Feeling overwhelmed by mess? Don’t worry! Keeping a clean house isn’t about spending hours cleaning. It’s about creating simple habits you can do every day. This guide will show you 10 cleaning tips you can do to keep your home tidy and organized, like putting away toys and using hidden storage solutions. So, let’s get started and take back control of your home!
1. Instill a no-shoes policy
Did you know that most of the dirt and germs we find in our homes come from something we wear every day? Our shoes! Studies have shown that a significant portion of the dirt tracked into our homes comes from the soles of our shoes, carrying everything from outdoor pollutants to allergens and bacteria.
This doesn’t mean you have to live in fear of your own shoes, but there’s a simple and effective solution: creating a “shoe-free zone” at your entrance. This simply means politely asking family and guests to take off their shoes when they come inside. While it might feel unusual at first, the benefits are undeniable.
Here are just a few reasons why establishing a shoe-free zone is a great idea:
Reduced Cleaning Time: By keeping dirt and debris off your floors, you’ll spend significantly less time sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming. This frees up valuable time for other activities and helps maintain cleaner floors throughout your home.
Improved Air Quality: Outdoor dirt often contains allergens and pollutants, which can get tracked in on shoes and contribute to poor indoor air quality. Leaving shoes at the door helps keep these unwanted elements out, leading to cleaner and healthier air for everyone in your home.
More Welcoming Space: A clean and dirt-free entryway sets a positive first impression and makes your home feel more inviting. Imagine stepping into a home with clean floors, free of the debris often tracked in from outside. It instantly creates a sense of comfort and cleanliness.
To make this transition smooth, consider adding a shoe basket or rack near your doorway. This provides a designated place for guests and family to leave their shoes, keeping them organized and out of sight.
2. Clean the house room by room
Feeling overwhelmed by the mountain of cleaning looming ahead? We’ve all been there! Instead of tackling the entire house at once, try conquering the chaos room by room. This allows you to break down the cleaning task into manageable chunks, making it feel less daunting and more achievable.
Here’s how this strategy can work for you:
Schedule 20 Minutes a Day: Dedicate just 20 minutes each day to focusing on cleaning a single room. This focused effort allows you to make significant progress without feeling like you’re spending hours cleaning.
Rotate Through the Rooms: Establish a cleaning rotation schedule, ensuring each room gets attention regularly. Start with one room on day one, another on day two, and so on. This way, your entire house will always feel presentable, even if unexpected guests arrive.
Divide and Conquer: For larger rooms, consider dividing them into smaller sections and tackling them one at a time. This helps maintain focus and prevents the cleaning session from feeling overwhelming.
Benefits of Room-by-Room Cleaning:
Reduced Stress: Breaking down the cleaning into smaller tasks makes it feel less stressful and more manageable, preventing you from feeling overwhelmed by the entire house.
Increased Motivation: Seeing the visible difference in a cleaned room can be incredibly motivating, encouraging you to tackle the next room and keep the momentum going.
Sense of Accomplishment: Completing a specific cleaning task in a limited time provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, making the overall cleaning process more rewarding.
3. De-clutter for a clean house as you go
Clutter can feel like a constant battle, but there’s a simple way to stay ahead of the mess: de-clutter as you go! This means taking a few moments throughout your day to put things back in their place whenever you’re in a room. It might seem small, but this habit can make a big difference in keeping your home feeling tidy and organized.
Here’s how it works:
Eagle Eye: Develop the habit of scanning the room whenever you enter. Have an eye out for anything out of place, like dirty dishes, misplaced books, or toys scattered on the floor.
Quick Pick-Up: Once you spot something out of place, take a moment to put it back where it belongs. This could be:
- Carrying a dirty plate to the kitchen as you walk by.
- Tossing clothes on the floor into the laundry basket on your way past.
- Throwing away leftover pizza you no longer want.
Make it Automatic: The key is to start small and practice this habit regularly. Over time, de-cluttering as you go will become second nature, and you won’t even need to think about it anymore.
Benefits of De-cluttering on the Go:
Prevents Clutter Buildup: By regularly putting things away, you prevent clutter from accumulating and overwhelming you later. Maintaining a tidy space is easier than trying to clean up a big mess all at once.
Reduces Cleaning Time: Putting things away as you go means less to clean up later. This saves you time and effort in the long run.
Creates a Calming Environment: A clutter-free environment can feel more peaceful and relaxing. By de-cluttering as you go, you contribute to creating a calmer and more inviting space for yourself and your family.
4. Shop smart
Feeling like cleaning takes up too much time and effort? Here’s a secret weapon: shop smart for cleaning products that can make your life easier!
Upgrade Your Cleaning Arsenal:
No-Wipe Wonders: Ditch the traditional cleaner and consider switching to a “no-wipe” cleaner. These magic potions allow you to simply spray the surface and walk away, no need for the additional step of wiping it down. This saves you time and effort, especially on large surfaces like countertops.
