I don't know how to clean my house

[1940s]

For multiple reasons I don't need to go into, Ive never cleaned my own house. I'm now I'm a position to and I feel completely overwhelmed. I've tried to recently follow popular cleaning Instagram accounts but they have confused me even more.

I have started to clean my house and whilst I can get it clean it takes me so so long and I know I'm not doing things efficiently. Eg I use lots of kitchen paper, I use up so many sponges and then throw them, I can't get my glass shower shiny, I don't have an 'order' to do things in so I realise I need to dust after I've mopped or hoovered.

What is the best way for me to learn how to clean my house.

Please don't come at me with sarky comments, as I said there are numerous legitimate reasons I've not personally cleaned my house before (others have had to do it for me)

put all your cleaning products, cloths, dusters, polish etc in a bucket and take it with you to each room. That way you have everything you need to hand. use a system for cloths such as blue for the loo! That way you dont mix things up.
Tidy first.
Clean rooms systematically, from the top to the bottom from one side of the door round to the other side ending with hoovering and mopping floors.
Pop the cloths in a bleach and hot water solution for a few minutes then rinse them and hang them up to dry.
Have wine.

I learned from a professional cleaner who has the shinyest taps you have ever seen. The secret to shiny is microfibre cloths and elbow grease.

Also, you don't need to throw your sponges away. Depending on which ones you are using, pop them in the washing machine with towels.

@SC1989

Jumping on this thread too for tips. I do clean but I did have a cleaner before so I didn't need to do a deep clean. The luxury of a cleaner has now gone.

Tips please on the following:

1. Hair. I often use wipes to clean but know they aren't enviro friendly. But when I clean the bathroom you have so much little hairs that build up it's easier to pick them up. I always find that cloth kind of moves this around (think little hairs in the bath which I don't even use! Shower only). Any tips?

1. Toilet cleaning tips welcome too please. I never feel like I deep clean this enough. I know this sounds grim but just don't think I'm doing this right.

Following on from the above thread, viakil is meant to be great on stainless steel too.

Thick bleach for the loo. I use about a tablespoon. Wipe the whole lot with one specific cloth. I don't feel like my loos are clean unless I use bleach.

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/user/cleanmyspace&ved=2ahUKEwi-wOe1qoLrAhW5UxUIHfJcDcQQFjAJegQIBxAF&usg=AOvVaw0q5eHF9I4xwUFlU9k3l5I3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/user/cleanmyspace&ved=2ahUKEwi-wOe1qoLrAhW5UxUIHfJcDcQQFjAJegQIBxAF&usg=AOvVaw0q5eHF9I4xwUFlU9k3l5I3

I like the Clean My Space YouTube channel, loads of videos on all sorts of topics, how to etc

You might like the Fly lady method.

My thing is I always load the dishwasher in the evening and give the kitchen counters/table/hob a quick wipe. That way the kitchen is clean and tidy every morning when I start the day.

One room at a time and take your time. It's easy to get overwhelmed. Start in one corner and just work your way round. An all purpose cleaner will honestly do the job for the majority of tasks. Fabulousa do nice smelling cleaning/disinfectant sprays.. if I like the smell of something it spurs me on be kind to yourself, it sounds like you're in a good place to be able to start all this

@Tempusfudgeit

Another vote for Viakal on the shower door. It's a descaler and smells gorgeous!

Just like my husband :)

You can also use it in the toilet, it's great there too!

One caution: if you have soft stone (limestone or marble) - don't use it, it will damage it!

loo

At one of out annual rental checkup the person asked why we had the toilet changed? We didn't, we just deep cleaned it when moving in, then kept it clean. She was amazed!

1. pop in an anti limescale thing in the water tank (I think hasband uses Boo or Bloo)

1. first deep clean: we went for the full on acid solution, but if it's not that bad any block remover + hot water will work

1. every 3-4 days we clean the inside with ...tadammm.... Viakal + toilet brush.

1. The toilet is the only thing I use antibac wipe for.

God, we go through way too many Viakals and toilet brushes a year.

I’m the opposite to many here - I never do one room at a time.

1. Tidy (a place for everything and everything in its place). I’ve decluttered and now have places for everything: if you don’t have a home for something, it’ll never be tidy.

1. I clean woodwork/ horizontal surfaces in every room (that are now tidy).

1. Hoover everywhere.

Bathroom is done once a week, but tidied and spills done daily. Kitchen is done all the time as it’s used.

so many great tips here. its so nice to see a thread which for once doesn't descend into everyone being rude and judgmental!
i dont really have any cleaning tips op which haven;t been mentioned but i'd recommend a google calendar to put all the tasks for each day until you have more of a routine. xxxxxx

Literally everyone could give you a different routine OP. You sound like there’s the potential to get overwhelmed/find this too much of a task. MN can blow up over whether a toilet brush is essential or evil; just keep this in mind and go easy on yourself!!

Cleaning Mantra: better to do it imperfectly than not do it at all

The Organised Mum Method- lots of tips and routines. A life saved

I keep a little notebook. Some weeks I might list what needs to be done. Other times that seems overwhelming, so I write down what I've done as I go along. Like others on here, I'm a great believer in very hot water and fairy liquid. It's great for most things, including windows. I use a decent squeegee to remove the suds and it means I don't dread cleaning windows/procrastinate about doing them! 😂😂

Mse flylady thread has amazing tips forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6141061/weekly-flylady-thread-11-may-2020

This is such a great thread! I am autistic/ADHD and struggle a lot with this. I’m gradually building up good habits with tidying and cleaning but it’s overwhelming sometimes especially as we have accumulated a lot of clutter over the years too

Your routine will depend on how much time you have, and when it fits in best for you.

