Spring Clean the Smart Way: How to Be Fast and Efficient

It's that time of year when no matter how busy we are, we get the
urge to exile every last stale winter dust specimen from our homes. Perhaps it's the extra light we're getting throughout the day that shows up the excess particles floating around. Or could it be with the arrival of spring comes the instinctual urge to renew and refresh? Whatever it is, a thorough clean is something that takes a lot of time, which most of us don't have. I spoke with Molly Maid franchise owner and cleaning expert Amelia Mackie to get some tips on how to be efficient and pick priorities during a spring clean.

1. Set goals and get organized
Being prepared and setting attainable goals are important to keeping your sanity. Make sure you have all the necessary cleaning tools before you start and make sure you have time to finish each task. Organize your work into smaller jobs, like cleaning level by level or room by room.This way, focusing on smaller areas can be less intimidating. Draw yourself a cleaning task map, so to speak, and your journey will be a smooth one.
Helpful tip before you start: Decluttering is probably one of the most important tasks to perform prior to spring cleaning -- it's the only way to clean efficiently and effectively.






2. Short on time? Focus on floors and countertops
In a time restriction, a few tasks that can be accomplished are cleaning the counter tops and floors. These are areas where crumbs and dirt tend to collect and then can be spread throughout the rest of your home on the bottom of your socks. These are quick cleaning tasks that can go a long way.
Helpful tip: While the kids are doing their homework, set them up at the kitchen table and you can cook dinner and do a quick wipe down of the counters and floors while still being there to help with math.

3. Prioritize the kitchen and bathrooms
These rooms should take priority in a clean since they are the rooms where the most grease and grime accumulate. Here, you can do a little multitasking to accomplish more in a small amount of time, especially in a kitchen where families tend to congregate. You can supervise while you scrub.
Helpful tip: Your children's bath time is a great opportunity to wipe bathroom counters and floors all the while keeping an eye on the cleaning behind their ears.

4. Know these floor cleaning tricks
Sweep or vacuum the floor surface to collect all of the dirt. Use a bucket of hot water and your favourite floor cleaner (a store bought brand or a home remedy like vinegar will do). Start at the furthest end of the room, working toward the door.
Helpful tip: It's useful to keep a microfiber cloth tucked into your pocket to collect any crumbs that may have been missed by the broom or vacuum. It's also a good dusting tool -- wet or dry its tiny fibres get into crevices that traditional cloths can't reach and trap dust from moving around and resettling on the area you just cleaned.

5. Know these dusting tricks
Dusting should be done from top to bottom, bringing the dust to the lowest level to be collected. A high duster is a great tool to collect cobwebs and dust that settle in ceiling corners and around light fixtures. For a quick, light dusting of drapes, curtains, blinds or furniture upholstery you can use the hose and upholstery attachment on your vacuum.
Helpful tip: To freshen the air filtering through your vacuum, put a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag to provide a nice clean scent.

6. Have effective cleaning products on hand
A good item to have around the house is a flat head mop -- the kind with a long handle and a Velcro microfibre pad. This not only cleans all types of floors but also can be used to wash walls, ceilings and windows. Also, be sure to have microfibre cloths in several colours and designate a different colour per room to help eliminate cross contamination (these can be used wet or dry).
A general all purpose cleaner is a versatile and helpful cleaning product, and most retailers now sell environmentally friendlier products. You can also make your own cleaning products using items you have in your home.
Helpful tip: A paste of baking soda and water is an excellent tile and grout cleaner.

7. Make it fun
Turn on some good music to motivate yourself. And get other family members involved. Cleaning together teaches your children the importance of responsibility and helping out around the home. As a treat, end your cleaning day with a pizza and movie dinner and enjoy your clean home.
Helpful tip: Here's a new use for those random single socks you find in the dryer -- put the sock on your child's hand and get them to help dusting baseboards and wiping wall spots.