In today’s fast-paced world, spending hours cleaning can feel overwhelming. A home that is easier to clean is not just about maintaining appearances but also about reclaiming your time and reducing daily stress. This article explores seven practical strategies to help you design a living space that is both attractive and low-maintenance, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
According to Better Homes & Gardens, most people spend around 6 hours cleaning every week. That adds up to over 300 hours, or nearly 13 days, of your precious time each year spent keeping your place neat and tidy.
What if there were ways to reduce the time you devote to cleaning?
Here are seven ways to make your home much easier to clean. You can thank us later!
- Declutter
The more surfaces, knick-knacks, and possessions you have on display, the more time you’ll need to devote to dusting and tidying up. For this reason, it is a good idea to do a thorough decluttering of your home.
Clutter makes your home look messier, so getting rid of it not only saves you cleaning time but also improves the overall look and feel of your living spaces through a minimalist aesthetic.
When decluttering, it is good to be ruthless enough to get rid of anything you no longer use, are broken, or simply seen better days. Additionally, where possible, try to give as many of your possessions to charity, sell them, or send them to a recycling facility before getting rid of the rest of your residential junk.
- Choose Low-Maintenance Flooring
Flooring can either be your best friend or your worst enemy when it comes to cleaning. Low quality types will require lots of cleaning and generally not be able to stand up to the vigours of day-to-day home life.
In high-traffic areas like living rooms, entryways, hallways, kitchens, dining rooms, and playrooms, laminate flooring is a good option because it is durable and resistant to scratches and spills.
Likewise, laminate flooring is best suited for high moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens, while for bedrooms, you should find carpet with choices flooring that is easy to clean.
If you decide to use rugs to improve your comfort levels, choose smaller, washable ones that can be thrown in the washing machine as required.
- Opt For Washable and Durable Fabrics
Talking of washing, your furniture and textiles see a lot of daily wear and tear. So, it is a good idea also to pick materials for your furniture and textiles that are easy to maintain.
Washable slipcovers are a real-time saver for families with kids or pets because you can just throw them in the washing machine as and when needed.
Additionally, many modern fabrics are designed to resist spills and stains, so it is worth replacing your current sofas and chairs with suitable alternatives that can assist with your cleaning efforts.
Similarly, you should consider installing blinds as they tend to accumulate less dust than heavy curtains and are easier to wipe down.
- Simplify Your Kitchen Layout
The kitchen is the hub of the family home and often the hardest-working space within it. Therefore, if you can design it with cleaning in mind, it could save you hours in maintenance.
For instance, quartz or a solid surface is an excellent choice for a countertop because it does not have cracks or grout lines that collect grime and crumbs that can be hard to clean. At the same time, if you have a backsplash, it is a good idea to choose easy-to-wipe materials like glass or stainless steel.
Moreover, intricate designs on your cabinet doors may look lovely, but they can trap grease and dust in their grooves, which are a devil to clean, so stick to smooth, flat finishes that will save you a lot of time.
- Pick Easy-to-Clean Paint Finishes
It is a fact of life in every home that walls get dirty, especially in high-traffic areas like hallways, and kitchens, as well as your kids’ rooms.
You could easily spend a few hours every week trying to keep their appearance pristine. However, to avoid this, you should choose paints that are easy to wipe clean without damaging the finish.
Semi-gloss or satin finishes tend to be more durable and easier to maintain in comparison to matte paint. You can even buy washable paint for your walls from companies like dulux that are specifically designed to resist stains and scuffs.
Just make sure they are non-toxic, especially if you plan to use them in bedrooms.
- Opt for Closed Storage
Open shelving might look Instagram-worthy, but it’s a magnet for dust and other impurities, which can result in you having to clean them regularly.Â
For this reason, closed cabinets and drawers are your best bet, and they can be used throughout the home.
For instance, in living rooms closed entertainment units can store electronics and accessories while they can take the form of closed crockery cupboards instead of open shelves in kitchens.
- Embrace Smart Technology
In this age of modern technology, it is worth recognising that you don’t have to do all of the cleaning yourself. Instead, you can use modern innovations, like robot vacuums, to keep your floors clean daily with minimal effort on your part.
Additionally, state-of-the-art smart dishwashers can save you a lot of time by using sensors to optimise water and energy usage while ensuring your dishes are spotless. Similarly, self-cleaning ovens can be a real godsend, too.
Conclusion
By incorporating these seven tips—from thorough decluttering and choosing low-maintenance materials to embracing smart technology—you are taking a proactive approach toward a more organized and stress-free home. These strategies not only reduce cleaning time but also enhance your overall living environment, creating a space that is both comfortable and efficient. Enjoy the benefits of a home that works for you, giving you more time to focus on the moments that matter most.
