How To become a speed cleaner in 13 simple steps

National Cleaning Week” is set to begin on March 22nd, and this year I aim to assist you in getting your house so spotless that you can enjoy the entire week. In this article, I will provide you with some great tips and tricks to help you become a faster and more efficient cleaner, enabling you to clean your home quickly and professionally.

If you run a cleaning business, are a student wanting to clean a room quickly, or just want to keep your home clean, you could benefit from some expert cleaning tips to help speed things up. These tips will help you clean your home quickly and efficiently.

As our lives get busier, keeping up with cleaning can feel overwhelming. These speed cleaning tips will help tackle deep cleaning jobs, making spring cleaning a thing of the past.

What is speed cleaning?

When we clean the house, we often tend to lose focus and repeat the same areas unconsciously. We end up wasting a lot of time walking back and forth and often don’t complete the task because we haven’t used our time and tools effectively.

As a professional cleaner, I have developed skills to clean homes quickly and thoroughly using the right tools and speed cleaning products to achieve the best results in the shortest time possible.

The speed cleaning technique helps you clean effectively and efficiently with the right tools and products so you don’t have to waste energy scrubbing.

I will teach you effective techniques to prevent procrastination, maximize productivity, use your time efficiently, and become an efficient speed cleaner overnight!

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What you will need.

A speed cleaner requires the right tools to breeze through tough jobs efficiently without using too much energy.

  • A degreaser is necessary for kitchen areas with grease build-up.
  • A disinfectant that can be used for cleaning and sanitizing kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas.
  • A wood polish that cleans and shines wood surfaces while removing dust.
  • Tile cleaner is specially formulated for cleaning natural stone and ceramic bathroom tiles.
  • Bathroom sanitizer is a product that is used to clean and sanitize bathrooms.
  • Glass cleaner is designed to clean mirrors, windows, and chrome surfaces effectively.
  • Powder or cream can be used for cleaning the sink, bath, shower, and toilet bowl.
  • Dishwashing liquid or liquid detergent is a versatile cleaning agent that can be used for various purposes.
  • Dusting cloths are used for dry dusting purposes.
  • Red microfiber cloths for cleaning the bathroom.
  • Blue microfiber cloths for cleaning the kitchen.
  • Yellow microfiber cloths for general cleaning
  • Glass cloths in blue, purple, and silver are available for cleaning different areas of the house. Specifically, the blue one is ideal for cleaning bathrooms, the purple one for kitchens, and the silver one for general cleaning purposes.
  • An apron with deep pockets that can store all of your cleaning tools.
  • A 1-inch scraper can be used to remove dried food and sticky stains.
  • Use a whisk brush to clean the areas between the furniture where the vacuum cleaner cannot reach
  • Telescopic feather duster to reach high cobwebs and window sills. This tool is designed to help you easily clean high areas such as cobwebs and window sills, thanks to its telescopic handle and feathered bristles.
  • When there’s no toilet brush available, a green scrubby can be used for quick toilet cleaning.
  • Use a non-scratch scrubber to clean delicate surfaces without causing any scratches.
  • crevice brushes are perfect for hard-to-reach places like screw heads, toilet seat fittings, sink faucets, hinges, tracks, runners, and plug holes.
  • Detailing brush refers to a type of brush that is designed for delicate dusting of precious items.
  • Get streak-free, high-gloss floors with our spin mop. Works on tile, hardwood, laminate, and more. It is recommended to change spin mop heads after every 30 feet of mopping.
  • Heavy-duty bin bags to hold all your rubbish
  • Lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner
  • I purchase toothbrushes in bulk and color-code them for specific areas such as screw heads, toilet seat fittings, sink faucets, hinges, tracks, runners, plug holes, and overspills. This helps me keep track of which toothbrushes are for which rooms. To ensure thorough cleaning, I use heavy-duty cream cleaner if the area is easy to rinse.

How to speed clean a room

Start at the door.

To clean a room efficiently, start at the door and work your way around clockwise until you reach the door again. This will ensure that you don’t keep going over the same area and will cut down on the number of steps you use to clean the room. Cleaning in a haphazard way is not recommended as it can waste a lot of time by making you go over the same areas, losing equipment, walking to and from the rubbish bin, starting another job before you’ve finished the first one, and missing areas, so you need to retrace your steps. Once you learn how to clean quickly and efficiently, you’ll notice how much more you can get done in a shorter amount of time.

Always work top to bottom.

It is important to clean the room from top to bottom to prevent knocking dirt into areas that have already been cleaned. This methodical cleaning approach also ensures you do not clean the same area twice. Begin by removing any clutter or items that do not belong in the room. This will make it easier to clean and allow you to declutter your space.

