This article is contributed by Kurashinity

Have you ever had the feeling of being refreshed when you visit a clean space such as a hotel or a shrine? Hotels and shrines are carefully cleaned and designed to create a relaxing space so that guests can feel at home. A well-cleaned and empty space has a calming effect on the mind.

Lifestyles have changed and people spend more time at home with many of them wanting to clean their homes. This article will tell you more about how to get a clean home with just a 10-minute daily cleaning.

Contents

1. The first step to keep a clean home at all times
2. Make the 10-minute daily cleaning method a habit
3. Tips in keeping the front door clean
4. Tips in keeping the kitchen spotless, “Strike while the iron is hot”
5. Points for cleaning the toilet and bathroom
6. A little daily cleaning to make time for yourself

The first step to keep a clean home at all times

Recognize that cleaning and tidying are two different things 

Before you start cleaning, there is something you need to bear in mind that is cleaning and tidying are two different things. Cleaning generally refers to removing dirt by sweeping, wiping and polishing. On the other hand, tidying refers to deciding where to store things and putting them back where they belong.

Think back of your home. If you can picture a messy, cluttered appearance with things in disarray, tidying up is the first step to review. The first step in keeping a clean home starts with things being organized and stored in their designated space. Start tidying up before the daily cleaning.

The position of cleaning tools is also important for daily cleaning!

Supposing that the house is tidy and you start to say, ‘Now let's start cleaning’. Where do you keep your cleaning tools? If your cleaning tools are in a place that is difficult to get to, such as at the back of a closet, it can make cleaning troublesome.

Store your cleaning tools to a place where they can be easily accessed. However, some people may not feel comfortable leaving cleaning tools where you can see it, as they may not fit in with the interior design or it makes the space look disorderly.

Today, there are many stylish vacuum cleaners and mops available on the market that would look good in your living room. It is also a good idea to replace your cleaning tools with stylish designs.

Examples of people who possess beautiful homes

These homeowners have a habit of keeping their home immaculate by quickly cleaning any dirt or trash once they see it.

For example,

- If I notice a stain on the table, I keep wet wipes on my desk for a quick wipe.
- If I see a floor dust, I keep a mop within easy reach so I can remove it quickly.

Just by having cleaning tools in a place where they can be easily reached, the habit of cleaning little by little is gradually developed.

Detergents and sponges should be simple

People who are not good at cleaning tend to have a large selection of cleaning products. However, when it comes to how to actually put these products in use, they may not know which one is which. In fact, for daily cleaning, you will not need powerful stain-removing cleaners nor a lot of detergent or sponges. Keep your cleaning tools simple. One sponge and detergent per cleaning area is enough.

Make the 10-minute daily cleaning method a habit

A five-minute habit every morning can help you have a pleasant space after you return home. Make the following cleaning routine a habit.

(i) Pour some peppermint oil on a disposable wet sheet

(ii) Attach it to a mop and wipe the floor

(iii) Look at the used sheet and realize how clean your floors are today

Peppermint oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties and can repel insects. While you are cleaning, you will smell the mint aroma that gives the sensation of clearing your fuzzy head after waking up.

Mint oil is also readily available in drugstores. However, if you have pets, do not use this as it can irritate them. For the remaining plus five minutes, you can do a simple cleaning in one of the following areas: entrance, kitchen or bathroom, which will be explained in the next section. In total, this is a daily cleaning routine of 10 minutes.

Key to a clean entrance

Cleaning the front door brings in good energy

It is said that when you clean your front door, good energy comes in. The front door is the face of the house, so get into the habit of cleaning it every day, just as you would clean your face.

<Easy ways to clean the entrance>

(1) If there are shoe boxes or shelves, dust them quickly from the top.

(2) Use a broom to remove dust and sand from the floor.

(iii) Wipe the floor with wet floor sheets or damp cloth. If there is not much dust or sand, just wiping it with a disposable wet floor sheets are sufficient.

To make cleaning easier, shoes should be placed in shoe boxes and that rules should be set, such as no more than one pair of shoes per person left out in the entrance space.

[5-minute cleaning tips]

When cleaning for five minutes, ‘sweeping and wiping’ is good enough. Entrances are places where dust and sand brought from outside can accumulate. It is important to remove dust and bad energy frequently so that it does not stay in the house.

Using aromas or incense to finish off the process is effective

After cleaning the entrance, you will feel refreshed. To level up the cleaning quality, you can use aromatherapy or incense after cleaning. Using scents will purify the air and create a pleasant energy flow in the entrance and hallway. It is recommended as a clean entrance makes you feel calm after you come home tired from a long day’s work

The key to keeping a kitchen clean is to remove the grime immediately

Wipe grease stains in the kitchen right away

Kitchen cleaning becomes an arduous chore because oil and dust build up, making it difficult to clean. After cooking, it is important to quickly wipe off any splattered oil or steam while it is still hot. This will prevent the dirt and oils to cobble together. Prepare disposable cleaning wipes to quickly wipe off stains once cooking is done.

