Household Shortcuts And Handy Hints
Hate cleaning? Me, not so much.
I quite like it really. I realize that lands me smack dab in the vast minority of people by making a statement like that, but it’s true. I find it relaxing and it’s very satisfying having a clean and tidy area once all is said and done.
What I don’t enjoy is a cleaning escapade that takes all day leaving no time to even sit and look longingly at my efforts. Over the past few years I’ve sought out tricks and short-cuts that make cleaning easier, more efficient and best of all quick. Here is what I’ve found so far.
Household shortcuts and handy hints
1. For lonely socks. Hang a cork-board/bulletin board close to where you fold laundry. The next time a lone sock emerges from the dryer, pin it to the board instead of taking it back to the sock drawer without it’s mate. The other lonely sock will eventually turn up and all you have to do is see if it matches one already hanging on the board.
2. Paper shredder. If you shred a fair bit of paper around your place (credit card or bank statements, receipts and paid bills) a great idea is to place the shredder directly over the recycle bin. There is no digging out the shredder, finding a container to shred it into or moving the shredded paper into the recycling bin it’s all there and good to go. This really helps reduce the paper clutter from piling up especially if shredder close to where you process the mail.
3. All purpose cleaner. Use an all purpose cleaner for the bulk of your cleaning. If you were to use a “made for (blank)” product for everything you own it would take you a lot longer to clean and you’d have a huge amount of clutter under sinks and in storage closets. Of course you can’t use all purpose cleaner for dusting or cleaning mirrors so a few additional products like air fresheners, glass cleaner and dusting spray are understandable.
4. Garbage bags. Leave the roll of garbage bags at the bottom of your bin. When you remove the full bag a new one is right there for you to grab and reline the bin with immediately. No more walking to the bin with a handful of waste only to realize you didn’t replace the bag!
5. Cleaning caddy. This wonderful invention allows you to corral cleaning products all together in one location. You can simply pick up the caddy, move from room-to-room and have everything you need right at your finger tips. You can purchase an actual caddy or just re-purpose a plastic container or wicker basket you already have around the house.
6. Cleaning products under each sink. If you don’t like the idea of carting cleaning products from room to room consider storing general cleaning products under each sink. I love this one! Everything is there right when you need it. Try storing all purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, a cloth, paper towels and an old toothbrush under each sink. You never have to leave the bathroom to get the supplies you need to clean it with.
7. Nightly reset. At the end of each day give yourself 5 minutes to sweep through the house and return items to where they should be. This is one of the best habits to get into. It can make cleaning the next day all the more bearable when your stuff isn’t scattered all over the place.
8. Quick clean. I am a huge fan of the 20 minute quick clean. It’s a great way to quickly freshen up a few rooms without spending the whole day cleaning. It also works wonders when you get a phone call with someone saying “we’ll be there in 20 minutes”.
I’m sure there are a ton of other great ideas on making cleaning or running your home more efficient. I would love it if you would share your shortcuts so I can add them to the arsenal.
See also:
Purge Just 7 Things – A Weekend Challenge
7 Ways To Decorate Your Home With Stuff You Already Have.
Got Books? Tips To Decluttering and Organizing Your Personal Library
A Simple and Effective Meal Plan In 3 Easy Steps
Photo courtesy of: jaymiek
16 Responses to “Household Shortcuts And Handy Hints”
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I love to organize, but I hate to clean so this was a great post for me. I love the sock idea. I always take one back, put it in the drawer, eventually find the other and forget there was a mate and it becomes a big ol’ mess of lost socks. Great idea!
Positively Present’s last blog post..who’s afraid of the big, bad past?
These are all great tips! I don’t really have anything terribly useful to add. I just wanted to let you know that you’re not alone. I like cleaning, too
Jay Schryer’s last blog post..Mindful Meditation Monday, Week 3
I had #4 happen to me TODAY!!! Although, I would like to point out that I did not forget to replace the trashbag… someone ELSE did (again).
Great tips here! I like your sock idea… where do you suppose the other sock gets off to from time to time? Like you said, they usually come back.
Lisis | Quest For Balance’s last blog post..Adventure: Dare To Care!
I don’t mind cleaning too. You get to see what is going on in the house and I love to think while I clean.
This is not mine but a friend’s. When wiping the counter in the kitchen, wipe all the other surfaces as well, such as the oven, dishwahser and doors of cupboards and fronts of drawers.
I too have cleaning products in every bathroom and kitchen sink. Love it.
The sock tip is great, I normally throw the loney sock back into the washing basket. Doesn’t always work though when the sock has slipped under the bed or something. Yours is more fool proof!
Wilma Ham’s last blog post..How am I going? Anywhere near my 10,000 hours yet?
Sherri,
Very practical advice. I was amused by the ’sock board’ idea – worth a try. Placing spare bin bags at the bottom of the bin is so obvious once you point this out. Well done!
Daphne @ Joyful Days’s last blog post..Energize Your Home and Life with Feng Shui
I love the clean and uncluttered look of your site. I enjoyed your tips, especially the one on lonely socks! Thanks!!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..The School of Life
Hi guys I’m glad you liked the tips. The sock one seems to be a hit
I have no idea what happens for the longest time I just thought the dryer ate them but they do always seem to come back!
@ Wilma Ham – Welcome! Thanks for the tip. Doing a little bit each time makes the big cleans a little less of an effort. I love cleaning products under each sink too.
Thanks for your comment!
Sheri,
These are some great tips! The sock idea is a hit here, too. I use an old shoe box but I must admit, I tend to toss socks in there and not look for the match… then buy more socks.
ann elise’s last blog post..guilt-free banana bread (but your family will never suspect it’s good for them)
@ ann elise – I like the idea of a shoe box as well at least the socks don’t roam around the house or drawers; but yes the bulletin board makes them all a little more visible
@ Daphne – I’m glad you liked it the sock one does seem to be a hit! So many things are so obvious once they’re pointed out aren’t they? I love it!
@ Evelyn – Thanks for your kind words. We’re pretty happy with the new look of our site. I think Gwynn did a great job implementing all my changes. And yay another vote for the sock board!
It really is amazing how much difference a quick twenty minutes can make.
I often put off cleaning because I feel like I have more important things to do, but I never feel like I’ve wasted my time once I’m done. It cleans the mind too.
David Cain’s last blog post..This Will Never Happen Again
@ David Cain – 20 minutes is usually all it takes to freshen things up a bit. It always feels great once you’re done.
Oh my GOSH! I am IN LOVE with the socks on the cork board idea! Do you have any idea how many little girl socks are running around the drawers with no mates? Oh my word. I think you just changed my life.
I do not enjoy cleaning but I do employ many of these other tips and I find it makes my time spent cleaning go so much more quickly – always a good thing.
Megan at Simple Kids’s last blog post..June 5th: SK Showcase and Weekend Links
@ Megan – Welcome! LOL I’m so glad you liked it! Who knew a post on household handy hints would be life changing?
Thanks for popping in and leaving a comment!