6 Cleaning Habits to Shorten Your Cleaning Routine

The first step in finding a cleaning routine that really works for you and your lifestyle is to determine your cleaning personality. Are you a bitsy cleaner that likes to do small cleaning tasks each day, or do you like to procrastinate before buckling down for a day-long cleaning spree? If you fall into the first group, we have got the time-saving tips for you! For those who want to make cleaning a seamless part of their everyday routines rather than a big daunting task they'll procrastinate doing, here are 6 little ways to work cleaning into your schedule. By introducing five-minute habits, like wiping down your kitchen counters before you go to bed and taking the trash out when you head out the door for the day, you'll be able to fit these micro cleaning moves easily into your life.

Clean the Dishes as You Cook

If you tend to leave dinner cleanup until after the meal is cooked and eaten, you run the risk of spending more time scrubbing caked-on food later. Or worse, you're tired and decide to leave it all for tomorrow. Ugh! Not nice to wake up to a messy kitchen. Instead, get in the habit of cleaning up as you cook. Find the downtimes in a recipe (like when you're waiting for the water to boil), and instead of reaching for your phone, wash a cutting board or start loading tools and utensils into the dishwasher. Once you get in the habit, cleaning as you go will become second nature.

Wipe Down Your Kitchen Counters before Bed

No one feels like cleaning right before bed—we get it. But if spending two minutes to wipe down the kitchen counters before you hit the hay means you get to wake up to a clutter-free kitchen every morning, it's a worthwhile addition to your nighttime routine. Just give a spritz of the All-Purpose Cleaner and give a wipe with a paper towel or cloth. Not only will wiping away sauce splatters and spills at night save you from scrubbing set-in messes the next day, but this way, your counter will be ready for breakfast prep and packing school lunches in the morning. Your morning routine just got a little bit easier and cleaner!

Take Out the Trash on Your Way to Work

Depending upon what time you leave in the morning and what time your local garbage pickup is, it might make sense to start taking out the trash into your morning routine. At night, remove the bag from the can, tie it up, and replace the liner. In the morning, all you have to do is grab the bag on your way out the door. This way, you can avoid carrying trash out to the curb when you're tired after work, or even worse, after you've already changed into your pajamas for the night!

Add a Cleaning Spray and Squeegee to Your Shower

Name your least favorite cleaning tasks. Did scrubbing the shower tiles land on the list? To make a shower deep-clean less daunting, add the Nellie’s Shower & Bath Cleaner to your shower stall. After each shower, spritz down the tiles and allow to dry. For a deeper clean, spray the entire area and allow the solution to set for 30 seconds to loosen the dirt. Scrub with a non-abrasive sponge if necessary, rinse, and then wipe clean. Soap scum won’t stand a chance!

Let Garbage Time Cue Your Fridge Cleanup

When you go to tie up a bag of garbage, let it remind you to quickly check the fridge. Scan for cheese that's moldy and milk past the expiration date. If you take a quick peek every time you take out the trash, you'll avoid disasters like liquefied produce, while minimizing the amount of time potentially smelly items hang out in your kitchen trash can or compost bin.

Stash a WOW Mop in the Bathroom

In the bathroom, dust, hair, and towel fuzz tends to collect quickly. Store the WOW Mop nearby so you can do a quick floor cleaning after your morning shower or after styling your hair. Especially if you have a bulky full-size vacuum that's difficult to lug around, this trick will let you go longer between vacuuming and mopping sessions.