Wipes at Your Fingertips: Stock up on disinfectant wipes and strategically place them around your home. Having a pack readily available in the kitchen, bathroom, and dining area allows for quick and convenient cleaning without breaking out the whole cleaning kit. For an eco-friendly version, opt for a damp microfiber cloth instead.
Other Products: Make sure to also have common items like white vinegar and baking soda that can help with deep cleaning.
Benefits of Smart Shopping:
Effortless Cleaning: No-wipe cleaners and disinfectant wipes eliminate the need for extensive scrubbing and wiping, making cleaning tasks quicker and less physically demanding.
Time-Saving Efficiency: These products help you tackle everyday cleaning tasks efficiently, freeing up valuable time for other activities.
Reduced Cleaning Fatigue: By making cleaning easier and less time-consuming, you’ll feel less fatigued and overwhelmed by the chore, making it more manageable in the long run.
5. Invest in hidden storage space
Feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Here’s a clever strategy to maximize space and minimize mess: invest in hidden storage solutions! These nifty furniture pieces not only add functionality but also help you keep your home organized and clutter-free.
Treasure Trove Furniture:
Living Room Ottomans with Storage: Ditch the regular ottoman and opt for one with deep, hidden storage compartments inside. This allows you to discreetly tuck away items like blankets, toys, books, or even electronics, keeping your living room feeling neat and tidy.
Bedroom Trunks: Enhance your bedroom’s aesthetics and functionality with a beautiful, spacious trunk. This versatile piece is perfect for storing larger items like seasonal clothes, extra blankets, pillows, or even board games, keeping them hidden and organized.
Benefits of Hidden Storage:
Reduced Clutter: By providing designated storage spaces for various items, hidden storage solutions help you minimize clutter and keep your home looking neat and organized.
Maximized Space: These furniture pieces utilize unused space efficiently, offering additional storage without sacrificing floor space.
Enhanced Aesthetics: Well-chosen hidden storage furniture can complement your home’s décor, adding a touch of style and sophistication while keeping your belongings neatly tucked away.
6. Keep cleaning supplies in close proximities
We’ve all been there: you’re about to tackle a cleaning task, but then realize the cleaning supplies are all the way on the other side of the house. Suddenly, the chore feels much more daunting, and you might be tempted to put it off entirely.
Here’s a simple solution to avoid this struggle: keep your cleaning supplies close to where you’ll use them!
Strategically Stashing Supplies:
Bathroom: Store your bathroom cleaning supplies, like toilet bowl cleaner, surface wipes, and tub and shower cleaner, under the bathroom sink or in a designated cabinet within easy reach. This way, you’ll have everything you need right at your fingertips when the bathroom needs a refresh.
Kitchen: Keep your kitchen cleaning essentials, like dish soap, counter spray, and all-purpose cleaner, under the kitchen sink or in a designated drawer close to the cleaning area. This makes it easy to grab what you need for cleaning the kitchen after meals or tackling spills.
Living Room: For common areas like the living room, consider a decorative basket or caddy filled with multi-surface wipes, furniture polish, and glass cleaner. This portable cleaning kit allows you to address minor spills or dust buildup without having to trek to another part of the house.
Benefits of Keeping Supplies Close:
Reduced Inconvenience: Having cleaning supplies readily available eliminates the need to search for them, making it easier and more convenient to tackle cleaning tasks when they arise.
Increased Motivation: Seeing the cleaning supplies nearby can serve as a gentle reminder and nudge you to take action, preventing procrastination and keeping your home tidier overall.
Efficient Cleaning: Having everything you need within reach allows for a more efficient cleaning process, saving you time and effort.
7. Use liners to prevent mess and encourage a clean house
Liners are your secret weapon in the battle against mess! These handy little heroes can help you keep your home clean and prevent spills from becoming deeper cleaning disasters.
Here are a few ways to use liners to your advantage:
Grill Master with Minimal Mess: Line your grill pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil before cooking. This catches drips and splatters, saving you from scrubbing a greasy mess later. When you’re done cooking, simply peel off the foil and throw it away – no scrubbing required!
Trash Can Tame the Mess: Line your wastebaskets with plastic grocery bags or bin liners. This creates a disposable liner that traps spills and leaks, keeping your bin clean and odor-free. When the liner gets full or messy, simply tie it up and toss it away, replacing it with a fresh one.
Fridge Defenders: Line your refrigerator shelves with clear plastic liners. These liners catch crumbs, spills, and sticky messes, preventing them from staining your fridge shelves. Plus, when they get dirty, you can easily remove and replace them, keeping your fridge clean and fresh.
