essay on how to keep your house clean

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15 Helpful Tips to Keep a Home Clean and Tidy

Last Updated: April 27, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO® and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Marty Stevens-Heebner is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Clear Home Solutions, a home organizing and senior moving management company based in Southern California. Marty is the President of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM), with certifications in Senior and Specialty Move Management, Professional Organizing, and Aging in Place. Clear Home Solutions was the first nationally accredited firm in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Marty is the first Certified Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) in the United States and has been acknowledged as a Hoarding Specialist and ADHD Specialist through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Marty also hosts How to Move Your Mom (and still be on speaking terms afterward), a podcast dedicated to later life and all its idiosyncrasies. She received her B.A. in History from Cornell University and an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 86% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 328,553 times.

Some people find cleaning a relaxing and enjoyable activity, something they look forward to every day. If you've landed on this article, though, that's probably not you. If cleaning is the last thing you want to do, but you still want to live in a neat and tidy space, you're in luck! We've gathered some of the best tips, from the general to the specific, that you can use to keep your home clean in just a few minutes a day—leaving you plenty of time to do things you enjoy more.

Clean up after yourself immediately.

• Get in the habit of putting things back the way they're supposed to be after you're done with them. For example, if you moved blankets and pillows while watching a movie in the living room, take a moment to fold the blanket and fluff the pillows when the movie is over. [2] X Research source
• If you have small children who you don't trust to clean up everything by themselves yet, teach them to tell you about any spills or messes immediately instead of waiting.

Keep frequently used things in convenient places.

• For example, if you have a hoodie that you wear at least twice a week, you might put a hook on the door where you can hang it for easy access, rather than having to fold it and put it on a shelf in the top of the closet.

Store cleaning supplies in every room.

• If it isn't feasible to have multiple brooms or vacuum cleaners, put these tools in a central location where they can be easily accessed from the entire home. If your home has two floors, though, it's still worth it to spring for one upstairs and one downstairs so you don't have to lug them back and forth.
• While this might mean that, initially, you have to buy several bottles of the same cleaning products, they'll last a lot longer because you're not using them all over the house. Sure, you'll spend a little more initially, but it'll even out.

Have a laundry hamper for each person.

• If you're not sure where to put the hamper, look at where the laundry typically piles up. If you're accustomed to tossing clothes in that spot, putting a hamper there won't change anything—it'll just make it look neater.
• If you have a washer and dryer in your home, get in the habit of immediately doing laundry when the hamper is full.

Set up a donation box.

• This is also helpful if you have children. As soon as a child grows out of something, put it straight into the donation box so you don't have to worry about it anymore.
• If you get in the habit of putting things into the box regularly, your closets and storage areas will always look neater and you won't have to tackle the hours-long task of sorting through things once or twice a year.

Make your bed every morning.

• Making your bed every morning has a motivating effect as well. If you start your day by making your bed, that's one task that you've already successfully completed. It puts you in the frame of mind to complete other tasks as well. [8] X Research source

Spray, then wipe the tub or shower after every use.

• If you keep the bottle of cleaner sitting in or next to your shower or tub, it'll remind you to do a quick spray when you get out. Then, after you've dried, you can quickly wipe down the shower or tub when you hang up your towel.

Use an empty box or basket to gather up clutter.

• These baskets are handy in common rooms that multiple people use, such as your living room, dining room, or den.
• Find time during the day to gather things up—it should only take a minute or so—and then you can distribute them when you have a chance. For example, if you're leaving the living room to go to your bedroom, take a second to grab anything in the box or basket that belongs in your bedroom and take it with you.

Wipe down flat surfaces.

• Get in the habit of wiping things off as soon as you use them also. For example, it only takes a minute to wipe the table off after you've cleared the dishes from dinner.

Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas.

• Sweeping the porch or entryway outside your door also limits the amount of outside dirt and debris people bring inside with them.

"Close down" the kitchen every night.

• If you have housemates that are on different schedules, give the kitchen closing duties to whoever is the last person to use it. As long as everyone is cleaning up their own messes, it shouldn't be too big of a deal.
• If you have a dishwasher, start it at night (if it's full), then it'll be ready for you to unload the morning while you're making breakfast or brewing your coffee. [13] X Research source

Clean your toilet as part of your bedtime routine.

