26 Jul Small Cleaning Details That Make Your Home Look Cleaner
House Cleaning Vancouver | Small Details That Make a Home Look Cleaner
After more than 25 years in the cleaning industry, I have learned that it is often the smaller details that make the biggest difference in how clean a home looks and feels.
Small cleaning details can have a big impact when you are short on time. You may have company coming, be trying to fit cleaning into a busy day, or simply prefer to take care of your home yourself rather than hire a professional cleaning service.
When time is limited, the key is knowing which areas will have the greatest impact. These are the places I would focus on first.
Set a Timer and Focus on What Will Make the Biggest Difference
When you do not have a lot of time, set a timer and make the most of it.
Stand in the kitchen and think, “I have 10 minutes in here. What is going to have the most impact?”
Sometimes you may only have 10 minutes. Other times, you may have 20 or 30 minutes. The goal is not to clean absolutely everything. It is to focus on the areas that will make the room look and feel cleaner.
I work around cleaning all day, so there are times when I come home and do not feel like doing it all over again. It is like a painter spending the day painting and then coming home to paint again.
Sometimes I have to trick my own mind and tell myself, “You have 30 minutes. Make the most impact.”
For me, the floors are always one of the first priorities. Counters are another. If the bathrooms are kept fresh, they usually do not take much time at all.
Start With a Clean Front Entrance
Before anyone walks through your front door, they have already seen the outside windows, the porch or front step, the exterior light fixture, the front door and the doormat.
I notice whether there are cobwebs hanging around the light fixture and whether the doormat looks like it needs a good vacuum or has simply seen better days.
The front entrance gives the first impression of the home. Sweeping the step, removing cobwebs and vacuuming the doormat can make a big difference before your guests even come inside.
Give the Floors a Thorough Vacuum
A good vacuum is one of the fastest ways to make a home look cleaner.
Do not only vacuum the open areas of the room. Pay attention to the corners, floor edges, underneath furniture where possible and anywhere hair or crumbs tend to collect.
Anyone who works with me knows that I am very particular about corners. Hair, crumbs, pet fur and dust often gather there, and clean corners make the entire floor look properly vacuumed.
Clean the Baseboards People Can See
You may not have time to wash every baseboard in the home, but cleaning the visible ones can still make a noticeable difference.
Focus on the entrance, living room, hallways and bathroom. Dust and hair along the baseboards can affect how clean the floors and the rest of the room feel.
Even a quick wipe of the most visible areas can help.
Remove Cobwebs and Dust From High Areas
When cleaning quickly, people often focus on the surfaces directly in front of them and forget to look up.
Check the ceiling corners, light fixtures, window frames, door frames, shelving and pendant lights for cobwebs and dust.
When these areas are not cleaned, it usually means the home has had more of a quick tidy than a thorough clean.
Looking up and removing cobwebs and visible dust can make a significant difference.
Dust the Surfaces Guests Will Notice
Focus on the surfaces your guests are most likely to see, including coffee tables, side tables, shelves, television stands and the tops of furniture.
Make sure to dust the front edges of shelves rather than only wiping the open areas around decorative items.
You should not be able to run your finger along the front of a shelf and leave a visible line in the dust.
Wipe Doors, Door Frames and Handles
Door frames are another area that can collect visible dust, especially along the top.
You can often see it, and sometimes feel it, when the frame has not been cleaned.
Wiping the visible doors, frames and handles has a real impact on how clean the room feels.
Remove Pet Hair From Couches and Pet Beds
I absolutely love dogs and help with dog rescue, but I do not love pet hair covering couches, chairs and floors.
If company is coming, vacuum the couch, chairs, pet beds, rugs and the areas where your pets spend the most time.
Washable pet blankets and bed covers are extremely helpful. I use washable blankets on my own couch, and they make it much easier to manage pet hair and keep the furniture clean.
Spot-Clean Windows and Glass Doors
You may not have time to clean every window in the home, but you can spot-clean the most visible fingerprints, streaks and pet nose marks.
Pay particular attention to glass patio doors, interior glass and windows near the entrance or living room.
Clean glass makes a home look cared for, even when you have only had time to remove the most noticeable marks.
Clean the Kitchen Counters and Backsplash
In the kitchen, focus on the counters, backsplash, cupboard fronts and the exterior of the appliances.
