Top Cleaning Tips from a Professional Housekeeper

In my years of having my own cleaning business, I learned a lot of cleaning hacks and tips to cut down on time spent cleaning but efficiently getting the job done. Today I am going to share with you 8 top cleaning tips from a professional housekeeper. 

I received a call one day from a friend of mine who said she knew of someone who was looking for a housekeeper and asked if I would be interested. I had no idea what being a housekeeper would involve but I told her I would at least talk with the person needing the job done. 

This started what would become an 8-year house cleaning business. I won’t go into detail about how I enjoyed being a housekeeper. I was able to set my own hours, was paid good money, and viewed it as a ministry, but that’s for another post.

Top Cleaning Tip #1

Assess your area before you clean it.

Most people like to start cleaning without really assessing what needs to be done in the first place.

Make a mental note of what room you will clean and what needs to be done in that particular room. This will keep you on track instead of mindlessly wasting time.

Top Cleaning Tip #2

Segment your cleaning area.

This helps tremendously with large areas that need to be dusted, swept, mopped, vacuumed, or anything that requires more than a quick “run through”.

By segmenting an area, I mean section off a particular area in the room you are working in and focus on that area before moving on to the next area.

Think of the room you are cleaning as a grid of four squares. Clean each square of the room at a time.

Top Cleaning Tip #3

Use the wet/dry technique when cleaning mirrors and windows.

I recently was helping someone clean windows and she said “I’ve never seen the windows look this good. I don’t think my normal housekeepers even make them look like this.”

While I appreciated the nice compliment, I told her the super easy solution.

First, use alcohol and work quickly.

Second, I use a wet/dry technique.

I have no idea how many times I would walk away from a cleaning job frustrated because I was not pleased with how the windows and mirrors looked. Until I learned to do this.

You can use a cleaning rag or paper towels, I personally think cleaning rags work better.

Spray your alcohol or window solution on the window, then clean the window with one side of the rag. Turn the rag over to dry the window and buff with the dry side of the rag.

Don’t mix the two sides or it won’t be effective. Sometimes I would have two rags, one for the wet wipe and one for the dry wipe.

Top Cleaning Tip #4

Clean the highest point first and work your way down.

For example, if you are cleaning a large entertainment center that has multiple tiered shelves. Start with the top shelf and work your way down.

Do not start from the bottom and go up, you will be doing double work.

If you have an entryway that hosts a table with decorative items on it and a large clock or picture above the table, start with the item on the wall, next will be the decorative items, then the table, then the shelving under the table.

Top Cleaning Tip #5

Always clean your floors last.

Clean each room of the house to your liking and satisfaction and then sweep, mop or vacuum your floors.

The reason for this is that you will there may be an item that belongs in a room you’ve already swept and mopped. Or you may have forgotten a cleaning product in a room that has already been vacuumed.

Another reason is that carrying around the vacuum, broom, and mop to each designated room takes up way too much time. It just does.

Once you have all of the chores done, the house is clean and your products are put away, you will be able to efficiently clean your floors with nothing in the way.

It is much easier to move from room to room with just a vacuum and be able to focus on that one particular task than having to maneuver around a bunch of cleaning products at your feet.

Top Cleaning Tip #6

Buy a caddy.

After cleaning for about 3 months, I was tired of juggling all of the rags, products, and supplies while running from room to room. It was taking up too much of my time, it tired me out, and I misplaced cleaning products constantly.

It didn’t take me long to buy a caddy so that I could place all of my products and supplies in it and be able to carry the room to room with just one hand. Be smart about your time.

Top Cleaning Tip #7

When cleaning the toilet, do not wipe an area that has already been cleaned.

This may be a little hard to explain in text form so I may do a video for you later. I am picky about toilets and I’m particular about germs.

The toilet is one of the nastiest things you have to clean. So let me tell you how to clean it spic and span without spreading germs everywhere.

Spray the entire toilet with your cleaning solution and put in the toilet bowl cleaner to allow time to sit. Clean the tank lid then work your way to the tank.

Be sure to clean the handle while you’re in this area. Clean the sides of the tank then move on to the toilet lid. Clean both sides of the toilet lid. Fold your rag and then move on to the toilet seat.

Once you’ve cleaned all of these areas, do not go back over them again, this is where you’ll spread germs. After you have cleaned the toilet seat, move on to the rim of the toilet. This will be the most soiled area.

Clean the entire rim area, including the area behind where the lid folds down. After cleaning this area, move on down to the pedestal of the toilet. This is so important and it is also the most forgotten area that is cleaned.

Clean the entire pedestal of the toilet from one side to the other. Be sure to clean the area where the toilet is bolted to the floor. After cleaning the toilet it’s time to scrub the inside.

Once you’ve gotten that completed then your toilet will be spic and span and ready to be put to use. If you clean it from top to bottom while folding your rag along the way, you shouldn’t have to worry about sanitation issues. And this is important with little ones running around.

Top Cleaning Tip #8

Always stop and look at the room you just cleaned before moving on to the next room.

Look at every piece of furniture and item in the room. Did you do what you set out to do in that room, was there something forgotten, did you hit every point of the room?

When you’ve mentally taken note, then move on to the next room. This little trick was always so helpful.

There were times when I got finished with a room and turned around to assess it once again, I would see something that needed to be touched on before moving to my next area of the house.

I sure hope these tips help you get your home spic and span in an efficient amount of time. I could talk about cleaning all day, so I will leave you with these 8 tips and let you get to work. Happy Cleaning!

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