How the microwave can help make your home easier to clean
By Rachael Gavin|
Cleaning the home is one of those things that can take a lot of motivation and effort despite how good it looks and feels once it's done.
One approach that can make cleaning easier and almost like a game is to incorporate a frequently-used kitchen appliance
It's one of many hacks and tips people shared in a Reddit thread asking for "?your best low effort 'clean as you go' tips", and it's a real game changer.
The hack involves the microwave by using the time it takes to heat something to do a little cleaning.
But it's not just about making a habit of using those few minutes to put dishes away or wipe the bench, it makes it fun by turning it into a game.
"?When you put something in the microwave use that couple of minutes to clean something. I try to 'beat the clock'. It's amazing what can be done in two to three minutes," one said.
?The tip prompted others to say they do the same thing while waiting for the kettle to boil and their coffee or tea to brew.
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"?When I'm waiting for the coffee maker to make coffee in the morning, I try to race it to get the dishwasher offloaded and reloaded. I rarely win, but my future self always thanks me for getting at least some of it done," one said.
Another commented, "?We handwash in my house, but coffee brewing time is also dish time here. It's a good tip!"
"Yesss to this! It tricks my brain into doing a lot in a little time. And since I do it in the time I would wait for something, I feel like it was done effortlessly and without taking any time at all. I also trick myself to doing just one dish like a mug and I start doing more once I'm at it," a Redditor added.
The hack isn't just for kitchen appliances with a short heating time, another person revealed they do this at the same time as a load of laundry.
"?I use my washing machine as a timer, it's one hour for a load and I set myself challenges to get everything done by the time it's finished," they said before sharing proof that you can turn anything into a cleaning habit.
"I use my cat's fear of vacuums to make sure I hoover quickly in the five minutes she sits in my garden each day."
While it's all well and good to use the microwave to motivate you to clean other things, the appliance itself still needs cleaning occasionally.
Of course, a hack was suggested in the Reddit thread for that too.
"?If I'm making something 'steamy' in the microwave I grab a rag and wipe it out after when it is already hot. Usually for me it's nuke some frozen veggies and the water evaporates and makes it easy to wipe," one said.
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But if you need to clean more than the time provided by your appliances, you can simply set a timer and play the 'beat the clock' game that way.
"?I have started setting 30 mins per day to do as much as possible, and whatever doesn't get done in that time has to wait until tomorrow," a Redditor explained.
"Something about racing against the clock gets me motivated and helps me to work more efficiently, and knowing there's a clear end point stops me from feeling so overwhelmed (and not starting at all!). And if something isn't finished, it's fine, I know I'll go again tomorrow."
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