No one enjoys spending hours dusting and scrubbing. If just the thought of cleaning puts you into a cycle of putting it off, you’re not alone!
Fortunately, with a few smart lifestyle choices and some strategic tips, you can dramatically reduce your chore time.
Here’s how to avoid common home pitfalls and embrace a cleaner home with less effort.
Skip the High-Maintenance Flooring
The choice of flooring can make a huge difference depending on how much you want to spend on cleaning.
1 – Hardwood and carpeting are the most high-maintenance options: hardwood shows all dust, and dirt, and requires special cleaners; carpet traps dirt, dust, allergens and stains, and needs to be vacuumed regularly and shampooed a few times a year.
2 – Shag Rugs: While snuggly, with their luxurious pile, they’re a pain to keep clean.
Opt for Easy-Care Flooring:
When choosing flooring, go for those materials that are always easier to clean.
Vinyl Flooring
High-quality luxury vinyl flooring – which looks like stone or wood but is much easier to maintain – is a good alternative.
It is water-resistant and built to take heavy traffic without showing a lot of wear and tear.
Laminate
If you have a high-traffic area, this is another fantastic option. With new technologies, laminate flooring is scratch- and spill-resistant, and it looks like wood or tile without the expense and maintenance threats.
Tile
Ceramic or porcelain tile is the recommended flooring for areas that see a lot of moisture in the kitchen or bathroom.
Tiles are easy to clean, they do not absorb dampness, and they will not harbour allergens.
They can be kept clean with a quick mopping, and grout lines can be sealed to minimise staining.
Polished Concrete
Best for industrial-style homes, polished concrete is the most hardy and low-maintenance floor you can have.
It’s hard, non-porous, practically stain-proof and damp-proof, just a quick sweep and an occasional mop.
Rugs and Mats
Placing rugs and mats in the right spots can help to keep a lot of the dirt out of your homes and off your floors.
Entrance Mats: Place rugs or mats at all exterior doors to trap dirt, mud, and debris before it enters the home.
Mats should be durable and washable – rubber-backed mats that can be hosed off are ideal.
Area Rugs: In your home, placed in high-traffic areas, area rugs add to your décor and protect the underlying floors from wear.
Look for machine-washable rugs or those that are easy to vacuum.
Rugs made from synthetic fibres are easier to keep clean and resist spills.
Seasonal considerations: swap out heavy-duty mats for wet or snowy seasons and bring in lighter rugs to keep surfaces looking tidy and clean in the drier seasons.
Open Kitchen Shelving
3 – While they look amazing in magazines, open shelves demand constant dusting and organization.
They expose your dishes to cooking fumes and grease, meaning more cleaning for you.
Closed cabinets offer a much easier solution, hiding clutter and simplifying cleaning.
Choose Your Décor Wisely
Go for the simplest possible house plan: Fewer things means less stuff to collect dust, and less to have to vacuum around.
Easy-care materials: When choosing furniture or decorations, look for items made of easy-care materials.
These include leather, metal and microfibre.
Such materials can be wiped down in a matter of minutes and don’t require any special treatment.
4 – Steer clear of intricate patterns and textures: dense patterns or textures in rugs and upholstery can be a playground for dust and stains.
Go for things with a smoother surface and a lighter colour, where the dirt isn’t easily visible.
Smart Storage Solutions
Stash stuff out of sight: The less there is to look at, the less there is to clean.
Make your furniture multitask and offer storage space to put things away.
Drawer organisers: Give your drawers a clean look, make cleaning easier, and help you quickly find the item you need.
Kitchen Wonders: Reduce Mess Effortlessly
Pick the right appliances – Some kitchen appliances and features save you a ton of cleaning time.
Self-cleaning ovens: A lifesaver for anyone who dreads scraping and scrubbing burnt food.
Dishwashers with hard food disposers: They eliminate the need to pre-rinse dishes, which saves time in the kitchen.
Non-stick pans: Save oil and are easy to clean.
Cleaning hacks kitchen tip: Always clean while you cook to prevent overwhelming messes that are tougher to clean later. (It’s really hard to clean anything with a full stomach.)
