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, while simple, are proven time-savers that will help you get done faster.

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? 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: Use a rinse-free multi-surface cleaner whenever possible, saving specialty products for deep cleaning. A uniform stack of laundered cleaning cloths makes it easy to grab one and get to work.