Having a nighttime routine. Dishes must be done, coffee maker prepped for the next day, load of laundry. So nice to see a clean kitchen first thing the following morning.
My cleaning tip is that I often invite someone to my house so that I have to get some cleaning done quickly. It’s amazing how much you can get done if you only have 30 mins.
My biggest tip is clean as you cook! Rinse cutting boards, load dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down surfaces, etc. Also, doing the dishes means cleaning the kitchen. Period.
mainly for dinner where i have more dishes for cooking, i ALWAYS clean my pots and pans before i sit down to eat😂 it gives my food some time to cool down too, so it’s not boiling hot when i try to eat it.
Becky Watson yes my tip as well! Always take something from the room im leaving (that doesn't belong there) and deposit it where it does belong. My rule is 'There's a place for everything and everything has a place.'
haaha this was my tip too. I just left my tip and then started reading comments. I swear by this!! I taught my kids this too when they were young, now if only my husband would do it! haha
I just want to say this video taught me how to clean. When I first cleaned a house the owner of the company thought I did a horrible job, she even sent me home early. Then I decided not to give up. I came across this video and LEARNED how to clean then I applied for another cleaning company. I used your three-waves1 technique and the owner plus all the clients were so impressed. Thank you again.
That’s awesome! I’m trying out house cleaning as a side gig. My first time cleaning for my SIL I completely ran out of time! What I did clean looked great but my time management is crap. So I’m hoping this technique will help. It’s good to hear from another newbie that it works!
Awesome!! I just started a cleaning job 2 weeks ago and my first week i felt so overwhelmed. But I found routine really helped me and this video has given me some great insights as well to do better. Too bad for your first boss didn’t give you the time and attention a new cleaner deserves, I feel lucky to have a gracious boss. Great job persevering!!
Thanks for the tips. Now here's one for you: Please don't set items on your stovetop unless you plan to cook them. My firefighter husband has been to many fires that started when the stove was accidentally turned on. Stay safe so you can continue bringing us these marvelous videos.
Speaking of cats, never leave sharp knives point up in the dish drainer. Cats jump off of the refrigerator or kitchen shelves all the time. Children also get up there and can fall on them. Place everything pointed DOWN.
Carolyn Greene So true, never put anything on your stovetop, sadly we learned that lesson the hard way almost 3 years ago. My husband brought groceries in to our home and he sat the bags on the stovetop. We then walked outside for just a few minutes and that was all it took for our kitchen to be engulfed in flames, as he had accidentally hit the nob on the stove with a heavy bag and it turned the burner on without our knowledge After the fire was put out the extent of the fire and smoke damage was horrendous, we had to gut almost the entire house and rebuild. I tell everyone I know to never put anything on top of the stove because it could turn into an accidental nightmare.
My tip: My kitchen cabinets don't reach all the way to the ceiling, and the space above it used to get so grimy and sticky between cleanings (because let's face it, we don't clean that space weekly). Once you've tackled that mess, you've lost all motivation to keep going. So I've lined the tops with cheap paper towels for years now - they absorb any grease and trap dust, and cleaning is as simple as replacing the toweling and wiping the trim.
My cupboards also dont go all the way to the ceiling. I have ctually removed all the upper cabinets except 1 wall. ( I am short and cant reach 2/3 of the shelves anyway). On that 1 wall we are getting some nice 1x10 and building a facade that will fit snuggly between the cabinet and ceiling and painting it to match the cabinets. That way I dont have to get a ladder our to clean up there. :)
My #1 cleaning tip that truly and truly saves me a TON of time is ALWAYS put things back after using them. It is now habitual for me. Yeah people don’t like to hear this. I tell my daughter that whenever she leaves a room she should be taking something with her! A cup, a book, a blanket, shoes .... so when it’s time for me to clean I literally don’t have Wave 1 to do! So I never have to really do too much tidying up. It’s cleaning, dusting, sweeping, and mopping that gets me! 😩. Thank you for the fantastic tips you gave today. I shall apply wave 2 & 3 today!
chantal small Dust annoys me but at the same time I hated dusting as I used to it with a microfiber cloth which took forever. And then dust piled up within a day or two because of tv etc. I got a swiffer or what you call it that uses static energy to stick on it so you kinda brush your surfaces with it. Now I can dust nearly daily in a quick quick go and Only use a cloth like once a week.
MissVasques dust and I are definite enemies. Also, I thought I was the only one who had issues with using microfiber cloths. Never purchased a swifter! Now, I have to check it out. It’s worth a try.
I have chronic illnesses, including depression and anxiety. My room looked like a tornado went through it. It's so easy to get overwhemed. So I listened to you're 3 wave method and focused on the first wave. I couldn't believe the difference just that step made to my space! TY
Doctors Song I hope having a freshly cleaned space is a nice recharge for your mental health. It does wonders for me. Can be hard to get the motivation!
Please try drinking more water, at least one cup an hour throughout the day and evening. We are about 70% water and if you read the book, "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" you will understand how being hydrated eases depression and anxiety. God bless!
Come clean mine. Lol I’d put it in baskets - look at the baskets, cuss, and shove it in a closet. (Kidding) That’s only when company is coming over 🤭😇🤣
I’m an elderly British lady + when l was younger…l had a full time career + used your exact method + my home was always immaculate. I can no longer do this + in the past 6 years I’ve lost count of the number of “so called cleaners” I’ve had in my home. In despair l did a trawl today + found you + your tutorial…so my next step is…advertise for a cleaner whom only delivers, “Clean My Space” to be found on RUclips!😉 Thank you dear girl, you deserve every success! 🙋♀️😁💕
I never knew how much time could be saved by just putting things away after you use them. I have found that my cleaning time is almost cut in half by doing this. I was just like a lot of people and didn't believe that it would make much difference, but it really does.
Linda yes! I am constantly hounding my kids and spouse to put it back where it belongs, do things right the first time, and never leave a room empty handed. If you step over something, put it away!
Putting away as you use does save lots of time, but only if you can get your spouse to do it too. From the time he comes home, I'm running after him to pick up everything he leaves. Sometimes that takes less energy than asking him to do it, 4-10 times per.
Use an apron and have ALL of your cleaning supplies with you. No going back and forth to get supplies and do not be tempted to rinse and re-rinse your cleaning cloths. Just grab a clean one. And I agree with Melissa: swipe everything onto the floor and clean it up when you do floors. So many tips of hers I agree with! Use a “W” pattern when vacuuming and break down the floor into a grid so that you don’t go over the same area twice. We own a cleaning business and can clean many of our regularly maintained homes in 3 hrs or less.
@@cristiannapoleon1247 we have found that our sweet spot is 1 tech per home making our ideal client home one that is 1600-2500 sqft. We can get in and out between 3-4 hrs per home and give our techs a full 7.5-8hr workday.
My cleaning tip is the tidy tote. Going through a room and collecting everything that doesn’t belong and putting it in the tote. Then carry the tote around and put everything in their homes.
Idk if this is necessarily time saving but I’ll put on a bomb album or playlist and see how much I can get done within that time frame. It really turns it into a game and my fiancé and I actually get a lot done. And when the playlist is over, you can be at awe with all you’ve accomplished! Or if you finish before the songs end, you can dance it out :)
Love this. I have a bad back and leg. I put everything I'll need on an Ikea rolling cart with caddies on sides to go from room to room. I look like I'm working in a hotel. I keep things on this cart all the time and it's kept in a closet. I refill b4 I start cleaning. Helps move things I find from room to back where they belong. I put bags on side for trash and dirty cloths. Makes life so much easier.
I thought of getting one, but it would probably look more like a tea or serving cart that can look good when not in use. Thanks for the reminder. Rolling, small utility tables could work, too.
I have mobility issues and an autoimmune disease, so keeping a clean home is difficult but vital. Mornings are really bad for me as far as bending down, and doing deep cleaning. What I’ve started doing is similar to your 3 wave system, but on a much slower scale. Instead of going in and cleaning a room all at once, I do things based on my symptoms. So in the mornings when I can’t bend a ton or inhale any scents because I’ll get sick, I just work on decluttering and putting things away. Then around lunch time, I do some basic stuff like dusting, wiping counters down, etc. Then, when I’m able to bend and such later in the day, I will do the actual cleaning ☺️
I agree with alot of your tips but i have found after 20+ years of cleaning homes as a full time job that focusing on finishing one room at a time is not time efficient. Do phase 1 in the entire house....then move onto phase 2 in the entire house and then finish with phase 3 in the entire house. This is definitely more time saving!
I was thinking the same thing! I'm also a a full time cleaner and I always do all the dusting for the whole house, then wiping surfaces, then vacuuming & mopping. It would drive me nuts to keep having to do some vacuuming, then switch to something else, then do more vacuuming. Makes sense to do the whole house at once.
I do phase one in the entire house, then dusting/cleaning room by room since I use different cleaning agents for bedroom/bathroom/kitchen. Then I vacuum and mop floors in the entire house. Voila.