Dust thoroughly in each room once a week.

• For example, you might dust your bedroom on Monday, the living room on Tuesday, and the kitchen on Wednesday.
• Accumulated dust can affect the air quality in your home and make it more difficult to breathe, so this task is as much for your health as it is for the sake of cleanliness.

Clean the floors once a week.

• For example, you might vacuum your bedroom carpet on Monday, mop the living room on Tuesday, and mop the kitchen on Wednesday.
• School-age children can typically be taught to clean the floor in their own bedrooms.

Create a deep-cleaning schedule.

• Wipe down inside your fridge and freezer (every 3-6 months)
• Clean inside your oven (every 3-6 months)
• Wash pillows and comforters (every 3-6 months)
• Wash drapes and curtains (every year)
• Deep-clean windows (every year)
• Deep-clean carpets and upholstery (every year)

What Are Your Top Three Annual Home Maintenance Priorities?

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Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

• Delegate tasks to everyone in the home. Even small children can do their part to keep their living space clean and tidy. If everyone pitches in, no one gets overwhelmed and it's much easier to clean your home and keep it that way. [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Try listening to music or your favorite podcast while cleaning to stimulate your mind and take your mind off an otherwise monotonous task. [19] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• If you feel overwhelmed, be kind to yourself. Changing your habits is hard and even if you just do one thing, it's better than nothing. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Motivate yourself while cleaning by listening to music or rewarding yourself with a treat afterward. It will make you enjoy cleaning.
• Keep a to-do list of chores and things that you want to clean so it's easier to keep track of what you've done.
• Keep a waste bin in every room so that you can toss out trash wherever you are in your home.

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®. Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager. Expert Interview. 14 January 2020.
• ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
• ↑ https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a4055/a-quicker-way-to-clean-house-83178/
• ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
• ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a25816/reasons-to-make-your-bed/
• ↑ https://youtu.be/3sK3wJAxGfs?t=10
• ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-your-house-in-20-minutes-a-day-for-30-days-131142
• ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a37462/how-often-you-should-clean-everything/

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5 Professional Tips to Keep Your House Clean

Tai Massimilian is the Marketing and Creative Director at Texas's premier luxury housekeeping company, Highland Park Housekeeping.

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Most of us want to live in a home that feels neat and tidy , but it can be hard to know where to start once the mess has gotten away from you. Suddenly, you may notice your space is cluttered and disorganized, filled with dishes and dust and laundry—oh my.

Maintaining a clean and tidy home doesn't only improve the aesthetic of your living environment, it can also promote peace of mind. While kicking off a home cleaning project can seem overwhelming, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow to keep housekeeping from becoming overwhelming.

Read on for some tips for keeping your home clean and tidy.

How Often Should You Tidy Your Home?

As with most cleaning tasks, regular maintenance keeps the mess at bay. How often you will need to tidy your home depends on lots of different factors—from how often you cook to children or pets to regularly entertaining. Develop a routine that works for your lifestyle and stick to it—you'll be glad that you did.

Make Sure Everything Has a Place

A place for everything and everything in its place—it's a phrase we've all heard, but what does it really mean? In a nutshell, each item in your home should have a designated spot where it belongs. When everyone in the family knows where specific items go, it's much easier to keep the house clean and organized . It may take a bit of time to get everyone on board, but the payoff is worth it.

A well-organized home is a calm and relaxing oasis, while a cluttered and chaotic home can be stressful and overwhelming. So, take the time to create a system that works for you and your family, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having a neat and tidy home.

Implement a "One In, One Out" Rule

One of the best ways to avoid excess clutter in your home is to implement a "one in, one out" rule. For every new item that comes into your space, get rid of something old. This can be difficult at first, but it's a great way to keep your home tidy and organized.

If you're considering buying new furniture or decorations, you can recycle or donate old items to confidently bring something new into your space. And if you're ever uncertain about whether or not to get rid of something, just ask yourself: "Do I really need this?" If the answer is no, then it's time to let it go.

Set Aside Time Each Day for Decluttering

Making time each day to declutter and straighten up can help to prevent messes from piling up. Whether it's before bed or right when you wake up, designate a specific time to tidy up. This will help you to stay on top of the messes and keep your home looking its best. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the mess, set aside time each day to declutter and straighten up—you'll be glad you did.

