How to Achieve Perfect Order in Just 1 Hour

There are moments when you have very little time for cleaning, but it's essential to tidy up your home. Imagine that your family members are returning home in an hour or guests are arriving soon. Let's activate and begin the mission «tidy up in 60 minutes». What to include in the mandatory minimum – find out in this post.

1. Nothing Extra

Remember, the fewer items in your apartment, the faster and easier it is to organize. Therefore, always start by removing all unnecessary things. Empty boxes, jars, and useless notes should go in the trash bin. This method also helps effectively fight dust because there will be no temptation to just wipe away the dust around unnecessary items.

2. In Their Places

Once you get rid of all the unnecessary items, proceed to the next stage: placing everything in its proper place. Toys belong in special boxes, books on shelves, dirty laundry in the laundry basket, and scattered clothes in the closet. Plan ahead so that shoes in the hallway don't block the passage, otherwise they'll create chaos and hinder movement.

3. A Delicate Matter

It's essential to tidy the bathroom, especially before guests arrive. Since it's second only to the entrance hall where guests will go, cleaning requires cleaning agents. Remember that these products need time to work. Apply the product to the sink, washbasin, and toilet and leave it for about ten minutes. Then rinse with water and wipe surfaces with a sponge.

Quickly go over shelves and cabinets with a damp cloth, wash the soap dish thoroughly, and put new soap in it – that's the point in bathroom cleaning.

4. Dust Battle

Once all items are in their places, you can begin the battle with dust. Quickly vacuum the floor, carpets (don't forget the door mat), and upholstered furniture. Don't forget to clean radiator screens – for this, it's best to use a vacuum cleaner with a special dust collection attachment.

Photo: Yuriy Grishko

5. Important Details

Sometimes a small detail can ruin the entire impression. That's exactly about dirty mirror surfaces in the house. Without them, there's no feeling of perfect order. Use a microfiber cloth and window cleaning solution for this task. A few minutes – and looking into the mirror will be pleasant.

6. Damp Cleaning

No matter how well you vacuum, you won't achieve the desired glowing effect of a clean apartment without damp cleaning. Therefore, don't hide from mopping the floors. Don't wipe the floor in chaotic movements with a cloth, otherwise when the surface dries, it won't shine smoothly and streaks may appear. Try to move in even and straight strokes so that the cleaned area is perpendicular to the exit from the room.

7. Fresh Air

Ventilating the apartment is a must in house cleaning. You won't even need to spend a couple of minutes, but the results will be enormous – improve the microclimate and fill your home with fresh air. You can do this either during or right after cleaning.

8. Final Touches

Once all the most important stages are completed, there are only a few final touches left. Replace dirty towels in the bathroom and kitchen with fresh ones, check that there are free hangers for clothes in the hallway. Adjust pillows on the sofa, open curtains to let light into the room, place a fresh bouquet or light an aromatherapy candle. The «sprint» cleaning is complete, now you can enjoy your hard work.

And 5 More Useful Tips for Quick Cleaning

1. Define a clear sequence of your actions.

2. Turn off the computer and television during cleaning to avoid distractions and not waste precious time.

3. Play your favorite music – it makes doing housework much more pleasant.

4. Stock up on a range of effective cleaning agents designed for different types of dirt.

5. To be able to do a quick clean, don't forget about the deep clean either. No matter how hard you try, it's impossible to tidy everything up in just one hour.