My time-saver is actually having little to no decorations sitting openly on my furniture. I have very few items sitting directly on my coffee table, TV sand, desk and vanity and I strive to have everything hidden in drawers or behind glass doored shelves and cupboards. This way I don't have much things sitting and collecting dust and it takes me about 5 - 10 min to dust all surfaces in my whole apartment as I don't have to constantly move things around.
Maria Petkova, this is so very effective and true!! I used to clean houses and one lady had Knick knacks and photos everywhere. It took me over an hour to dust her home. My house takes 5-10 minutes to dust tops and it is quite a bit larger than hers.
@@krystalharris1259 If things are in boxes due to lack of storage space, then downsize what you have. Get rid of whatever is in the boxes you are not using. For boxes holding things you must keep, drape a decorative cloth over them, and use them as a table for lamps, potted plants or large decorations that add something to the room. You could also use that surface for a cat bed, computer stand, night stand, etc. Stack a couple of boxes to take up less floor space.
Christina Ruiz I’m ready to throw out almost all of my cute because we have an entire shelf dedicated to just cups and there’s only 3 adults and 1 child that needs cups
@@HollehhMarie I find it easier if I pull out my favorite ones first, and then see what's left. Then I go through and declutter the remaining ones. I also get in those "I'm getting rid of everything!" moods 😂
My timesaving tip is keeping my cleaning supplies on every floor. I also have a step stool and grabber on each floor. I also keep a shop vac in the basement, an old vac in a bedroom closet, and my new vacuum on the main floor. It saves me time.
I have a basket for all my general cleaning supplies and I can take it where I need it while cleaning, it's annoying though when I want to just clean something small at a random time
@@mariacrisan5975 i have the deep clean stuff under the sink but i keep multiple all purpose cleaner and floor spray bottles on the countertop. I hardly have to deep clean anything now bc i clean everything up right away with the APC spray or floor spray
Live Love Clean That’s a tip my mom used to do. I cleaned the kitchen, my sister did bathroom and and everyone else did a room. We were 5 kids and 3 adults with one bathroom in a 4 bedroom apartment. The house was clean by noon on Saturday. Every one knew Saturday morning was cleaning and dancing. My mom put dance music on the radio.
I'm a single mama, I work full-time and have a side business of raising ragdoll kitty cats and one of my good friends has cancer. I am offered to clean her house tomorrow and I'm thinking what I don't have time for this but I do like I'm just doing it. So I love learning how to be efficient about it Thank you for these tips. We all work hard and I'm grateful for your insight!
I work in a kitchen and we use paint scrapers to scrape any off food messes or buildup before wiping the area down. So that's my tip. Its expecially great for the stoves and dried dough that stuck to the counter.
wow . . . I like to have a spatula or rubber scraper around when I do dishes, as one extra utensil doesn't make a difference, really. It makes it go much faster!
I think today was the first time I ever really got to cleaning my house! And I am 30 years old. It was super productive by using your 3 wave method. I feel like it could look professionally cleaned in just a few days. 3300 sf and I have 6 kids, a great dane and 4 cats and I actually feel hopeful with this method I could get ahead of cleaning and spend more quality time doing things I love with the people I love.
My daughter is 4 and I’m teaching her to clean up after herself such as putting toys back where they belong, putting away books on her shelf, fixing her bed, this all not only helps her learn to clean but also saves time when cleaning the house vs cleaning up after her. If you make it fun it’s like playing a game.
Mari Catala, that's brilliant. Kids love to help at that young age and by praising their work you are reinforcing good habits that will last a lifetime.
My number one time saver is using a swiffer mop to clean my cabinets, stove, dishwasher fronts and doors. The swiffer also does a great job on the bathroom tub, shower, cabinets and walls. too. I use an old face cloth or dishtowel instead of those detergent laden swiffer cloths that I have to use an extra step to rinse off, so it doesnt attract dirt. I am 73 and I don't like bending and stretching to get sparkling clean rooms. Using the swiffer gets it done in a fraction of the time. Hmmn, I should add this in a video on my channel among the other hacks that have worked great for decades ;) Thanks for the inspiration & motivation, Melissa!
I use brooms to scrub wet floors, then mop up the water. The bristles are great for grout, textured vinyl that builds up grime, and gets corners better than a mop. A clean mop from Dollar Tree is great for cobwebs on the ceiling, scrubbing out the oven, or cleaning high and low cabinets. You can get several of the mops so you are not constantly washing them out. Clean them all at the end. Be careful on step stools!
My life changed when I started preparing the house for sleeping, i.e. putting things in order and cleaning a bit here and there, before going to bed. And also, putting things in order and wiping the kitchen and the bathroom before leaving the house. This helps me stay on top of things and my house is always in a decent shape, even if I get surprise visits (those don’t scare me anymore! 🤣🥰)
I am a slob and a clutterbug and my house is a disaster much of the time, but when you talked about bringing the trash and recycle cans in a bin into a room, I smiled, because that's something I already do! Yay me! I am not completely hopeless.
If you have several loads of laundry to do, keep it circulating through the washer/dryer as soon as you can. You save drying time this way because the dryer is all warmed up from the previous load.
I do this. I don't do laundry daily. I wait until I can have a laundry day or night when it is cooler and won't heat the house up. I save a ton on my power bill.
This was one of the most helpful cleaning videos I've seen. In case you are like me and do not have a home for each thing and you have a table or some corner with clutter - I did not know where it belongs and once I had all the things in the basket of things that should not be there, I put it right back where they were, but in a less messy way. Neetly placed clutter looks much better (and cleaner) than messy clutter.
This was actually my next question. We are having the house painted so we decided no shelves or anything should be up until that's done. Now I'm just piling Totes and tote bags constantly confused as to where to even go with it.
Your videos have particularly revolutionized how I clean my bathrooms. I used to just maintain them, but didn't have the patience to clean them as thoroughly and with the proper products until I found your channel. My biggest time saving tip has been to "pre-treat" surfaces in both bathrooms and then clean sequentially using cloths. I also clean the shower while showering as a treat for finally getting the job done!
Careful cleaning the shower while you're showering! I did it and almost died! Honest to God! I got a reaction to the cleaning chemicals I was using on the tile floor. Using my feet to scrub the floor with one of those fancy sponges with the rough side on one side. The cleaning chemical fumes made my "Air Passage" in my throat close up and I couldn't breath in or out for almost two (2) minutes!!!! I panicked and thought I was going to die! (I hope this message saves someone's life.
I like the never leave a room empty handed rule, and to motivate myself to clean, I set a timer for 10-15 mins, and make myself do it, 99% of the time I am in "the zone" by then and keep going. But knowing I only HAVE to do it until the timer goes off motivates me to get started.
Be a minimalist. Have less items to clean to minimize the amount of furniture/surface space in your home. Surfaces attract clutter and having less furniture makes your home exponentially easier and faster to clean. Think about cleaning a bookshelf with 5 shelves vs 1 floating shelf, the bookshelf has 10x more surface space to clean and also accumulates dust under and behind it which is tricky to reach. Another example: Hanging all your clothes in the closet = no surface space to clean... vs having multiple XL dressers = lots of surface space to clean on and around.
My tip is to rinse your dishes. It is much easier to clean the dishes if the main debris or sauces/liquids are out of them. It saves you having to take the time to soak them or scrub at them to get them clean. That way, when you do the dishes or load the dishwasher - they're basically already going in clean for a rinse off. ;)
I find that using paper plates for cold or warm foods helps cut down the dishes. Using smaller saucers for small meals helps both dishes and my body. Reusing my own dishes (maybe I had a meal earlier but the plate just has crumbs or something) helps too. This goes for glasses for water, and recent use for milk or juice. Just rinse it and reuse.
I don’t put anything in the dishwasher that hasn’t been rinsed. I think that’s gross. It takes at least a week before our dishwasher is full. I couldn’t imagine leaving stuck on food for a day much less a week.
My number one time-saving cleaning tip is literally just owning less stuff since owning less stuff in the first place means less time spent cleaning your stuff.
Thanks Melissa, I love your strategy for attacking a room. I have been trying to teach my teens to do this, without success unfortunately. I feel when I clean and de-clutter, it de-clutters my brain, and I am more productive as a person. It lowers my stress to have things away, and knowing I have reduced how much bacteria and germs are in my home. Too many people fill their homes with "stuff", great places for dust and bacteria to be hiding! Minimize people!! lol. Love from B.C. Canada wherever you are!
I don't know if this counts as generic, but I always clean as messes are made. When cooking, I put what I've used into the dishwasher/trash. After eating, I rinse dishes and put them right into the dishwasher. When dirty clothes come off or dirty clothes, towels, etc. Are used, they go right into the hamper. Things like that. I also don't pile things on the obvious places such as my counter or couch. When I walk into my apt., I hang up my coat. I hang up my keys. I put my shoes on the shoe rack. I put my purse or whatever it may be in my bedroom or wherever it needs to go. It keeps things cleaner, longer.
It saves so much time and energy. It also is similar to being ready for the next step. If a saucepan needs soaking then soak it asap. Waiting until you are too tired to care sets you up for more work not less.
The fact that I’ve done everything you’ve shared in your videos means I’ve been doing a hell of a job, especially now that I have clarification that what I’m doing is correct is awesome!!
