How to Speed Clean Your Whole Home in Under 2 Hours

You do not need a full day to make your home presentable. With a plan and a timer, you can speed clean the whole place in under two hours. The trick is to keep moving, clean little and often, and resist the urge to deep clean every corner. Here is how to do it, room by room.

The golden rules of speed cleaning

• Set a timer for each room so you do not lose momentum.
• Carry a caddy of cloths and sprays so you are never hunting for a product.
• Tidy before you clean: clear the surfaces first, then wipe them.
• Let the products work: spray the bathroom and leave it while you clean elsewhere.

Start with a ten-minute tidy

Walk through every room with a basket and collect anything out of place. Put items back where they belong, or leave the basket by the stairs to deal with later. A clutter-free home instantly looks cleaner and is far quicker to wipe down.

The kitchen: 20 minutes

Spray the worktops and hob and leave them to soak. Load the dishwasher or wash up, then wipe the surfaces from one end to the other. Clean the sink, wipe the appliance fronts, and finish by sweeping or quickly mopping the floor.

The bathroom: 15 minutes

Spray the bath, shower, sink and toilet first, then leave the products to break down the grime. While they work, clean the mirror and the surfaces. Come back to scrub, rinse and dry. Working this way saves scrubbing and gives a better result.

Living areas: 20 minutes

Dust the surfaces from high to low, then plump the cushions and clear any clutter from the coffee table. Give the room a quick vacuum, paying attention to the middle of the floor and the main walkways where dirt shows most. Straighten the throws and put the remotes in one place.

Bedrooms: 15 minutes

Make the beds first, as it instantly changes how the whole room feels. Clear the bedside tables, dust the surfaces and vacuum the floor, including under the edge of the bed. Empty any bins on your way out.

What to skip when you are short on time

Speed cleaning is about impact, not perfection. Leave the inside of the cupboards, the oven and the windows for a deeper clean another day. Focus on the surfaces people see and touch, the floors and the smells. A tidy, fresh-smelling home reads as clean, even when every corner has not been scrubbed.

The finishing touches

Empty the bins, straighten the shoes by the door and open the windows for a few minutes to freshen the air. Stand back and enjoy a home that looks after itself once you have a routine in place.

Short on time every week? A regular clean keeps things effortless. Book a GlowSpark cleaner from £19 an hour, or from £16 an hour as a member, and reclaim your weekends. We also cover local areas, including cleaners in Hounslow.