Jennifer Tuma-Young was featured in Woman’s World Magazine for “Ask America’s Ultimate Experts” column. The topic was “I Hate Housework…” Jennifer gave tips on how to make housework more fun and cut down the cleaning time..
Check out more of her tips below.
15 Tips to Make Housework Simple and Fun by Jennifer Tuma-Young
I’m lucky to have a hubby who likes to clean- we share in the joy of scrubbing (well I’m not a huge fan of the scrubbing, but know it’s necessary, I actually get more joy from organizing, so we’re a pretty good team!)… But even so, doing housework can be a full-time job, and really throw you off-balance!! Try these tips to cut cleaning time down, and make it simple. practicall. totally fun!
Laundry Time
Tip #1 Load-Shower-Eat-Dry
Normally we set aside a couple of hours to “do the laundry”. This makes date nights with the hubby or activities with the kids near impossible! Instead, attach “throwing the clothes in” to other duties, like your morning routine. You can load the laundry, take your shower, get yourself together, eat breakfast- and by that time it should be ready for drying. Throw it in the dryer on your way out the door. By the time your back from the bus stop, the clothes are done! This is a great way to avoid spending an entire evening doing clothes!
Tip #2 Separate Bins Make Easy Loading
You can go to the dollar store and buy hampers on the cheap. Instead of throwing all the clothes into one hamper, and having to separate your lights from darks, delicates from rough and tumbles, a little dirty to completely stained (you get my drift!) label hampers for easy tossing! By keeping it organized from the start, you save a ton of time figuring out what to wash with what! (see my post on a must-have laundry sorter!)
On Dusting
Tip #1 In Sight, In Mind
Most of us wait for the dust to be visible before we whip out a dusting cloth! Then we spend hours trying to get the dust out of the corners. Instead, tap a nail into your cupboard and hang your duster or dustcloth in plain sight so you can dust daily. When there’s less to dust, it naturally takes less time!
Tip #2 Filter, Filter, Filter
When there’s dust in the air, there’s dust on our stuff. Make it a point to clean the vents regularly, change your air filters every couple of months, and dusting will be a breeze!
BONUS BUDGET DUSTING TIP
Just because your best friend Sally swears by a Swiffer, doesn’t mean it’s the right supply for you! Make sure you choose things that both fit your cleaning style and your budget. Try dryer sheets as an inexpensive option to dusting cloths.
Vacuuming
Tip #1: Ready, Set, Vaccuum
Ok, if your kids toys are spread around the room, it’s going to take you more time to maneuver, and if Buster’s bone gets stuck in the hose, it will take an hour to get it out! Instead of bumping into unforeseen obstacles, get ready to vaccuum by doing a quick survey of the space, picking up items that may cause of clog, and spraying stains ahead of time to let the cleaner soak in. Vaccuuming can be done quickly when the space is cleared.
Tip #2: Music Makes the Vacuuming Fun, Fit, and Faster
Turn on the upbeat tunes and make vacuuming a fitness activitiy by moving your body to the beat of the music! The music will give you the energy to get around the rooms, and your body will thank you, too!
BONUS DOUBLE DUTY TIP: Vacuum the vents while vacuuming so dust doesn’t build up!!
Washing Dishes
Tip#1: Sink Soaking Station
We all have the dishes that are caked with food. Rather than taking 15 minutes to scrub, create a “soaking station” and give the dirty dish a bath while you take a shower or go to the store. By the time you’re back, the dish will be ready for rinsing!
Tip #2: No Pile Up
Keep the sink empty as you go. By letting dishes sit in the sink, they become harder to rinse, and create more work trying to clean off caked on food (ugh! see Tip#1). As soon as you use the dish, clean it. If you have a dish washer, rinse off the food and place immediately inside. Make this a house rule, so you’re not the one rinsing everyone’s plates, cups, and silver ware!
On Cleaning Floors
Tip #1: Quick Sweep
Always keep a broom with soft bristles handy. If you do “quick sweeps” throughout the week, you won’t have to worry about major debris and dirt piling up! This takes a few seconds, to save you lots of time in the long run!!
Tip #2: Cover More Floor in Less Time
Picture the clean up crew for a basketball court- the floor mop they use is wide, right? When time is off the essence, using bigger mops and brooms makes a world of difference! You can cut cleaning time in 1/2 just based on the size of your supplies.
Cleaning the Kitchen
Tip #1: Eliminate Counter Clutter
Keeping the counters free from the clutter, will help with dust, dirt, spills, and cut way back on your cleaning time! For example, instead of a key bin, put a rack in the wall for keys. Instead of cell phones and chargers laying around or in a junk drawer, create an “electronics” charging station in a bed room or office. Keep towels on the counter to clean up as you go!
Tip #2: Create “Supply Baskets” for Each Room
Instead of having all of your cleaning supplies jumbled together in one closet or cabinet, separate them out in bins or baskets from the dollar store! Having a specific “kitchen” bin will save you time and energy so you can do a quick clean. Not to mention, you won’t forget anything (ie windexing the kitchen window) if it’s in your supply bin!
Cleaning the Bathroom
Tip #1: Wipes Work Wonders
If you have disinfectant wipes handy, you can quickly wipe up excess toothpaste, shower gels, or anything that can cake into your bathroom counters if left. The wipes have moistness built in, and by having them visible, you won’t forget to wipe as you go!
Tip #2: Tackling Tile
Shower tile can be a bear to clean if you don’t do it regularly!! Give your tile a good “start off” cleaning. Once its sparkling, make it po int to never let it build up again! Who wants to spend all day Saturday cleaning grout anyway? Just put a “squeegee” in the shower, along with a no-scrub shower spray. After everyone is done showering, make sure they squeegee and spray!
