After a long day, there’s nothing like putting your keys in the door, turning the knob, and walking into a pristine home. The problem is that there aren’t always enough hours in the day to keep a house as spotless as you might like. As working individuals, we sometimes can’t find the time for home errands, we even struggle with how to grocery shop efficiently.

That’s why we’ve designed this speed cleaning guide to get your home squeaky-clean in record time. From decluttering to delegating to utilizing Alfred resident services, we have everything you need to start enjoying a mess-free home ASAP.

Prepare Your Tools

The first step toward cleaning a messy house is setting yourself up for success. It’s time to gather up all the tools and cleaning supplies necessary to make a dent in that messy house. Or, if you’re looking for another helping hand — look towards Alfred.

Typical tools include:

• House cleaning products — White vinegar, baking soda, bleach, all-purpose spray, and bathroom cleaners are all potential options. Whatever your preferred stain removers, be sure to stay stocked up. There’s nothing worse than having to run out to the store when you’re ready to start scrubbing away on tough stains.
• Protective gear — While house cleaning isn’t a particularly dangerous chore, it’s helpful to take a couple of precautions. A pair of rubber gloves protect your hands from any harsh chemicals, while an apron can save your clothes from any nasty and tough stains.
• Buckets, towels, and sponges — Be sure you have the right implements for your deep cleaning project. A microfiber mop, microfiber cloth, a sponge, a feather duster, and vacuum will come in handy.

Go Room by Room

While some deep cleaning enthusiasts might suggest working on the whole house at once, we wouldn’t. Spreading your work between multiple rooms can lead to disorganization and unfinished cleaning projects.

We recommended saving the kitchen and bathroom for last. These rooms typically require the deepest cleaning, so work up to the top-level messes.

To maximum efficiency, make a plan of attack for each room. We’d recommend completing tasks in the following sequence:

• Tidying
• Dusting
• Furniture cleaning
• Mirrors, glass, and surfaces
• Sweep and mop
• Final vacuum

Organize First, Clean Second

Did you notice that we put “tidying” first?

Sometimes you have to declutter one mess before you can move on to another. If you’re dealing with a cluttered kitchen table, clothes on the floor, or an overload of dirty dishes in the sink, turn your attention to these areas first.

In the order of cleaning operations, organization comes first for some pretty good reasons:

• You don’t clean what you don’t need — You may find yourself throwing away or donating several items that are contributing to your clutter. Every item you get rid of is one less item to clean or sort.
• You’ll free up space — Proper home cleaning is impossible if there are too many objects in the way. Create a clear pathway and open surfaces to shave off minutes (or even hours) from your average deep clean time.

Automate Where You Can

Why get your hands dirty when there are machines that can do it for you? It’s not magic — it’s automation.

While you may not be living in a futuristic utopia, we have invented some great options for automatic ways to get the house clean, including:

• Dishwashers — There’s nothing futuristic about this 19th-century invention, though the newest dishwasher is leaps ahead of its early counterparts. Keep your dishwasher running regularly to significantly cut down on cleaning time. Just be sure to clean the dishwasher itself once in a while by filling the soap dispenser with vinegar and running it while empty.
• Robotic vacuums —They’re convenient and powerful, and you don’t have to worry about them passing the Turing test. These helper robots can keep your floors dirt-free as long as you keep their path clear of debris.

Alfred: Never Come Home to a Mess Again

Sometimes faster isn’t necessarily better. If you’re running late for a meeting because you’re busy with a broom, there’s a better solution. While we’ve yet to eliminate cleaning overall, you can start leaving your homekeeping to the pros at Alfred.

Alfred isn’t a cleaning service — it’s an app-based personal assistant ready to clean your home, water your plants, pick up your laundry, and reorganize your wardrobe. We like to think of ourselves as the provider of luxury concierge services for the 21st century. Whatever you need, you can rely on Alfred.

Sources:
The Spruce. How to declutter your home, room by room.
Popular mechanics. 15 secrets to cleaning your home in half the time.