Make Your Bed Every Day

The Spruce / Lucianna McIntosh 

Making your bed every day is not just a chore, it's an important habit that can start your day off right, plus, it can help you keep your whole space cleaner. A neatly made bed can give you a sense of order and calm, setting the tone for a productive day.

Additionally, taking the time to make your bed sends a message to yourself that you're worth taking care of. It's a small act of self-care that can make a big difference in your mood, outlook, and home. Not to mention, it only takes a few minutes to do.

Keep Cleaning Supplies Easily Accessible

The Spruce / Cristina Tudor

When it comes to cleaning, the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" rings true. That's why it's important to keep your cleaning supplies easily accessible and within reach.

When you have to hunt for a dust cloth or search through a cluttered cupboard for your favorite cleaner , you're far less likely to bother with small messes as they happen. As a result, messes build up—until you can't stand the sight of them and are forced to do a deep clean.

By keeping everything you need right at your fingertips, you'll be more likely to use it regularly and prevent big messes from forming in the first place. Trust us, your future self will thank you.

Hire a Professional Regularly

The Spruce / Almar Creative

A home is one of the biggest investments a person will make in their lifetime, and it should be treated as such. That’s why it’s important to have professionals deep clean your home in between your regular maintenance. Dust, dirt, and other allergens can build up over time, causing lots of unwanted issues.

A professional deep cleaning will remove all of these contaminants from your home, leaving you with a clean and healthy environment, so all you have to worry about is keeping it neat.

Decluttering Your Life: How Cleaning and Mental Health Are Connected with Dr. Dawn Potter . The Cleveland Clinic.

Bodrij FF, Andeweg SM, Prevoo MJL, Rippe RCA, Alink LRA. The causal effect of household chaos on stress and caregiving: An experimental study . Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol ., vol. 2, no. 8, 2021. doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100090

McRaven William Harry.  Make Your Bed . Grand Central Publishing, 2017.

Dust Allergy . American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

More from The Spruce

• 7 Small Spring Cleaning Tasks That Can Be Accomplished in 30 Minutes (or Less)
• 7 Pro-Recommended Organizing Tricks That Work in Every Single Room
• 8 Easy Habits to Help Keep Your Home Clutter-Free
• 7 Spring Cleaning Tasks That Are a Total Waste of Time, According to Pros
• 6 New Year Cleaning Resolutions You Can Actually Stick to, Straight From the Experts
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Essay on Cleanliness

List of essays on cleanliness in english, essay on cleanliness – essay 1 (150 words), essay on cleanliness: importance and conclusion – essay 2 (250 words), essay on cleanliness – essay 3 (300 words), essay on cleanliness: introduction, impact and challenges – essay 4 (400 words), essay on cleanliness – essay 5 (500 words), essay on cleanliness: with benefits and conclusion – essay 6 (600 words), essay on cleanliness: a key to achieve our goals – essay 7 (750 words), essay on cleanliness: types, importance and conclusion – essay 8 (1000 words).

Introduction:

‘Cleanliness’ as per the Cambridge dictionary means the state of being clean or the act of keeping things clean . One of the first commandment for health is cleanliness. Cleanliness is essential physically, mentally, spiritually and even environmentally.

Importance of Cleanliness:

Cleanliness is the major step to a healthy living. Cleanliness can prevent and cure people from communicable diseases. Effective cleaning can forbid viruses and other infectious diseases.

Tips to Maintain Cleanliness:

Major tips to maintain Cleanliness personally include brushing and taking bath regularly, washing hands properly before and after every meal, maintaining neatly trimmed nails and eating healthy food.

Environmental cleanliness can be enhanced by cleaning the mess created around us regularly, avoiding plastic bag usage, not littering the road by throwing the garbage, effective disposal of used water, adopting reusing and recycling techniques and always monitoring the pollution levels.

Conclusion:

Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Indian Government’s initiative like Swachh Bharat has given hope for a cleaner India. Along with the government it is the duty of every citizen to ensure a clean home and clean street to enable a peaceful living.

The state of being free and clean from dirt and germs and the act of imbibing this as a habit is called cleanliness. Cleanliness is one of the best qualities a human being can possess. In fact, not only humans, even animals are known to keep their surroundings clean? How many times have you come across a scene where your pet is cleaning the surface before being seated on it?

