Remember the last time you walked into a museum, hotel lobby, or high-rise office building and it took your breath away? The floors gleam, the windows are spotless, and the wood furniture is polished to a deep shine.

 

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Whether you see them or not, you know they’ve been there: Members of the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) are responsible for keeping some of the most beautiful buildings in the country in tip-top shape, day in and day out.

These seemingly tireless professionals have a few tricks up their sleeves for accomplishing the most work in the shortest amount of time. Here are just a few that can help you keep your home looking like a showcase:

1. Come prepared for the task at hand.
You’ve probably noticed that most professional housekeepers use carts stocked with everything they’ll need for the cleaning task at hand. Alternatively, they don’t carry more than they need. Go through your cleaning supplies and eliminate all but the necessary tools, and store them together in a portable container.

2. Stick to a schedule.
By scheduling tasks, you’ll be less inclined to avoid or forget them. Decide which cleaning tasks need to be done every day, every week, or on a less frequent schedule. (Download a free cleaning checklist.) You’ll spend less time thinking about what you have to do and have more time to do it.

3. Establish a routine.
Work top to bottom and left to right. You’ll save time if you don’t have to retrace your steps, and cleaning will be much faster and easier if you develop a regular routine for each area of your home.

4. Work in teams.
Professional housekeepers often work in teams. Making a king-sized bed may only take a few minutes for one person, but with two people it takes only seconds. Enlisting the help of family members will not only make the job go faster, but you’ll also keep each other motivated.

5. Collect a paycheck.
Beyond a passion for clean and healthy environments, one thing that motivates professional housekeepers to clean is looking forward to a paycheck. Of course, while having a clean and orderly environment itself is a great “paycheck,” why not give yourself an extra reward for a job well done?