Things Professional Cleaners Do *Every Day* to Keep Their Own Homes Spotless

This daily cleaning routine will give you your weekends back.

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A couple making bed
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They make the bed

Ashlee Edie, cleaning expert at Handy, says that bedrooms should be cleaned properly once a week, but to keep them in order, there are simple, short tasks you can do daily. “In the morning, make your bed and put away your pajamas,” she says. “At the end of the day, either hang up your clothes or put them in the laundry basket to stop them piling up and making the room look cluttered.” She also suggests clearing away items such as books and glasses from the nightstand on a regular basis. A neat bedroom will make you feel great.

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Little girl cleaning up the toy box at home
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They make it easy for kids to put toys away

Kids rooms and playrooms can get chaotic quickly, so it’s a good idea to keep on top of toy clutter. “Encourage your kids to put away their toys at night to stop mess from building up,” Edie says. “The best way to do this is with baskets where they can easily pile them in.” For ideal organization, label the bins by toy type, such as building bricks or dolls. If your kids can’t yet read, add a picture of the toy under the words. Toy chests should be cleaned with a disinfectant at least twice a month, as they can be a breeding ground for germs.

Living in cramped quarters? Here’s how to squeeze more storage out of a small space.

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Tips from professional cleaners - Woman cleaning sink
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They keep the stainless spotless

Most homes have some stainless steel appliances, whether in the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. Often, these areas get splashed with water or marked with finger and hand prints that make the surfaces look dirty. “To keep mine looking brand new, I wipe all my stainless-steel surfaces and appliances daily with an oil based cleaner,” Edie says. “The oil will protect from water marks and repel antithetical substances, meaning that when it comes to deep-cleaning my home, my appliances need minimal attention.”

Here’s how to clean absolutely everything in your kitchen, according to Charles the Butler from CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show.

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Tips from professional cleaners - Person cleaning sink
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They wipe down the bathroom sink

Edie cleans her bathroom sink every time she uses it. “Cleaning the bathroom sink several times a day may sound silly, but when you start wiping it down after every use, you will instantly see what a big difference it makes,” she says. “Toothpaste, makeup and hard water builds up daily.” Grab a damp paper towel or a cotton round and wipe down the faucet handles, the sink basin and the top of the vanity around the sink. If you have time, spritz the mirror with a quick wipe of glass cleaner to erase messy-looking fingerprints.

Discover more brilliant bathroom cleaning tricks.

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Tips from professional cleaners - woman hands cleaning the tv remote control with disinfectant wet wipes. Prevention of bacteria and covid-19 virus spreading concept.
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They sanitize heavily trafficked surfaces

It may seem excessive to clean your remote control every day, but this little piece of technology can be one of the most forgotten germ collectors in the house. “With so many people handling the remote, there are no limits to how much dirt can end up on it, from chip crumbs and sticky fingers to hairs and oils from our skin,” Edie says. (Believe it or not, it can also be covered in fecal matter.) You can use a drop of dish soap on a damp cotton cloth or an antiseptic wipe. Housecleaning expert Diane Regalbuto, owner of Betty Likes to Clean in Philadelphia and South Jersey, also suggests wiping down other items that get a lot of use. “Sanitize door handles, home phones (if you have them), light switches, coffee pot, tea pot, and the refrigerator door—they are filled with bacteria,” she says.

Find out 35 nearly-forgotten house cleaning tips from the past.

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Tips from professional cleaners - Woman putting dishes into dishwasher
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They build in extra time for tidying

Regalbuto says that extra time allows her to clean up, collect herself, and get the kids out the door in an organized manner. “I start the night before with loading the dishwasher or getting kids to load it, so in the morning I can unload it,” she says. “Doing a little planning can keep things rolling along and prevent tasks from getting backed up (read: piles of dishes in the sink).

Pressed for time? Here are 30 things you can organize in under 30 minutes.

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Tips from professional cleaners - Female hinging the protective face mask on the keys organizer hook on the loft design white background brick wall in the home hallway. Health care concept during COVID-19 pandemic concept image.
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They put like with like

Regalbuto suggests keeping baskets near the front door for shoes, bags and sports equipment. Put keys in the same spot every day—on a hook or in a designated bowl on the console, so you never misplace them. “Coats go on hooks or hung up immediately,” she says. “We have one junk drawer and only one. All bills go in the same place to be handled once. When you spend six minutes cleaning up and putting away, you save hours of looking, searching and cleaning.”

These clever home organization hacks can help.

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Woman cleaning shelf
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They look from floor to ceiling

Cobwebs and dust bunnies are a clear sign of a neglected home, so do a quick visual scan to make sure you don’t have any. “In each room start at the top—look up to see if there are cobwebs, and down to see if there are dust bunnies,” Regalbuto says. “Pick one room from which to remove any cobwebs—it takes less than 5 minutes and it makes a huge difference.”

Next, check out 13 cleaning hacks that take the hassle out of housekeeping.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

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