While I find cleaning quite satisfying, I’m all ears for anything that will make the task a little easier. I don’t always have time to address my chores there and then, which often stack up, until I'm left to do them all at once over the weekend. Not always convenient, especially when I have plans. And until then, you’re left looking at a messy home, which can take its toll on your mood.
When I stumbled upon the 5-Minute Clean Routine, I admittedly didn't hold high hopes. What could you really achieve in 5 minutes that would make a significant difference? But, as they say, never look a gift horse in the mouth, so I rolled up my rubber gloves and gave this speedy cleaning method a try – here’s what happened.
What is the 5-Minute Clean Routine?
This method was first introduced by Anna Louisa in her book The 5 Minute Clean Routine. The premise is a simple one; you clean for just 5 minutes a day, whenever suits you. achieving as much as you can in that time. And then, in seeing the results, you’re encouraged to absorb these little chores into your everyday cleaning habits. Of course, you do this alongside your regular chores – it would be fantastic if just 5 minutes a day would keep our homes spotless, but sadly that’s not a reality!
Louisa developed this routine soon after becoming a mom: “With a baby to look after, I needed to keep things simple: put away the laundry, fill the dishwasher, wipe the worktops – five-minute tasks that were easy to achieve and made the house look and feel a little bit better. That, in turn, meant I wasn’t waking up to chaos the next morning, which put me in a better frame of mind for the day ahead.”
In addressing these "quick win" chores, you feel like you’ve got better control over the immediate mess in your home. This gives you a positive mindset and means you don’t have to tackle so much at once with your usual chores – when the timing’s not always convenient.
The routine also encourages you to make a start on your cleaning; when you might be feeling demotivated, you know that it’s only 5 minutes of effort. And if you find you want to keep cleaning afterwards, you do. It makes things more fun too. You want to challenge yourself and can even set a timer to keep count.
What happened when I tried the 5-Minute Clean Routine?
There are no specific guidelines on what you should do in those 5 minutes; you shape them to your home, based on "quick bursts of cleaning." Although Louisa does give a suggestion for what you could do over a week to cover the fundamentals. But, before we get into that, she suggests giving the routine a try on your own terms for a few days. Simply put, you pick a space or a room and then set your timer and get going.
For my first go, I decided to tackle all the "stuff’ that had built up around my bin. I managed to wash my vacuum’s blocked filter and gather all my empty boxes and toilet roll tubes for recycling, but other items required more considerable thought. For an old set of coasters, a plush toy and a glass vase, I needed to see if I could find new homes for them before donating them. This spot required more like 20 minutes to sort through in the end, but the cleaning routine did get me started on it, which is what I needed.
By my third try, I really started to pick up speed and my cleaning was much more sporadic. I was grabbing bits off the sides that could be easily disposed of, like junk mail, and then I skidded to a halt to clean my kitchen surfaces. The only problem I found was that the cleaner needed to sit for a minute or so to cut through the grease on my stove, which I wasn’t giving it at first. I then didn’t have time to buff my stove so it dried looking quite streaky. But, I did manage to take down my washing and start on my bathroom too – not bad for 5 minutes. You just need to make time afterwards for those finishing touches.
After that, I was probably rushing too much. I pulled the washing down again, but this time I wasn’t folding it neatly as I normally would. It was more like Supermarket Sweep where I was grabbing them off the line and then bunging them into the bedroom. I then unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher – I had to slow down a little here as I didn’t want to smash something just to finish in time. I did admittedly drop a dirty knife as I reloaded; thankfully it was just a blunt dinner knife, but it made me stop and reconsider my pace. I also did the washing up (it was only a couple of items each day at this stage). It is a fun method as you’re racing against time, but you need to be careful that you don’t break anything in the process or have an accident as a result.
A week’s schedule for the 5-Minute Clean Routine
Day six was a Monday, so I decided to give Louisa’s weekly plan a try. She says that to complete the regular basic cleaning tasks around your home, the following might help:
Monday: Kitchen and living room
Tuesday: Bathroom, plus an extra task such as cleaning a couple of windows
Wednesday: Bedroom, plus and extra task such as vacuuming the sofa
Thursday: Entrance Hall and bathroom
Friday: Kitchen and laundry
Saturday: Dust surfaces, mop and vacuum floors
Sunday: Change bed linen
So, on the Monday, I accordingly cleaned my kitchen. There wasn’t much to do as I had cleaned it over the weekend, but still there was some washing up and some food residue in the sink too. I also added a few items to the dishwasher. The lesson here is there’s always something to do, so use those 5 minutes, even if just to spruce up the space.
On Tuesday, I didn’t find the time to do the 5 minutes – that sounds impossible, but the evening got away from me, so I reserved two sessions for Wednesday. By then, the bathrooms had built up a little bit of clutter, including empty toilet roll tubes and some skincare products I had purchased but not found a place for yet. I dealt with these and reorganized my towel cabinet which I’d been wanting to do for some time. I then rushed to clean the wardrobe mirror as my extra task, but as I spritzed the timer went off. I completed the work, pleased by what I’d achieved in 5 minutes.
My bedroom was a little more tricky to clean, mainly because my partner was sitting in it at the time. I picked up the floordrobe and organized my side table, putting away paracetamol and throwing away clutter. I recommend doing your 5 minutes without an audience or they will comment on your franticness as you speed clean. I also attempted to throw something away which my partner wasn’t yet finished with, so try not to get carried away with the challenge.
The following day, I cleaned the hall and bathroom, both of which required probably less than 5 minutes, but it gave me a chance to vacuum the cushions, which I can’t remember when I last did.
This guide is a good way to spruce up your home, and it gives you more time for those less common seasonal or annual chores at the weekend. Sometimes 5 minutes won’t be enough – I don’t think I’ve ever changed the bed sheets in that time, even with help. And I don’t know about you, but I need to run more than one wash cycle a week, so you need to take it with a pinch of salt, but still it’s a great way to get on top of your chores.
Verdict
I was skeptical of the 5-Minute Clean Routine, but it does indeed make a difference and takes minimal effort. By getting those ‘quick win’ chores out of the way, you feel your home is cleaner, and less stressed about keeping it that way.
Of course, you can’t achieve everything in 5 minutes, but it does encourage you to get up and get going, which is often the biggest challenge. It also shows you that the task might not take as long as you’d think. I now keep on top of my washing up daily and take down the washing as soon as it’s dry (rather than waiting for the next time the line is needed). It ultimately encourages good habits and more regular time for cleaning, rather than trying to accomplish everything in one stressful swoop.
As the Household Advice Editor, Katie looks after all things cleaning and decluttering. She started out as a Junior Tester in the Good Housekeeping Institute 10 years ago, so she’s tested plenty of appliances in her time too, including dishwashers and washing machines. Nowadays, she focuses on keeping our cleaning content up to date and accurate, testing relevant products and learning about the latest methods and trends along the way.
