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How Do I... Clean My House Like a Pro?

An expert reveals the tricks of the trade for cleaning your home faster and more efficiently

Georgia Madden 6 July 2019

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In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning questions. Here, Elke Keeley, co-founder of cleaning company UrbanYou, shares strategies for giving your home a top-to-toe clean in record time.

Tansel Stainless Steel Pull Out Storage

There’s nothing quite like having your home professionally cleaned – an experienced cleaner can whizz through your home in record time and leave it sparkling and hygienic. While most of us can’t compete with their speed and efficiency, we can certainly up our cleaning game by employing a few tricks of the trade – here’s how.

Find a professional cleaner near you on Houzz

Redbud Construction Services

How can I clean smarter?

Splash out on a cleaning caddy: You’ll find that having all your cleaning supplies together in one place and being able to carry them from room to room saves you oodles of time. And they’re not expensive – some very serviceable cleaning caddies are just a couple of dollars.
Forget scrubbing: When was the last time you saw a professional cleaner scrubbing at a surface? The trick is to use the right product for the stain, then give it time to sink in and do the hard work for you. Simply spray or apply the cleaning solution at the start of your house clean, then wipe away when you’re done.

Atlas Architects

Clean windows naturally: You don’t need newspaper or toxic cleaners to make your windows sparkle. Try this non-toxic cleaning solution instead: mix eight-parts water to one-part white vinegar, and pour into a spray bottle. Use a paper coffee filter to wipe down windows – the paper is finer and softer than newspaper and will leave your glass streak-free.
Also be sure to wash windows on cloudy days rather than sunny ones – hot glass will cause cleaning solutions to dry too quickly, which leaves streaks.

The Container Store Custom Closets

What’s in a professional cleaner’s caddy?

Multi-purpose spray.
Kitchen cloths.
Paper towels.
Glass cleaner.
Toilet cleaner.
Disinfectant.
Stainless steel cleaner and polish.
Mop and bucket.
Vacuum cleaner.

How Do I… Clean My Vacuum Cleaner?

Leicht Küchen AG

What else can help you power through your cleaning?

A powerful vacuum cleaner: This is a great investment as it will allow you to clean your floors faster and more effectively. Cordless models are particularly useful for spot-cleaning or using in homes with multiple levels.
Microfibre cloths: These versatile cloths can be used to do everything from dusting and wiping surfaces to cleaning tubs and sinks. They also work both wet and dry, allowing you to clean surfaces without the need for any nasty chemical sprays or liquids (great for homes with children).
Essential oils: I use these regularly in my cleaning as they leave the house smelling fresh and inviting. Mix around 10 drops of wild-orange essential oil with one cup of castile soap and use it to clean greasy surfaces and the cooktop. Or, use a few drops of thyme essential oil to clean chopping boards and kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

Lemon essential oil can be used to steam clean your microwave and remove those stubborn baked-on stains: place around 10 drops in a bowl and ‘cook’ on high for 10 minutes, then wipe down interior surfaces with a paper towel. Or add a few drops of lemon oil to a cloth and use it to remove cobwebs from room corners. The lemon-oil scent will deter the creepy crawlies from coming back.

How Do I… ‘Clean Over’ My House in 30 Minutes?

Squeaky Clean - Tile and Grout Cleaning Perth

What’s the best approach?

Start in one of the hardest-working rooms of the home, such as the kitchen or bathroom, as these will likely be the dirtiest. Spray surfaces with cleaning solution and, in the bathroom, squirt toilet cleaner into the bowl. Leave them to do their work.
Move on to the living room and bedrooms. Vacuum or mop floors and wipe surfaces, cleaning from left to right and from top to bottom so that you make sure you don’t miss any spots.
Clear up as you go, making sure everything has a proper home.

Bask Interiors

As you work through the home, be sure to give high-traffic areas that gather the most dirt and dust, such as entrances, open-plan kitchens and family rooms, the most attention.
To clean fiddly areas such as around taps, try using a toothbrush.
Make the beds: if you don’t have time to strip the beds completely, tidy the doonas and fluff up the pillows. Adding a throw across the foot of the bed will give the space a fresh ‘hotel’ feel.

Melissa Lunardon

Use window cleaner or a water-and-vinegar solution to clean your shower screen.

Tip: Keeping a squeegee in the shower to dry the glass after showering is a great way to minimise water spots and reduce cleaning time.

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Your turn
What’s your top cleaning tip? Share it in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.

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HU-185510983

Does anyone ever clean the top of the fridge, move the fridge, washing machine, beds, bookcases and other pieces of furniture away from the walls and clean the dirt/dust that one can not see? Important as well, to vacuum under the beds and inside wardrobes.

1 Like 6 November 2019 at 11:10am