No hurry: there are household chores that you can postpone for longer than you think
It is true that cleaning the house cannot be put off forever and we often have to do this several times a week. There are some surfaces and materials that we cannot delay cleaning - both for reasons of hygiene and orderliness. But when the situation is not too bad or perhaps we do not have enough time to do a thorough cleaning, there are cases in which we can postpone doing this chore.
Sometimes, in fact, over-frequent cleaning is not strictly necessary - or, rather, we can use some tips to help us keep the house cleaner for longer and using less effort.
Bathroom or kitchen?
For most, a dirty bathroom is the most annoying thing in the home - even worse than a dirty kitchen or bedroom. In particular, the toilet is always the focus for bathroom cleaning chores.
However, if you frequently clean the sanitary fixtures in the bathroom (immediately after use), it is not necessary to clean frequently using degreasers and other aggressive products. A thorough cleaning can be done every 7 or 10 days - as long as there is no very conspicuous dirt visible.
On the other hand, the kitchen should never be neglected for long periods - especially the sink: this must be cleaned regularly to ensure that hygiene conditions are not compromised.
Dusting using dry cloths
Dust cloths or microfiber cloths remove the bulk of the dust in the home, but also kicks it up (to settle back later). And if you dust only one area at a time, you are basically just moving the dust from one place to another. If there is a lot of dust, it is best to dust thoroughly once a week, with a vacuum cleaner or a moist cloth.
Washing the parquet
Wood floors, however nice to look at, are susceptible to moisture. This means that, rather than washing them, you need to have the patience to sweep and vacuum them often. There is no need to use water unless something very dirty falls on the floor (or it has been a long time since the last cleaning). In any case, only properly wrung out mops and cloths should be used: immediately wipe off any excess moisture from the parquet using dry and absorbent cloths.
Ironing the curtains
We don't was our curtains very often, but when we do, it's always a good idea to wash them and hanging them up again immediately. Ironing them is not necessary.
In fact, if you take the curtains out of the dryer before they are completely dry (especially in the case of heavy curtains), or from the washing machine (if they are light, such as those in lace) - let them finish drying while they are hanging up. Their weight will "iron out" any wrinkles. ONE less job to do!
Cleaning the mirrors
If the the mirror is dirtied with fingerprints or splashes of toothpaste, quickly remove these with a clean microfiber cloth: if the smudges are small, this timely intervention will be more than enough to keep the mirror clean, avoiding having to do a more thorough cleaning.
The fridge
If food hygiene is important (and it is), it is also true that there is no need to empty and wash the fridge every month (or more frequently). This is provided, of course, that the fridge is used properly: use containers, bowls, trays and any item that will help you protect the racks and walls of the fridge from liquid splatter.
Only when something spills onto the racks, do you need to intervene. And one way to keep the racks and drawers clean could be to line them with parchment paper - which you'll change as soon as they get too dirty.
In short, you will certainly not be able to stop cleaning your house, but you can prevent having to do it too often in every room - especially if there are more important things to do with your time!