What causes sinks to fog up?

The stainless steel of sinks and faucets fog up because of chlorine component and other residues in the tap water. Do not allow the water droplets to dry naturally. To prevent fogging on the stainless steel, you can use a cloth to remove water droplets after each use. A quick wipe will only take a minute.

For black and white stains on stainless steel, baking soda water is recommended. To make baking soda water, simply dissolve a spoonful of baking soda in 200 ml of water. Spray it quickly on the sink or gas range and use a sponge to remove the stains.

The trick to keeping a worktop clean is to leave nothing on it

The trick to keeping a spacious and clean worktop is to keep it as empty as possible. If you leave seasonings out, they will get dirty before you know it due to oil and dust. Keep seasonings in drawers as much as possible.

A spacious worktop makes it easier to cook and easier to wipe down after tidying up. When putting away condiments in drawers, it is also a good idea to put a sheet on the bottom to prevent drippings and grease stains.

[5-minute cleaning tips]

As a part of your daily cleaning routine, be mindful of dust-removal. If you have the habit of wiping away dirt immediately after cooking, you only need to quickly wipe off the dust from the whole area for your daily five-minute cleaning.

Tips for cleaning toilets, baths, sinks and other water areas

Cleaning toilets with gratitude

It is said that if you clean the toilet every day with a thankful heart, you will bring in good luck. However, there may be times when you are too busy to clean the toilet every day. If you already notice a black ring-shaped stain in the toilet bowl, you can use an acidic detergent.

Cleaning the washroom basin is like a habit of brushing your teeth as you go

When you look at yourself in the mirror, your reflection looks radiant if the mirror and the area around the washroom is shiny, doesn't it?

Washroom basins can easily become dirty with cosmetics, fallen hair and water droplets. When cleaning a washroom basin, it is important to note that a melamine sponge may scratch the surface, depending on the material they are made of.

For simple cleaning, a neutral-based bathroom cleaning detergent is sufficient. Spray it on the basin and gently scrub it with a sponge after a few minutes. If the mirror is dirty, wipe it with a cleaning cloth. It is recommended to wipe first with a wet cloth and then finish the cleaning with a dry cloth.

Clean and dry the bath quickly

The key to cleaning the bath is to remove dirt and dry it quickly. Bathroom dampness is the cause of mold growth, so make it a habit to open the window or turn on the exhaust fan when you get out of the bath to ventilate.

The majority of bath stains are soap scum and sebum stains. These stains can be cleaned simply by draining the water from the bathtub, spraying it with a detergent and quickly wiping it down and rinse.  Bath mirrors are also prone to soap scums from shampoos and body soaps, therefore, remove water droplets frequently with a squeegee or cleaning cloth.

With this method, by continuing with a few daily habits, the build-up of dirt can be prevented. It is a good idea to get into the habit of simple cleaning after bathing.

[5-minute cleaning tips]

- Acid detergent is recommended for ring-shaped stains in the toilet bowl.

- For easy cleaning of washroom basins, quickly spray it with a bathroom detergent, let it sit for a few minutes and scrub the sink gently with a sponge.

- For bathtubs, spray the bathtub with a bathroom detergent, wipe it down and rinse. Use a squeegee or cleaning cloth to remove water droplets from the bathroom mirrors.

*Note: Carefully read the instructions of how to use the detergent before applying it, as it may not be suitable for some materials.

You can make time for yourself with a little daily cleaning.

Many people spend more time at home and want to keep their homes clean at all times. A beautifully cleaned house will reduce stress and bring smiles to your family. However, it can take a large amount of time to do a perfect cleaning process. A rough estimate to do a thorough cleaning of each area is 40 minutes for the bathroom, 30 minutes for the living room and 20 minutes for the washroom. It depends on the amount of dirt and the size of the space, but it may be challenging to find this amount of time every day.

For those who have difficulties to find the time to do thorough cleaning in one go every day. We recommend a little bit of cleaning for 10 minutes daily. By making this a habit, you save yourself the trouble of having to take time out of your schedule to clean. The daily chore habit is essential for a clean home. In addition to the daily 10-minute cleaning, it is also a good idea to outsource housekeeping once a week.

By using a housekeeping service, you can utilize the cleaning time saved for relaxation, self-improvement, or spending time with your loved ones. This will result in a better quality of life and an upgraded lifestyle. With daily life’s busyness, why not leave the housework to the professionals and spend more time to things that matter to you most, things that you only can do such hanging out with precious family and friends.

Kurashinity 's housekeeping service contributes to reducing the burden of housework for dual-earner households and other demographics. One of the goals is to support women who wish to challenge themselves with careers or further advance in the society.

Our excellent housekeepers have received 600 hours of training in terms of hospitality, Japanese culture and communication as well as technical cleaning skills making way to provide and maintain a high quality and consistent service. Why not try our Initial Trial Service and experience the high level of hospitality that only Kurashinity can bring?

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