Simple method professional cleaner swears by for quick and easy kitchen cleaning
By Rachael Gavin|
I?f anyone knows how to make cleaning the home more efficient, it's Nikita Gridley.
The Queenslander was a long-time hotel cleaner before joining Maid2Match as a house cleaner and now trains junior staff.
This experience means she has her routine and methods for cleaning her own home down to a fine art?.
"?It has definitely made me more efficient, I have really fine tuned my skills to make me speedy, whilst remaining diligent. Over the years, professional cleaning has taught me ways to cut down the time and still do a great, thorough clean," she tells 9honey Living.
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Gridley put her skills to the test this week as a finalist in the VIVA House of Spills Challenge to find Australia's fastest cleaner.
She sat down with 9honey Living to share tips learnt on the job that she uses for cleaning her own home.
Kitchen
?If you've ever wondered just where to start in the kitchen, Gridley's top tip for this space keeps things simple and is easy to remember.
"?Do all the dry cleaning first, then all the wet. You'll be more efficient while also minimising any cross-contamination. Dust, vacuum and wipe first, then take out the cleaning products," she says.
When choosing your kitchen cleaning supplies, Gridley is a fan of multi-purpose cleaners including white vinegar.
"?You'll save yourself time since you don't need to keep switching products or remember which product is for what surface," she says.
Bathroom
Prevention is better than cure, especially in the bathroom where mould tends to grow thanks to all our hot showers and baths.
So Gridley recommends ?taking action to prevent surfaces staying damp for too long.
"?Dry a surface after you've finished cleaning with paper towels. VIVA are a great option since they're fast-absorbing, so you can dry as quickly as possible," she says.
"You can speed up the drying process and air out your bathroom at the same time by opening the windows and door."
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Dusting
No-one wants to clean the same space over and over again, so Gridley has important advice when it comes to where you start dusting a surface.
"?Work top to bottom, and one side to another! You'll be more efficient and won't end up dirtying a spot you already cleaned," she says.
Bedrooms
?Take a cue from the hotel cleaner and try this tip if you find your bed and mattress showing signs of mould or mildew.
"?Strip your bed first and move it away from the wall to allow airflow while you clean the rest of the room. This helps minimise moisture and odour build-up."
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Motivation to clean
A lot of us find it hard to motivate ourselves to clean after a long day at work, so you can be sure professional cleaners know how to motivate themselves to tidy their own spaces after cleaning other people's homes.
For Gridley the secret is putting on some music ?to make cleaning her home a little more fun.
"Sometimes I also put on motivational cleaning videos that are on YouTube, which have taught me several great tips," she says.
Thinking of the end result helps too, and you can't deny the satisfaction that comes from transforming something dirty to clean again.
"?I personally enjoy cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, since they are usually the dirtiest areas. But once the house is clean, those are the areas customers appreciate the most."
