3 easy ways to clean your home

Key steps

1. Clean larger areas such as beds and sofas first

2. Put clutter in its place

3. Make sure your bathroom doesn’t let you down                                                  

Whether it’s a surprise visit or you need drastic action to avoid drowning in clutter, there are often times when we dream of waving a magic wand and instantly having a sparkling home. Unfortunately, it does take a little more time and energy than that to get our homes truly clean, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fake it once in a while. Here are three quick and easy cleaning tips that will make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home:

When time is limited, it’s best to concentrate on the areas that people notice first. The bathroom is definitely one of these areas, so use something like Cif Power & Shine Bathroom Spray, a bathroom cleaner that was made for situations where you need maximum impact in minimum time. For the best results, remember to follow the instructions on your product carefully.

1. Focus on large surfaces

Is anyone really going to notice if your TV has a few child-sized handprints on it? Or if your skirting boards are dust-free? Probably not. These smaller areas don’t tend to draw the eye, and while cleaning them is recommended, the effects of doing so are limited. If you’re looking for advice on house cleaning made easy, then a top tip is to focus instead on the larger areas that make a significant difference to the look and feel of your home – areas such as the carpets, sofas, and beds. Make the beds (changing the bedding to get that fresh laundry smell if you have time), vacuum your carpets and rugs, and use the vacuum’s soft brush attachment to remove any dirt particles from down the sides of your sofa cushions. It takes very little time to get these three major areas clean, and once done, you’ll already begin to feel like your house is starting to look better.

2. Declutter

As far as easy cleaning tips go, decluttering is definitely one of the most simple to follow. It’s just a case of picking up any kids’ toys, clothing, unopened bills, and anything else from your floors or work surfaces, and putting them where they belong. This is something your kids can help with, too, making a game of it and helping to get the job done even quicker. If you come across items that don’t have their own dedicated place in the home, it’s best to gather these items together into one small area, rather than having them strewn across multiple rooms.

3. Clean your bathroom

If you’re expecting guests at any moment, you can’t afford to not clean your bathroom. Whether it’s using the loo or washing their hands, guests will usually need to use the bathroom at some point, and no host wants the embarrassment of having a stinky toilet or mouldy walls. Of course, you probably won’t have time to clean your bathroom thoroughly, so just focus on the main areas – the toilet, the basin, and the walls.

This is where products like Cif Power & Shine Bathroom Spray are incredibly useful (always make sure to read the label on your cleaning product). If you don’t have time to get to the shops though, search the cupboards for some white vinegar. For the walls, apply undiluted vinegar and gently scrub to remove any small spots of mildew. For the sink, once again apply undiluted vinegar, wipe the sink, and rinse – this will effortlessly remove any toothpaste residue. And as for the toilet, apply vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice to the bowl and leave as long as possible before flushing. The vinegar and baking soda clean away limescale, while the lemon juice helps to neutralise bad odours.

Hassle-free cleaning

Although it’s not possible to keep your home completely clean and hygienic using just this easy cleaning advice, it will certainly make your home look more welcoming in a short space of time. So when your friends next call and say they’re right around the corner and would love to drop by, don’t panic. Instead, get your carpets vacuumed, straighten the beds out, and throw a bit of vinegar around your bathroom. If you're in a hurry to clean the house, you can always make use of these tips as well.