April 2018 I know the last thing on your mind this weekend will be spring cleaning, what with the early heatwave we’ve been blessed with.
But, spring has truly snuck up on us this year and you might be panicking about not getting started on the cleaning yet – especially if you just invited the neighbours round for a BBQ this weekend.
Fear not. We’ve got a solution.
Here’s how you can clean your home in just 30 minutes (then put your feet up and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts).
Firstly, there’s some things you’re going to need for your speed clean:
- Feather duster
- 2 cloths – 1 for cleaning and 1 for shine
- Cleaning wipes or baby wipes
- Multi-purpose cleaning spray
- Broom, dustpan & brush and hoover
- Black bin bag
- Laundry basket
- Lint roller
- Timer (if you’re up for the challenge)
Once you’ve got these things together you’re all set … and …. GO!
1. First 10 minutes – Tidy and declutter
First, open the windows and let some fresh air in.
Then, spend 10 minutes tidying and decluttering everywhere. Get rid of any rubbish from the main rooms in your house. Forget the bedrooms if they aren’t likely to be seen.
Use black bin bags to gather up the rubbish and hide any clutter in your laundry basket (then hide that in a cupboard if possible). Move big clutter to the rooms that won’t be visited by your guests.
Neatly stack papers, magazines and newspapers. Fold blankets and straighten pillows and cushions. Small things will make a big difference.
Finally, empty any bins (especially the bathroom one).
2. Next 10 minutes – Surfaces
Now, wipe down surfaces with multi-purpose cleaner and a cloth.
You can us baby wipes if you want to save even more time. They’re great at picking up grime and give nearly all surfaces a temporary shine.
Give your mirrors a good wipe. Again, sometimes it’s the small things!
Use a lint roller or a baby wipe on your sofa and cushions to collect any dust or hair. (Lint rollers also work on lampshades if you want to be extra thorough)
At this point, close the windows and light some nice scented candles. Place them in the rooms you haven’t cleaned to disguise any odours without it being super obvious (just keep an eye on any open flames).
3. Last 10 minutes – sweep or hoover
You’re nearly there!
In the last 10 minutes sweep and/or hoover the important rooms. Don’t forget the hallway – there’s nothing like first impressions.
Use a cleaning cloth or baby wipe to polish up any particularly bad areas on your wooden floors. This will save you time mopping. Skirting boards can be given the same treatment if they’re overdue a good dust. Won’t you be glad that job’s finally done?
Final tip: Snacks make a great distraction so make sure you have plenty in the kitchen when the guests arrive so they’ll be too busy to notice you haven’t had a proper spruce up around the home. Then, use the good weather to quickly usher them into the garden.