Aspects of Cleanliness

Disease prevention and hygiene are said to be the two aspects associated with cleanliness. Maintaining hygiene does not necessarily mean keeping yourself clean. It includes your house, your neighbourhood, your city as well as keeping your country clean or keeping your surroundings clean. In this way, cleanliness has more of a cultural and social impact on society as a whole.

Importance of Keeping your Surroundings Clean

With the assistance of cleanliness, we can keep our mental as well as physical health clean, which will make us feel better. Cleanliness offers to ascend to a decent character by keeping the body, brain, and soul perfect and tranquil. Keeping up cleanliness is the basic piece of solid living since it is the cleanliness just which enhances our identity by keeping clean remotely and inside.

We should all do our bit to maintain cleanliness in the areas we live or visit. In fact, for this very purpose, the Government of India has initiated the Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan so as to educate and inculcate good habits among the citizens of the country with regards to cleanliness.

We should also be mindful towards this habit. We should stop others from throwing waste at undesignated places. It is the cumulative effort of all of us which can help us build a clean India someday.

Cleanliness is a way of living in and around with a neat and clean environment, materials, etc. It is not a forced phenomenon and everyone should be practicing cleanliness for a better healthy life. Parents should teach their kids the importance of cleanliness within their home.

Home is our first school and we should be learning cleanliness from the root of a kid’s growth. It is necessary to keep yourself clean to avoid any type of diseases from affecting you and it will help you to be fresh and active all day. Keeping yourself clean is the first step towards cleanliness.

Next step is to keep your surroundings clean. Whether it be your room, school, garden, community, society, etc., you should keep it neat and tidy. With proper education about the importance of cleanliness, the characteristics should be developed in the kids so that they will continue this habit throughout their life.

The importance of cleanliness and its impact on the person should be taught to everyone from an early age. From picking up wastes on the floor to cleaning yourself to proper cleaning methods should be trained for their own well-being. Cleanliness is not only a good habit, but also reflects the inner beauty of a person.

Many life-threatening diseases are caused due to the lack of cleanliness in and around our places, whether it be home, schools, etc. With proper cleaning and taking care of your environment, all these health issues can be destroyed for a happy living.

Cleanliness is nothing that should be forced upon a person but should be properly practiced and be made a lifestyle. A clean and well-maintained person will always succeed in all his difficulties if he applies it in every path he walks. Cleanliness will also help us to be fit and healthy mentally, physically and socially as well.

Everybody loves a clean environment but very few have the ability to maintain cleanliness. The ability to ensure cleanliness and perform cleanliness is tasking and requires a lot of work. Due to the importance of cleanliness, most people struggle to keep their environments clean at all times. It can be a habitual process as it require to be done on a daily basis. Personal hygiene for example is an essential aspect of an individual’s life because it affects social relations, self-perception and health in general. It is therefore important to practice cleanliness at all times.

Impacts of Cleanliness on Our Lives:

Cleanliness cuts across for all stages of life and it plays important roles in the activities of daily living. In education, cleanliness has been determined to have an impact on leaning. The mindset of students is influenced by the environment which influences the ability of students to learn. A dirty environment is not conducive for learning because it instills stressful motions and there is reduced ability of students to learn.

In the workplace, the same concept applies because productivity is influenced by the environment. A clean environment will enhance productivity because people will work with a positive mindset that is free of stress. Also, achievements will be more pronounced in a clean environment compared to a dirty environment. In health, cleanliness is important because hygienic practices contribute to good health of individuals. A dirty environment predisposes people to diseases, which affects their ability to perform activities and it results in less productivity.

Social relationships are built through interactions between people. Personal hygiene is an important aspect in creating social relations because it is hard to approach a dirty person as they will be having bad breath, bas body odor and the interaction will be limited due to discomfort.

Challenges in Cleanliness:

Lack of resources can inhibit cleanliness. In order to maintain cleanliness, there is need for water, detergents and other supplies like cleaning equipment. In some situations, all these resources may be unavailable thus cleanliness is compromised. Another challenge is the availability of labor. Since cleaning is tasking and requires effort from people, some people opt out and cleanliness will not be achieved.

