No Time? Here Are The Cleaning Tasks You Should And Shouldn't Skip

While I do share a lot of cleaning tips and advice on my blog, I must admit that I don’t always have a spotlessly clean house. (Hopefully that doesn’t come as a shock! I’d hate to destroy anyone’s illusions that I’m a perfectly tidy person with a home that’s always immaculate.) ;-) I do like to keep things clean, but like anyone else, sometimes I just don’t have enough time for it. During really busy weeks, I’m lucky if I can find 5 minutes here or there to tidy things up!

When you have a long list of tasks and not a lot of time to do them, what do you do? You start by prioritizing your tasks, right? You tackle the most important stuff first and leave the less important stuff for later. And that’s exactly the approach I take to cleaning when I’m short on time. I’ve figured out which jobs I can skip over and which jobs I need to make time for, and I want to share those with you today! I hope that the practice of prioritizing your cleaning helps you as much as it does me!

5 Cleaning Tasks You Can Skip (And 5 You Shouldn’t)

✘ Skip It:

1. Mopping

Unless there’s a really sticky mess somewhere, feel free to pass on mopping if you don’t have the time. I like to spot clean the dirtiest spots on my hard floors with a microfiber cloth or a Magic Eraser.

2. Scrubbing The Tub Or Shower

If I have guests coming over, I don’t waste time scrubbing out the shower in the hall bathroom. I just close the shower curtain instead! My guests either won’t know or won’t care that the shower isn’t super clean.

3. Laundry

The laundry can usually wait for a day or two, so skip it if you’re in a hurry. It’s more energy efficient to wash larger loads anyway!

4. Dusting

A little dust isn’t a big deal, so skip it if you’re short on time. When you do dust, use a dusting spray that will help repel dust on your furniture. Using a good spray could turn dusting into a once-a-month job!

5. Washing The Windows

If you’re washing your windows around once a season, that’s probably plenty. I’ve put this particular cleaning job off for months at a time, and it just isn’t that big of a deal! (I do make a point to clean them in the spring though, in order to let more light in!)

✔ Don’t Skip It:

1. Making Your Bed

I’ll happily put off certain chores, but one that I refuse to skip is making my bed. I make my bed every single morning without fail because it makes my bedroom look more put together, which in turn makes me feel more put together! (I can’t explain why—it just does!) I also like sliding into a nicely made bed at night. Something about smooth sheets just feels very restful!

2. Wiping Down Countertops

Taking a minute to wipe down your countertops every day can make a big difference! Spills and crumbs on counters can make your whole kitchen look messier than it actually is. Use a wet cloth or a wipe to quickly clean the countertops, and you’ll never be sorry you did!

3. Dishes

In my opinion, it’s never worth it to skip the dishes! As a mother to four kids, I learned the hard way that the dishes never stop piling up. It’s tempting to put them off in the moment. But that mountain of dishes will be waiting for you in the morning, and it will only get taller!

4. Vacuuming

I haven’t been great at vacuuming often in the past, but I’m making an effort to be better about it. Because in reality, vacuuming doesn’t even take that much time! And it’s doesn’t take a lot of effort either ever since I got a more lightweight vacuum. Vacuuming regularly will go a long way towards make your home feel cleaner! It will also help keep dirt from getting ground down into the fibers of your carpet.

5. Putting Dirty Clothes In Your Hamper

Skipping laundry for a few days is understandable when you’re busy. But there’s always enough time to get your dirty clothes into your hamper! I like to use those hampers that have multiple bags or compartments like this one. Then when I get around to doing the laundry, it’s all sorted already!

Which chores go on your “skip” and “don’t skip” lists when you’re pressed for time?

I believe we should all love the place we call home and the life we live there. Since 2011, I've been dedicated to making One Good Thing by Jillee a reliable and trustworthy resource for modern homemakers navigating the everyday challenges of running a household. Join me as I share homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make life easier so you can enjoy it more!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!