Biggest cumulative timesaver overall for me is to organize my storage so that when I take out or put away any object, I don't have to touch any other object to do it. That makes it super quick to put things away as I use them. That may mean owning less stuff so that things are not stacked on top of each other but so be it. Having time is better than having stuff. I call it one-handed put-away. The other thing is that whenever I think about buying something new, before I buy it I always ask "Do I have a place to store this? Where will this thing "live" when I'm not using it?" That question has saved me a lot of money as well as cleaning time.
I don't know if you would read this but I have been breaking as a mother a wife everything I once known has disappeared I took your cleaning advice and I feel proud of myself today I see something has gotten done thank you
Great reminders & tips! I used to clean homes for a living years ago & my home used to be spotless at any given time until I had kids. Now I'm so overwhelmed with it most of the time I don't even know where to start with the little time I have available to clean. What a great refresher course & motivation! Thank you so much!!!! ♥️
Don’t know if it saves time, but it saves my days off... it’s to break my cleaning into small sections that I do every day so that I don’t have to clean on my days off. So I clean the bathroom after work one day. I do a load of laundry before work one day, etc. So I do a little something every day and then my days off are just that!
This is basically what I do and it’s pretty affective!! Assign each major chore a day of the week and knock it out first thing in the morning. Everything gets deep cleaned weekly and then I “Base clean” at in the evening
This guide is possibly one of the best cleaning guides out there. Quick, simple, efficient. Everything I could've hoped to and more. Thank you so much for the great tips and tricks! I'll definitely be utilizing this in my home from now on.
You can eliminate Wave 1 if you and your family put things away after using them. Might be difficult at first, but it's a behavior that can be learned.
That's what I think I'll do after cleaning. And I clean regularly for a couple of days and somethings happen and before I know it's a clutter and I have to clean it or can't sleep. This time I'll try hard to make it a habit.
Great topic! My #1 tip is to not overclean. If I'm trying to get a dirt, dust etc. from an area, once that has been accomplished I move on to another area.
Plan to have a yard/garage sale in the spring and start gathering items that are no longer needed or wanted. What doesn’t sell, donate. This has always motivated me to declutter and free up space in closets and cabinets over the years. It’s even fun if you have friends or neighbors join you😊!
We do an annual purge. If you haven’t used it in a year (generally speaking) it gets donated. Less clutter and less to clean. Being organized is the best way to keep a clean home.
I have a house in the country. When people call and say they're coming by, I apply the 15 minute rule. I try to always keep my house near enough that I can straighten it up in 15 minutes or less. I immediately straighten up the living room first, then the bathroom, then I use the remaining time to put away/wash dishes and/or sweep and tidy up. It has saved me multiple times.
"There is no sweeping it into your hand and throwing it into the garbage. We don't have time for that. You are going to be a savage and throw everything onto the floor." I love it!!! I laughed so hard. :D
My favorites are “It was never dirty”, and “Don’t put it down, put it away.” Basically, the first one means clean as you go, and the second one came from one of your CMS subscribers. Awesome and life changing.
I am so gonna do this 3 wave cleaning routine😮 it's great & so sensible I don't know why I haven't thought of it before! I'm such a clean freak!! Thanks so much BTW I love your dress 😉
I can't even get myself to do hardly any cleaning when my husband is around. It's like hey my playmate is here! Let's play, not work! I think that's a good thing because I had an older friend years ago who said one of the reasons for her divorce was that she spent too much time doing other things (including cleaning) when her husband just wanted time with her. Not too much to ask of a spouse right?
Melissa, serious question: what made you want to start a cleaning business if you didn't know how to clean in the beginning? I would be really curious to hear the backstory to this.
It’s just my husband, me and a golden retriever.. We tackle our home together and in an hour or so the whole place sparkles and we relax and enjoy... he vacuums and I do the details.. (baths, dusting and mopping.. 🙂) team work makes the dream work..
Hi, i live in england but have watched all your youtube videos and have just brought your book which i cant put down, i esspeccialy love all your home made chemical free products, i have always enjoyed cleaning but cant wait to start cleaning the clean my space way ! i just wanted to say thankyou from tracy in the U. K. x
As a worker in cleaning company base on my experience first steps brushing the floor using broom,2nd wiping or duster from dirtiest to cleanliness,,I have 5wave starting from balcony,comfort room and the last is kitchen,,so far my client is satisfied to my work and as of now we still moving and doing this job in my company,,,,🥰🥰🥰very easy and fast cleaning technique,,,
Melissa, you are truly inspiring and life saver! I would love to know what is your advice for maintaining a house clean for as long as possible so that we don't have to do big cleanings very often. Thank you so much for all your tips, effort and positivity ❤️
I am 59 years old and wish I had known this 40 yeas ago! I always cleaned top to bottom, but never using the "wave" system. I am going home tonight to try this! My time-saving cleaning tip is to immediately put things away once I use them. I found that having a home for everything makes this much easier!
My mom had a great trip. High shelves above cabinets in the kitchen and on top of fridge. Rather than climbing up and wiping down, she places newspaper on top ( can't be seen). Then she just takes it down and recycles it. Much easier than wiping down those awkward, high places.
Wow, this video helped me alot today. I've been severley depressed for a long time. By using your system I now have a very clean kitchen and tomorrow I will tackle the bathroom. Cleaning usually brings me alot of anxiety but taking section by section makes it feel doable and I can take breaks in between. Thank you so very much for sharing! ❤
Since my wife died 3 years ago I haven't touched a thing in my home. The dust is atrocious! I think this video will get me started now. Irene I don't know if it's depression that has prevented me from doing anything, but I bet it might be now that you told your story. Thanks!
Your method is so simple I can't believe I never figured it out myself. But I didn't. My problem is that no one ever taught me how to clean. My mother was a terrible housekeeper. So was her mother. And so was I. Until now. Thank you so much!
We don't know what we don't know. I wasn't good at organizing or decluttering until I tried the Marie Kondo method. It taught me a ton! Worked great for getting rid of all the junk, but I still need a method for weekly cleaning. I'm hoping this one works! At least now I have a place to put everything when I try. 😅
I was so stressed and cleaning was taking forever. I was doing it all wrong. Your tips works wonders and It helps me with being a perfectionist. Thank you so much! You changed my cleaning life forever 💖
I like to clean at my most productive time of the day. That's either early morning or later at night. I know to avoid my slump part of the day which allows me to clean with the most energy and motivation. Playing music or listening to these awesome cleaning videos help me stay moving too!
My tip is: always fold laundry when it's done& sill warm from the dryer. It folds better when warm. If you don't have time tofold immediately, leave it in the dryer, as it stays warm for quite a while. Got this from a busy, homeschooling mom. Also, could you tell me what kind of vacuum cleaner I see you using in your cleaning videos?
Great video. My #1 cleaning tip as you are moving around the room is to never put an object on a surface that hasn’t been cleaned yet. You’d be surprised how many people keep shuffling the stuff around. Just put it back where it belongs. If you’re waiting for the surface to dry, put it on an already cleaned space.
The best, most useful cleaning tip I ever had was to vacuum with a small flashlight. I never miss pet hair or dust, even on baseboards or corners. Amazing!
Bestest method. Love you Melissa. I hated cleaning and a messy dirty room at the same time, but your channel has changed me as person in terms to cleaning and keeping my house tidy. From the bottom of my heart thank you. ❤️
Time-Saving Cleaning Tip: while cleaning the first floor of my home, I will place things that go upstairs on the bottom stair, instead of taking a million trips up and down while cleaning downstairs. Then when I am done, I grab a basket and put everything inside of it and take it all up at once.
My best cleaning tip was to invite people into your home after I get off work. Suddenly, my wife gets really motivated about cleaning and mobilizes the kids and I come home to a clean house. But since the pandemic started, that doesn't work anymore. So here I am, subscribed to your channel and ready to learn.😁
Personally I like the spiral method, you start in a corner, and clean about a foot width and go around in a circle around your room. That way you dont miss anything around the edges and everything will end up in the middle of the room at the end so you can clearly see what is left, and you are basically clearing a path to walk around to put stuff away easier. its super quick and works really well for those who have cluttered their rooms a lot (even to the point of not seeing the floor). it helps you not shove stuff to the side you “dont want to deal with” as well
Yes!! This is just what I do too! I use a large bin. Organizing before cleaning gives you steps that break the process up to smaller less frustrating mini jobs and funny how it makes it all easier. You will do less fumbling around trust me. Pick up the big things then sweep everything to middle of the room.
My time saving cleaning tip: while I’m in the shower waiting for my conditioner to absorb & my facial mask to set, I magic eraser the shower walls & glass.
I took the advice of the Fly Lady and keep glass cleaner and (paper) towels under the sink cabinet and toilet brush near each toilet so everyday I can do a once over and it only takes 5 minutes to spray down mirrors, vanity, and toilets and swish the toilets and it is clean. So no embarrassing messes for unexpected guests.