In conclusion, cleanliness is a huge responsibility that requires commitment. The impacts of a clean environment on the performance and achievements should be a motivating factor. If you love a clean place it should be your responsibility to make it clean.

Cleanliness can basically be defined as a state or attitude of keeping things clean and trying to stay away from any form of dirt in a bid to maintain a very good mental and physical health. Generally, cleanliness is an act of trying to keep our mind, body, home, dress, surrounding and even every of our other work area clean and very neat. The cleanliness of our body is extremely essential for our mental and physical health. Our surrounding areas should also be kept clean and our environment being clean is of utmost importance to our intellectual and social health. We should try to imbibe the habit of cleanliness and ensure that our home and surroundings are free of dirt; dirt is the primary cause of most diseases we have around us. If our surrounding isn’t clean and our body isn’t properly groomed and taken care of we can become highly susceptible to a variety of disease causing bacteria, germs, fungus and virus.

People with dirty habits are the major ones that spread fatal (threat to life) and very dangerous diseases. A lot of infectious diseases are propagated to different wide areas and can make people very sick and in severe cases leads to the death of the sick. As a result of this, we should do our best to always try to take good care of our health through our cleanliness every day. Some of the habits we should endeavour to imbibe include us always washing our hands very well and with soap anytime we eat or before we eat anything, we should also try to always make sure our body and most especially our face is clean by bathing frequency, we should also ensure that we take proper care of all our clothes and try to wear only clothes that are properly and well washed and clean; all of these should be done to keep a very good mental and physical health. Cleanliness also does a great deal to help boost our self-respect and level of confidence and also earn respect from other people. Cleanliness is a very good habit that can always make us happy and proud of ourselves in the society.

Cleanliness is extremely important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a good standard of living. Cleanliness plays a very vital role in boosting a person’s popularity. A lot of civil laws and programmes have been organised and put in place by various governments of the world. We should endeavour to dispose the wastes in our surrounding, we can do this by outing our waste away into the dustbin for disposal and in a bid to prevent the spread of various infections and diseases in our home and surrounding. Cleanliness is not just one person’s responsibility or job; everybody should do their best individually and collectively to maintain cleanliness in the country, community, society and the home. We should do our best to fully understand all the different facets of cleanliness so that we can fully benefit from cleanliness.

Cleanliness ranks high on the agenda of great and successful people. Because next to hard work, cleanliness tells a lot about a person’s character. When it is belittled, it results in indiscipline, dirt and disease. Therefore, when people progress, they become more clean and neat. Hence, cleanliness is often seen as an indicator of progress in the civilization of a society.

Areas of Cleanliness:

i. Personal Grooming:

Every individual is capable of the art of personal grooming. It involves cleaning and maintaining the body parts and look good. Taking bath, brushing and flossing teeth, combing, washing hands whenever required, cutting nails and hair at regular intervals are some habits that are important part of personal cleanliness. It further involves keeping our mind from filthiness. While a theist should spend time every day to confess the wrongdoings and receive forgiveness, an atheist needs to spend time on meditation on a regular basis. Keeping ones thoughts clean is as important as physical cleanliness.

Next to personal cleanliness comes keeping the dwelling place neat and clean. Starting with disposing the garbage on a daily basis, it includes cleaning up all rooms on a regular basis, maintaining bedcovers and curtains, trimming the interior and exterior garden, keeping the kitchen sink and toilet free of unpleasant smell, insects etc. It also includes proper disposal of solid and liquid waste into the municipal dustbin and drainage system.

iii. Workplace:

Since major part of the productive day is spent in the workplace, it is necessary to keep it very clean. Being quite larger than home in terms of area and headcount, the workplace requires the collective effort of the employer, employees and janitors to maintain the work environment. Apart from the basic cleanliness activities done at home, the workplace needs additional application of disinfectants, air filters, and waste disposal systems to maintain hygiene and dignity. It needs still more attention at Hospitals, Restaurants and like industries.

iv. Public Places:

Living in communities, it is important to keep public places like roads, beaches, parks etc. neat and clean. If each citizen becomes responsible and could show the same care that is taken for home and workplace, then the city and the entire country would have a clean environment to live, work and play.

