There are tons of things that need to be cleaned around the house⁠—floors, countertops, appliances, clothing and linens, windows, and toilets⁠—and for some people it can be a never-ending chore. However, cleaning with a plan in mind and the right tools in hand can help you achieve a sparkling house in no time.
Here are six cleaning hacks to help you save time:

1. Use multipurpose cleaners
There are many different types of multipurpose cleaners on the market (i.e., Mr. Clean and Lysol). It’s important to find the one that suits your needs and is safe for you and those in your home, especially if you have young children or pets. Try keeping a bottle of multipurpose cleaner in each room of your house. Use it to clean your countertops, floors, and just about anything else throughout the day. It’s also great for making quick touch-ups when you’re hosting parties! A little bit of multipurpose cleaner goes a long way. You can use it to clean your bathroom or kitchen. Just be careful not to oversaturate surfaces with water as this could cause damage. This also works well with disinfectant spray. You can even opt for a “green” cleaner such as Simple Green.

2. Map a cleaning route
As you clean each room, make sure you don’t miss or ignore any of the not-so-obvious spots. For example, ceiling fan blades that need dusting, grease behind the oven, cobwebs in corners, dusty baseboards, etc. These are often neglected areas when cleaning, but they can also catch dust and grime over time. Bonus tip: always clean your floors last! This is the most effective way to ensure that your floor is free of dirt and grime after you’ve cleaned all the surfaces.

3. Invest in the right cleaning tools
If you’re looking for ways to make cleaning easier, try investing in the right tools. It’s important that you have the necessary supplies and equipment to take on any job efficiently and effectively. You don’t need a lot of expensive items. Many household tasks can be accomplished with just a broom and dustpan, a squeegee, and a vacuum cleaner. This will allow you to spend more money on things like good laundry detergent or tile cleaner so your house can be cleaned even faster. The key is to get your hands on tools that will make your life easier. You’ll be able to work smarter and get the same—or even better—results than if you were using traditional methods.

4. Schedule cleaning weekly
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to clean your house when you have a routine? It’s true; there are many benefits to having a weekly cleaning routine. Clean up at least one area of your home each day, but focus on one area of your home each week. Remember that no one can clean everything in just one day! By taking the time to work on something every day, you’ll always have a tidy, mostly clean home. But by focusing on an area each week, you’ll be able to tackle it more thoroughly and give it the attention it deserves.

5. Combine tasks
If you have a few minutes to spare, combine tasks. For example, you can vacuum the carpet and wash the baseboards at the same time. You might also clean the blinds while washing the windows. Carry a garbage bag around the house with you so that you can throw away any trash you find without leaving the room you’re in.

6. Tidy up before you clean
Most people like to tidy up their space before they get to cleaning it. And that makes sense—you want to tackle the easy things first, right? This is a good starting point for your below-the-surface tidying-up. A lot of times, you’ll find dirt and dust on top of the surfaces in your house. Before you start scrubbing or wiping down these surfaces, you should take some time to tackle any visible messes. This will help you avoid adding more grime to the surface while cleaning. It also helps clean more efficiently because you’re not having to wipe down two layers of dirt at once!

Cleaning up doesn’t have to take hours every day. With these simple hacks, you can cut down your cleaning time considerably while still keeping a beautiful, clean home.