Adopt Efficient Cleaning Hacks, Tips, and Tricks
A little forethought and planning can save you a lot of work.
The right attitude and tools can make everything easier, leading to a cleaner home with less time and energy.
Immediate Cleaning (make it a habit)
Putting off cleaning can turn a few spots into a permanent stain. Cleaning as you go can cut down drastically on marathon cleaning sessions.
Spills and Splatters: A food spill on the kitchen counter, mud tracks by the entrance – whatever it is, if you manage to clean it up the minute it happens, that’s one less tough job for later.
Keep basic cleaning supplies in accessible places throughout your home so you can tackle those mishaps as they pop up.
Clean as you go: If you make it a rule to clean as you go, particularly in your kitchen (such as washing dishes right after you’re done using them and wiping off your counters as you cook), there’s usually much less to clean when you do your deeper cleanings.
Routine Spot Cleaning
Incorporating mini-cleaning sessions into your daily routine prevents grime from building up, avoiding the need to invest hours in a major overhaul.
Daily mini-sessions: Clean a little bit every day to make things easier on yourself – maybe 5 to 10 minutes; clean a different area every day, rotating around your home. For example, clean the bathroom sink one day, dust a room another.
This will keep your home always looking good, and it is less overwhelming than doing your cleaning in one big weekly event.
Target High-Traffic Areas: Spend more time on areas that get dirty quickly, such as entryways, kitchen floors or family rooms.
A quick vacuum or mop might be all you need to make a big difference.
Automate What You Can
These days we can outsource much of the ‘manual’ labour involved in keeping a house clean, thanks to technology.
Robotic Vacuum Cleaners: Gadgets like Roomba automate the process of vacuuming.
They can be programmed to run daily, picking up dust bunnies and pet hair with little to no work from you.
Some models even empty themselves or can mop floors.
Planned maintenance: Many appliances come with timers, so they can be programmed to run at certain times.
For instance, you could set your dishwasher to run in the middle of the night, or set your laundry for first thing in the morning, so that chores run in a continuous rhythm.
Smart Home Assistance: Use smart home devices to prompt or schedule a task, manage cleaning supplies inventory, or activate smart-home cleaners via voice command.
Walls & Finishes
Easy-Clean Paint
Walls are one of the largest surfaces in your home, and they can often collect scuffs and stains. Choosing the right type of paint can make a big difference:
Flat Paint: Flat paint offers a sophisticated look, but it scuffs easily and can be difficult to clean without causing burnishing (shiny patches).
For high-traffic areas, choose satin or semi-gloss paint for better durability and cleanability.
Semi-Gloss and Gloss Finishes: Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, door frames, and trim, paints with a glossier finish allow for easier cleaning. They tend to resist moisture better and can withstand scrubbing without losing their sheen.
Source: Sherwin Williams
High-Quality Matte Finishes: While some traditional matte finishes can be very difficult to clean, many of today’s high-quality or washable matte paints can be cleaned or are at least cleanable.
These are often perfect for living rooms and bedrooms, where a flat finish is desired and, at the same time, cleanability is important.
Uneven Surfaces: Textured walls or intricate tile designs might look stunning, but they attract dust like a magnet.
Their nooks and crannies are difficult to clean. A lower-maintenance option is to go for smoother surfaces, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
Bathroom Bliss: Less Cleaning, More Relaxing
Prevent mold and soap scum build-up.
Daily shower sprays: Use a daily shower spray to keep mold and soap scum at bay.
It’s a quick spritz after each shower, meaning less elbow grease in the long run.
Water repellent treatments: Apply to shower doors and walls to drastically reduce water marks and mineral deposits.
Smart bathroom tip: Install a hand-held showerhead to make cleaning the shower area and walls much easier.
With a good water pressure jet, cleaning will be much easier.
5 – Vessel Sinks: These sinks are aesthetically appealing but quite a pain to clean because water and dirt often get caught in the joint between the countertop and the base. For this reason, drop-in or undermount sinks are easier to maintain.
