In an era where convenience is often the preferred go-to choice, cleaning our homes can still take up more time than we would like. What many don’t know is that reclaiming time in your home doesn’t require extravagant tools or all-day deep cleans.
“Many of us have less time to spend on household chores to keep our homes clean and maintained. Often things are left undone due to time constraints, and as these missed cleaning opportunities pile up, so does the laundry,” explains Bronwyn Ragavan, brand manager for Personal Touch. “But, if we work smart and not hard, keeping our homes in the condition we want is not impossible.”
Household routines to ensure that cleaning doesn’t take up unnecessary time:
- Embrace the small moments. Use short waiting periods, such as when your coffee brews or the microwave finishes, to tackle quick tasks like putting away dishes, wiping down counters, and returning clutter to its designated place. These tiny bursts throughout the day can reduce build-up.
- Adopt the one‑minute or ten‑minute rule. If a task takes under 60 seconds, do it immediately. It prevents accumulation and supports a tidier space. Or dedicate just 10 minutes a day to one room, focusing on high‑traffic zones like kitchens or living rooms.
- Work in timed bursts. Timed cleaning, such as the “5×5 method” (five minutes in five areas) or setting 15–30-minute timers to provide structure, minimises fatigue, and maximises output per minute.
- Choose easy-to-use products. Don’t look for products that require mixing or measuring – this will slow your momentum. Personal Touch Washing Powder Sheets are ready to use and don’t require any pouring or measuring. One sheet equals one wash, that’s all. No mathematical equations needed. Plus, its 90g box can fit in any small space and is easy to carry.
- Declutter strategically. Less stuff almost always means less cleaning. Donate or stow rarely used items. Decluttered shelves and surfaces make dusting fast, and cleared spaces allow for easy wiping without needing to move endless objects
- Top-to-bottom cleaning strategy. Always clean high surfaces first and then work your way down. When working up high, dust will fall to lower levels. This can then be tackled once you have worked your way down, preventing extra work. When finishing off a room, vacuum or mop the floors.
- Use multi‑purpose cleaners and tools. Keep a cleaning caddy stocked with essentials for grab‑and‑go convenience in any room, and when using cleaners that work across many surfaces, such as Chemico Liqui Cleen, you are lightening your carrying load and preventing constant walking to-and-fro from the cleaning cupboard. Also, always use reusable cloths that trap dirt well.
- Let your cleaning products work for you. Allow cleaning agents to sit for a few minutes, especially on tough-to-clean surfaces, before wiping. This will soften dirty deposits, making removal easier and reducing physical effort.
- Delegate and distribute tasks. If you are not the only person living in your home, then everyone needs to pitch in. Share tasks with family, roommates, or household partners by allocating specific rooms or chores to each person and splitting chores into small daily bits to avoid burnout.
- Prepare smart tools in every room. Keep cleaning kits in each room (bathroom, kitchen), so supplies are always within reach. Milton’s Sterilising Surface Spray is perfect for most surfaces – a quick spray, one wipe, and your surfaces are safe from 99% of germs.
While no quick hack can replace deep cleaning, creating habits to lighten your ongoing load by preventing dirt build-up can help lessen the time it takes to clean and the energy spent. The payoff: a cleaner home, lower stress, and more free time.