Benefits of Cleanliness:

Since health is wealth, cleanliness prevents diseases, promotes good health and thereby preserves our wealth. It maintains discipline at all levels. It promotes self-respect and self-confidence of the family, institution, city and country. A clean environment gives a cheerful mind to improve and progress.

How to Nurture Cleanliness:

Although it is best to learn cleanliness from childhood, it could be developed at point of life whenever the sensitivity is achieved. Being careful and regular on a daily basis is the success mantra for cleanliness. It has nothing to do with being rich. So, it could be achieved by anyone in the society irrespective of their social status and wealth.

Champions of Cleanliness:

The first Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew started the campaign to keep the country clean almost 50 years ago. It made the place pleasant and added value to its economy. The sickness rate is low, life expectancy is more, tourism has flourished and all the citizens benefit from it.

Learning cleanliness from his days in the West, Mahatma Gandhi insisted that a lavatory must be as clean as a drawing room. He strongly believed that cleanliness would promote good health and hence advocated it throughout his lifetime.

Following Gandhi’s model, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has initiated a nation-wide campaign called Swach Bharat on 2nd October, 2014. It functions to provide sanitation facilities, proper solid and liquid waste disposal systems, and safe drinking water.

Cleanliness adds more value to personal and social life. Since good habits are contagious, it is possible to teach children, neighbours and illiterates on the importance of cleanliness, by being a role model. With a collective effort, cleanliness and in turn, good health and happiness are within reach.

Keeping our mind, body, home, neighborhood and workplace Clean and Green is “Cleanliness.” It is one of the most important habits we develop since childhood. We cannot ignore the value of cleanliness and hygiene in our lives. Habits learned in the early phase of our live stays implanted in our mind for a more extended period. Being clean and keeping green is a lifestyle we need to adapt for leading a healthy life.

Cleanliness is not just limited to sanitation of the area where you live. It has a pivotal role in your personal life. Cleanliness in attitude and thoughts play an important element to become a successful person in life. External cleanliness is related to the sanitation of your home and premises. But, it is equally important to have internal cleanliness – the cleanliness of the soul. Removing garbage, dirt and foul smell, etc., are part of sanitation, which helps to maintain the cleanliness of your living surroundings.

It is an imperative factor in life, and everybody must be conscious about the importance to maintain cleanliness. A dirty mind and surrounding is indeed a reason for a person becoming sick. Therefore we have to put conscious effort to maintain a healthy atmosphere by keeping the surrounding clean and keeping oneself clean.

Is it a key to achieve our goals?

Yes, we as an individual hesitate to understand the importance and value of cleanliness in our daily routines. It is not the goal, but it plays a vital role in achieving our goals. Personal hygiene gets affected easily if we don’t take proper measures to maintain cleanliness. And an unclean state of body and mindset can easily distract you from your desired goal. It will stop you, affect your performance and capabilities of your living standard.

For leading a purposeful life, cleanliness is crucial as it complements your true worth. It helps to fight from many dangerous diseases. Consuming unhygienic food, drinking foul water or a poor living condition are a few challenging conditions makes people sick.

For a healthy lifestyle, we need to respect our environment, body, and mind. Right steps taken at the right time will help in building our nation. The enchanted beauty will bring more foreign tourists to our land which will increase the tourism business. Remember, not a single tourist would like to visit a foul land. We, ourselves encourages and strikes the places with mesmerizing beauties. Thus, we should adopt a lifestyle to nurture our surroundings.

How to maintain it?

It is our responsibility to keep the environment clean and making others to understand the importance of maintaining the environment clean. Only the sincere efforts of following certain manners could give a better surrounding. Every government has to play a vital role to carry out cleanliness awareness drives and make sure that people respect the cleanliness laws. The government needs to take strict actions against people who are responsible for littering public places and throw garbage on the roads. Keeping the neighborhood unclean is a shabby practice which causes health issues. A healthy and positive mindset with a good physique is the balance sheet of cleanliness.

Pollution is one of the primary reason for the unhygienic living condition. Making changes in the lifestyle can save our neighborhood from pollution. We have to develop a recycling culture and all materials that are recyclable should go to the recycling plant. It can stop material pollution and spoiling the environment. Purchasing the products made of non-toxic materials will help to preserve valuable resources. Let’s say, investing in reliable and durable household items and reuse them in the future instead of purchasing disposable items will help to maintain a clean environment.