Next, start with dusting from the top of the room and work your way down. Use a microfiber cloth or duster to remove dust from surfaces such as shelves, tables, and countertops. Make sure also to dust any decorations or knick-knacks that may have accumulated dust over time.

Once the dusting is complete, clean surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner. Be sure to read the instructions on the label before using and follow proper safety precautions if necessary. Wipe down all surfaces, including windowsills, baseboards, and door handles.

As you’re cleaning, take note of any items that may be out of place or cluttering up your space. Set aside some time at the end of your cleaning session to declutter these items and find proper places for them in your home.

Use a small, stiff brush.

Cleaning between furniture can often be a time-consuming and difficult task. Not only do you have to move heavy pieces of furniture, but reaching those tight spaces can also be a challenge. However, a simple solution can make this process much easier and more efficient – using a small, stiff brush.
A small, stiff brush is an essential tool for any cleaning enthusiast. It is designed to reach and clean those hard-to-reach areas, making it perfect for cleaning between furniture. The stiff bristles help loosen dirt and debris that may have accumulated in these spaces, making removing it easier with your vacuum or duster.
One of the biggest advantages of using a small stiff brush for cleaning between furniture is that it helps reduce heavy lifting.

Vacuum bathrooms before cleaning.

It’s best to use a vacuum to remove dust and hair before cleaning your bathroom with water. Doing so will make the cleaning process faster and easier. Once dust and hair get wet, they stick to every surface and spread around, making cleaning harder and more time-consuming. So, save yourself some time and effort by vacuuming first.

Remember to give disinfectants and sanitizers about 10-20 minutes of dwell time.

Disinfectants and sanitizers should be left for 10-20 minutes to ensure all germs are killed. Consult the manufacturer’s guidelines for the required time. It is important to note that not all disinfectants are effective against all types of germs. Some may only be effective against bacteria, while others can kill viruses and fungi. Choosing the right disinfectant for the type of germs you are trying to eliminate is important.

Avoid using excessive cleaning products on the area.

You only need to use a small amount of cleaning product to effectively clean a surface. If you use too much product, it will take longer to clean up. In most cases, if surfaces are cleaned regularly, a small amount of cleaner is sufficient to freshen them up. However, if you have a particularly dirty or stubborn stain, you may need to use more product and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it off.

Avoid using cream cleaners on surfaces that are difficult to rinse off.

Cream cleaners are known to be difficult to rinse off, so avoid using them on surfaces where water cannot flow freely. Instead, use them inside sinks, toilet bowls, bathtubs, and showers. If you use them on other surfaces, you will waste a lot of time trying to remove the residue.

Spot clean kitchen cupboard doors.

To save time and effort, it’s a good idea to spot clean kitchen cupboard doors, door frames, and other areas prone to fingerprints instead of cleaning the entire surface. However, if the whole area is dirty, it’s important to clean it thoroughly. This will ensure that your kitchen remains clean and tidy.

Spot clean mirrors

It’s best to spot clean instead of wiping the entire surface to save time when cleaning mirrors and glass. Achieving a streak-free finish can be time-consuming, but you can cut down on cleaning time by only cleaning the dirty spots.

To clean glass surfaces effectively, you should use a glass cleaner and a glass cloth.

For a streak-free finish, use glass cleaner and a glass cloth on chrome, tiles, and glass. Learn how to clean windows without streaks in this post.

Wear an apron

Many of my clients have large houses. I spend valuable cleaning time retracing my steps, looking for my tools, and going to my next job with half of my kit missing as I had left it at the previous client’s house. Sometimes, I cleaned an area I had already cleaned, as I had no methodical way of working and seemed to be working on autopilot most of the time.

Wearing a speed cleaning apron can make a huge difference in how you clean your home. It allows you to carry all your tools with you as you clean. By wearing an apron, you won’t have to retrace your steps to find things you’ve left in another room. You can gather rubbish in your pockets to save time tracking back and forth to the bin.

Keeping your speed cleaning apron stocked with the necessary cleaning tools needed in each room allows you to tackle any cleaning problem quickly and efficiently as you come across it, rather than leaving the room to gather access to your tools.

If you always keep all your tools in the same pocket each time you wear your apron, you will never waste time searching for stuff, and you will automatically grab what you need without even having to think about it.

Making sure you return all your tools to your apron after using them prevents you from constantly backtracking and looking for lost equipment. Keeping a pocket in your speed cleaning apron for all the rubbish you collect on the way saves many trips to the bin. I prefer to line my apron pocket with a plastic bag to hold all sorts of gunk I find under the kid’s beds.

