If you only had 5 minutes...

[phathui5]

Between my four kids and homeschooling, plus the kids I babysit, it's hard to find more than five minutes at a time to devote to cleaning lately.

What are your best quick cleaning tips?

If you had five minutes to clean, what would you do fast?

(And I'm not talking 5 minutes a day total. I do get multiple cleaning breaks.)

[yoginisarah]

I usually start with unloading and then reloading the dishwasher. I can get a good amount of clothes folded in 5 minutes as well. My son's room takes no more than 5 minutes to declutter. Making the bed and decluttering the sink area is also a 5 minute chore.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

When i leave the bathroom after a shower, take the wash cloth and wipe down the bathroom sink and bathtub real fast. I also sweep all the floors into the carpet and vacumn the carpet. Rather than getting a dust pan and then picking up dirt that way.

[Ruthla]

I'd unload the dishwasher in my first 5 minute opportunity. Then I'd try to keep reloading it as the day goes by- meal over, take a minute or two to put the dishes in. Encourage the kids to do this as well.

Another 5 minute break is switching a load of laundry. If you can manage it, put away the laundry fresh from the dryer (or clothesline). Somehow putting away 1 basket takes a minute but putting away 4 baskets seems like an unsurmountable task.

If the dishes and laundry are under control, I feel like the house is generally in order.

I also tidy up the bathroom on my way out, wiping up spilled toothpaste as soon as I see it, little stuff like that so it doesnt' build up. And we vaccuum the house once ever week or two. I did it at least twice a week when I had babies in the house who might eat dirt or dropped food off the floor though. And we try to sweep the kitchen floor daily..it gets done at least once a week!

[nathansmum]

In 5mins I could pick up a good amount of random/discarded toys and bits of crap that gets toted around the house.

I could unload the dishwasher so it's free for loading straight into - totally makes me feel better about my kitchen.

I could clean the toilet and handbasin.

I could vacuum the lounge and dining room which are the two rooms seen by visitors and which make it look messy if not done.

Tidy any hotspots (collection points for papers/toys that need fixing/dh stuff) daily would take only 5mins if I did it daily.