Wondering how to clean smarter? For starters, there’s really no right or wrong way to clean. Cleaning — regardless of how you do it — is a major feat in itself that should be celebrated. The fact that you cleaned at all is a win: Having a clean home can bring about a clearer mind and psyche. Once your home is clutter-free and organized, the more focused you will feel so you can move on to other important tasks. If everything is in its place, the more productive you can be. The health and wellness benefits of a clean home are also notable. A dust-free home is a home that keeps allergens, germs, and other pollutants at bay.

That being said, there are definitely ways to make cleaning house a quicker and easier process. Whether you’re deep cleaning and organizing your bathroom, decluttering the garage, or sprucing up the kids’ spaces, we know you don’t always have a lot of time on your hands to devote to the project. So, we sought expert advice to uncover easy cleaning tips and tricks, plus product suggestions to streamline your efforts.

1. Declutter first.

Before you dust, wipe, and scrub, one of the first things you should do is, “Pick up, and put away everything [that] has gathered on the floor,” says Sharon Lowenheim, MBA, MSE, certified professional organizer, and founder of Organizing Goddess, Inc. “Then, do the same with all the surfaces.” Kate Pawlowski, founding partner of Done & Done Home, echoes Lowenheim’s sentiment, adding that what makes cleaning so difficult for some people is that they have too much lying around the house. “We always suggest that doing a big declutter will make cleaning so much faster since everything is put away in its home,” says Pawlowski

2. Gather supplies.

When it comes to cleaning, getting started should entail creating a special station for all of your cleaning supplies and products. Devote one bucket or caddy to carry around the house with you while you clean, explains Wendy Silberstein, professional organizer and founder of The Aesthetic Organizer. Then, “create a master schedule and commit,” she tells Woman’s Day.

3. Make a schedule.

Having a schedule and cleaning cadence can give your home the focus it deserves, while also keeping your mind in check. There’s no sense in cleaning the same space over and over again if you’re neglecting other parts of your home. Divide your cleaning tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly lists, Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, suggests. “You’ll never have to spend hours (or days) doing an entire-home deep clean again,” she adds. Hord recommends wiping down and disinfecting all high-traffic areas daily — doorknobs, countertops, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, just to name a few. “On a weekly basis, wash sheets and towels, vacuum and mop floors, dust surfaces and furniture, and clean your showers and bathtubs,” she says. As for monthly tasks, Hord suggests taking inventory of the food in your kitchen, cleaning supplies, and toiletries to make sure they’re not expired or running low.

Once you’ve cleared the clutter and gotten your cleaning schedule and cadence down, it’s time to start cleaning. We talked to the pros to uncover their most valuable tips for the best way to clean your house, so you can get right to it.

4. Work smarter, not harder.

Professional house cleaner and blogger of ConfessionsofaCleaningLady.com, Sara San Angelo, has a great motto for cleaning: “Work smarter not harder.”

One of the tools that helps her work smarter: a cordless electric spin scrubber with extendable arm. “You can clean your whole bathroom with it with minimal effort,” she says. “With the extendable arm, you don’t have to bend over to clean large tubs or showers. Cleaning grout lines on the floor is a breeze.” San Angelo even dusts baseboards with it using a dry scrubber head.