The Solution: Ditch the dirty cleaning cloths, and opt for microfiber cloths that won’t leave lint behind and can be tossed into the washing machine whenever they need a refresh. The tightly-woven fibers are even capable of brushing away bacteria (with or without the help of chemical cleaners) to take your cleaning to the next level. The Solution: Invest in an under-$10 blind-cleaning brush that shaved minutes off of my cleaning routine this year. And if you’re not currently using an expandable telescopic duster for those hard-to-reach spots (the tops of kitchen counters, above the window frames), you’ll want to order one now. The Solution: Once you’re done cooking, get into the habit of transferring food out of the pots and pans it was cooked in and soaking the dishes in warm, soapy water. Note: If you’re cooking with aluminum pans, let them cool down slightly first. Cold water can potentially warp a piping-hot aluminum pan. The Solution: Take two minutes to empty the bin now, to cut down on vacuuming time in the future. The ultimate solution: invest in a robotic vacuum, which can do most of the work for you (psst…these 8 robot vacuums even empty their own bins). The Solution: Adopt the habit of cleaning from top to bottom. Start by dusting upper cabinets, surfaces, and counters before moving to lower surfaces and floors. This way, you won’t be undoing your prior work, which could cause you to backtrack and waste precious time. The Solution: If you can, take a few minutes to clean up spills as they happen—you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not trying to remove a set-in red wine stain in your carpet. Before you go to bed, take five minutes to clean up kids’ toys, papers, or clothes that are strewn around the house. When five minutes is up, it’s time for bed. It may not be enough time to tidy up everything, but it will make your big weekend cleaning session much quicker.