Wipe away crumbs, grease and splashes, including the areas around and behind small appliances when possible.
When time is limited, ask yourself what will have the greatest impact. Clearing and wiping the counters, cleaning the backsplash and removing fingerprints from the appliances can change the look of the entire kitchen.
Use Quick Cleaning Products When Time Is Limited
Sometimes we use stainless steel wipes because they are quick and easy.
They are helpful when you only have a few minutes and want to remove fingerprints and freshen the outside of the refrigerator, dishwasher or oven.
When there is more time, I may spend 10 or 15 minutes working on the appliances more thoroughly.
For heavier buildup, I sometimes use Bar Keepers Friend in the cream form. Always check the appliance manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first and test the product in a small, hidden area before using it across the full surface.
Giving the appliances a more detailed clean about once a month and using stainless steel wipes in between can make them much easier to maintain.
Wipe the Cupboard Fronts
Cupboard fronts are often touched while cooking and can collect fingerprints, grease and food marks.
You may not need to clean every cupboard in the kitchen. Focus on the ones around the stove, sink, garbage area and the cupboards that are most visible.
This is a small task that can make the entire kitchen look cleaner.
Make the Bathroom a Priority
The bathroom is one room I would never skip when company is coming.
People are going to use it, and while they are sitting there, they will look around. That is simply the truth.
Clean the sink, counter, mirror, toilet and floor. Make sure there is fresh hand soap, a clean hand towel and enough toilet paper.
If the bathroom is kept fresh regularly, it usually does not take much time to get it ready.
Keep Bathroom Counters Clear and Organized
Bathroom counters can quickly become crowded with bottles, makeup, hair products and toiletries.
A clear counter makes the bathroom easier to clean and gives proper access to the full surface.
For items that need to stay close by, baskets or small organizers can be a simple way to keep everything together without leaving the entire counter covered.
Clean the Toilet Hinges and Tank
The area around the toilet hinges and the top of the tank can collect dust, hair and grime.
These spots are easy to miss during quick cleaning, but they are also easy for someone to notice while using the bathroom.
Wiping the hinges, toilet base and top of the tank helps the whole bathroom look properly cleaned.
Clean Shower Doors, Tracks and Bottom Strips
Glass shower doors and tracks can collect soap residue, hair, dust and grime.
Some glass shower doors also have a removable plastic strip along the bottom. Buildup can collect inside it over time and may eventually turn orange if it is not removed and cleaned.
Cleaning the glass, tracks and bottom strip does not simply make the shower look fresher. It makes it look clean.
Focus on the Rooms Your Guests Will Use
When time is limited, you do not need to clean every room from top to bottom.
Focus on the entrance, living room, kitchen and bathroom. Close the doors to rooms your guests will not be using and spend your time on the areas they will actually see.
A thorough vacuum, visible dusting, clean glass, a tidy kitchen, a clean bathroom and a fresh front entrance can make a major difference without requiring a full deep clean.
A 30-Minute Clean Can Still Make a Big Impact
When you only have 30 minutes, choose the areas that will change the way the home looks the fastest.
Start with the floors. Clear and wipe the counters. Freshen the bathroom. Remove visible pet hair, fingerprints and cobwebs.
You are not trying to complete a full deep clean in half an hour. You are using the time you have wisely and focusing on what will make the biggest difference.
Small Cleaning Details Make a Big Difference
When company is coming, the goal does not have to be perfection.
Focus on the details that have the greatest impact: clean corners, vacuumed floors, dust-free surfaces, pet-hair-free furniture, clean appliances, clear counters, clean glass and a properly cleaned bathroom.
Taking care of these areas can make your home look and feel clean, even when you only have a limited amount of time.
Professional House Cleaning Services in Vancouver
Don’t have the time—or simply don’t want to do the cleaning yourself? Contact Top Hat Cleaning Services.
For over 25 years, we have provided professional house cleaning services throughout Vancouver and the surrounding areas. Our experienced teams arrive with the supplies and equipment needed to complete the service.
We provide regular housekeeping, one-time cleaning, move-in cleaning, move-out cleaning and open house cleaning throughout Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley.
Whether you need help keeping up with your home or a more detailed cleaning before company arrives, we can focus on the small cleaning details that make the biggest difference in how clean your home looks and feels.
Contact Top Hat Cleaning Services to request a quote or learn more about our professional house cleaning services in Vancouver.