If you get used to putting things in the same place every time you use your apron, you’ll find that you’ll quickly reach for your tools automatically rather than searching for lost items you have left in the last room you cleaned. Keeping a feather duster and your cleaning fluid attached to your apron saves time and energy while cleaning.

You should only keep the products you need to clean your current room in your apron. Read this post if you’d like to know which products I keep in my cleaning kit at work and home!

Here are the house cleaning supplies I have in my speed cleaner apron when I am cleaning  a kitchen:
A razor for cooker tops, ovens, and stoves. For a quick clean-up, I use the blade to scrape up hard, gunky stuff from cookers, and ovens, paint from windows, and soap scum from tiles.
A  1.5″ scraper. Before mopping and wiping, I use this tool to remove dried-on food from the floors or countertops. Some clients have underfloor heating in kitchens, and when the kids spill raisins or food on it, the food gets cooked onto the heated floor and squished until it’s rock-hard. The scraper is invaluable for speeding up these jobs, making it a quick clean.
Color-coded cloths, including a glass cloth for windows, polishing chrome, and high-quality microfiber cloths. To learn more about how I color code my cloths, read this post.
A non-scratch scrubby for any stubborn areas. I use the non-scratch scrubber for jobs a cloth can’t handle. I use mine with cream cleaner on sinks and on cookers, fridges, fingerprints, and floors to cut down on the elbow grease and help make it easy to clean.
A stainless steel scrubber. I use a stainless steel scrubber for removing baked-on food from dishes. I also use mine on my sink, cooker, oven, and floor, but be warned, it does leave scratches!!
A  pocket for collecting rubbish, lined with a small bag,  for cleaning in a hurry.
Feather duster for cleaning cobwebs, dusting above door jams, for cleaning baseboards, and blinds. I tuck this through the side loop of my apron on the right-hand side to grab it quickly.
I stock my apron with whichever cleaning products I need for the duration it takes to clean the room and always have a spray bottle of degreaser and disinfectant cleaner in my caddy to use in each room.

Restock your apron after every room. After cleaning the first room, you will need to empty your speed cleaner apron and restock it with the products you need for the next room. 
For example, if you were cleaning a bathroom,  you would replace the scraper and the razor with some toothbrushes and a grout brush like this one.  You would also need a bathroom sanitizer, a glass cleaner, and bathroom cloths.

Maintaining a clean and tidy house.

  1. Consider getting a gadget to help you with your cleaning routine! You can set your vacuum cleaner to run while you are at work, making your life much easier. This is an excellent option for pet owners, as it helps to pick up all the hair and dust from your floors and carpets, leaving your house clean and tidy. So, sit back, relax, and let the gadget do your job!
  2. Always strive to leave a room in a better condition than it was when you entered it. You can achieve this by tidying up or putting things away before leaving the room. This simple habit can help you save time and make cleaning easier. You can also apply this method to gardening – tidying up after yourself can make your garden look more beautiful and save you time in the long run.
  3. It is important to file paperwork promptly and create an organized filing system for bills and school papers at home. Neglecting to file paperwork can lead to clutter and disorganization.
  4. Making your bed can instantly improve the appearance of a messy room. It’s a good idea to air out your bed by turning down the covers and opening a window for about thirty minutes, but you should always make your bed before leaving the house. It’s also a great idea to teach your children how to make their own beds. If you want to learn how to make a bed like a professional housekeeper, you can find some helpful tips here.
  5. Remember to put away the laundry instead of leaving it in a pile to wash later. Only start washing it if you have the time to dry it and put it away. When organizing a client’s home, one of the most common issues I come across is the struggle to manage laundry. It is not uncommon to see piles of laundry waiting to be processed around the house. You can learn how to stay on top of your laundry pile by following these tips.
  6. Delegate some jobs to the family to help keep the house tidy. They can help with loading the laundry, recycling, and keeping their rooms and garden toys clean. They could have their own washing baskets in their rooms which they bring down when asked to do so. They can tidy their rooms twice a day before screen time. On bin day, they can take out the wheelie bins and also do day-to-day recycling. These small tasks help you to manage other household chores and keep the house clean. If you want to know how I get my kids to help out around the house and become mini speed cleaners, click here.
  7. After using something, put it back in its place immediately. Maintaining tidiness can encourage others to do the same. Learn how this simple trick can help in the featured post.
  8. Keeping your floor tidy is key to a chaos-free home. Clear the table for kids to play at and for folding laundry. A clean home is a happy home.

If you’d like to know more about becoming a speed cleaner and keeping a clean house, drop us a line in the comments below!

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