14 Habits Of People Who Always Have A Clean Home
How to have guests over without going on a crazy cleaning spree beforehand.
Most of us don't necessarily enjoy cleaning, but everyone loves the feeling of coming home to a clean house. Though Mama's standards of an orderly home may have involved hours dedicated to deep cleaning, today's tidiest of families have found ways to incorporate little habits into their daily lives that make it less of a chore. So what's the secret to keeping things clean? Consider adding these daily home cleaning habits into your schedule, and you'll be confidently letting friends through your front door without notice before you know it.
Make the Bed
If there's one thing you can control in the day's chaos that lies ahead, it's your bed. It only takes a few minutes, but starting the day by making the bed is an easy task that sets your day up for success. Even if it's just a hurried smoothing out of the comforter, making your bed helps you start your day with a sense of productivity and order that's likely to carry through to the next thing you do.
Tidy Up as You Go
Did you try on two or three outfits before picking your outfit? Use a few pans to prepare breakfast? Clean it up and put it all away before you move on. If you incorporate this into everything you do throughout your day, there will be a lot less lying around taunting you later.
Wipe Down Surfaces
A quick wipe-down can do wonders. If you clean the surface you've used after each task before walking away, you'll keep counters and glass surfaces clean and ready to go. From swiping your glass shower door to running a towel around your sink after washing the dishes, a short clean can prevent grime build-up and keep your surfaces spotless.
Tackle Laundry Each Day
Avoid overflowing hampers by giving your washer a workout with a load of laundry each day. It's an unavoidable task (keeping your family clothed is kind of necessary), so if you do it on a consistent basis, it won't pile up and monopolize your Sunday.
Categorize Paper
Mail, bills, notes from school, take-out menus—paper piles up quickly. Keep your counters and office clutter-free by establishing designated places for paper in your home. Make a drawer for takeout menus and coupons. Create folders for bills, school memos, and other important printouts. Put these items in their place as soon as you get them.
Donate Regularly
Stuff is wreaking havoc in homes across the South. You probably don't need 15 water bottles for a family of 4, and it's likely time to get rid of the shirt your son grew out of months ago. It's much easier to keep a home organized when there is less clutter in it. Treasure items with meaning, but don't collect unnecessary junk. Instead of wasting time trying to find spots for things you don't need, take a moment and purge some of the things you don't need, use, or enjoy regularly.
Clean Your Fridge Weekly
Seeing some scary goop under your groceries in the corner of your fridge? You're not doing it right. Give your refrigerator a weekly refresh. Not only will cleaning your fridge help you keep things spick-and-span, but it will also help you create an accurate list of what you need on your next run to the store.
Clean Up After Cooking
Resist the urge to turn on the TV and melt into your couch after dinner. The longer you let your pots and pans linger, the harder they'll be to clean. We know it's been a long day, but if you quickly rinse your dishes and load the dishwasher right after you eat, the sink will be clear before you know it.
Straighten Before Bedtime
Do a quick sweep through your most lived-in rooms before you call it a night. Tuck away any toys, shoes, or blankets, and make sure backpacks and bags are ready for the next day. You'll thank yourself in the morning.
Create Space
When you buy something new, don’t squeeze it into an already crowded closet. Get rid of an item you no longer use to make room for new things. If you haven’t used something in a while, you likely won’t miss it.
Clear Surfaces
If you keep the surfaces of your home clear of clutter, you’ll find it easier to clean as well as more visually appealing. Don’t unload the day’s junk onto the dining room table or kitchen counter. Take a few minutes to put lunchboxes, coats, and mail away when you get home.
Have a Place for Everything
If you have designated spaces for items you use daily, they will be easier to find when you need them and they won’t clutter your countertops. Assign a basket for mail, a folder for permission slips, a place for backpacks and shoes, and a drawer or basket for chargers, keys, and sunglasses.
Stay Organized
With so many organizing products on the market, it’s easy to corral your belongings. Stay organized with over-the-door hooks, back-of-door organizers, and under-bed storage bags to keep like items stored neatly.
Set a Routine
A weekly cleaning schedule is important, but it’s also a good idea to create a long-term schedule for deep cleaning throughout the year. Add things like purging closets and cleaning windows to your calendar on a regular basis, rather than having one big cleaning spree every spring.
Start incorporating these clean home habits into your schedule bit by bit, and you'll build your way to having a tidy home 24/7.
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