Owning a home is a big deal. It doesn't matter whether you've just picked up the keys or you've lived there for the past 20 years, your home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make.
The good news is that looking after it doesn't have to mean spending every spare minute with a spray bottle in hand and frustration building; a lot of keeping your home in great condition actually comes down to small habits. A few minutes here and there can help prevent bigger problems, save you money in the long run, and make cleaning feel far less overwhelming.
We've put together a list of tips from years spent cleaning homes professionally to make cleaning a breeze and one might even say - enjoyable again!
clean spills sooner rather than later
We've all done it. You spill coffee on the bench and think, "I'll get that in a second" - but then your kids decide to do a stunt worthy of the latest Jackass movie and the next thing you know, you're scrubbing stains that are more attached than the little movie stars at school drop off.
Whether it's food, grease, toothpaste or mystery splatters from last night's cooking adventure, cleaning spills while they're fresh is almost always quicker and easier.
don't give the keys over to mould
Mould has a funny way of making itself at home. Bathrooms, laundries, and anywhere damp with poor ventilation are its favourite places to hangout.
The easiest way to deal with mould? Don't give it the opportunity. After showers, run your exhaust fan, open a window if you can, and wipe away excess moisture from glass and tiles.
If mould does decide to move in anyway, tackle it early. pro mould is designed to break mould down at the source, helping you reclaim your bathroom before things get out of hand.
stop using the wrong product for the job
We've seen some interesting cleaning methods over the years. Harsh chemicals on natural stone, creating a science experiment with cleaning products in your toilet bowl, using a magic eraser to scrub the wall with enough enthusiasm to remove 5 lifetimes worth of paint along with the stain...
Using the wrong product - or combining 5 of the wrong products - can sometimes cause more damage than the mess you're trying to clean. Take a few moments to check what your surfaces need and always test products in an inconspicuous spot if you're unsure.
your shower deserves some love
Your shower might look clean today, but every shower leaves behind soap scum, body oils, minerals and moisture. Leave it long enough and suddenly your shower glass looks permanently cloudy.
A quick clean once a week is much easier than trying to remove months of built-up grime, or worse yet, having to replace the shower screen because of permanent damage. pro shower was designed to make life a bit easier and help keep your bathroom looking fresh without turning cleaning into a full-body workout.
don't forget the things you touch every day
Some of the dirtiest spots in your home aren't always the ones you notice. Think about how many times you touch:
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Light switches
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Door handles
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Fridge handles
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Remote controls
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Tapware
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Cupboard handles
These little hotspots collect fingerprints, grime and bacteria surprisingly quickly. Giving them a quick wipe every week can make your whole home feel fresher.
less clutter means less cleaning
Here's a little secret from professional cleaners: the less stuff sitting out, the less stuff you have to clean around. Keeping everyday surfaces reasonably clear makes wiping them down much quicker and helps your home feel tidier almost instantly.
And we don't just mean the things you intentionally leave out. What about everything we leave behind in our daily lives? The jacket we've come home from work and thrown over the couch, the sunglasses we've left out on kitchen bench, the makeup left out on the bathroom counter. Putting things away as you go means less work for you later, and trust us when we say future you will be grateful.
don't wait until guests are coming over
Isn't it funny how the house suddenly becomes your top priority the minute someone texts, "we're five minutes away." Panic mode sets in. It's time to clean the pantry after 5 years (when you know full well that no guest is going into your pantry, unless they're your kids and it's time for a free feed).
Instead of panic cleaning before visitors arrive, try doing little jobs throughout the week. That way, surprise guests don't send you into a cleaning frenzy that somehow always starts with aggressively vacuuming.
prevention beats scrubbing
One of the biggest lessons we learned as professional cleaners is that most big cleaning jobs started as little ones. It doesn't matter if we're talking about soap scum, grease, dust, or mould - none of it appears overnight.
Staying on top of small jobs means you'll spend far less time scrubbing later, and your home will stay looking better for longer. It's a lot easier to wipe away today's mess than last month's.
a few common mistakes we see all the time
Even the most enthusiastic cleaners can fall into a few bad habits. Here are a few worth avoiding.
- Using too much product: more product doesn't always mean a better clean. In fact, in most cases, it can simply leave residue behind that attracts even more grime or make it necessary to evacuate the space for 10-12 business days.
- Ignoring exhaust fans: your bathroom fan isn't just there for decoration. Use it during and after showers to help reduce moisture and discourage mould.
- Forgetting about grout: Grout is one of those things you don't notice until it's suddenly growing new life forms. A little regular attention goes a long way.
- Buying a different cleaner for every room: You don't need 100 different products (that actually end up doing the same thing) - you just need a small arsenal of quality products that work across multiple surfaces.
your home deserves a little love
Your home doesn't need to look like a display home; real homes are lived with. Kids fingerprints, paw prints, and a couple of plates left next to the sink are all signs people are just living life.
The goal isn't perfection. The goal is looking after your home so it continues looking and feeling its best for years to come. A few simple habits, a little consistency, and products that actually work can make all the difference.
We'll handle the cleaning advice. You get back to enjoying your home.
