The secret cleaning cheats that plumbers know (for lazybones and busy people)

If you find it hard to work up the motivation to clean the house, or you simply don’t have time, our plumbers have been on the inside of hundreds of houses and picked up a few tips along the way.

There are three sure-fire ways to reduce the amount of cleaning you need to do.

  1. Reduce the amount of mess you make.
  2. Take cleaning shortcuts.
  3. Get someone else to do it.

Keep floors cleaner by leaving shoes at the door

Less mess, less cleaning

Why is it that the messiest people always seem to be the ones too lazy to clean up? Fortunately, some good habits can help you reduce the amount of mess you make.

  • No shoes in the house means you don’t need to clean the floors as often.
  • Tidying as you go by putting things away as soon as you’ve finished with them means you don’t need to outlay a chunk of time to do it later.
  • Cooking in one pot and/or serving food you can eat with your hands means there’s less washing up.
  • Covering food in the microwave means fewer splatters—and less wiping up to do.
  • Using shower gel instead of soap means no soap scum in the bathroom.
  • Covering your fridge shelves in cling wrap means all you need to do is unwrap and replace the plastic instead of clean the fridge.

Want a cleaning cheat sheet?

If your messy habits are too ingrained, there are a few shortcuts you can use to reduce the time it takes to clean.

  • Every time you take a shower or bath, spray no-wipe cleaner on the walls. This prevents soap scum build-up and discourages mould and mildew from settling in. You may never need to scrub again.
  • Almost anything plastic can be washed in the dishwasher. That includes toys.
  • Get the kids to play on an old sheet. Tidying up involves bundling up the corners and putting it away with no fuss. No stepping on Lego in the middle of the night!
  • Wear chenille socks and walk on dirty floors, it’s amazing what they pick up. You can even get special socks for your dog! When you’re done, throw the socks in the washing machine. It beats sweeping with a broom.
  • Crusty microwave? Fill a microwave-safe bowl with two cups of water and a ½ cup of white vinegar and microwave on high for three minutes. The magic water will loosen the encrusted food so you can wipe it clean.
  • Dissolve a ½ cup of baking soda in your toilet and leave it overnight. When you flush it, the mixture will take the stains and odour with it. And don’t forget our other baking soda tricks.

For some more handy cleaning cheats (besides these great tips from our Sydney plumbers!), check out Shannon Lush’s cleaning remedies.

Somebody to clean

Cleaning tips from plumbers include washing toys in the dishwasher

Toys in the dishwasher makes an easy clean

Toys in the dishwasher makes an easy clean

One sure-fire way lazy people can avoid cleaning (without ending up on House Hoarders, that is) is to convince someone else to do it.

  • Pay for a cleaner. If you can afford it, it’s worth it. Less stress, less mess and a professional clean.
  • Switch with your flatmate/partner. If you’re hopeless at cleaning, are you, for example, an excellent cook? Can you persuade your flatmate/partner to do a permanent roster swap?
  • Convince your friends and family to help. Is there something you can barter? Can you fix things or babysit in exchange for cleaning services? Can you convince your cousin to clean the house for movie tickets?

Maybe after this process you’ve convinced yourself that you would rather save the money you would have spent on a cleaner to go on holiday at the end of the year.

If you’re a busy person in a dirty house, you can follow these tips… or use the personals to advertise for an energetic partner with a clean streak.

What’s the laziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of cleaning?

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