I like hard surfaces more than soft especially when you have pets. Although in an older home soft is a bit warmer on the feet. Vinyl hands down is so easy to clean. I just did my kitchen and living area in vinyl and it's the best solution in our house. We don't have pets as our 16-year-old pup died last year. I live on a dusty street so cleaning every other day is imminent...Thanks for the years of fantastic cleaning advice and hacks! I love to watch!
Great video. When my kids were little, I used Box, Bag and Basket. The basket was for clothes, or linens. The box for misplaced items. The bag for trash. Walk in a circle and that is sometimes most of the cleaning.
Yes! I've recently been using vinegar with essential oils to clean my kitchen countertops, and it is WONDERFUL! I still use 409 to sanitize after I've had meat or eggs on the counter, but if I just need to tidy up, I use the vinegar solution. No rinsing! And it leaves my countertops so shiny
@@Megan-tm9de A 1-to-1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water will sanitize for you naturally. Commercial cleaning products give me a splitting headache. I keep a spray bottle (half hydrogen peroxide, half water) under every sink - kitchen and each bath - and use them to clean and to mop. The only negatives that I've found is it won't prevent hard water buildup if you have hard water; and if you use it on something porous, like grout that is not white, it will turn parts of it white. Happy cleaning!
This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing. I even took notes!!! My son loves ketchup but always leaves a big blob on his plate and brings it from his room 2 days later ... Sometimes 3 or 4 plates like this. Time saving tip is to not even bother trying to clean. Submerge in soapy water for 30 minutes while doing something else. Not a great tip but it is so easy to clean after this.
I've been cleaning on my own for many years and I also follow these steps especially working my way out of the rooms I hate to walk back over a swept floor unless it's my own home 😉
My time saving tip is using my shower squeegee on the glass every time I take a shower. My fiancé never picks up his dirty drawers off the floor BUT he sure can use that shower squeegee!
thank you dear Melissa for your precious help! I tried this threewave system out and had a really great time cleaning efficiently and less stressfully because I could see the difference immidiately!(bc if you clean at one place and then in another and dont clean clockwise you see some little difference between all the existing mess ) my number one cleaning tip is to get inspired and educated by your videos and methods and think "What would Melissa do ?" while cleaning❤☺ thanks again sweetheart
One of my "speedy" tips goes along with my daily morning or night routine when in regards to counters, though it kind of leaps over the clock method lol. But really helps with bigger, weekly or monthly cleaning. Every morning, I start my coffee and do my usual tidying and decluttering of the downstairs area (kitchen, powder room, living room, entry, dining), which is also prepping for a daily vacuum (thanks to a dog, construction worker, 2 dirt roads, allergies, venomous insects) . Because I vacuum my couch daily due to fur, I'll shake out and move pillows, trays and throws during this phase too. We don't leave dishes in the sink, which became a rule a few years ago, and Man Unit usually empties the dishwasher for me before I wake up since I do everything else. If it's dusting day, I'll brush the dog and then use my Swiffer 360 duster (speedy godsend lol) and dust all surfaces, including blinds, doors, fixtures, vents, etc., so that I'm not scrubbing during a monthly or quarterly cleanfest due to dirt and dust not building up and adhering due to humidity and whatever else. This rarely takes more than 5 minutes. I may also add in a quick weekly chore if I feel up to it (e.g. tossing out leftovers and briefly wiping down fridge or pantry, or wiping down kitchen cabinets with a damp microfiber cloth). Regardless if it's a dusting day, I always pop on music, news, non-distracting RUclips video, affirmations, or audio book to listen to and then clean kitchen counters after we're done eating and making coffee. Most days, I'll spray down the kitchen and then the powder room counters and toilet tank, lid, room and counters since it's nearby. Then I'll wipe down kitchen counters, followed by bathroom counters and then the toilet, starting from top to bottom, which takes less than a minute and a half. This way, any deep cleaning of the bathroom during a weekly cleaning is less than five minutes, monthly deep clean less than 10 , if I hustle, and I can focus on cleaning other areas of the room since there's no lint or buildup to contend with and its already done. Bonus: I'm never embarrassed if a surprise guest needs to use the restroom nor rushing to do it before they arrive, and the bathroom is no longer my most hated chore because it's stupid easy to do now lol. Then I just vacuum and put things where they belong by area. Settimg a timer initially, as I was just starting this routine, and watching how much time each task takes at first also helped motivate me the next time and kept me from overhyping how long a task will supposedly take -- meaning, less procrastinating in the future. I always assumed certain tasks would take way longer than it actually would, and so I'd blow it off until it became truly time consuming vs just a few minutes. If i slip a day or do very minimal, the house still looks great and I feel less stressed. Average total time (tidying, vacuuming, counters, depending on what I did the might before and how far I move): 6-10 Dusting day: 10-15 Additional micro chore or two: 12-20
Meg C Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! Really appreciate that you took the time to write out your CAN DO IT ALL IN NO TIME tips! Love how you get started while the coffee's brewing!
7 EXPERT CLEANING TIPS YOU NEED TO BE USING: ruclips.net/video/-C-ic2H24OU/видео.html
Thank love love it thank goodness I’m hungry
@@zymski 😊😅😊😅😊😅😊😅😅😊😊😅😅😅😊😊😊😊😅😅😊😊😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😅😊😅
Hi, what if I don’t have any baking soda? Can I just use spray cleaner?
¹¹qq@@zymski
Having a nighttime routine. Dishes must be done, coffee maker prepped for the next day, load of laundry. So nice to see a clean kitchen first thing the following morning.
Shani o
Great idea! Plus, it is actually cheaper to run major appliances like washer, dishwasher after 9pm.
that's me. I love to wake up to a clean house and enjoy peacefully my morning coffee
@@mijuajua4820 That depends what country you live in.
@@mijuajua4820 Thx for the reminder. I run my dishwasher mostly at night.
My cleaning tip is that I often invite someone to my house so that I have to get some cleaning done quickly. It’s amazing how much you can get done if you only have 30 mins.
Same, if I know I have people over, I find I can clean the whole house perfectly in half the time.
Lol! So true!!!!
Thats exactly what i do..it motivates me to clean 😁
Omg I thought I was the only one lol
I do the same!!
My biggest tip is clean as you cook! Rinse cutting boards, load dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down surfaces, etc. Also, doing the dishes means cleaning the kitchen. Period.
I do that too! Especially things that can't go into the dishwasher are much easier to clean while fat/sauces etc are still soft or warm.
Totally agree! Nothing worse than a filthy and full sink and counters after cooking or baking.
Tiffany Mane; can you yell that at my husband, please. he's a great but messy cook.
mainly for dinner where i have more dishes for cooking, i ALWAYS clean my pots and pans before i sit down to eat😂 it gives my food some time to cool down too, so it’s not boiling hot when i try to eat it.
Yesss this is what I do when I’m cooking clean as I go is a huge and great tip 👍 this saves soo much time at the end of the meal
My tip I use is to never leave a room empty handed. There is always something that needs to be taken and thrown away or put away!
I use that rule too and it so helpful to keep clutter down!
Becky Watson yes my tip as well! Always take something from the room im leaving (that doesn't belong there) and deposit it where it does belong.
My rule is 'There's a place for everything and everything has a place.'
haaha this was my tip too. I just left my tip and then started reading comments. I swear by this!! I taught my kids this too when they were young, now if only my husband would do it! haha
I just want to say this video taught me how to clean. When I first cleaned a house the owner of the company thought I did a horrible job, she even sent me home early. Then I decided not to give up. I came across this video and LEARNED how to clean then I applied for another cleaning company. I used your three-waves1 technique and the owner plus all the clients were so impressed. Thank you again.
Good for you. I love the will to better yourself, instead of giving up.😊 Not many people do that.
@@RFernandez18 thank you 🥰
That’s awesome! I’m trying out house cleaning as a side gig. My first time cleaning for my SIL I completely ran out of time! What I did clean looked great but my time management is crap. So I’m hoping this technique will help. It’s good to hear from another newbie that it works!
Awesome!! I just started a cleaning job 2 weeks ago and my first week i felt so overwhelmed. But I found routine really helped me and this video has given me some great insights as well to do better. Too bad for your first boss didn’t give you the time and attention a new cleaner deserves, I feel lucky to have a gracious boss. Great job persevering!!
@@in_marlalalandit really works.
Thanks for the tips. Now here's one for you: Please don't set items on your stovetop unless you plan to cook them. My firefighter husband has been to many fires that started when the stove was accidentally turned on. Stay safe so you can continue bringing us these marvelous videos.
Carolyn Greene p
So true
thank you for this reminder.
Speaking of cats, never leave sharp knives point up in the dish drainer. Cats jump off of the refrigerator or kitchen shelves all the time. Children also get up there and can fall on them. Place everything pointed DOWN.
Carolyn Greene So true, never put anything on your stovetop, sadly we learned that lesson the hard way almost 3 years ago. My husband brought groceries in to our home and he sat the bags on the stovetop. We then walked outside for just a few minutes and that was all it took for our kitchen to be engulfed in flames, as he had accidentally hit the nob on the stove with a heavy bag and it turned the burner on without our knowledge After the fire was put out the extent of the fire and smoke damage was horrendous, we had to gut almost the entire house and rebuild. I tell everyone I know to never put anything on top of the stove because it could turn into an accidental nightmare.
