I once woke up at 6 a.m. to find my sister Ntsotiseng scrubbing the insides of our kitchen cabinets with a mug of coffee in her hand. In contrast, that task would have only occurred to me if A) I was moving out that day or B) something had spilled.
Suffice it say, I am not the type of person who lives for sparkling sinks and spare countertops. Cleaning, in my mind, is a necessary evil, one I push to the back of my to-do list until I absolutely have to check it off.
But I’m also a grown-up. I understand the appeal of a tidy home on many levels. First, it’s important and responsible to take care of your stuff; second, when your space is spotless and organized, it’s easier to feel a little calmer or happier.
However, I don’t like the time-consuming nature of housekeeping, which is why I’ve learned to prioritize maintenance cleaning—or, in other words, the ability to clean your home in 15 minutes a day.
Ask any two people who live together what “clean” means, and chances are high that you will receive wildly different definitions in response. Even if you live alone, it’s good to know your triggers and limits.
What drives you crazy: fingerprints on stainless steel? Crumbs? Shoe marks on the floor? And, what doesn’t matter to you at all: stacks of mail? Dishes in the sink? Dog hair everywhere? What chores do you love, and which ones stress you out completely? What’s your core tendency: self-ascribed “neat freak” or a total slob?
Understanding your general attitude and approach to cleaning can help you figure out how to get it done according to your standards.
It’s like the saying goes, “You can do anything, but not everything.” The purpose of maintenance cleaning is not to do it all at once, but instead, make a little bit go a long way. I call this the 5-5-5 rule: Pick 3 rooms where you hang out the most, set a timer for 5 minutes, and straighten up one room. Repeat twice, and you’re done.
The key to this strategy is quick, light cleaning; essentially, your lowest decent standard for neatness. It’s when you simply tackle the daily dirt, dust, and clutter that accumulates in a single room. Think “good enough” rather than “perfect,” like the level of clean where you wouldn’t be embarrassed if an acquaintance unexpectedly stopped by.
For example, let’s say you spend the bulk of your time in the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. These rooms are typically the most popular “priority” rooms; additionally, they often function as high traffic spaces for any guests and in general. Here’s how you could approach these areas:
5 minutes: Living Room
Living rooms are easy—they don’t get that dirty, just messy. Your job here is to simply make it look better.
- Wipe any dusty surfaces, such as a TV stand or coffee table.
- Fold stray blankets and arrange pillows where they’re supposed to be.
- Sweep or vacuum the floor (bonus points if you have carpet; vacuum marks are very fancy).
- Remove whatever doesn’t belong, such as books, dog or baby toys, random sweaters, shoes, etc.
The end. Go watch a movie.
5 minutes: Kitchen
Ah, the kitchen: Where everyone hangs out no matter what; where you eat, drink and be merry at the expense of every dish you own, where stacks of paper and lunch containers and burp cloths are littered everywhere. (No? Just me? OK then.)
There are two tricks to keeping your kitchen in order: an empty sink and countertops free of crap that isn’t kitchen-related.
- Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, or if you don’t own one, rinse and stack the dishes neatly. Or, you know, do them. (Tip: Clean your dishes after every meal, and they won’t pile up. Annoying, but true.)
- Put your stuff away! I am the guiltiest of this, as I tend to use my kitchen island as a pit stop for coming and going, but seriously, do it.
- Clean your counters with antibacterial wipes or DIY lemon-scented spray.
Look around. Feel proud of this moment. Vow to keep your kitchen this pretty all the time.
5 minutes: Bathroom
Bathrooms are my kryptonite. I hate smudged mirrors, grimy rings in the toilet bowl, and strands of hair on the floor. (Long haired women who may or may not have recently had a baby, I know you feel me on that last one. Ew.) I’m only human, so these things happen. Here’s how get it over with as soon as possible:
- Squirt some toilet cleaner into the basin and let it sit. Return a few minutes later, use the weird white spiky stick that only costs, like, M60.00 at Target to scrub away the gross buildup.
- Close your shower curtain.
- Grab glass spray and a paper towel, and clean the mirrors, sink, and counter.
- Empty the trash on your way out.
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