How To Clean Your House Like A Pro

After a day of at-home work/school, the last thing you likely want to do is a big clean-up job around the house. To help you get over the “nevermind, I’ll deal with it later” hurdle, we’ve rounded up advice from cleaning experts to uncover the best ways to tackle each room in your home — from when to do it, to what you’ll need to get it done right.

Weekly — The usual

It’s no surprise that the kitchen and bathroom are the areas that need daily and weekly attention. Melissa Maker, the founder of Toronto’s Clean My Space and a YouTuber with more than 1.72M subscribers, says the best way to keep on top of your cleaning schedule is to set a routine.

In the kitchen, do your dishes and wipe your counters daily, and empty your garbage as soon as it is full. And once a week, sweep and wipe the floors.

In the bathroom, Maker recommends storing a cloth and spray bottle of cleaner under your bathroom sink so you can give counters and sinks a daily swipe. (We like an all-in-one cleaner like Microban 24 Hour Bathroom Cleaning Spray because it is also designed to prevent the buildup of soap scum, mould and mildew which makes your weekly clean easier). For extra convenience, keep disinfectant wipes and glass cleaner in your bathroom as well.

And to keep things looking tidy, straighten your towels after each use and wash them weekly. It only takes a few minutes and freshens up the space.

Monthly — The unexpected

You might be surprised to learn that one of the grimiest places in your home is your front-loading washing machine which is prone to mould under the seals. For an easy, monthly clean, Maker recommends running an empty machine with two cups of baking soda to help combat musty odours and then, with a second cycle, rinse with vinegar to loosen old soap and fabric softener residue. After these two steps, wipe down the drum and agitator using a microfibre cloth and vinegar. For a one-and-done solution, drop one of these easy-to-use cleaning pouches into your washing machine to zap odour-causing mould and mildew.

Twice a year — The deep dive

For any deep-clean plan, the hardest part is knowing where to start. For Sarah McAllister, the founder of Go Clean Co., a Calgary-based residential cleaning company with a huge fan base (1.9M followers on Instagram), head straight for the space that stresses you out the most, start there and move down the list, one room at a time. “Set realistic goals,” says McAllister. “If you fall behind, there’s plenty of time to catch up.”

The important part of a deep clean is being thorough. “Make sure you are pulling furniture away from the walls before vacuuming,” she says. Another handy hack to prevent feeling like it’s all too much is to put everything back in its proper place as you move around the room instead of doing it at the end. “This saves so much time.”

Remember, it’s not just flooring that needs vacuuming or wet mopping. Curtains, sofas and mattresses could also use a deep clean to get rid of bacteria, dust and dust mites. The Ewbank Multi-Use Vacuum Cleaner and Bed/Fabric Sanitizer is designed to take on these furnishings.

Have a bucket list

Cleaning professionals agree that you don’t need a lot of tools to keep your home in tip-top shape — a blessing if you live in a small space. Here’s a list of the essentials:

1. A good sponge

A sponge with an abrasive side, such as the Scotch-Brite Multipurpose Scrub Sponge, works best to erase greasier dirt.

2. A scrub brush

For tile, tubs, fixtures, tough stains or any task where a sponge or cloth can’t quite cut it, the Vileda Powerfibres Scrub Brush with Handle is an effective, all-purpose model.

3. A broom and dustpan

For quick cleanups, all you need is a sturdy broom like the Vileda Oskar Broom with Dustpan.

4. A mop and bucket.

We’re fans of the Vileda EasyWring Spin Mop & Bucket System because its triangular mop head reaches the trickiest nooks and crannies, while the bucket design allows for hands-free wringing.