Benefits of Using Liners:
Reduced Cleaning Time: Liners catch spills and drips, preventing them from becoming stuck-on messes that require extensive cleaning. This saves you time and effort in the long run.
Easier Clean Up: When liners get dirty, you simply throw them away, eliminating the need for scrubbing or wiping down bins, shelves, or pans.
Improved Hygiene: Liners in your trash cans help contain spills and leaks, preventing the growth of bacteria and unpleasant odors.
Maintains Freshness: Liners in your fridge help trap spills and prevent them from reaching your food, keeping your fridge clean and your food fresh.
8. Learn to multi-task
We all know the feeling: you’re waiting for something to heat up in the microwave, and those precious minutes seem to tick by slowly. But what if you could use that time to score a small cleaning victory? Here’s where the power of multitasking comes in!
While your meal or snack is getting warm, look around your kitchen for quick cleaning tasks that take 3 minutes or less to complete. These small actions can make a big difference in keeping your home looking tidy and organized.
Here are a few ideas:
Wipe Down the Counters: Grab a disinfectant wipe and quickly give your countertops a once-over, wiping away any crumbs, spills, or dust.
Sweep the Floor: Use a broom or handheld vacuum to quickly sweep up any crumbs or debris that may have accumulated on the kitchen floor.
Empty the Dish Rack: Put away any clean dishes that have finished drying in the dish rack.
Unload the Dishwasher: If your dishwasher cycle has finished, take a moment to unload the clean dishes.
Put Away Leftovers: If you have leftover food from a previous meal, store it properly in the fridge to avoid clutter and potential spoilage.
Benefits of Multitasking for Cleaning:
Maximizes Time: By utilizing those short wait times for small cleaning tasks, you can maintain a cleaner home without dedicating large chunks of your day to cleaning.
Reduces Overall Cleaning Time: Regularly completing these quick tasks prevents messes from accumulating and turning into bigger cleaning jobs later.
Creates a Sense of Accomplishment: Completing even small cleaning tasks can give you a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to keep your home tidy.
9. Make the bed for a clean house look
Starting your day with a simple task like making your bed can have a surprisingly big impact on the overall tidiness of your home.
Here’s why this small step is worth incorporating into your daily routine:
Instant Neatness: A made bed creates an illusion of an organized room, even if other areas haven’t been tidied yet. It sets a positive tone for the day and can motivate you to tackle other cleaning tasks.
Reduced Clutter: Making your bed involves smoothing out the sheets and tucking them in, which helps prevent clutter from accumulating on your bed throughout the day. Clothes, pillows, and other items are less likely to be tossed on an already made bed.
Improved Sleep Environment: A well-made bed with crisp sheets can feel more inviting and promote better sleep. Knowing your bed is ready for you at the end of the day can contribute to a more restful night’s sleep.
Tips for Bed-Making:
Fitted Sheet Magic: Use fitted sheets that hug your mattress snugly. This eliminates the need for constant tucking and keeps your bed looking neater for longer.
Minimalist Pillows: Limit the number of pillows on your bed to two. This makes arranging them neater and faster, simplifying the bed-making process.
Quick and Consistent: Making your bed doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on smoothing out the sheets, tucking them in, and fluffing the pillows. It should only take a few minutes and can become a quick and easy habit.
10. Prioritize a clean house
Feeling overwhelmed by the cleaning tasks staring you down? Here’s a powerful strategy to stay organized and make progress: prioritize for a clean home!
Create Your Cleaning Checklist:
Must-Do List: Grab a piece of paper or your phone’s notes app. Start by listing all the cleaning tasks that absolutely must be done today to maintain a clean and presentable home. This could include:
- Washing the dishes piled high in the sink.
- Wiping down the kitchen counters after cooking.
- Taking out the overflowing trash.
- Making your bed and putting away clothes scattered on the floor.
Should-Do List: Next, add tasks that you would ideally like to accomplish today if time allows. This might include:
- Vacuuming the living room carpet.
- Dusting furniture surfaces.
- Cleaning the bathroom mirror and sink.
- Folding laundry and putting it away.
Hoping-To-Do List: Finally, jot down any additional tasks you hope to get to if you have extra time and energy. This could be:
- Cleaning out the fridge.
- Mopping the floors.
- Organizing a cluttered drawer.
Benefits of Prioritization:
Increased Efficiency: Focusing on essential tasks first prevents you from getting sidetracked by less important cleaning chores.
Reduced Stress: Breaking down cleaning into manageable chunks makes the process feel less overwhelming and stressful.
Sense of Accomplishment: Completing tasks from your list, even if it’s just the “Must-Do” items, provides a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to keep going.
Final Thoughts
A clean and presentable home takes determination. However, once you program yourself to undertake simple tasks daily, the job will not seem as impossible anymore. Do you have cleaning hacks you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear from you so leave us your comments below.
