What to Clean if You Only Have 10 Minutes

Take a moment to consider how infrequently you clean the doorknobs and light switches. Wiping them with a disinfecting cloth cuts down on the spread of germs, and quite obviously is an excellent use of your time. Forget about finding 10 free minutes, though. This 10-minute chore is the perfect multitasking opportunity (like when you’re on the phone with your mom, or waiting for dinner to get out of the oven).

Whether it’s the dishes from your last meal or the mountain in the sink, take 10 minutes to relocate that dirty stuff into the dishwasher. Don’t forget to add the detergent after loading; set it up, hit start, and walk away.

Mom was right. If you make the bed, the whole bedroom just feels... better. Straighten out pillows and shams and rearrange the top sheet and comforter. You’ll breathe easier and, the bed will look more inviting too. This is a pretty simple chore, and you can probably change the sheets in under 10 minutes too... if you hustle. Bonus points for mitered corners.

Spray-spray-spray, wipe-wipe-wipe. Cleaning glass isn’t a chore that’s difficult, and in 10 minutes you can easily refresh many of the windows in your home. Don’t get carried away though - you’ll be most productive if you use your time to deal with the panes that get the most action... the one that the dog nose-boops while watching squirrels, or those that the kids riddle with fingerprints while watching the garbage truck.