When it comes to finding the time for a proper house cleaning, life can sometimes get in the way, particularly for busy parents.  Between grocery shopping, sports, music lessons, work, homework, and trying to find a few moments for yourself, cleaning the house can quickly find its way to the bottom of the to-do list. Fortunately, there are plenty of little hacks that you can incorporate to keep your house looking and feeling cleaner longer, without all the hassle.

1. Dishwasher

When it comes to house cleaning, the dishwasher may just be your new best friend.  Think outside of the box and learn to use it in unexpected ways!  Your dishwasher is a great place to wash Legos, figurines, mouth guards, baseball hats, hairbrushes, keys, dog toys, and myriad other zany things you wouldn’t necessarily think of!  Simply add a cup or two of white vinegar before starting the cycle and you will be well on your way to absolute clean.

2. Repurpose Play-Doh

Every parent has at one point or another had to go through the grueling process of trying to clean up glitter.  It’s daunting, to say the least, but don’t let it deter you from creating those phenomenal art projects with your kids.  Play-Doh can help you to remedy even this house cleaning catastrophe! No, really…try it! Simply grab a wad of Play-Doh and roll it around in the fallen glitter!  It will be up before you know it.

3. Catch-All Bins

One of the most aggravating parts of house cleaning for parents is picking up the inevitable clutter left over from playtime.  To alleviate this parental woe, simply invest a few dollars in a sturdy container that can be used as a catch-all bin in busy rooms.  When it’s time to clean up, everything can go into the bin and time can be scheduled each evening to put the contents back in their allotted spaces, which brings us to the next point!

4. Make Clean-Up a Game

If you’ve ever had to struggle with your child to clean up…well, pretty much anything…you understand how discouraging it can be.  Make house cleaning fun by making it into a game. Offer little prizes, in the form of candy, small toys, or other age-appropriate accolades, for who can clean up the most, or fastest.  Turn on music or sing a song together as you work. Offer praise afterward for a job well done.

5. Make Kitchen Clean-Up a Cinch

A clean kitchen is a must to prevent germs and food contamination. However, the stuck-on grease in the oven, the pile of crumbs in the toaster, and the spaghetti explosion in the microwave can at times, make the thought feel impossible.  Luckily, we have some ideas for that too! For tough oven grease, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and then turn it off. Place a bowl of ammonia on the upper rack and a bowl of boiling water on the lower. Leave these items in the oven overnight and when you wake up in the morning, even the toughest spots will wipe away with ease!  Line your toaster tray and the bottom of your toaster oven with foil to easily clean up crumbs! As far as the microwave goes, place a damp sponge in it on high for 2 minutes. This will essentially steam-clean the entire inside, and then you can use the sponge to wipe out any messes. Just like that, a sparkling kitchen!

Look out MacGyver!

6. Bathroom Blues Be Gone

The bathroom is another storehouse for germs, making it an important point of focus on your house cleaning adventures.  Soap scum can make the task of bathroom cleaning quite lengthy, but lemon Pledge can help that! After cleaning your shower, spray the whole thing down and then wipe it dry with a rag.  The oils in the cleaner will prevent soap scum from returning for weeks! Water stains in your toilet bowl? We can fix that too! Find a glass jar and fill it with white vinegar. Poke a hole in the lid and place the whole thing in your toilet tank.  This will keep the water and your toilet bowl clean for up to a month!

Searching for a Quality House Cleaning Service in the Palm Beach County Area?

Obviously, the easiest trick to keep your house-cleaning hardships to a minimum is to hire a professional cleaning service.  At Luxury Maids, we work with each of our clients to create a maintenance plan tailored to your family’s individual needs.  Our commitment to quality and attention to detail will have you breathing easier and finding more time to enjoy what matters most.  Call us today to schedule a free consultation.