Real Simple Secrets to a Clean Home

By Meredith Corporation

Discover the smartest way to cleaner rooms with less effort in Real Simple Secrets to a Clean Home. We introduce you to the Real Simple Method of cleaning, the approach that helps you clean faster and better—and with longer-lasting results.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meredith Corporation
• Release date: Feb 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9780848701703

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Your Words

What is your favorite speed-cleaning trick?

AND THEY’RE OFF! REAL SIMPLE READERS SHARE SECRETS FOR MAKING THEIR HOMES SPARKLE AND SHINE IN LESS TIME.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GETTY/IMAGENAVI

I promise myself a treat after I reach the cleaning goal.

A nice glass of red wine waiting at the finish line helps spur me on.

–E.M., NASHVILLE

I always clean the shower when I’m in it. I leave the cleaning products in there, and while I’m waiting for my conditioner to work its magic on my hair, I do my own magic on mildew and soap scum.

–D.S.G., MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA

Get me mad and I’ll clean anything. Doesn’t matter what it is—doesn’t matter how dirty it is. I will turn on my headbanger radio station and go to town.

–J.R., CARL JUNCTION, MISSOURI

When I was growing up, the lemony smell of Pledge signaled that my mom was cleaning. Today, because I usually don’t have time to dust every surface and eliminate clutter, I’ve found that lighting lemon-scented candles triggers that cleaning memory and provides inspiration when I have to rush. The lemon scent has the added benefit of fooling people into thinking I’ve been dusting all day.

–T.E., CHESTER SPRINGS, PENNSYLVANIA

To make cleaning quicker and easier, I keep supplies on each level of my home. When I notice that the mirrors on the second floor need cleaning, I don’t have to head to the basement to get what I need.

–P.S., WHEATON, ILLINOIS

Having everyone take off their shoes cuts my floor-cleaning time in half. A basket of knit slippers sits on the landing, inviting guests and family members to make themselves at home, keep their feet warm, and keep the floors clean.

–K.M., EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA

I invite someone over for dinner.

Nothing else fills me with that much energy. I run around decluttering and scrubbing and marvel at how fast the place gets clean.

–E.F., HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS

I use a can of compressed air [available at office-supply and hardware stores]. Sure, it’s great for blowing the dust out of computer keyboards, but it also helps clean out the tiny grooves on my kitchen and coffee tables, where crumbs love to hide. Plus, it’s a quick fix between dusting jobs for all furniture surfaces.

–C.F., FARMINGTON, UTAH

I get most of my cleaning done during TV commercials. I have a task planned for each break. I straighten my desk, do the dishes, scrub the tub, or dust, then rush back to the TV once I hear the show starting again.

–R.S., MINNEAPOLIS

The best speed-cleaning tool I have is a sticky lint roller. You can use it to dust bookcases in a hurry, pick up toddler scraps, and get dog hair off anything. Plus, it’s the best thing I’ve found for cleaning lampshades. No more pulling out the vacuum and its 101 attachments.

–A.A., BEREA, KENTUCKY

I have a four-month-old, so all cleaning is speed-cleaning. I wait for the baby to fall asleep, then clean as much as I can before she wakes up. Exhausting but effective.

–K.P., CEDAR SPRINGS, MICHIGAN

Blasting Prince’s The Hits 1 and 2 on the stereo keeps me moving real fast and makes cleaning fly by.

–N.T., RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

If the bathroom needs a quick sprucing up, and I don’t have time to haul out numerous special cleansers, I grab a few cotton balls and some rubbing alcohol. I wipe down the faucets, toilet handle, seat, and rim. The alcohol kills germs, removes spots, and doesn’t mess up my clothes.

–G.S., PORTLAND, OREGON

Orphaned or threadbare socks make great dusting cloths. Because they slip right onto your hands, they’re also great for scrubbing dishes and cleaning glass.

–C.W., ORONDO, WASHINGTON

After mopping the floors, I put small, old socks on the paws of my two dogs. Then I let them run wild through the house. It sure speeds up the drying time.

–M.C., LAS VEGAS

When I remember that I’m having people over to enjoy their company, I stop worrying about whether they’re judging the appearance of my house. Letting go—I guess that’s less of a trick and more of a resolution.