There are every day jobs:

Tidy up
Clean kitchen work surfaces
Sweep kitchen floor
Make beds
Wash up/stack and unstack dishwasher

Then, once a week:
Change bedding
Wash towels
Wash clothes
Dust
Hoover
Clean bathroom

You can either do the weekly stuff one room/job at a time or in one go. At the moment, I do the weekly stuff in a Sunday morning, but I used to spilt it across the week when the children were small.

I tend to do the wet stuff (bathroom and kitchen) first and then dust and then finally hoover.

I use Viakal as we're in a hard water area and it's the only product that works. Bleach for the loo. I use whatever cleaning product I like the smell of, and a dust spray.

I don't enjoy it, but hate living in a mess.

My favourite tip is to clean the bathroom when you have time in the morning for a slow start (I do mine on Sunday morning). Take clothes off and do it in the nude. Brush teeth, spray Viakal on the inside of the shower cubicle and on taps, then other spray eg flash bathroom on the bath, loo and sink.

Rubber gloves on. Use loo roll to clean the outside bits of the loo (brush or separate sponge to do the inside) and flush away, then put limescale remover round under the rim and leave it.

Go back and use a different sponge to scrub the taps, then a quick wipe round the sink and bath with the sponge followed by a rinse. If the floor is tiled, scrub round with third sponge or cloth.

Finally, gloves off, get in the shower with the cleaning sponge. Wipe over the inside of the shower cubicle/screen to clear the viakal. Drop sponge, have shower. That's it. 10 mins cleaning, 10 mins shower, all done.

If you are struggling to get to grips with the basics - come off Instagram and don't get bogged down with tips on how to get the shiniest taps or the most sparking mirrors.

Start slow and get a routine you feel like you are on top of. If you go to bed with the place feeling in good shape then your day will be better.

Keep on top of the washing up - don't let it build up over a few days as then it becomes a Big Job.

After you've made food, wipe down any mess, chuck stuff in the bin, put things back in the cupboard.

Unless you have pets or kids, you don't need to vacuum, sweep and mop every day. You just don't. Make it a once a week job.

Try and get rid of clutter if you can, or have places where you put things. Like a bowl on the counter for keys, phone, etc rather than dumped somewhere.

Bathroom - once a week is fine. Maybe have a routine - Saturday morning shower you give everything a quick wipe down and empty the bin.

Nothing has to be daily bleached and you don't need to aim for social media or Mumsnet standards.

Agree with all the posters saying to build your own routine - something each day around your other activities will stop you from feeling overwhelmed.

I wfh Half day on a Wednesday and always use this day to get the washing done and dried. One white, one black and one colours wash in between work.

Another vote for microfibre cloths.

I generally keep on top of hoovering by doing a quick run-around downstairs after breakfast most days (pets & multiple kids ) then upstairs is just once a week usually a weekend job. Kitchen I try and keep clean and tidy as I go and floor mopping is done on my day off (Vildea rope head mop and spin bucket - basic but bloody brilliant ) and I use damp microfibre cloths in between in high traffic areas or under baby tray/table after meals.
I clean the bath once a week when I'm in it before a shower - much easier than getting drenched! I use multipurpose cleaner sloshed around and a wipe/rub down with a damp cloth - taps always come up sparkling!. New damp cloth for shelves, skirting & mirrors and once I've hoovered I use a bit of floor cleaner on (another!) damp cloth and give it a good wipe down. Windows I just do as and when they need it look awful and dusting I do when hoovering (wave the nozzle round the edges ) and microfibre cloth on surfaces. Im no domestic goddess and my family are a bit untidy but can get downstairs 'guest ready' in half an hour at a push and I'm fine with that on a day to day basis.

Honestly a big pile of microfibre cloths is your answer - all get chucked in the wash.

I am a clean and tidy freak and I just love to do it! I know, I'm a saddo.

However because I'm on top of it all (not some weird boast!), I've had to invent my own little systems and ways to really tidy and clean. I'll list some below - maybe there'll be something of use to you

So, when I literally can't clean any further in a room, I play a game called ' 10 things.' And yeah I made it up. I think. But the rules of 10 Things will apply if a room is pristine or in need of a clean.

I walk into a room and don't leave until I've done 10 things in that room. So, in my bedroom today, I ...

Hung up jeans
Dusted my headboard
Pulled hair out my hair brush
Closed the wardrobe doors
Wiped down my windowsill
Put my make up brushes back in their pot
Put a necklace away in jewellery box
Made the bed
Ran microfibre cloth round skirting board
Took a glass downstairs

The above took me 5 or 6 mins but left the room how I like it

I then moved onto my youngest's gaming room - and just whizzed round doing '10 things.' And so on ...

Eventually, by playing 10 Things, you become on top of stuff. And it works if you're short on time too - if you only have 5 mins, you can easily find 10 things to do in say, your kitchen, which will make it look cleaner and/or tidier - from putting butter back in fridge, wiping surfaces, watering a plant .... anything at all.

Try it - it works!

I get those massive packs of micro fibre clothes from home bargains (think it’s £4 for about 20) they come in all different colours, so blue is always kitchen, yellow is always loos. Just stick them in the washer when you’re done.

You don't have to have all the house clean at once. On one day, you could hoover and dust downstairs. Another day, clean a bathroom, for example. Otherwise it's just exhausting!

Jottiesjournal on Instagram is lovely and down to earth nothing overwhelming or complicated. She also has a print out sheet with all the household jobs on it which is very easy to follow and tick off as you go along. As others have said you don't need loads of products and fancy sponges please feel free to pm me and I can give u a few tips or help in any way that I can