I remember when I was an annoying child and my mum used to ask me to clean my room, I reply "Why? Whose coming, the Queen!". Never did I think a truer word would be spoken and while she won't be popping in for tea, its good to know if I did get the heads up that she'd be appearing I'd know just what to do inside 15 minutes!
What it is: A 15 Minute Cleanup is the quickest step-by-step guide to cleaning a room in 15 minutes or less. While the room may not pass the white glove test, it will be more than presentable to guests, royalty or otherwise!
What it Isn’t: A 15 Minute Cleanup is not the only cleaning regimen you’ll need to keep your home in tip top shape. It’s not the general intense cleaning we all love to do, (!), but a brief pickup of a room.
Why A 15 Minute Cleanup Works: A 15 Minute Cleanup works because it recognizes that there are three types of items we need to clean up in a room. Everything falls into one of three categories...
- Trash
- Things that don't belong in the room.
- Things that belong in the room, in a different place.
Having only a few categories to sort items into makes a pickup run more smoothly. The 15 Minute Cleanups also work because they are designed to maintain a room. Having a 15 Minute Cleaning session in a room several times a week will keep your home looking great between more intense cleanings.
More Intense Cleanups:
If you need a little more intense cleanup, you can try the following. These cleanups will take you between 1-2 hours per room depending on how much cleaning they’ve had lately. When you make your cleaning schedule, you can use the 15 Minute Cleanups and the Intense Cleanups together to create a perfectly clean home.
You can do it in 15 min!! GO!!!
What Supplies You Need:
- Vacuum Cleaner Dusting Attachment (for high ceilings, walls, corners)
- Dusting Spray and/or
- Furniture Polish- Malones Wax can be used for wood around the house.
- Microfiber cloths (for general and intricate dusting)
- A dust rag, basket, bag, or box to put non-living room items.
15 Minute Living Area Cleanup
This cleanup can work for formal and informal living areas and sitting areas. It also works for the other rooms where entertaining is done. The idea with this cleanup is to get the room ready for guests, or events without spending a lot of time on the details. Hoover, dust and dump the junk.
- Put all items that do not belong in the living room in a container.
- Tackle the couch.
- Dust down the coffee table and arrange its contents properly.
- Put all items that do not belong in the living room in a container.
- Dust down the coffee table and arrange its contents properly.
- Neatly arrange the magazines and books.
- Vacuum or sweep up the floor.
- Put away your dust rag and vacuum or broom.
15 Minute Kitchen Cleanup
The kitchen cleanup aims to remove trash, dirty dishes, and unwanted items from a kitchen, making it ready to be used, or in good shape for guests to be around. While you won’t scrub out the refrigerator, or clean under the sink in this cleanup (save that for the spring clean), do remove any rubbish and dishes, making your kitchen clean and clutter free.
Grab all of your needed supplies together (listed above.)
- Basic Cleaning Supply listed above
- Best All-Purpose Cleaners– Malones Anti Bacterial may be useful for around the kitchen
- Best Housekeeping Gloves
Run a sink of hot, soapy water.
If you have a double sink with a garbage disposal on one side, make sure to use the disposal-free side. Keeping the disposal side free will allow you to scrape leftovers down the drain quickly while you work.
Scrape off all the dishes into the trash or garbage disposal.
If step 2 has blocked your disposal, scrape the dishes off onto a dirty plate. Try to choose the dishes that are going to give you or your dishwasher the most trouble to get clean. Put the heavily soiled dishes on the bottom. Large dishes like pans and bowls can be filled with hot soapy water and set on the counter to soak.
- While the dishes are soaking, go through the kitchen clearing out trash from your floor, countertops, cupboards, etc.
- Move on to gathering all the items that do not belong in the kitchen. Put all these items into a basket (see supplies).
- Put away all of the items that belong in the kitchen but are not in their proper places.
- Load the dishwasher or wash by hand.
- Wash down your countertops, appliances, and sink.
- Sweep and mop, or vacuum.
- Take out the trash.
15 Minute Bathroom Cleanup
The bathroom cleanup helps you quickly organise and wipe down bathroom surfaces. Give the loo a good scrub - this should really be done every day or two days minimum anyway. This cleanup will work to maintain your weekly bathroom scrub down, or get a bathroom ready in a hurry when unexpected guests show up.
- Grab your supplies
- Grab all dirty clothing and put it in a hamper.
- Grab all trash and put in the trash can.
- Take a disinfectant wipe and wipe down the sink and tub.
- Using a toilet brush and toilet cleaner, briefly scrub out the inside of the toilet.
- Using a disinfectant wipe, wipe down the outside of the toilet.
- Using glass cleaner or vinegar, wipe down the mirror.
- Pickup all the items belonging in another room.
- Return items that belong in the bathroom to their proper places.
- Sweep or mop.
15 Minute Kid’s Room Cleanup
This kid’s room cleanup is great for parents at a loss for where to begin when faced with a disaster area child’s room. It’s also perfect for older readers who can actually follow the list themselves to get their rooms clean.
- Grab your supplies.
- Grab all dirty clothing and put it in a hamper.
- Grab all trash and put it in the trash can.
- Make the bed.
- Grab all the clean clothes and refold or rehang.
- Pickup all the toys from the floor, bed, desk, etc.
- Pickup all the items that don't belong in the room and place them in a basket, box, or bag.
- Sweep and mop, or vacuum.
15 Minute Bedroom Cleanup
Like many people, I usually leave cleaning my own bedroom for last. After a busy day or week, a bedroom can be in terrible shape. This cleanup will help maintain a bedroom or give it a quick pickup just in time for a restful night.
- Grab your supplies.
- Grab all dirty clothing and put it in a hamper.
- Grab all clean clothes and refold or re-hang.
- Grab all trash and put in the trashcan.
- Make the bed.
- Pickup all the misplaced items on the floor, bed, desk, etc.
- Straighten surfaces.
- Sweep and mop or vacuum.
- Put away your supplies
That's it. You're done. Does it look like a place you'd actually like to live in?
