I recently committed to doing a quick under ten-minute daily clean-up. Which means by the time the weekend rolls around, I have more time to tackle some of the larger cleaning and organizing projects on my list… like mopping and sorting out that closet once and for all.

One of my favorite cleaners. Ever.

And also going for walks outside, reading a book, and the other leisurely pursuits of summer of course. Here are the three steps I follow –

1. Empty. I always start with my kitchen first. I empty the dishwasher of clean dishes and load it up with the dirty ones. I walk through each room and put things in their rightful place. Magazines, containers, clothes, everything gets put back. I clear my bathroom counter of bottles so the next morning is clear. I place clothes and extra shoes back into the closet. Organizing my clothes is the part I dread most, but I timed myself and found it never takes longer than a few minutes.

2. Wipe. Next, I wipe down the countertops of the kitchen. I have also started to occasionally wipe the floors to prevent dust throughout the week and get away without mopping on the weekend. I wipe down the bathroom counters and then dust the living room surfaces, the computer screen, the dining table. Not every day, but a few times a week does the trick.

3. Stop. The key to finishing in under ten minutes is to remember you’re not cleaning the house. Not during these ten minutes. You’re just restoring your home for the next day. For instance, you should clean the countertops of the crumbs from lunch, but don’t worry about wiping off the fingerprints from the stainless steel fridge. You should use a daily shower cleaner, but don’t break out your toilet scrubber.

What are your cleaning hacks? How do you find more time? Are your routines ongoing or more sporadic?