1. Dust One Thing

It only takes a minute to choose one thing and dust it. You can either use a feather duster, a dust spray and a rag, or a dust wipe. Here are some things you can dust quickly:

TV screens
Shelves
Blinds
Ceiling fans
Air Vents

2. Change Vacuum Bag

It doesn’t take much time at all to change your vacuum bag, and it can make your vacuum run more efficiently. A good tip is to take your vacuum outside to change it so the dust from the bag doesn’t go back into the room.

3. Clean a Mirror

A clean mirror makes a room look cleaner. If you don’t have glass cleaner and paper towels, try vinegar and old newspaper. This is a lot less expensive and it works just as well.

4. Change Towels

Fresh towels make a room smell great, whether they’re in the kitchen or the bathroom. It takes less than a minute, and it freshens up the whole room.

5. Change Trash Bags

Even if you don’t have time to take the trash all the way out, just taking full bags out of the cans and replacing them with clean bags can help tidy up when you only have a minute.

6. Sort Today’s Mail

Mail can really pile up if left alone. If you take 30 seconds every day to organize that day’s mail, you’ll have a lot less clutter. Don’t be afraid to throw away junk mail.

7. Treat a Stain

Got an extra minute? Treat that nasty stain that you noticed last week. Here are some tips:

Flush stains with water.
Blot the stain with a dry cloth.
Apply a mild cleaner and let set.
Blot again.

8. Take Care of Plants

A minute is more than enough time to care for your favorite houseplants. If they need water, fill a pitcher so you can water them all faster. Take a pair of scissors with you to snip off dead vines or leaves.

9. Wipe Down Forgotten Areas

Grab a wet washcloth and quickly wipe down areas that might be forgotten when cleaning. Areas like:

Doorknobs
Remote controls
Light switches
Handles
Telephones

10. Sweep Entryways

Most entryways are small and take less than a minute to sweep. Grab your broom and dustpan and you’ll be finished before you begin. You can even cheat and sweep dust onto the carpet, then use the carpet-sweeper to clean it up.

11. Shake out a Floor Mat

Floor mats are sometimes forgotten during cleaning. If you have an extra minute, grab a mat or two and shake them out outside. This will reduce the amount of dust in your home as well as keep those mats fresh and clean.

12. Collect Garbage in a Room

If you don’t have time to clean a whole room but want to make it look a little bit better, clear out the garbage. Grab a trash bag or a waste paper basket and start stuffing. You’ll find that this improves the look of a room dramatically.

Robert Chuck writes for http://www.spreadtheknow.com where you can find out more about news and other topics.

“One of the hardest things I find is how to find the time to get it all done. (Would like to hear other’s tips) With 3 kids under 4, and no dishwasher, it’s really a challenge, and they are NO help. I wasn’t the best housekeeper, and my husband has pretty high expectations (though ) they have relaxed quite a bit in our 4 1/2 years of marriage. Iron sharpens iron, right? Or in this case, he sharpens me and I dull him LOL) So this is one area I have had to work hard at improving.
 
So here’s my bathroom cleaning tip: when the kids are in the bath, that’s a great time to clean it. If you have to be in there anyway, and you know that they can’t get it muddy since they’re clean, you can do just about everything but scrub the tub. The other thing that helps me is to spend less time on the computer. So with that…. Adios!”

Do you have a tip or idea to share with our readers? Send them to Tips@thoushaltclean.com and I will post them! Send your link if you want some link love too!