The Ultimate Guide To Speed Cleaning (Tips from Seattle’s cleaning experts!)

The Ultimate Guide To Speed Cleaning (Tips from Seattle’s cleaning experts!)

The team at Pure House Cleaning provides speedy cleaning services week in and week out. We know that many people want to maintain a clean and tidy home; however, it can be challenging to dedicate the time to doing a thorough cleaning of your home.

So, in this post, we want to share some of the methods that we use so you can do a thorough speed cleaning of your home.

Speed Cleaning: Getting Started

Before you get to work on your fast cleaning, you’ll want to prep. These steps will have you all set to speed clean your home like a pro:

  • Figure out what needs to be cleaned
  • Set a time estimate and prep your timer for your fast clean
  • Get motivated
  • Get out your equipment

Make Your List of What You Plan to Speed Clean

The first thing you need to do before picking up any cleaning products is to plan what you are going to clean. You need to plan the cleaning tasks that you have ahead of you and then prioritize the cleaning tasks so that you can clean fast and efficiently.

Set Your Speed Cleaning Time

Secondly, you will set a time estimate for the areas and spaces that you will clean. You will then need to keep yourself accountable for the time that you spend on that task. You can easily use a countdown timer or use a Pomodoro task timer to help you spend a certain amount of time on the cleaning task ahead of you.

Get Yourself Motivated to Speed Clean

One of the biggest reasons people don’t clean or clean slowly is that they aren’t motivated. The best way to motivate yourself is to play audio and focus on the tasks that you need to complete. Focus on listening to something that is upbeat and uplifting.

As long as you have a smartphone, you can load your music playlist and schedule podcasts that you can listen to while you are cleaning. You can use one of the many house cleaning music playlists that’re available on YouTube.

Remember, you want to make your fast cleaning experience fun!

Cleaning EquipmentPrep Your Cleaning Equipment

  • For an effective, fast clean, you need to have the right cleaning equipment. We recommend the following setup:
  • Sponges and scourers
  • Yellow dusters/microfiber cloths
  • Glass polishing cloths
  • Cleaning brushes
  • A mop and bucket
  • A dustpan and brush
  • Protective gloves
  • A plastic caddy to carry the essentials
  • Robotic vacuum cleaners
  • Portable cordless vacuum cleaners on both floors for quick high-traffic area clean-up

Set Out Your Cleaning Products

To thoroughly speed clean your place, you want to make sure you have the right cleaning products. You should also keep all of the cleaning equipment that you plan to use nearby, ideally in a basket or a portable trolley to help you clean fast. Please use the following list as a reference:

Furniture polish

Glass cleaner

Multipurpose cleaner

Disinfectant

Mildew cleaner

De-scaler

Degreaser

Floor cleaner

Bleach

Sanitizer

Toilet cleaner

Washing up liquid

Oven cleaner

Laundry detergent

Dishwasher chemicals

Tile and grout cleaner

Steps to Cleaning Your Home Fast:

Step 1 – Remove items that create odor.

Collect any items within your home that create an unpleasant odor. Remove any garbage and place it in external garbage disposals. Once the stinky stuff is removed, open windows to let fresh air in.

Citrus fragrancesStep 2 – Use citrus aromas to create a freshness in the air.

Use diffusers, odor dispensers, or scented candles that provide a citrus smell to change the scent in the room. High-quality ones like those from the Glasshouse range can last for a few months. You can also use cleaning products that have a citrus smell.

Step 3 – Start your laundry.

Start your laundry and let it run while you are doing your other fast cleaning tasks. Sort your washing and set them to run for the designated time (30-60 minutes per load).

In general, avoid keeping your laundry inside any laundry equipment. Instead, keep your laundry in a designated breathable basket and wash your laundry on a designated day. This will minimize smells in your washing machine.

We also recommend that your laundry washer (front or top loader) doors be opened at all times. Increased ventilation will prevent build-up of foul smells.

Step 4 – Clean your floor spaces.

If you have carpets, vacuum the carpeted areas within your home. Please keep in mind that you should get your carpets professionally cleaned at least 1-2 times a year.

If your home has hard surface flooring, you can do a fast clean by vacuuming the floor. To get that extra bit of cleanliness, you will need to clean the floors as well. This will be quicker if you have a machine that can clean and polish your hard-surface flooring. Otherwise, you can use a mop and bucket to clean your floor.

Clean kitchenStep 5 – Clean and wipe down your kitchen and bathrooms.

Pay extra attention to the shiny surfaces, like faucets, mirrors, glass, and light fixtures. Clean shiny surfaces to enhance the overall cleanliness and aesthetic appeal.

Step 6 – Clean your high-traffic areas and walkways.

Mop or vacuum these areas during your speed cleaning to minimize the amount of dust build-up. Move clutter away so your space looks minimalistic. Wipe down any furniture, walls, and ornaments as well.

Step 7 – Wipe down mirrors and glass objects in your home.

As part of visual perception of cleanliness, it is essential that mirrors are sparkling clean. For mirrors to be free of streaks or foggy film, take the following steps:

Wipe down your mirror with a damp cloth or paper towels.

Dry it off with a dry microfiber cloth or paper towels. (Be careful, paper towels are not recommended because some of them leave visible paper dust.)

Clean wallsStep 8 – Clean the walls.

Fast spot cleaning can be achieved using a soft sponge and mild dishwashing soap. Some markings can be removed using a simple pencil eraser.

Step 9 – Wipe your ceiling/fans/lights.

High areas should be addressed every 6 months or as part of your annual spring cleaning. A quick dusting of these fixtures is great to keep things under control during a speed clean to make your next deep cleaning go smoother.

Step 10 – Clean your windows.

Doing a quick spot cleaning using a simple, pure alcohol and water solution should do wonders to create a lasting appeal. Also, focus on sliding door galls, above kitchen sink windows, and doors with glass inlays.

“It can be easy to underestimate the amount of time it takes to keep your home clean. Many find that once they get started, the list seems to never end.

From toilets to kitchens, pet hair to baseboards, there are a few key tricks to help make sure you don’t miss a spot.

First, make sure you are using different cleaning rags and towels in different rooms (you don’t want to be using the same rag in the bathroom that you do in the bedroom).

Second, use a list! Professionals will work off of a checklist.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether it is a family member, friend, or professional, don’t go at it alone! Your time is precious, and as much as we all love a clean home, your time can be better spent elsewhere.”

Michelle Spitzer – MaidPro

To make it easier for you to keep your home clean, commit to maintaining a tidy environment. Speed cleaning can work wonders, but if you don’t have the time, reach out to Pure House Cleaning in the greater Seattle area to take care of your speed cleaning services along with your weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or deep cleaning needs.