My tip: My kitchen cabinets don't reach all the way to the ceiling, and the space above it used to get so grimy and sticky between cleanings (because let's face it, we don't clean that space weekly). Once you've tackled that mess, you've lost all motivation to keep going. So I've lined the tops with cheap paper towels for years now - they absorb any grease and trap dust, and cleaning is as simple as replacing the toweling and wiping the trim.
Love this, thank you!
I do the same!
My cupboards also dont go all the way to the ceiling. I have ctually removed all the upper cabinets except 1 wall. ( I am short and cant reach 2/3 of the shelves anyway). On that 1 wall we are getting some nice 1x10 and building a facade that will fit snuggly between the cabinet and ceiling and painting it to match the cabinets. That way I dont have to get a ladder our to clean up there. :)
That is a brilliant idea!!!!
I do the same only I line the top with newspapers
My #1 cleaning tip that truly and truly saves me a TON of time is ALWAYS put things back after using them. It is now habitual for me. Yeah people don’t like to hear this. I tell my daughter that whenever she leaves a room she should be taking something with her! A cup, a book, a blanket, shoes .... so when it’s time for me to clean I literally don’t have Wave 1 to do! So I never have to really do too much tidying up. It’s cleaning, dusting, sweeping, and mopping that gets me! 😩. Thank you for the fantastic tips you gave today. I shall apply wave 2 & 3 today!
chantal small Dust annoys me but at the same time I hated dusting as I used to it with a microfiber cloth which took forever. And then dust piled up within a day or two because of tv etc.
I got a swiffer or what you call it that uses static energy to stick on it so you kinda brush your surfaces with it.
Now I can dust nearly daily in a quick quick go and Only use a cloth like once a week.
MissVasques dust and I are definite enemies. Also, I thought I was the only one who had issues with using microfiber cloths. Never purchased a swifter! Now, I have to check it out. It’s worth a try.
Ugh I get so tired of saying this over and over.
This is the one I'm training myself on now.
Omg! Thats a brilliant tip you gave your daughter. I am definitely implementing that into my own routine. Thanks for the tip.
Clean when you're mad about something... Super nitrous turbo adrenalin cleaning!
This is my tip too! I always clean so fast when I'm mad. I just pour all my energy and frustration out on the mess.
Yes!!
Yes!!
I call these moments "the lieutenant Ripley's commando operation" ! Super efficient ;-)
😁
I have chronic illnesses, including depression and anxiety. My room looked like a tornado went through it. It's so easy to get overwhemed. So I listened to you're 3 wave method and focused on the first wave. I couldn't believe the difference just that step made to my space! TY
Doctors Song I hope having a freshly cleaned space is a nice recharge for your mental health. It does wonders for me. Can be hard to get the motivation!
Use a timer and work then rest in 15 minute increments, it helps prevent overdoing.
Please try drinking more water, at least one cup an hour throughout the day and evening. We are about 70% water and if you read the book, "Your Body's Many Cries for Water" you will understand how being hydrated eases depression and anxiety. God bless!
God is our truest sources of love and peace🙏🏻 I pray you may know Him in a fresh real way today.
& cleaning surely helps with peace of mind too
Come clean mine. Lol I’d put it in baskets - look at the baskets, cuss, and shove it in a closet. (Kidding) That’s only when company is coming over 🤭😇🤣
I’m an elderly British lady + when l was younger…l had a full time career + used your exact method + my home was always immaculate.
I can no longer do this + in the past 6 years I’ve lost count of the number of “so called cleaners” I’ve had in my home.
In despair l did a trawl today + found you + your tutorial…so my next step is…advertise for a cleaner whom only delivers, “Clean My Space” to be found on RUclips!😉
Thank you dear girl, you deserve every success! 🙋♀️😁💕
I never knew how much time could be saved by just putting things away after you use them. I have found that my cleaning time is almost cut in half by doing this. I was just like a lot of people and didn't believe that it would make much difference, but it really does.
Linda yes! I am constantly hounding my kids and spouse to put it back where it belongs, do things right the first time, and never leave a room empty handed. If you step over something, put it away!
I recently started doing this as well and I’m shocked at how much more time I have!
Linda f
Putting away as you use does save lots of time, but only if you can get your spouse to do it too. From the time he comes home, I'm running after him to pick up everything he leaves. Sometimes that takes less energy than asking him to do it, 4-10 times per.
I
Use an apron and have ALL of your cleaning supplies with you. No going back and forth to get supplies and do not be tempted to rinse and re-rinse your cleaning cloths. Just grab a clean one. And I agree with Melissa: swipe everything onto the floor and clean it up when you do floors. So many tips of hers I agree with! Use a “W” pattern when vacuuming and break down the floor into a grid so that you don’t go over the same area twice. We own a cleaning business and can clean many of our regularly maintained homes in 3 hrs or less.
I would love to hear more tips like these.
@@jeriward2332 Hi Jeri! We have a client in Garland by your same name. Blessings!
@@jeriward2332 same!!
How many people do you usually have cleaning the homes at a time?
@@cristiannapoleon1247 we have found that our sweet spot is 1 tech per home making our ideal client home one that is 1600-2500 sqft. We can get in and out between 3-4 hrs per home and give our techs a full 7.5-8hr workday.
My cleaning tip is the tidy tote. Going through a room and collecting everything that doesn’t belong and putting it in the tote. Then carry the tote around and put everything in their homes.
Idk if this is necessarily time saving but I’ll put on a bomb album or playlist and see how much I can get done within that time frame. It really turns it into a game and my fiancé and I actually get a lot done. And when the playlist is over, you can be at awe with all you’ve accomplished! Or if you finish before the songs end, you can dance it out :)
Destinee Kenerson I try to get my husband to clean to no avail. It’s aggravating!
I put on dance party music . . . .
Love this. I have a bad back and leg. I put everything I'll need on an Ikea rolling cart with caddies on sides to go from room to room. I look like I'm working in a hotel. I keep things on this cart all the time and it's kept in a closet. I refill b4 I start cleaning. Helps move things I find from room to back where they belong. I put bags on side for trash and dirty cloths. Makes life so much easier.
That's a brilliant 💡 idea!!!
I love trollies. Now we have bad backs instead!
I thought of getting one, but it would probably look more like a tea or serving cart that can look good when not in use. Thanks for the reminder. Rolling, small utility tables could work, too.
Barbara Level: Holy mackerel! You have a genius idea. Thank you for sharing!!👍👍
@@hyggegirlstefx988 thanks--it works great for me.
I have mobility issues and an autoimmune disease, so keeping a clean home is difficult but vital. Mornings are really bad for me as far as bending down, and doing deep cleaning.
What I’ve started doing is similar to your 3 wave system, but on a much slower scale. Instead of going in and cleaning a room all at once, I do things based on my symptoms. So in the mornings when I can’t bend a ton or inhale any scents because I’ll get sick, I just work on decluttering and putting things away. Then around lunch time, I do some basic stuff like dusting, wiping counters down, etc.
Then, when I’m able to bend and such later in the day, I will do the actual cleaning ☺️
You and I are in the same boat. It sounds like I wrote your post to describe myself. Hugs and understanding
My top tip is to spray & walk away. I then go back & wipe whatever I need to.
This especially works well on kitchen worktops.
I agree with alot of your tips but i have found after 20+ years of cleaning homes as a full time job that focusing on finishing one room at a time is not time efficient. Do phase 1 in the entire house....then move onto phase 2 in the entire house and then finish with phase 3 in the entire house. This is definitely more time saving!
I was thinking the same thing! I'm also a a full time cleaner and I always do all the dusting for the whole house, then wiping surfaces, then vacuuming & mopping. It would drive me nuts to keep having to do some vacuuming, then switch to something else, then do more vacuuming. Makes sense to do the whole house at once.
Will try this one
Agree. I'M a "task master" too.
It depends on u if ur over whilmed taking a room at a time makes me feel like I've accomplished something.😅 I'm also add.
I do phase one in the entire house, then dusting/cleaning room by room since I use different cleaning agents for bedroom/bathroom/kitchen. Then I vacuum and mop floors in the entire house. Voila.
My time-saver is actually having little to no decorations sitting openly on my furniture. I have very few items sitting directly on my coffee table, TV sand, desk and vanity and I strive to have everything hidden in drawers or behind glass doored shelves and cupboards. This way I don't have much things sitting and collecting dust and it takes me about 5 - 10 min to dust all surfaces in my whole apartment as I don't have to constantly move things around.
Great tip! But What about boxes? We have a lot of boxes in our one bedroom apt.
Maria Petkova, this is so very effective and true!! I used to clean houses and one lady had Knick knacks and photos everywhere. It took me over an hour to dust her home. My house takes 5-10 minutes to dust tops and it is quite a bit larger than hers.
For me this tip was introduced by my toddler who didn’t leave anything on any surface 😂😂😂😂
This is my decorating style also. I call it Early Holiday Inn.
