Savvy Winter Speed Cleaning, Perfect For Lazy Winter Weekends
When the cold winter weather rolls in, I just want to stay snuggled up under the blankets. And cleaning is the last thing on my mind.
But it seems like clutter and dust really added up in the winter months…
While I wish I could just wait to clean until spring. That isn’t an option… yuck!
So, I’ve come up with a few speed cleaning tactics to at least get back Netflix on the couch quicker.
Check out my unexpected speed cleaning tips below and don’t miss the printable winter cleaning checklist.
I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I’ve accomplished more when I can check it off a list, especially while watching Netflix.
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8 Unexpected Tactics To Speed Clean Your Home:
#1 The END Game
Think of it like going to the grocery store. You typically start in the same end of the store each time and little by little, memorize where most items are based on your starting point.
Thus, making your shopping trip quicker and more efficient.
But, if you start at the opposite end of the store or in the middle you will have a hard time finding the items on your list. Resulting in more time spent at the store.
A similar experience can occur when you are cleaning your home.
So, here’s a tip – choose to start on the same end or level of your home every time you clean then work your way through.
The bedrooms are often a great place to start since they usually require less cleanup than other areas of the home and help you quickly gain momentum.
#2 All for One and One for All
One of the quickest ways to speed clean your home is by using fewer cleaners.
If you can clean multiple surfaces with just one cleaner you’ll save a ton of time!
The next time you’re in a pinch to clean your home or just feeling lazy, grab a few cleaning cloths and a bottle of this DIY All-Purpose Natural Surface Cleaner.
#3 INSIDE the Dishwasher
The dishwasher really helps us cut our cleaning time in half, but what about cleaning it?
Soap scum can build up over time, especially if you have hard water like I do. So give it a good cleaning after you empty the next load with these easy steps:
- Fill two small bowls with distilled white vinegar and an optional 6 drops of lemon essential oil.
- Place each on the top shelf your dishwasher.
- Set the dishwasher to run a short cycle free of any dirty dishes.
The vinegar and lemon essential oil will cut through soap scum leaving your dishwasher fresh and clean!
#4 When Heavy Duty is Required
Stop wasting time on endless scrubbing and opt for a heavy-duty cleaner when needed.
This natural cleaning solution can be applied to countertops, ovens, microwaves, sinks, and more.
I use this Heavy Duty DIY Natural Kitchen Cleaner with the degreaser steps in the recipe to clean my stovetop. It works wonders to clean all the icky sticky grease.
Check out the tips in the recipe to put its heavy duty power to the test!
#5 ZAP it Clean
The microwave can get pretty gross and you could spend a chunk of time trying to clean it. Or you zap it clean with just a few steps to dissolve food splatters without scrubbing.
- Pour a ½ cup of water into a medium microwave-safe bowl. Slice one lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl and toss in the halves.
- Place the bowl inside the microwave and set the timer for three minutes to allow the water to boil.
- Let stand for five minutes then carefully remove the bowl. Wipe down the inside of the microwave with a cloth and wah-lah!
#6 Sayōnara Soap Scum
Tired of spending half an hour to clean the shower tile and grout?
I’ll let you in on a little-known way to conquer annoying soap scum and save time and money.
Add this Natural Daily Shower Spray to your daily cleaning routine. Just a few quick sprays every day after showering helps keep mold, mildew, and soap scum away.
Find more clever tactics to clean your bathroom sans chemicals in my book No Nonsense Natural Bathroom Cleaning Methods, That Work.
#7 A tisket a tasket, a green and yellow…
Clutter is most often items that haven’t been put away.
Carry a large basket from room to room while you clean. Add items that belong to other rooms into the basket.
If you have children, ask them to return the items to their place or toss them out. Instead of spending the time to constantly put things away when you are trying to clean!
#8 Odors BE GONE
Save the floors for last to save time and make your home smell amazing!
After you finish cleaning each room sprinkle Refresh Carpet Powder on carpeted areas of your home. Let it work its magic to reduce odors.
Then vacuum it all up as the finishing touch on your cleaning. Once you try it, you’ll want to use it every time you vacuum!
Save or print this handy winter cleaning checklist from the Simple Living Library. Grab it and more printables, checklists, and reference guides!
Do you have a favorite speed cleaning hack? Leave a comment below and share it with us!
Ready to swap chemical cleaners for a natural money-saving alternative? Then grab a copy of No Nonsense Natural Bathroom Cleaning Methods, That Work!
I’m feeling a bit lazy these days and your speed cleaning tips will help me get back to Netflix quickly. Thank you!
You are so funny, but I totally agree! I just started watching The Crown on Netflix this week and I can’t wait to watch more!
Your first paragraph made so much sense. You are so right about the grocery store route, and applying that same logic to cleaning house is brilliant! I have personally never tried natural cleaning products, but I am going to do some more reading and research on your blog to learn more. Thank you for inspiring some new ideas about home cleaning. (#62)
Thanks Kristine, I have found that natural cleaning products are so much quicker to use on top of being better for my family.
Funny you should mention starting to clean in same area each time will end up saving time as I have always started each room by cleaning perimeter and working inward to center–this way works for me as I don’t seem to miss anything ! (I always do floor last.)
So happy I have found your site.
Thank you for such helpful hints and recipes
Yvonne
That’s a brilliant idea Yvonne to clean from the perimeter inward!