To maintain a healthy environment, we need to look out for greenery and stop felling trees. Trees are an essential resource to purify and control pollution. More trees in our surroundings equal healthy environment and a fresh mindset. Water – one of the most necessary resource needs to be utilized and stored efficiently. Never allow to contaminate water.

Planting the importance of cleanliness among society is essential to motivate the individuals keeping their surrounding clean. There should be a proper awareness campaign to reinforce the need for sanitation, and it can be easy to adopt a strategy to involve students, social and service organization to be part of the drive.

A joint campaign by involving all section of the society is essential to accomplish total cleanliness of a state. If each of us can put their effort to maintain the cleanliness, then it will have a significant impact on the society. Inclusive cleanliness awareness campaign will be helpful in spreading the importance of the subject, and people will start to adopt cleaning the surrounding as their responsibility.

To see the much-awaited change, we need to take strict actions and act with sincerity. Corrective measures required instead of complaining about the pollution. Make everybody responsible for cleaning their premises by actively involving them. Students can start their effort by cleaning their school campus; government officials can engage in cleaning their office and premises, factory employees can participate in cleaning their factory and surrounding, etc. A combined effort of all sections of the society can make a lot of changes in the nation and attitude of the individuals towards cleanliness.

As we live in a society, we are a part of our surroundings, so we need to understand our responsibility as an individual, we should encourage the efforts made by others’ and contribute to ensuring a healthy surrounding. Systematic collection and segregation of waste depending on the scope of recyclability should strictly implement to maintain sustainable cleanliness. For maintaining cleanliness of the environment, we need to process biodegradable and non-degradable waste separately. Similarly, for personal cleanliness, we have to keep our body clean.

Cleanliness has different meanings depending on the matter of discussion. With regard to religion, cleanliness is the state of being pure, without moral contamination. When the subject matter is on the environment, it is the state of being free from dirt. Environmental cleanliness is what most people are familiar with because of the daily interaction with the environment and the impact they have on the lives of individuals with regard to health and expectations of the society. Cleanliness of the environment include everything on the surface of the earth. There are different types of cleanliness in the environment. Mostly, the environmental cleanliness is emphasized during prevention of pollution and health education in the society. Cleanliness of religion varies with the specific religion and its beliefs. The importance of cleanliness is realized in both spiritual and physical aspects. The society s place double standard on cleanliness such that, whatever is clean is admired and fought for.

Types of Cleanliness:

There are two major types of cleanliness i.e., physical cleanliness and spiritual cleanliness. Physical cleanliness has several subtypes according to the object being cleaned. Physical cleanliness involves elimination of dirt and impurities from the body, clothes, food, houses and the outside environment. Body cleaning is done through full body bath with soap and water, handwashing practice and keeping away from dirt. Cleaning clothes is a laundry process whereby manual washing by hands can be done or machine washing. Cleaning the environment is through collection of dirt in the environment and disposing them appropriately, while observing the purity of all the three aspects of the environment i.e., air, water and land. When handling food, cleanliness should be observed through hand washing and using of clean cooking and eating utensils so as to prevent ingestion of dirt. The houses and household items should also be kept clean especially the living space, the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms because we interact with the house environment more often.

Spiritual cleanliness is basically focused on the removal of moral contamination and being pure in the faith and beliefs of the religion. In Christians, cleanliness means the forgiveness of sin and living according to the Bible doctrines. Christians also have cleanliness of conditions considered impure for example menstruation and childbirth. Christians lay strong emphasis on hygiene in humans. In Islam, cleanliness means the cleanliness of hearts of individuals and the good manners of members of the society. Muslims believe that purification of hearts of individuals from feelings of negativity and bad vices like jealousy enables the society to stay peaceful at all times. Muslims also believe that cleanliness from conditions that are considered ritually impure is important. Hindus believe that cleanliness is a divine quality that should be practiced by individuals. Bhagavad Gita describes cleanliness with relation to the Hindu society virtues and qualities that individuals must acquire in order to be given grace by God. Hindus also perform cleanliness through visiting the seven rivers to bathe and purify their minds.

Cleanliness is a vital component of human life both physically and spiritually. Spiritual cleanliness is important in being on the right with your God and following the beliefs and rituals of your religion. On the other hand, physical cleanliness is important in the wellbeing and existence of humanity.