@@krystalharris1259 If things are in boxes due to lack of storage space, then downsize what you have. Get rid of whatever is in the boxes you are not using. For boxes holding things you must keep, drape a decorative cloth over them, and use them as a table for lamps, potted plants or large decorations that add something to the room. You could also use that surface for a cat bed, computer stand, night stand, etc. Stack a couple of boxes to take up less floor space.
My tip: Own less stuff. Declutter. You can't clean what you don't have.
Christina Ruiz I’m ready to throw out almost all of my cute because we have an entire shelf dedicated to just cups and there’s only 3 adults and 1 child that needs cups
Truth
@@HollehhMarie I find it easier if I pull out my favorite ones first, and then see what's left. Then I go through and declutter the remaining ones. I also get in those "I'm getting rid of everything!" moods 😂
Sad, but true. Doubly true when you've moved to a smaller space.
Before bringing any new or additional thing into your space, ask: Do I want to clean this for the rest of my life? And then remember to ask!
Tip: get dishes and Landry going right away before starting . This way they are cleaning while you are. You can get them done a lot quicker
If you have a dishwasher and clothing washer lol 😂 I have to do all mine by hand or carry it a quarter mile to the the laundry center.
My timesaving tip is keeping my cleaning supplies on every floor. I also have a step stool and grabber on each floor. I also keep a shop vac in the basement, an old vac in a bedroom closet, and my new vacuum on the main floor. It saves me time.
Same here! 🤗
Each bathroom has it's own cleaners under the sink. Same for the kitchen.
I have a basket for all my general cleaning supplies and I can take it where I need it while cleaning, it's annoying though when I want to just clean something small at a random time
@@mariacrisan5975 i have the deep clean stuff under the sink but i keep multiple all purpose cleaner and floor spray bottles on the countertop. I hardly have to deep clean anything now bc i clean everything up right away with the APC spray or floor spray
*#1 time-saving cleaning tip is to involve the whole family! It cuts the time in half or more.* 💕
Live Love Clean That’s a tip my mom used to do. I cleaned the kitchen, my sister did bathroom and and everyone else did a room. We were 5 kids and 3 adults with one bathroom in a 4 bedroom apartment. The house was clean by noon on Saturday. Every one knew Saturday morning was cleaning and dancing. My mom put dance music on the radio.
This is, by far, my favorite tip! There is no i in team! #teamworkFTW
I'm a single mama, I work full-time and have a side business of raising ragdoll kitty cats and one of my good friends has cancer. I am offered to clean her house tomorrow and I'm thinking what I don't have time for this but I do like I'm just doing it. So I love learning how to be efficient about it Thank you for these tips. We all work hard and I'm grateful for your insight!
I work in a kitchen and we use paint scrapers to scrape any off food messes or buildup before wiping the area down. So that's my tip. Its expecially great for the stoves and dried dough that stuck to the counter.
wow . . . I like to have a spatula or rubber scraper around when I do dishes, as one extra utensil doesn't make a difference, really. It makes it go much faster!
I keep one handy, too.
I think today was the first time I ever really got to cleaning my house! And I am 30 years old. It was super productive by using your 3 wave method. I feel like it could look professionally cleaned in just a few days. 3300 sf and I have 6 kids, a great dane and 4 cats and I actually feel hopeful with this method I could get ahead of cleaning and spend more quality time doing things I love with the people I love.
My daughter is 4 and I’m teaching her to clean up after herself such as putting toys back where they belong, putting away books on her shelf, fixing her bed, this all not only helps her learn to clean but also saves time when cleaning the house vs cleaning up after her. If you make it fun it’s like playing a game.
Mari Catala, that's brilliant. Kids love to help at that young age and by praising their work you are reinforcing good habits that will last a lifetime.
My number one time saver is using a swiffer mop to clean my cabinets, stove, dishwasher fronts and doors. The swiffer also does a great job on the bathroom tub, shower, cabinets and walls. too. I use an old face cloth or dishtowel instead of those detergent laden swiffer cloths that I have to use an extra step to rinse off, so it doesnt attract dirt. I am 73 and I don't like bending and stretching to get sparkling clean rooms. Using the swiffer gets it done in a fraction of the time. Hmmn, I should add this in a video on my channel among the other hacks that have worked great for decades ;) Thanks for the inspiration & motivation, Melissa!
I use brooms to scrub wet floors, then mop up the water. The bristles are great for grout, textured vinyl that builds up grime, and gets corners better than a mop. A clean mop from Dollar Tree is great for cobwebs on the ceiling, scrubbing out the oven, or cleaning high and low cabinets. You can get several of the mops so you are not constantly washing them out. Clean them all at the end. Be careful on step stools!
your tips are amazing! I love the tip about mopping with a broom! So, how do I use a mop to do the oven? Please elaborate! TIA@@yellowbird5411
My motivation to even start is to watch a couple of clips on hoarders.
🤣
Lynn Proctor 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
yaass. especially when I know I should declutter
That's mine too!!!
That works for me too
My life changed when I started preparing the house for sleeping, i.e. putting things in order and cleaning a bit here and there, before going to bed. And also, putting things in order and wiping the kitchen and the bathroom before leaving the house. This helps me stay on top of things and my house is always in a decent shape, even if I get surprise visits (those don’t scare me anymore! 🤣🥰)
I am a slob and a clutterbug and my house is a disaster much of the time, but when you talked about bringing the trash and recycle cans in a bin into a room, I smiled, because that's something I already do! Yay me! I am not completely hopeless.
I love reading all these tips! Everyone has something unique an helpful! Good video
If you have several loads of laundry to do, keep it circulating through the washer/dryer as soon as you can. You save drying time this way because the dryer is all warmed up from the previous load.
Good one!
I actually set a timer on Siri for this, it takes so much less time to do all the laundry. 😁
I do this. I don't do laundry daily. I wait until I can have a laundry day or night when it is cooler and won't heat the house up. I save a ton on my power bill.
This was one of the most helpful cleaning videos I've seen.
In case you are like me and do not have a home for each thing and you have a table or some corner with clutter - I did not know where it belongs and once I had all the things in the basket of things that should not be there, I put it right back where they were, but in a less messy way. Neetly placed clutter looks much better (and cleaner) than messy clutter.
This was actually my next question. We are having the house painted so we decided no shelves or anything should be up until that's done. Now I'm just piling Totes and tote bags constantly confused as to where to even go with it.
Your videos have particularly revolutionized how I clean my bathrooms. I used to just maintain them, but didn't have the patience to clean them as thoroughly and with the proper products until I found your channel. My biggest time saving tip has been to "pre-treat" surfaces in both bathrooms and then clean sequentially using cloths. I also clean the shower while showering as a treat for finally getting the job done!
Careful cleaning the shower while you're showering! I did it and almost died! Honest to God! I got a reaction to the cleaning chemicals I was using on the tile floor. Using my feet to scrub the floor with one of those fancy sponges with the rough side on one side. The cleaning chemical fumes made my "Air Passage" in my throat close up and I couldn't breath in or out for almost two (2) minutes!!!! I panicked and thought I was going to die! (I hope this message saves someone's life.
I watched your first video of this method. I still use it two years later. This method has helped me over come that overwhelming feeling every time.
I like the never leave a room empty handed rule, and to motivate myself to clean, I set a timer for 10-15 mins, and make myself do it, 99% of the time I am in "the zone" by then and keep going. But knowing I only HAVE to do it until the timer goes off motivates me to get started.
Be a minimalist. Have less items to clean to minimize the amount of furniture/surface space in your home. Surfaces attract clutter and having less furniture makes your home exponentially easier and faster to clean. Think about cleaning a bookshelf with 5 shelves vs 1 floating shelf, the bookshelf has 10x more surface space to clean and also accumulates dust under and behind it which is tricky to reach. Another example: Hanging all your clothes in the closet = no surface space to clean... vs having multiple XL dressers = lots of surface space to clean on and around.
My tip is to rinse your dishes. It is much easier to clean the dishes if the main debris or sauces/liquids are out of them. It saves you having to take the time to soak them or scrub at them to get them clean. That way, when you do the dishes or load the dishwasher - they're basically already going in clean for a rinse off. ;)
Yes!!! Use your dishwasher as a sanitizer! You also won't have to clean the filters as often and your dishwasher may last longer
I find that using paper plates for cold or warm foods helps cut down the dishes. Using smaller saucers for small meals helps both dishes and my body. Reusing my own dishes (maybe I had a meal earlier but the plate just has crumbs or something) helps too. This goes for glasses for water, and recent use for milk or juice. Just rinse it and reuse.
I don’t put anything in the dishwasher that hasn’t been rinsed. I think that’s gross. It takes at least a week before our dishwasher is full. I couldn’t imagine leaving stuck on food for a day much less a week.
Cleaning improves health and mood, wipes away depressions, by thinking this I clean heartedly and it saves time when you do anything by heart
My number one time-saving cleaning tip is literally just owning less stuff since owning less stuff in the first place means less time spent cleaning your stuff.
