About 25 percent of Americans have a problem with clutter taking up too much space in their homes. The more stuff you have, the harder it is to clean your home and keep it that way every week.
If you’re like most people, figuring out where to start is the hardest part of the process. There are so many surfaces and rooms in your home that keeping them clean isn’t as simple as you might think.
Luckily, staying on top of dirt and grime is possible. Here are a few proven tips to help you keep your home clean once and for all.
Get in the Habit of Making Your Bed
One of the easiest ways to make your home feel and look clean daily is to make your bed first thing in the morning. Try to get in the habit of doing this before you head to the kitchen for your first cup of coffee.
You don’t have to get fancy. Pull the covers up, fluff your pillows a few times, and call it good. If you have thrown blankets at the foot of the bed, re-fold them every morning to create a nice, neat appearance.
This way, your bedroom will instantly look cleaner even if you forget to pick up yesterday’s dirty clothes off the floor.
Go Through Your Clutter
One of the biggest contributing factors to whether a house feels dirty is its amount of clutter. Start by taking things one room at a time.
Go through your closets, drawers, storage bins, and any shelves in that room. Pull out items you no longer want or need and set them aside. Try not to be emotional about this—remember, if you’re not using those items, they’re not making your life better.
Once you’ve gone through each room and separated the clutter from the items you want to keep, get rid of it once and for all. Host a garage sale to make a little extra cash that you can use to reward yourself for all of your hard work.
Anything left after the garage sale can be donated to the charity of your choice.
Pick Up Messes as They Happen
When you let small messes slide, it’s easy for the dirt and grime to build up. Worse, some messes can leave strange and unpleasant smells behind.
Pick up food spills immediately once you find them. If you stumble across old, stinky messes, remove the residue by cleaning the surface with an approved cleaner. If you don’t have cleaners on hand, searching the internet for terms like “how to remove musty smell” or “get rid of bad odors” can give you more options.
If your kids or pets leave their toys spread out across the room, pick them up rather than letting them sit. You can even turn it into a game to get the rest of the family involved. The first pick up their mess gets a treat or small reward.
The sooner you can pick things up. The less likely the messes are to leave behind permanent or tough-to-remove damage.
Use the Right Cleaners
Using the right types of cleaners for different surfaces is key to keeping your home looking great. For example, use a dedicated carpet cleaner if you have a stain on your carpet. If you have mildew in your shower, use a dedicated shower cleaning solution to eliminate the buildup.
Keeping those cleaners on hand may feel overkill, but it helps keep the dirt from returning quickly.
Sanitize Often
Though it’s easy to clean up dirt, germs are another matter. You need to sanitize commonly touched surfaces in your home often.
Dilute bleach in warm water and wipe the surfaces thoroughly. Just make sure to wear gloves and eye protection while handling the solution. This will reduce skin irritation risk and keep you safer while you work.
If you’re not comfortable using bleach, look for a sanitizing spray at your local grocery store or hardware store. Make sure it’s safe for use on the surfaces you’ll be cleaning, and use it once every few days.
This will keep germs from building up and makes it easier for your family to stay healthy during cold and flu season.
Put Things Back Where They Belong
It’s easier to keep things clean when you stay organized. Rather than putting items back in random drawers or on different surfaces, assign each commonly used item a dedicated spot in your house.
For example, the television remote can live on the coffee table. Games and toys can go in a toy chest. Kitchen tools and utensils can go in specific drawers or cabinets.
Communicate those spots with your family members so they can help, too.
Once you’re done using a specific item, get in the habit of putting it back in its spot. This way, you won’t have to spend extra time picking up at the end of the day. The hard work will already be done for you.
Hire a Professional Once a Year
It’s a good idea to give your home a good deep cleaning at least once a year. The deep cleaning should eliminate dust and dirt in hard-to-reach areas, clean the windows, and give your appliances a good scrub-down.
If you have time, you can always handle the job on your own. However, you may find it better and faster to hire a professional once a year.
They’ll be able to give your home a deep cleaning while you focus on other tasks.
Now You’re Ready to Clean Your Home Right
No matter how big or small your house is, figuring out how to keep your home clean all the time can feel overwhelming. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be able to clean your home quickly and keep it that way throughout the week.
Even small steps can make a huge difference. If you’re not comfortable trying all of these tips, pick one and stick with it. Once you’re comfortable with it, you can move on to another.
Check out our latest posts for more tips and tricks to help you manage your home’s maintenance routine.