Ideas to make chores less cringe-worthy

When I lived with my parents, I could push the envelope with expectations of my cleaning habits (much to my parents’ dismay).

But, now that I’m living in my own house, my cleaning standards far surpass what they used to be. Couple that with not-really-all-that-mild obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) tendencies and we’ve got a situation: a girl who wants a clean house but hates to clean.

But I did some research and compiled a list of novel tips to get you through the most painful tasks. 1. Dusting the bathroom

Instead of using a new cloth to clean the bathrooms, use the hand towel you’re about to change out. You can use the soiled towel and then chuck it in the wash. 2. Try multi-surface/purpose cleaning wipes

Lysol wipes are my best friends and they’re never really out of reach. They can take care of the sink, countertops and taps, mirrors and a quick clean of the toilet if you’re in between thorough

cleanings (yuck). 3. Invest in a hand-held vacuum

I remember having something of the Shark variety when I was little. It was a small, hand-held vacuum you could use to suck up any dirt, crumbs, and dust on any surface. 4. Try the Swiffer series

I use the Swiffer Wet Jet as my mop and the Swiffer Sweeper to collect dust and hair if I’m not vacuuming. These cleaning tools are expedient, easy to use and do the trick. 5. End your cleaning routine with the floors

I always started with my floors. But then I’d be doing my counters, get whatever was on them on the floor, and then I’d have to do the floors all over again. So, there you have it, the bare bones of my cleaning tips because I hate cleaning. Why can’t it be like that scene in Mary Poppins where Mary (and the kids Jane and Michael) snap their fingers and every is put away. A girl can dream, right?

Some basic cleaning chores involve a hand-held vacuum, Swiffer products and dusting and scrubbing the bathroom. Perhaps not your favourite activities, but there are tips to make the process more enjoyable. 123RF