life easier for yourself by keeping empty bin bags at the bottom of your bin.
This cleaning shortcut will mean you don't have to go searching for new bags when you've taken the old one out.
11. How to clean a microwave using a lemon
Stuck on food can be a nightmare to clean - unless you use this cleaning shortcut, that is!
Squeeze a lemon into a microwaveable bowl half-filled with water. Microwave on full for three minutes, let stand for five, then remove the bowl and the dirt will wipe away easily.
Hardly any effort at all!
12. The cleaning shortcut that gets your fan clean
Fan cleaning can be a daunting thing. They're so high up, and you just know they're going to be dusty.
Well, with this great cleaning shortcut, cleaning fans is a breeze. Use an old pillowcase and place it over one of the fan blades. Pull it over the blade, and dust will be trapped without falling to the floor.
Repeat for all blades, and you'll have a clean fan without any mess - genius!
13. How to remove stubborn stickers quickly
Have your kids turned the walls into a life-size sticker book? Don't mess around with soap and other products, they could end up ruining the walls.
The easiest way to remove stickers is by blasting a hairdryer over them. This will soften the glue and mean they can be pulled off easily without any mess.
14. Give carpets a quick refresh
Is your carpet looking a bit worse for wear? There's no need to spend time scrubbing - we have a great cleaning shortcut to freshen it up.
Sprinkle baking soda over the area, leave to sit for ten minutes, then vacuum over as usual.
15. Use a sock for dusting
What do you use to dust with? There are many different options, but if you're after a quicker way to clean, what you need is an old sock.
Place it over your hand, spritz on some polish, and dust away. You won't have to keep looking for your misplaced cloth, and you'll be able to get into all the tiny crevices and get the place sparkling clean in no time.
Don't forget to vacuum after dusting - it's the most efficient method.
16. The right order to clean in
Cleaning shortcuts don't have to be complicated. One of the things that will cut tens of minutes off your cleaning routine is being sure to clean in the right order.
We recommend starting from the door and working your way clockwise from top to bottom. This will ensure all the dust and dirt from above is cleared before you tackle the surfaces below.
17. Invest in cleaning shortcuts
While most of our cleaning shortcuts don't cost anything at all, there is one that might. If your vacuum, brush or even cleaning cloths are looking tired, they could be slowing you down and making cleaning ineffective.
Investing in a new vacuum may seem like a big expense, but you definitely won't regret it when you see how many valuable minutes you can save every day on your cleaning.
18. Refresh furniture using vodka
This is a strange cleaning shortcut, to say the least! Most of us know just how potent vodka can be, and it's this potency that works as a wonderful fabric refresher.
If you've got some going spare, pour a small amount into a spray bottle and spritz over the fabric to freshen it. Get a lovely smelling sofa without any hard work - nice!
19. Dryer sheets repel dust
Dryer sheets are designed to be anti-static. This makes them extremely useful for cleaning, as they actually repel dust.
Try this cleaning shortcut today and give your surfaces a quick wipe-over with a dryer sheet after dusting to keep them cleaner for longer.
Looking for an alternative to dryer sheets for your laundry? Check out our other article.
20. Wash your blender in a matter of seconds with this cleaning shortcut
Smoothies may taste great, but all that goodness is a right pain to clean up!
If you're after a quick way of cleaning your blender, this cleaning shortcut is just the thing.
After rinsing with warm water, half fill your blender, squirt in some washing up liquid, and pulse five times. Blend for 10 seconds, empty, rinse and your blender will be spotless without the need for any scrubbing.
These cleaning shortcuts are simply genius! Do you have any clever ways of saving time when cleaning too?
My name is Richie and I am reading your Expert Home Tips, I am going to try your ways in my wife,s and my home to help in keeping the house in very nice order and smart. My wife is a very smart lady and I want to take over the cleaning of our house and use all the help that you can give me in all your tips , My wife works very hard through the week in a very stress full job she is very very conscious of cleaning the house twice a week , we have a three bedroom house and their is just the two of us and I need to get myself into helping her out thankyou Richie Avery
Hi there Richie. This really made all of us smile at Expert Home Tips. It's so nice that you want to help out and I'm sure your wife will really appreciate it. We hope our tips will help you! :)
Thank you, tips are so useful. Love them Any tips for storing summer clothes would be useful.
Hi Judith. That's a great idea and definitely something we'll look into :)
Hi Judith A great way of storing summer and winter clothes for that matter is to use vacuum packs. Wash, dry and iron your clothes before packing them flat in the vacuum packs placing a tumble dryer sheet between layers to keep them nice and fresh, then simply suck the air out using your vacuum cleaner. You will be amazed at how much you can store. There are also USB vacuums available on the market which are small enough to slip in a pocket or flight bag which are great for packing clothes for holidays. Be careful though as, although the volume of clothes is drastically reduced, the weight isn't.
Love the tumble dryer sheet idea!
Brilliant advice, I'd like to hear the best way to store summer clothes now it's Autumn.
Hi Judith. I'm so glad you enjoyed the article. Thanks a lot for stopping by :)
After using my microwave I always give it a quick wipe and therefore never need to remove dried on food which is surely better to do than wasting power to do it. I also wipe my cooker immediately while still warm and after several years my cooker is in showroom condition.
Very true, Jo!
If you line the bin with two bin liners if the first one gets a hole in the mess goes into the second liner saving you time washing the whole bin out you don’t have to change the second liner very often. I have to agree with you always cleaned the shower when in it is so much easier Love the tip for the blender will definitely try that
That's a brilliant idea, Tina! I used to do this in a catering job I had - the food waste bin had a habit of splitting. I had never thought of doing it at home though, probably because I leave the bin emptying to my partner...
I put several bin bags in the bin so when it's full I only have to lift the full one out and the new one is in there already. I usually have about 5 bags inside eachother and when I've reached the last one I put another 5 in.
That's a great idea, Anita! It'll provide good protection if the bag ever rips, too.
Hi. Any tips on how best to clean Venetian blinds?
Hi Lorna! Have you tried putting a dusting cloth on a pair of tongs with elastic bands? It makes it super easy to clean each slat!