Maintaining a clean and organized living space not only enhances the aesthetics of your home but also contributes to a healthier and more productive lifestyle. While the thought of a deep clean may seem overwhelming, focusing on specific cleaning tasks can yield significant results without requiring an exhaustive effort. In this blog post, we’ll explore 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results and can make a big impact on the overall cleanliness and functionality of your living space.
If you are new to the blog, welcome! I blog about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. You can find more free printables to help you get organized in the drop down menu under the Printables category. Today, I’ll cover 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results.
You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Cleaning Checklists here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize.
It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Also, check out this post on 7 Cleaning Tasks That Are a Waste of Your Time. Check out my post on how to clean your entire house in 1 hour. You can also check out this post on 8 Easy Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Cleaner. Now, let’s look at 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results.
6 Cleaning Tasks That Yield Big Results
- Decluttering: The Foundation of Cleanliness
Decluttering is first on my list of 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results. A cluttered room can feel dirty even if it isn’t. Before diving into specific cleaning tasks, start by decluttering your space. Decluttering is a powerful way to create a clean and organized environment. Begin with one room at a time, sorting through items and deciding what to keep, donate, or discard. Removing excess clutter not only makes the space look neater but also makes cleaning easier and more effective.
I do a year long thorough declutter series on this blog. In this series, we declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. If that is something you need to do, join me by leaving a comment below. You will receive a daily task and a weekly email. By the time you complete this series, you will have decluttered every room and space in your home.
- Dust and Polish Surfaces: Instant Refresh
Dusting and polishing surfaces can instantly refresh the look of your home. Dust tends to accumulate on various surfaces, including furniture, shelves, and electronic devices. Use a microfiber cloth or a duster to remove dust from surfaces, and follow up with a polish to add a gleaming finish. I usually just use a damp rag to dust unless I have sticky surfaces that need more attention. This simple task can enhance the overall appearance of your living space.
You may be able to skip the furniture polish. I usually dust with a cloth dampened with water. You can save the furniture polish for when the furniture needs more attention.
- Clean Windows: Let the Light In
I love having lots of windows in my home. Fresh light coming inside makes everything feel more alive. Clean windows allow more natural light to enter your home, creating a brighter and more inviting atmosphere. Use a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth to remove fingerprints, smudges, and dirt from both the inside and outside of your windows. This small task can make a significant difference in the overall cleanliness and ambiance of your home.
I have lots of windows in my home, which is one of the things that drew my husband and I to purchase our home. We also love hosting. That often means little ones touch and put their tiny hands on the windows. We have three kids of our own who are older now, so we relate. What I often do is simply spot clean those areas. One cleaning hack I recommend is that when you are cleaning and you do not see a noticeable difference immediately, the area you are cleaning may not be dirty enough in the first place, so that means you can either skip it for now or clean it less frequently.
- Refresh Bedding and Linens: A Clean Start
A well made bed is next on my list of 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results. As the bed goes, so goes the room. Even a cluttered bedroom can look nicer if the bed is made. Your bedroom is a sanctuary for relaxation, and clean bedding contributes to a more restful sleep environment. Wash and change your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers regularly. Weekly is fine, in my opinion, unless one of you has been sick. Additionally, don’t forget about curtains, throw pillows, and any other fabric-based items in your home. Fresh and clean linens not only improve the hygiene of your space but also add a sense of comfort. Crawling into a freshly made bed at night is so satisfying.
Another cleaning hack for linens is to keep an extra set of clean sheets in each room. This makes it so much faster and convenient to change out the sheets. It also means you don’t have to wait on the dirty set to complete the wash cycle. You can remake the bed immediately and get to those dirty sheets as time allows.
- Kitchen Appliances: Enhance Efficiency
Next on my list of 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results is to wipe down the exterior of your kitchen appliances. The kitchen is a high-traffic area prone to spills and splatters. Paying attention to kitchen appliances can significantly impact cleanliness and functionality. Clean the exterior of the microwave, oven, refrigerator, and other appliances regularly. When you have more time, clean the interior. Remember, we are covering areas that make a high impact once clean. Only you and your family will likely see the interior of those appliances. So a quick clean up of the exterior should suffice if you are hosting guests and are short on time. Wipe down surfaces, sanitize countertops, and declutter cabinets. A well-organized and clean kitchen enhances the efficiency of your cooking and meal preparation activities.
- Floor Care: Transforming Spaces
Finally, clean floors are on my list of 6 cleaning tasks that yield big results. The state of your floors can greatly influence the overall cleanliness of your home. Vacuum carpets, sweep and mop hard floors, and pay attention to corners and edges. Deep cleaning carpets and rugs periodically can remove embedded dirt and allergens, improving indoor air quality. Well-maintained floors not only look better but also contribute to a healthier living environment.
A clean floor makes the whole room appear more clean. I absolutely love my robotic vacuum for this task. It saves me time and energy and does a decent job of keeping the floors clean on a regular basis. I try to let mine run daily to capture the dirt and pet hair. If you have been entertaining the idea of getting a robotic vacuum, treat yourself. It is a time and energy saver, and many are now as affordable as a standard vacuum cleaner.
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