Thanks Melissa, I love your strategy for attacking a room. I have been trying to teach my teens to do this, without success unfortunately. I feel when I clean and de-clutter, it de-clutters my brain, and I am more productive as a person. It lowers my stress to have things away, and knowing I have reduced how much bacteria and germs are in my home. Too many people fill their homes with "stuff", great places for dust and bacteria to be hiding! Minimize people!! lol. Love from B.C. Canada wherever you are!
I don't know if this counts as generic, but I always clean as messes are made. When cooking, I put what I've used into the dishwasher/trash. After eating, I rinse dishes and put them right into the dishwasher. When dirty clothes come off or dirty clothes, towels, etc. Are used, they go right into the hamper. Things like that. I also don't pile things on the obvious places such as my counter or couch. When I walk into my apt., I hang up my coat. I hang up my keys. I put my shoes on the shoe rack. I put my purse or whatever it may be in my bedroom or wherever it needs to go. It keeps things cleaner, longer.
Sarah Noyes Exactly that!! I do the same and it works wonders
It saves so much time and energy. It also is similar to being ready for the next step. If a saucepan needs soaking then soak it asap. Waiting until you are too tired to care sets you up for more work not less.
The fact that I’ve done everything you’ve shared in your videos means I’ve been doing a hell of a job, especially now that I have clarification that what I’m doing is correct is awesome!!
Biggest cumulative timesaver overall for me is to organize my storage so that when I take out or put away any object, I don't have to touch any other object to do it. That makes it super quick to put things away as I use them. That may mean owning less stuff so that things are not stacked on top of each other but so be it. Having time is better than having stuff. I call it one-handed put-away. The other thing is that whenever I think about buying something new, before I buy it I always ask "Do I have a place to store this? Where will this thing "live" when I'm not using it?" That question has saved me a lot of money as well as cleaning time.
I love this one
That first wave is tremendously helpful. Glad I found your channel. Here it goes!
My tip is always have a glass of wine in your hand. By the second or third room, the room already looks clean!
😂
Or take your glasses off!
LOL
Too funny!
Lol
I don't know if you would read this but I have been breaking as a mother a wife everything I once known has disappeared I took your cleaning advice and I feel proud of myself today I see something has gotten done thank you
Best. Cleaning. Video. Ever!!!! I'm so scatterbrained so I always clean all over the place.
Great reminders & tips! I used to clean homes for a living years ago & my home used to be spotless at any given time until I had kids. Now I'm so overwhelmed with it most of the time I don't even know where to start with the little time I have available to clean. What a great refresher course & motivation! Thank you so much!!!! ♥️
Don’t know if it saves time, but it saves my days off... it’s to break my cleaning into small sections that I do every day so that I don’t have to clean on my days off. So I clean the bathroom after work one day. I do a load of laundry before work one day, etc. So I do a little something every day and then my days off are just that!
This is basically what I do and it’s pretty affective!! Assign each major chore a day of the week and knock it out first thing in the morning. Everything gets deep cleaned weekly and then I “Base clean” at in the evening
@@elizabethbelcher494 I LOVE this!
It sounds very sensible. Thus the cleaning does not become a burden.
This guide is possibly one of the best cleaning guides out there. Quick, simple, efficient. Everything I could've hoped to and more. Thank you so much for the great tips and tricks! I'll definitely be utilizing this in my home from now on.
You can eliminate Wave 1 if you and your family put things away after using them. Might be difficult at first, but it's a behavior that can be learned.
Sherry Lynn I am a grown adult and can’t seem to learn this 😭
That's what I think I'll do after cleaning. And I clean regularly for a couple of days and somethings happen and before I know it's a clutter and I have to clean it or can't sleep. This time I'll try hard to make it a habit.
Tell this to a 1 year old
@@lora4444 make it a game . . . for some, that works.
I know how to clean pretty fast but daaaaang you did a GRAND job explaining this!!!!! So satisfying!!!!
Great topic! My #1 tip is to not overclean. If I'm trying to get a dirt, dust etc. from an area, once that has been accomplished I move on to another area.
Working on this myself! Perfectionism can be a time suck!
Plan to have a yard/garage sale in the spring and start gathering items that are no longer needed or wanted. What doesn’t sell, donate. This has always motivated me to declutter and free up space in closets and cabinets over the years. It’s even fun if you have friends or neighbors join you😊!
We do an annual purge. If you haven’t used it in a year (generally speaking) it gets donated. Less clutter and less to clean.
Being organized is the best way to keep a clean home.
My tip: set a timer! For example I set the clock to 30min and try to get done as much things possible in that time. Also some fun music gets me going.
I used to do this with my kids. And would also have them pick up by color. Anything blue. Then anything red, etc
I have a house in the country. When people call and say they're coming by, I apply the 15 minute rule. I try to always keep my house near enough that I can straighten it up in 15 minutes or less. I immediately straighten up the living room first, then the bathroom, then I use the remaining time to put away/wash dishes and/or sweep and tidy up. It has saved me multiple times.
"There is no sweeping it into your hand and throwing it into the garbage. We don't have time for that. You are going to be a savage and throw everything onto the floor." I love it!!! I laughed so hard. :D
The best line...savage
Me too! Fave part of the video and literally realized how much time I waste **never** doing that. Total game changer.
My favorites are “It was never dirty”, and “Don’t put it down, put it away.” Basically, the first one means clean as you go, and the second one came from one of your CMS subscribers. Awesome and life changing.
I am so gonna do this 3 wave cleaning routine😮 it's great & so sensible I don't know why I haven't thought of it before! I'm such a clean freak!! Thanks so much BTW I love your dress 😉
My time saving cleaning tip: Clean when you are alone, no kids, no husband, nobody and it cuts my time in half :)
You mean no mini-tornadoes simultaneously destroying as you clean?? lol
@@DaniJean1 alone? I don't know with that is anymore 😂
Sam McGuire lol! Same here! 😅
I can't even get myself to do hardly any cleaning when my husband is around. It's like hey my playmate is here! Let's play, not work! I think that's a good thing because I had an older friend years ago who said one of the reasons for her divorce was that she spent too much time doing other things (including cleaning) when her husband just wanted time with her. Not too much to ask of a spouse right?
I agree!!
Melissa, serious question: what made you want to start a cleaning business if you didn't know how to clean in the beginning? I would be really curious to hear the backstory to this.
This business makes lot money
It’s just my husband, me and a golden retriever.. We tackle our home together and in an hour or so the whole place sparkles and we relax and enjoy... he vacuums and I do the details.. (baths, dusting and mopping.. 🙂) team work makes the dream work..
Nova Norman my husband and I clean together also. Takes so much less time. My teenagers on the other hand.....🙄🙄
Hi, i live in england but have watched all your youtube videos and have just brought your book which i cant put down, i esspeccialy love all your home made chemical free products, i have always enjoyed cleaning but cant wait to start cleaning the clean my space way ! i just wanted to say thankyou from tracy in the U. K. x
She has a book??? I love England. I would love to go there someday.
As a worker in cleaning company base on my experience first steps brushing the floor using broom,2nd wiping or duster from dirtiest to cleanliness,,I have 5wave starting from balcony,comfort room and the last is kitchen,,so far my client is satisfied to my work and as of now we still moving and doing this job in my company,,,,🥰🥰🥰very easy and fast cleaning technique,,,
Melissa, you are truly inspiring and life saver! I would love to know what is your advice for maintaining a house clean for as long as possible so that we don't have to do big cleanings very often. Thank you so much for all your tips, effort and positivity ❤️
I am 59 years old and wish I had known this 40 yeas ago! I always cleaned top to bottom, but never using the "wave" system. I am going home tonight to try this! My time-saving cleaning tip is to immediately put things away once I use them. I found that having a home for everything makes this much easier!
My mom had a great trip. High shelves above cabinets in the kitchen and on top of fridge. Rather than climbing up and wiping down, she places newspaper on top ( can't be seen). Then she just takes it down and recycles it. Much easier than wiping down those awkward, high places.
Wow, this video helped me alot today. I've been severley depressed for a long time. By using your system I now have a very clean kitchen and tomorrow I will tackle the bathroom. Cleaning usually brings me alot of anxiety but taking section by section makes it feel doable and I can take breaks in between. Thank you so very much for sharing! ❤
Since my wife died 3 years ago I haven't touched a thing in my home. The dust is atrocious! I think this video will get me started now. Irene I don't know if it's depression that has prevented me from doing anything, but I bet it might be now that you told your story. Thanks!
Your method is so simple I can't believe I never figured it out myself. But I didn't. My problem is that no one ever taught me how to clean. My mother was a terrible housekeeper. So was her mother. And so was I. Until now. Thank you so much!
We don't know what we don't know. I wasn't good at organizing or decluttering until I tried the Marie Kondo method. It taught me a ton! Worked great for getting rid of all the junk, but I still need a method for weekly cleaning. I'm hoping this one works! At least now I have a place to put everything when I try. 😅
I was so stressed and cleaning was taking forever. I was doing it all wrong. Your tips works wonders and It helps me with being a perfectionist. Thank you so much! You changed my cleaning life forever 💖
From 7:53 to 8:06 is the time it took me to subscribe, finally someone that I can relate too when it comes to cleaning 🤗❤️
I like to clean at my most productive time of the day. That's either early morning or later at night. I know to avoid my slump part of the day which allows me to clean with the most energy and motivation. Playing music or listening to these awesome cleaning videos help me stay moving too!
