There may be times when you are too busy to clean, eventually allowing the garbage to pile up and the dust to settle. When you are finally in the mood, you may fret over how to do it properly and where to start from. So to make things easier, here are 5 common mistakes that you can avoid so as to make residential cleaning a less stressful affair.

Cleaning everything you see

Cleaning has to follow an order. While some may prefer to clean their favorite rooms first, it might actually be easier if you start from the kitchen or the bathroom.

These are the places which tend to get dirtied more. If you leave them to the last, chances are that you may be too tired to do a proper job. Map out in your head what you should clean first. Some people have the habit of cleaning in a specific direction, for instance, from right to left. While the sequence is really up to an individual, it is important to plan in advance the order that you want to follow because it will undoubtedly be much more efficient.

Cleaning everything by yourself in a day

Forcing yourself to clean so many rooms in a day is physically taxing and perhaps even impossible. From floors to furniture to windows, there are just too many things to tend to. It is thus more effective to distribute the workload. You can choose to clean the kitchen today and then one of the bedrooms a few days later.

If possible, assign cleaning duties to other family members - the more the merrier! If you live alone, invite a friend over and politely ask for help. In return, you could always offer to clean his or her house when the need arises. Alternatively, there is bound to be a cleaning service you can contact if you find it too strenuous.

Cleaning too quickly

It is advisable to let the cleaning solution soak for 10 minutes before washing it away. Wiping it off within a few minutes is not going to do much good, as the solution has yet to take effect.

Moreover, merely wiping a microwave oven with a damp cloth does not make it clean enough. To play safe, heat a glass of water for a minute on high. The steam that is produced will make it easier for the food stains to come off. Steam also allows the surface to stay clean for a longer time. It is always better to take your time instead of hastily getting things done. After all, slow and steady wins the race!

Cleaning everything with the same cloth

By doing this, you are transferring dirt from one object to another instead of effectively cleaning it. Always prepare a stash of microfiber cloths and take turns using them. Microfiber cloth is better because they trap dust and may be cleaned easily by shaking off the dust into a trash bag. Additionally, using a wet cloth immediately will cause dust to accumulate into dirtier clumps. You should first use a dry microfiber cloth to sweep the dust off the surface before switching to a wet one and then drying it afterwards.

Cleaning everywhere except narrow spaces

Be sure to look out for cobwebs in tall or tight corners. A variety of cleaning equipment could make the chore more convenient. For instance, using an extension wand or simply taping a damp cloth onto your broom will help you reach tall corners.

Other places that might be overlooked are trash cans, fans and blinds. Line your bins with shopping bags to prevent grime from leaking. Even so, make sure to clean the bin itself and not just dispose of the trash bag. As for fans and blinds, be sure to wipe not just one, but both sides of the blades and blinds respectively.