Do you find that after working a full day, exercising, and blogging, you’ve just got no time to keep on top of the housework? That one day off you’re too tired or too busy to really get stuck into cleaning, and that your home never quite looks its best? It’s a common problem in a society where we are always rushing around on the go.
The first thing to accept is that it’s ok. So what if your home isn’t perfect? As long as you and your family are happy and healthy, does it really matter if the bookshelves are a bit of a mess or the tops of photo frames haven’t been dusted for months? Sometimes it’s ok to let your standards slide a little for the sake of your happiness.
But, on the other hand, sometimes this can have a negative impact on our happiness. If you are fed up with living in a messy home, or you are worried that it’s becoming a health concern, then it’s time to look at ways to make it easier to clean. You can’t give yourself more time, so let’s find ways to make it easier to keep our homes clean so that it takes less time.
Add blinds
When we’ve got thick curtains, we generally ignore them. They pick up dust and dirt and make our homes look darker and feel musty, but we don’t even notice. Blinds made from wood are much easier to clean and help your home to look a lot lighter and more spacious. We also have roller blinds in our lounge which lets in so much light when they are up and helps with a spacious, clean feel to the room.
Declutter your home
One of the main issues many of us have is clutter. We clean around the clutter, but our homes always look messy because all of our shelves are overflowing and plenty of our possessions don’t have homes. Have a good declutter, getting rid of anything that you don’t need or want and suddenly your home will be much easier to keep clean and tidy. It’s important to do this with your cupboards and wardrobes, too.
Pick furniture carefully
If you want your home to be easy to clean, watch what you are buying. Some upholstery has to be dry cleaned or taken apart to clean. It’s fussy and complicated, so we just don’t bother. Buy furniture that’s easy to clean at home, stain-resistant and with easy to remove covers. I should have listened when everybody said not to buy white carpets… We protect our furniture with quirky covers and throws that can be washed without too much fuss.
Keep microfibre cloths to hand
When you are short on time, give your work surfaces and sides a quick wipe to refresh them. This will kill any germs and pick up dirt and dust, and it only takes 2 minutes. We have a stack of microfibre cloths on a daily basis to clean the house with. Once we’re done with it, we can just bung it in the washing machine.
Invest in cleaning equipment
Sometimes, it’s worth paying a little more for things like vacuum cleaners to make your life easier. You know you’re getting old when you get excited about a washing machine. Investing in a tumble dryer was one of the best decisions we made when fitting out our kitchen. You don’t need to worry about hanging washing out to dry (which doesn’t feel like we get a lot of opportunities to do so in Cornwall!). We’ve also got a steam cleaner and I’ve been eyeing up a wireless vacuum to make going upstairs much easier than our clunky pet hair Dyson.
Hire a cleaner
For many of us, a cleaner seems like the ultimate luxury and an unnecessary expense. But getting someone to come in for a couple of hours a week could save you time and make you happier. Sometimes your time is better spent working or having some ‘me-time’. So don’t force yourself to do something that’s going to leave you feeling drained, when you can easily outsource it.