–L.B., PORTLAND, OREGON

I walk through the house with an empty basket and dump all the cutter into it.

The house looks clean in minutes, and I can either sort it all or stash it fast.

–L.T., ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA

BLAINE MOATS

The Real Simple Method

A Smarter Way to Clean

For some, scrubbing floors is the best form of stress relief; others would pay good money never to wield a vacuum again. No matter your opinions about housekeeping, though, you likely feel that there’s nothing like a spotless home to make you feel calm, peaceful, and ready to take on all the other things you care about. Our plan makes that outcome achievable (and maintainable), no matter how much time you have.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON DONNELLY

Step 1

The Prep

GET MOTIVATED Fast is fantastic, but only if you’re using tools and techniques that are actually effective. Ideally, you’ll adopt the spray and wait method whenever possible, allowing quality cleaning products to work their magic while you take care of other jobs (kind of like multitasking in the kitchen—chop while the water boils!). The bottom line: Clean as well and efficiently as you can, and then you can enjoy more time between cleanings.

RALLY YOUR TEAM If you live with others, the responsibility for cleaning should be shared fairly among everyone. (Even toddlers can put laundry in the hamper and wipe up spills with a little help.) Distributing the work does double duty: It makes the job more manageable and builds in motivation for everyone to actually help keep things clean. See How to Split Chores So Everyone Is Happy, for all the details.

GO FROM LARGE TO SMALL At whatever frequency makes sense for you (weekly, biweekly, monthly) plan a deep clean that ensures all the important spots in your home are sparkling. In between, use smart maintenance methods so the next deep clean is as easy as possible—clean up spills immediately, wipe down countertops daily, make sure items are put away before you leave a room. The same rule—large, then small—goes for each cleaning session as well. It’s best to get the tougher rooms out of the way first (think kitchens and bathrooms) and then move on to areas that require less elbow grease. Or start with the areas your family uses most often because cleaning these will have the biggest impact for the greatest number of people. Then move on to individual bedrooms and lesser-used spaces.

Step 2

The Process

WORK THE ROOM Within each room, tidying comes first, then actual cleaning. When dusting, wiping down surfaces, and (especially!) mopping, work from top to bottom—ceiling fans, windows, and higher surfaces on down—and from the farthest corner of the room toward the door. That way, dirt makes its way down and out of the room, and you don’t risk debris landing on a surface you’ve just cleaned.

USE THE TIME YOU HAVE If you’re doing a deep clean, set a timer for the amount of time you’d like to spend. Having a time limit helps keep your work as efficient as possible and ensures you don’t overdo it and spend the whole day cleaning. (Of course, if the timer goes off and you still have cleaning products sitting on surfaces, you can go into a bit of overtime to wipe those off.) For your smaller daily fix-ups, remember that every little bit counts—even if it’s just two minutes. Make a list of cleaning tasks that can be handled in five minutes or less (empty the dishwasher, wipe off the counter, vacuum the entryway) and tape it inside a cabinet where you store cleaning supplies so you don’t even have to think about what to clean when you have a free moment. For other time-focused ways to clean, see Cleaning by the Clock,.

BEWARE OF DISTRACTIONS Focus on cleaning, rather than organizing or decluttering. Things like mail, forms that need to be filled out, and even random mementos can easily sidetrack your process and distract from cleaning time. Carry a basket or tote bag into each room as you clean and toss in items that need to be put away elsewhere or attended to later.

MOOD MAKERS

Whether you’re tackling a deep clean or daily spiff-up, set the right vibe and make cleaning as pleasant as you can. Consider a TV show in the background to keep you entertained without being too distracting. Choose one you’ve seen every episode multiple times instead of a juicy drama you’re new to (so Friends or The Office, not Succession). Or listen to a motivating playlist or a fun podcast to keep your brain occupied but your eyes free. If you aren’t allergic or sensitive to scents, choose or make cleaning products that smell great to you, or light a candle or switch on an aromatherapy diffuser while you work to infuse your space with great energy. If it’s nice outside, open the windows to provide ventilation and let in fresh air. And turn the lights on as bright as they’ll go so you can see every speck, then remember to dim them again when you’re done.

Step 3

The Next Steps

TAKE A MOMENT Don’t forget to step back and admire the results of your hard work.