Nobody loves cleaning their house—it can be frustrating and time-consuming and can feel like a futile cycle that never ends—but unfortunately it’s a necessary evil. Luckily, cleaning doesn’t have to be a nightmare; some simple, well-known hacks can make the process a little bit easier. Ultimately, the key to efficient and effortless cleaning is to work smarter, not harder. Read on for five time-saving cleaning hacks that professionals swear by:

1. Invest in the right cleaning tools
It is essential to have the proper cleaning tools to make your life easier; if you don’t have the right tools, you will likely just get frustrated and take even longer to finish. A few essential cleaning tools you should consider investing in are a good vacuum, a steam cleaner, and a microfiber cloth. Also, invest in good sanitizers and disinfectants to help you clean more effectively. For instance, a good room sanitizer spray can be used to quickly clean door handles, light switches, and other areas that tend to get touched a lot.

2. Schedule cleaning weekly
Cleaning professionals typically recommend that you clean your house weekly. This may seem like a lot, but it’s easily doable if you break it down into smaller tasks. For instance, you can deep clean one room each week. Alternatively, you can do a different task each day, such as dusting on Monday, vacuuming on Tuesday, etc. The key is to find a schedule that works for you and then stick to it. What’s more, try to get the whole family involved in the cleaning process. This will help make it go by faster, and it will be less of a burden on you.

3. Use multipurpose cleaners
Use multipurpose cleaners to save time and money. These cleaners can be used on multiple surfaces, which means you won’t have to buy a bunch of different cleaners for different areas, such as your countertops, floors, and appliances. There are many different cleaners on the market, so you should be able to find one that you like and that works well with only a little experimentation. In some cases, you may even be able to find a multipurpose cleaner that can be used on both indoor and outdoor surfaces.

4. Tidy up before you clean
One mistake that many people make is that they try to clean their house when it’s already a mess. This is a recipe for disaster. Instead, you should tidy up before you start cleaning. This means putting away any clutter, picking up any toys lying around, and making the bed. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to focus on cleaning, and you won’t be so overwhelmed. In some cases, you may even find that you don’t have to do as much cleaning, because the house is already pretty tidy.

5. Always map a cleaning route
Map out a cleaning route before you start cleaning. This will help you to clean more efficiently, and it will prevent you from forgetting any areas. For instance, you can start in one room and then work your way around the house counterclockwise. Additionally, you should clean from top to bottom in each room. This means starting with the ceiling, moving to the walls, and ending on the floor. By mapping out a cleaning route, you’ll be able to get the job done quickly and efficiently.