We’ve all been there—barely surviving the morning rush hour of making lunches, signing permission slips, and searching for matching socks. Then after a busy day at work and school comes the evening whirlwind of homework, dinner, and maybe a few minutes of downtime.
That leaves most of us with no time to keep our home tidy, much less clean.
Simple, quick habits that will make it look like someone slaved over your house all day.
1. Keep cleaning supplies handy where you use them
Face it: There’s no way you’re going to trek downstairs to grab some cleaner to wipe off that toothpaste glob; you’re going to leave it there until it hardens into cement. Keep a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner and a stack of cleaning cloths under all your sinks in the bathrooms and kitchen, so you can wipe up any little spot or spill you see before it becomes a big mess that requires elbow grease—and time.
2. Clean the shower while you're showering
You’re standing there rinsing your hair, so why not do a once-over of the shower walls? I find one of the best products for keeping the shower clean is natural dish soap, because it is designed to fight grease—which, surprise, is mostly what’s in the soap scum lining your shower walls!
Give the walls a quick once-over with soap and a sponge a couple of times a week, then use the shower head to rinse, and continue on with your shower. And always wipe down those glass doors when you are finished to keep streaks at bay.
3. Clean as you cook
This is the best way to avoid a huge headache at the end of a meal, which you know you’re going to want to walk away and leave. Even if you need to keep both eyes on the burners, at least fill your sink with soapy water and stick the pots, pans, utensils, and other cooking items in to soak while you eat.
4. Run the dishwasher at night
Yes, even if it’s not quite full. That’s so you can empty it first thing in the morning so it’s ready for action.
Train your whole family to put dishes directly in the dishwasher, which keeps the sink clean and the counters clutter-free.
5. Embrace spot cleaning
Remember that it’s the whole chore that will wear you down, so deal only with what absolutely has to be taken care of that moment.
One fingerprint on the door of the fridge is not a reason to clean the whole fridge.
6. Keep surfaces clear
Flat surfaces collect clutter like a paperclip to a magnet.
They’re also what you see as you scan the room, so when you have clutter on flat surfaces it seems like it goes on forever.
The more you can keep tables, floors, beds, and countertops clear, the cleaner and more spacious these areas feel.
The biggest clutter culprit is paper, so don’t let it pile up. Recycle unnecessary mail the minute it comes in, and create a filing system for the rest of it.
7. Clean out your refrigerator every week
Grab those sad celery stalks that you were so sure you were going to stir-fry and those takeout leftovers that never made it to the office, and trash them before they rot and leave a lingering order.
The best time to clean out the fridge is on trash day—off it goes—and ideally, right before you go food shopping to replenish it. You’ll be able to put away the groceries more easily—and you’ll be more liable to eat them if you can see them.
8. Never leave a room empty-handed
If you’re going upstairs, take something with you, whether it’s a stack of clean laundry or toilet paper refills. If you’re heading from the living room to the kitchen, grab that magazine that needs to be recycled and the water glass destined for your empty dishwasher.
9. Have a place for everything—and keep it there
Always put things back in their proper place after every use.
Dirty clothes go in the hamper—not on the floor—and clean clothes belong in your dresser and/or closet—not left in the laundry room or piled on the bed.
Ditto for scissors, pens, and all those wayward objects that should have a designated spot in the junk drawer, as well as shoes, umbrellas, and coats that need dedicated hooks and bins to keep the entryway pristine.
10. Finish the day with a 10-minute tidying session
For those things that weren’t part of suggestions 8 and 9, make a nightly pickup part of your routine.
Set aside just 10 to 15 minutes every night—put on music if it makes the process more fun—and return everything to its spot, from toys to magazines. If you have a few minutes left over, run a cleaning cloth over counters or do a quick sweep, devoting five minutes to a different area every night.
11. Purge
This is more of a long-term solution, because less stuff means less to clean and organize. Use “three-bucket method,” where you keep buckets or bins handy to deal with items on an ongoing basis.
Trash it if it’s worn out or broken; donate it if you no longer need it, but it’s otherwise usable; sell it if it’s in good condition.
If it’s hard to part with certain items, moving them at least temporarily to a box in the attic or a storage space. You'll find it easier to keep up with laundry and closet organization when you have less stuff.
12. Buy a robotic vacuum cleaner
This might seem like cheating, but it’s really not.
It is absolutely the best money you can spend if you want to keep a clean home but have pets or small children.
I recommend programming it to run daily while you are at work, or overnight—and then you can enjoy clean floors without lifting a finger.
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