When you’re tired and want to crawl into bed, things like brushing your teeth or taking off your makeup can seem like a massive effort, even though we all know how important they are.
But there is also a household chore that cleaning experts say should be done too.
Cleaning can become overwhelming and daunting, with many people turning to social media for inspiration and hacks.
The ‘closing shift’ cleaning concept entails a quick tidy before bed designed to make keeping a clean and tidy home maintainable and to avoid the need to spend hours every week deep cleaning.
Cleaning experts from London rubbish removal company, Rainbow Rubbish Removals, have now created a 20-minute nightly cleaning routine to help you keep your home tidy, including the one job you should always do before bed.
Miroslav Radov, owner of Rainbow Rubbish Removals, says: “Integrating small tasks into your daily routine is an easy strategy for maintaining a tidy home and reducing overall workload and stress.”
Do the dishes – 5 minutes
Never leave dirty dishes overnight. Whether you wash your dishes by hand or have a dishwasher, a quick wash will make sure you start the morning off right. Dirty dishes are ground zero for bacteria and germs in the kitchen, and leaving dishes or pans to soak in water could spread thousands of germs around your kitchen while you sleep. Maintaining a good nightly dish routine also helps keep your home free of flies and odours.
Declutter – 5 minutes
Dispose of all rubbish and take out the bins if full. Return items to where they belong, including that dreaded load of clean laundry waiting for you. Research has found that clutter can increase feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Wipe down surfaces – 3 minutes
Wipe down surfaces you have used during the day with an antibacterial cleaner throughout your home, from the kitchen to the coffee table. Kitchen countertops can harbour 18 times more bacteria than a dog’s food bowl. By giving them a quick wipe with an anti-bac spray before bed, you prevent germs from multiplying while you sleep.
Hoover or sweep – 5 minutes
Following the ‘high-low’ rule is paramount, making sure to clean from the top down and hoover or sweep towards the end. Cleaning up messes after cooking is particularly important, crumbs and debris easily follow you to other areas of the home including into the bed. Ants have a keen sense of smell and are able to locate crumbs and other floor messes before bringing a sample back to their colony – making dirty floors the perfect home for new insect tenants.
Straighten up soft furnishings – 2 minutes
Straighten up any soft furnishings. Fluff and chop those cushions and fold throws on the sofa to create an inviting space that makes your home feel clean and polished. Restoring order in your home at night will help set you up for a good tomorrow.
TikToker Anna Shields, a mum of one, recently shared her ‘closing shift’ routine, admitting that while she was still getting used to the habit it had already helped. She told her 152,800 followers: “Do you have ‘shifts’ in your house?! This is all so new to me but the routine and habits have definitely taken A LOT of the overwhelm out of keeping the home.”
People watching were impressed and in full agreement. One user replied: “These closing shifts are hard to stay consistent. But it helps my mental health SO MUCH.” And another person added: “Your house is so beautiful & you’re definitely inspiring me to follow through on closing shift.”