My tip is: always fold laundry when it's done& sill warm from the dryer. It folds better when warm. If you don't have time tofold immediately, leave it in the dryer, as it stays warm for quite a while. Got this from a busy, homeschooling mom. Also, could you tell me what kind of vacuum cleaner I see you using in your cleaning videos?
not only is this a great algorithm, I think you are also a fantastic presenter.
Great video. My #1 cleaning tip as you are moving around the room is to never put an object on a surface that hasn’t been cleaned yet. You’d be surprised how many people keep shuffling the stuff around. Just put it back where it belongs. If you’re waiting for the surface to dry, put it on an already cleaned space.
The best, most useful cleaning tip I ever had was to vacuum with a small flashlight. I never miss pet hair or dust, even on baseboards or corners. Amazing!
Good how-to-video. Having a strategy helps. It might be obvious to most but for some like myself I need ideas.
Bestest method. Love you Melissa. I hated cleaning and a messy dirty room at the same time, but your channel has changed me as person in terms to cleaning and keeping my house tidy. From the bottom of my heart thank you. ❤️
Time-Saving Cleaning Tip: while cleaning the first floor of my home, I will place things that go upstairs on the bottom stair, instead of taking a million trips up and down while cleaning downstairs. Then when I am done, I grab a basket and put everything inside of it and take it all up at once.
Me too!
you should optimize that tip: kepp a basket on the corner of the first step and put stuff directly inside
I do the same but I never actually take it up so I always have crap on my stairs 🤦♀️
I do that too!
I used to have a step basket, literally shaped like 2 steps but sleek. Wish I could find another.
My best cleaning tip was to invite people into your home after I get off work. Suddenly, my wife gets really motivated about cleaning and mobilizes the kids and I come home to a clean house. But since the pandemic started, that doesn't work anymore. So here I am, subscribed to your channel and ready to learn.😁
diabolical.
Personally I like the spiral method, you start in a corner, and clean about a foot width and go around in a circle around your room. That way you dont miss anything around the edges and everything will end up in the middle of the room at the end so you can clearly see what is left, and you are basically clearing a path to walk around to put stuff away easier. its super quick and works really well for those who have cluttered their rooms a lot (even to the point of not seeing the floor). it helps you not shove stuff to the side you “dont want to deal with” as well
Yes!! This is just what I do too! I use a large bin. Organizing before cleaning gives you steps that break the process up to smaller less frustrating mini jobs and funny how it makes it all easier. You will do less fumbling around trust me. Pick up the big things then sweep everything to middle of the room.
My time saving cleaning tip: while I’m in the shower waiting for my conditioner to absorb & my facial mask to set, I magic eraser the shower walls & glass.
I took the advice of the Fly Lady and keep glass cleaner and (paper) towels under the sink cabinet and toilet brush near each toilet so everyday I can do a once over and it only takes 5 minutes to spray down mirrors, vanity, and toilets and swish the toilets and it is clean. So no embarrassing messes for unexpected guests.
I like hard surfaces more than soft especially when you have pets. Although in an older home soft is a bit warmer on the feet. Vinyl hands down is so easy to clean. I just did my kitchen and living area in vinyl and it's the best solution in our house. We don't have pets as our 16-year-old pup died last year. I live on a dusty street so cleaning every other day is imminent...Thanks for the years of fantastic cleaning advice and hacks! I love to watch!
My tip is: Clean Up After Yourself. Simple and easy habit for everyone in the family.
Great video. When my kids were little, I used Box, Bag and Basket. The basket was for clothes, or linens. The box for misplaced items. The bag for trash. Walk in a circle and that is sometimes most of the cleaning.
My #1 time saver cleaning tip is involving my 3 boys. Each has a task, they earn their allowance, it’s a win-win!
Melissa Harris haha my mums friend does that
Ugh but what if the don’t clean it “correctly” to you
cokecrazy08 haha hopefully she doesn’t goo as far and appreciates effort! 😅👍
Im a man and man , your videos had truly brought value to me , i love saving time , thanks!
Love this! Thank you. My tip is to reduce toxic cleaning products and swap to natural or make your own.
Yes! I've recently been using vinegar with essential oils to clean my kitchen countertops, and it is WONDERFUL! I still use 409 to sanitize after I've had meat or eggs on the counter, but if I just need to tidy up, I use the vinegar solution. No rinsing! And it leaves my countertops so shiny
@@Megan-tm9de A 1-to-1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water will sanitize for you naturally. Commercial cleaning products give me a splitting headache. I keep a spray bottle (half hydrogen peroxide, half water) under every sink - kitchen and each bath - and use them to clean and to mop. The only negatives that I've found is it won't prevent hard water buildup if you have hard water; and if you use it on something porous, like grout that is not white, it will turn parts of it white. Happy cleaning!
This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing. I even took notes!!!
My son loves ketchup but always leaves a big blob on his plate and brings it from his room 2 days later ... Sometimes 3 or 4 plates like this. Time saving tip is to not even bother trying to clean. Submerge in soapy water for 30 minutes while doing something else. Not a great tip but it is so easy to clean after this.
I've been cleaning on my own for many years and I also follow these steps especially working my way out of the rooms I hate to walk back over a swept floor unless it's my own home 😉
My time saving tip is using my shower squeegee on the glass every time I take a shower. My fiancé never picks up his dirty drawers off the floor BUT he sure can use that shower squeegee!
thank you dear Melissa for your precious help! I tried this threewave system out and had a really great time cleaning efficiently and less stressfully because I could see the difference immidiately!(bc if you clean at one place and then in another and dont clean clockwise you see some little difference between all the existing mess ) my number one cleaning tip is to get inspired and educated by your videos and methods and think "What would Melissa do ?" while cleaning❤☺ thanks again sweetheart
One of my "speedy" tips goes along with my daily morning or night routine when in regards to counters, though it kind of leaps over the clock method lol. But really helps with bigger, weekly or monthly cleaning.
Every morning, I start my coffee and do my usual tidying and decluttering of the downstairs area (kitchen, powder room, living room, entry, dining), which is also prepping for a daily vacuum (thanks to a dog, construction worker, 2 dirt roads, allergies, venomous insects) . Because I vacuum my couch daily due to fur, I'll shake out and move pillows, trays and throws during this phase too. We don't leave dishes in the sink, which became a rule a few years ago, and Man Unit usually empties the dishwasher for me before I wake up since I do everything else.
If it's dusting day, I'll brush the dog and then use my Swiffer 360 duster (speedy godsend lol) and dust all surfaces, including blinds, doors, fixtures, vents, etc., so that I'm not scrubbing during a monthly or quarterly cleanfest due to dirt and dust not building up and adhering due to humidity and whatever else. This rarely takes more than 5 minutes. I may also add in a quick weekly chore if I feel up to it (e.g. tossing out leftovers and briefly wiping down fridge or pantry, or wiping down kitchen cabinets with a damp microfiber cloth).
Regardless if it's a dusting day, I always pop on music, news, non-distracting RUclips video, affirmations, or audio book to listen to and then clean kitchen counters after we're done eating and making coffee. Most days, I'll spray down the kitchen and then the powder room counters and toilet tank, lid, room and counters since it's nearby. Then I'll wipe down kitchen counters, followed by bathroom counters and then the toilet, starting from top to bottom, which takes less than a minute and a half. This way, any deep cleaning of the bathroom during a weekly cleaning is less than five minutes, monthly deep clean less than 10 , if I hustle, and I can focus on cleaning other areas of the room since there's no lint or buildup to contend with and its already done. Bonus: I'm never embarrassed if a surprise guest needs to use the restroom nor rushing to do it before they arrive, and the bathroom is no longer my most hated chore because it's stupid easy to do now lol.
Then I just vacuum and put things where they belong by area.
Settimg a timer initially, as I was just starting this routine, and watching how much time each task takes at first also helped motivate me the next time and kept me from overhyping how long a task will supposedly take -- meaning, less procrastinating in the future. I always assumed certain tasks would take way longer than it actually would, and so I'd blow it off until it became truly time consuming vs just a few minutes. If i slip a day or do very minimal, the house still looks great and I feel less stressed.
Average total time (tidying, vacuuming, counters, depending on what I did the might before and how far I move): 6-10
Dusting day: 10-15
Additional micro chore or two: 12-20
Meg C LOL :) Man Unit empties the dishwasher! Seriously sounds like you have an excellent system in place...👍😊👏 Bravo & thanks for the giggle 😁
That's a brilliant 💡 idea!!!
Meg C Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!
Really appreciate that you took the time to write out your
CAN DO IT ALL IN NO TIME tips!
Love how you get started while the coffee's brewing!
Man Unit 🤣😂🤣
I used your method today for cleaning the house. It helped me so much! I think I did a great job! I appreciate your help so much.
I cannot thank you enough for this video, Melissa