6 – Freestanding Tubs: Like vessel sinks, freestanding tubs, especially those in shower rooms, leave hard-to-clean gaps that collect dust and moisture, which can lead to mould.
Choose Stain-Resistant Fabrics and Surfaces
Keeping your home clean doesn’t mean you have to go around with a sponge and sink brushes for hours removing marks and stains.
The more stain-resistant your fabrics and surfaces are, the more time you can save on keeping your home looking new.
Here’s a more detailed look at the benefits of choosing stain-resistant fabrics and surfaces:
Furniture and Decorations
7 – Choose stain-resistant fabrics when buying furniture, it’s a lifesaver if you don’t like cleaning:
Synthetic Fibres: These, like microfibre, acrylic and nylon, are the strongest fabrics on the market, and they also resist stains and fading. Sofas and chairs that are made from these materials can be spilled on without worry.
Leather and Faux Leather: Simple to clean and only needing a wipe down with a damp cloth, leather can provide an elegant aesthetic while also being a relatively low-maintenance furniture choice.
Crypton Fabrics: These are engineered textiles designed to resist stains, moisture and odours, so they’re good for heavily trafficked pieces in busy homes.
Dark or patterned upholstery: Darker colours or patterns hide everyday wear and tear better than lighter, plain fabrics, so your furniture will look cleaner for longer.
Surfaces
Selecting the correct finishes and textures for your walls, floors and other surfaces can also significantly decrease cleaning times:
Smudge-resistant Tables: For dining and coffee tables, opt for a matte finish (it’s smudge-resistant and shows less dirt) or a textured surface (it’s even more forgiving of fingerprints and smudges).
If you’re sure you prefer a shiny surface, go for glass tabletops. A smudge-resistant coating is available.
Countertops: Quartz, laminate or sealed granite are all non-porous, low maintenance options that will not require regular re-sealing like other stone surfaces.
They are also non-porous, resistant to microbial growth, staining, and easy to clean with standard cleaning products.
8 – Gas Stoves: Great for the chef in us, but more maintenance than an induction top.
Cleaning grates and burners can take a long time. Use an induction stove for everyday use, and save the special dishes for your small gas burner or outdoor grill.
You can clean less often and less intensely by using stain-resistant materials and easy-clean products in your home.
This not only leads to a more manageable cleaner environment, it also means an easier way of living, leaving you free to pursue the things you love most.
Bedroom Secrets for a Cleaner Resting Area
Keep it simple and serene:
9 – Opt for washable curtains or blinds: Easier to keep dust-free than heavy drapes.
Okay…It may seem weird, but before going to bed, using one of these feels like you’re going to rest on clouds.
It is possible to live in a clean home without spending hours every week on housework.
Just a few smart decisions on your part when it comes to furnishings, storage and a handful of quick daily cleaning hacks can mean a beautifully tidy home without dragging yourself around with the vacuum cleaner.
Sometimes, the best approach to home maintenance is to do less.
From choosing the right surfaces and materials to integrating smart home products that clean for you automatically, the secret to cleaning less is all about prevention and good planning.
Use these approaches, and your housework will automatically become much less.
Recap: Things to Avoid for Low-Maintenance Living
- High-maintenance flooring: Skip hardwood and carpet; opt for vinyl, laminate, tile, polished concrete.
- Shag rugs: Choose flatweave or indoor-outdoor rugs instead.
- Open kitchen shelving: Prefer closed cabinets to reduce dust and grease buildup.
- Intricate patterns/textures: Go for smooth surfaces and lighter colors; they show less dirt.
- Vessel sinks + freestanding tubs: Select easier-to-clean drop-in sinks and integrated tub solutions.
- Non-stain-resistant fabrics/surfaces: Opt for synthetic fibers, leather, Crypton fabrics, and smudge-resistant or non-porous surfaces.
- Gas stoves for daily use: Use induction tops for easier cleaning.
- Heavy drapes: Use washable curtains or blinds to keep dust at bay.
Adopting these tips will help you maintain a cleaner home with less effort. =D
