For some, keeping a clean home is a joy in itself. For others, it’s a job best left to the experts. If you find yourself in the latter group then odds are you’re not particularly enthusiastic about spring cleaning. Luckily enough, we have some tips and tricks that will make spring cleaning tolerable (and maybe even fun!).
1. One Task a Day
Cleaning your entire home in one go is an overwhelming task even for the most enthusiastic organizers. Instead of trying to clean everything in one day, make a list of the things you need to do and then try and tackle one task a day. By breaking up your list over several days or weeks, the tasks become more manageable. You’ll also feel a repeated sense of accomplishment after each task and feel proud of your progress.
2. Clean As You Go
Cleaning as you go significantly cuts down on the time you need to spend cleaning. Simple things like putting your clothes directly into the laundry basket instead of leaving them on the floor can make a huge difference in your home.
Another easy clean-as-you-go tip is to soak your pots and pans while you eat dinner, making them much easier to clean once you’re done eating. Right now is a great time to get used to some of these new habits.
3. Set a Time Limit
A big reason people don’t want to clean is because of the amount of time it takes. Who wants to spend hours washing floors when you could spend that time binging your latest Netflix find? Not to mention the fact that it’s easy to get sucked into a task and spend an entire afternoon – or even day – doing something like cleaning all the sinks in your house.
The truth is, if you focus on one specific task without interruptions, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can get it done. Pick a time limit and commit to it. Set an alarm or a timer if it helps keep you on track. Don’t take breaks, and don’t get caught up trying to remove that one stain that didn’t come out the last 5 times you tried. The key here is to set reasonable and realistic cleaning goals.
4. Clean by Task
Cleaning by task is a time-saver which is great for those who aren’t cleaning-inclined. When you clean by room, you spend most of your time stopping and starting different tasks because you need to get different items for each job. Instead, try cleaning by task. Pick a day to do all your vacuuming or dusting and then do it in each room of your home. This way you’ll not only accomplish your one task for the day, and multiple rooms in your home will end up looking better for it!
5. Clear the Clutter
The easiest way to have to do less cleaning is to have less stuff. Do you ever find an item you totally forgot about owning while cleaning? Instead of putting it back where you found it, get rid of it! Clearing out the clutter will let you focus on cleaning the areas of your home that really need it. As an added bonus, you’ll let the items you really care about shine.
Below are the average costs of House & Apartment Cleaning services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $358 | $100 | $950 |
| Calgary | $353 | $100 | $14,000 |
| Edmonton | $346 | $100 | $3,700 |
| Hamilton | $472 | $100 | $2,000 |
| Oshawa | $249 | $100 | $1,503 |
| Ottawa | $1,268 | $100 | $20,000 |
| Toronto | $459 | $100 | $45,000 |
| Vancouver | $354 | $100 | $4,000 |
*Costs based on 6859 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
Try combining some or all of these tips for a cleaner home. If you find you still can’t commit to cleaning or you simply don’t have the time, call in a professional who will be happy to clean your home for you. Either way, you’ve got options and a clean home is in your future.
Article updated June 2022.
