Cleaning is a necessary task in every home. Even the best-kept environments need some touching up now and again, and even just a little cleaning can make a space feel brand new.
However, not everyone is filled with joy at the thought of sacrificing their weekend to clean the home – especially while short on time. But with the minutes counting down and your event looming on the horizon, something’s got to give.
This is where speed cleaning comes in. Designed to beautify the home in as short a time as possible, speed cleaning is an important part of regular house maintenance. Spending a little time on the most visible parts of the house will allow you to host parties, entertain guests, and otherwise be ready for impromptu visits without worrying about keeping an immaculate home.
Here are some of the most efficient tips for how to speed clean your house, including simple methods of getting it done while on a strict time budget.
How to speed clean your house
Let’s walk through how to speed clean your home in the most effective ways possible.
Start with clutter
Knowing where to start with speed cleaning can be difficult, especially with only an hour or two to spare. Thankfully, the answer is both simple and obvious: a quick pickup.
Grab a spare bin or laundry basket as you begin this 15-minute home walk-through, picking up all clutter, trash, or misplaced items. This will clear the visible surfaces of your home and make it look less cluttered overall.
As you walk, replace items as necessary by putting basket items into their correct location. This process should only take a few minutes to complete and will instantly make a difference in the visible parts of your home.
Multitask if possible
It’s not always feasible to multitask while cleaning, but if the opportunity arises, this can be a great way to save time. For example, if you’re already in the kitchen soaking dirty dishes, use that time to wipe down counters and sweep the floor. If you’re waiting on your shower cleaner to set, focus on wiping down the mirrors or dropping fizzes into your toilets.
Prepare ahead of time
The most efficient speed cleaners are the ones who organise in advance. This means designating a spot for cleaning items in the bathroom, keeping a tote of products under the sink, and always keeping cleaning supplies stocked and ready to go.
Additionally, be sure that your cleaning supplies are in an accessible and easy-to-reach location, allowing you to get started on speed cleaning as quickly as possible. Keep in mind that the opposite is also true; cleaning products should be easy to put back and hide from public view.
Vacuum rather than sweep
Most modern vacuums come with two settings: one for cleaning bare floors and one for cleaning carpets. Rather than wasting time for both sweeping and vacuuming, use your two-in-one tool to clean all the floors in minutes. You may even want to invest in an extension cord to increase your productivity.
If you’re worried about cleaning up those hard-to-reach spaces, simply pull out your vacuum’s detail tools and get to work. Wedge and side-angle nozzles help you access tight corners and gaps under furniture, letting you make the most of your cleaning minutes.
Ignore unnecessary areas
Speed cleaning allows you to focus on the most visible parts of the home, which means that not every room requires your attention. Any places your guests won’t see or visit should have secondary priority on your to-do list. All you need to do is close the door to block these rooms from view.
You may want to start with common rooms and high-traffic spaces at the beginning of your speed cleaning process. These places will make the biggest impact on guests and visitors, so it’s important to put more of your energy into these specific areas.
Work top to bottom
Regardless of the rooms you need to clean, always begin with surfaces that are the highest. This means dusting ceiling fans, wiping countertops, and cleaning tables before anything else.
Not only will this help you avoid any potential re-cleaning, but it will also give you a sense of accomplishment as you move through each room. You’ll be able to see the progress you’re making as you go, motivating you to hurry through the remainder of your speed cleaning.
Sticking to a system also has its benefits. By putting your cleaning on autopilot, you can more successfully clean the house without backtracking – saving you time and sanity.
Try prevention first
One of the quickest ways to simplify your speed cleaning process is to prevent dirt and grime from building up in the first place.
This means wiping down counters and sinks after cooking, sweeping your floors regularly, and taking care of mould buildup immediately. Staying on top of regular maintenance tasks makes your entire speed cleaning process much less painful.
Eliminate distractions
If you’re finding it difficult to focus or stay motivated during your speed cleaning, look for ways to eliminate unnecessary distractions. This includes putting your phone out of sight and turning the TV off. As long as the music isn’t too distracting, feel free to pop on some tunes and give yourself a mood boost.
You may also want to gamify your cleaning process by setting a timer. This may encourage you to ‘beat the clock’ by finishing everything before the buzzer. Just don’t set the timer on your phone!
Turn to Jim’s Cleaning to speed clean your house
Speed cleaning is certainly a viable option for homeowners who want to accomplish small cleaning tasks independently. However, regular speed cleaning paired with long-term time crunches could put property owners in a bind. If the time you have to clean isn’t sustainable, professional help may be necessary – including the trained technicians at Jim’s Cleaning.
Since 1994, the professionals at Jim’s Cleaning have been dedicated to home and office cleaning. Our $99 home cleaning services ensure that your home looks beautiful and presentable within a time frame that works for you, including vacuuming, dusting, mopping, and more. This special offer also includes cleaning bathrooms, toilets, and general surface kitchen cleaning for an even more polished look.
We also offer additional home cleaning options that include:
- Bond cleaning services
- Disinfecting services
- BBQ cleaning services
- Detail cleaning services
- NDIS cleaning services
- Oven cleaning services
Put your property in good hands with the expert technicians at Jim’s Cleaning. Call us at 131 546 to get started, or request a free quote online today.
FAQs
What’s the point of speed cleaning?
Speed cleaning is designed to clean your house in the shortest time possible while still achieving good results. This means you can have a clean home without dedicating your entire prep window to a single task. When done correctly, speed cleaning allows you more free time to do the things you enjoy and prepare for guests, company, or last-minute visitors, no matter how much time you have left.
How does speed cleaning differ from real cleaning?
The main difference between speed and regular cleaning is the amount of time spent on each task. When speed cleaning, you should focus on the most visible areas of your home and spend less time on individual tasks. This means that you may not achieve the same level of cleanliness as you would if you spent several hours cleaning, but it allows you to get the job done when you’re short on time.
Keep in mind that detailed work can be completed at a later date by booking a professional team such as Jim’s Cleaning.
Speed cleaning should be used when you don’t have a lot of time to spend on cleaning, but you need to get the job done quickly. This might be before guests come over, or when you’re short on time and need to clean in a hurry.
Bear in mind that you shouldn’t perform speed cleaning regularly. If your home’s only cleaning is surface level, it will quickly become cluttered and dirty. Speed cleaning should be used occasionally, in addition to regular deep cleaning to maintain a clean and hygienic home.
If you struggle to clean your home on a more involved level, get in touch with the professionals at Jim’s Cleaning today.
How to speed clean a house effectively?
There are a few different ways to speed clean your house, but the best and most efficient way is to turn to the pros at Jim’s Cleaning. With more than twenty years of experience under our belts, we have provided outstanding cleaning services to Australian home and business owners since 1994. It’s not just about meeting your expectations; it’s about exceeding them in every possible way.
Get in touch with Jim’s Cleaning today to book a cleaning service for your residential or commercial property. Have some questions first? Contact us online by submitting an online form.