Don’t want to spend your life on housekeeping? If you cut just 30 minutes from your weekly cleaning routine, you’ll have 26 hours a year to do something besides cleaning. The following tips from IEHA, while simple, are proven time-savers that will help you get done faster.

 

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First, set a timer.

How many times have you started a small cleaning task, only to notice another area that needs attention, and then another? Think like a pro by working against the clock. Setting a timer when cleaning or doing other chores helps you stay focused on the task at hand and lets you know when it’s time to stop.

Plan your attack.

Walking back and forth might make you look busy, but it also uses up valuable time. Generally, you should begin cleaning at one end of the room, from top to bottom, and work your way around the perimeter to the other side. Finish off by cleaning the middle area and voila! One room is done.

Wear the proper attire.

Well-fitting, comfortable clothes are important to cleaning efficiently. Pockets – either in an apron or in your clothing – allow you to keep a cleaning cloth handy and provide a place for small objects or bits of trash you come across when vacuuming.

Streamline your process.

Maintaining a well-stocked and orderly cleaning caddy and keeping it nearby will save both time and frustration. What goes in the caddy is important too: Keep a good supply of color-coded microfiber cloths for dusting and cleaning different surfaces, and a rinse-free multi-surface cleaner to avoid carrying too many products. Turn and replace cloths frequently, and separate soiled cloths from clean ones to avoid cross contamination.

 

Rag Folding Secret:  Fold your cleaning cloth into quarters, so each cloth has 8 surfaces (four on each side). Use surface #1 for one stroke, surface #2 for stroke two, surface #3 for stroke three, etc. Using a fresh surface for each cleaning stroke will get surfaces cleaner in less time without spreading soils around.

 

 

About IEHA

The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) is a 3,200-plus member organization for housekeeping management. Executive housekeepers are managers that direct housekeeping programs in commercial, industrial or institutional facilities, including upscale hotels, hospitals, schools, and other public places. The non-profit was founded in 1930 in New York City, and is now located in Westerville, Ohio, a suburb of the state’s capitol.