Cleanliness is necessary for health and wellness of individuals and the society. Health and cleanliness relate to each other and influence each other. In order to be of good health, one should practice hygiene. Hygiene is basically the practice of maintaining good health and preventing diseases through cleanliness. Cleanliness of the body, food and environment contribute to the wellbeing of an individual health wise. Cleanliness prevents disease because dirt usually harbors infective pathogens that cause disease to human beings when they get exposed to them. Hygienic practices are highly advocated for by health professionals because it is better to prevent a disease than to wait and seek treatment for it. Hygienic practices prolong the lives of individuals because they will be free of illnesses.

Safety is enabled through cleanliness of the environment. The environment that we interact with often needs to be clean so that accidents can be prevented. For example, in the workplace, daily cleaning will ensure that there are no water spills on the floor that could cause a fall. Clearing bushes around homes provide safety from harmful insects and animals like snakes. Cleaning not only involves the act of clearing bushes and washing floors, but also the organization of the environment. Through organization, harmful objects can be put away so that accidents can be prevented in the environment.

Brand protection can be achieved through cleanliness. In environmental cleanliness, buildings and the surrounding environment are cleaned and organized. As a marketing strategy, cleanliness is an advantage for the brand because it will portray the brand as organized and conducive for human interaction. In this competitive world, cleanliness is a priority consideration for brands. In the food industry, cleanliness is what people look at before they can engage because health well-being is important for individuals.

Cleanliness also enables the extension of a lifespan of an object. With tools and instruments, cleanliness is emphasized because dirt causes reduction of the lifespan like in metallic objects, rust causes destruction of the tools and instruments. In buildings, cleanliness also preserves the integrity and enables longer durability.

Cleanliness is a moral virtue that is admired. When a person is clean, social relations and interactions become easier because society views dirty people as a nuisance and they are inapproachable. Cleanliness is attractive and admirable in the society.

In conclusion, cleanliness in the lives of individuals is unavoidable. Everything surrounding the life of an individual is viable for cleanliness in order to maintain functionality and development. Spiritual cleanliness is mostly focused on purity of self before God and humanity in all religions although the methods of purification are different for each religion. Physical cleanliness is beneficial with regard to human interaction and with the environment in terms of health, safety and lifespan.

Cleanliness , Health

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A Clean, Safe, Healthy Kitchen & Home: The Importance of Keeping Your Kitchen Clean and Safe

Factsheet | HGIC 3613 | Published: Mar 15, 2021 | Print

Creating a clean and safe kitchen is an important step to a healthy home. A clean house will help reduce your family’s risk of exposure to many indoor pollutants such as bacteria, and allergens, like dust mites. A clean house is also less inviting to mice, rats, and other pests.

Bacteria or germs are everywhere – including your kitchen, where food is stored, prepared, and eaten. Bacteria may cause illnesses that can be on your food, kitchen utensils, counters, appliances, floors, pets, and especially your hands. It is important to take the necessary steps to clean before, during, and after preparing and eating your food to keep you and your family safe from food poisoning. Cleaning includes both surfaces and your hands.

Hand washing is the best defense to reduce bacteria/ germs. Image courtesy of Pixabay

CLEAN: Wash Hands and Surfaces Often

Bacteria can be spread throughout the kitchen and get onto hands, cutting boards, utensils, countertops, and food. Hand washing is the best defense to reduce bacteria/ germs. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds is recommended before and after handling food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Also, wash your hands after playing with pets.

Wash your cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before you go on to the next food.

Consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces. If you use cloth towels, wash them often in the hot cycle of your washing machine.

Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten.

Rub firm-skinned fruits and vegetables under running tap water or scrub with a clean vegetable brush while rinsing with running tap water.

Keep books, backpacks, or shopping bags and pets off the kitchen table or counters where food is prepared or served.

Recipe for a Healthy Home

References:

• Information for the ‘Clean, Safe, Healthy Kitchen and Home’ factsheets were adopted from:‘A Clean, Safe, Healthy Home’ curriculum developed by Clemson University Faculty and Staff, 1994.
• Additional information was adopted from: https://www.fightbac.org
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control, office of External Affair

Originally published 03/21

If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at [email protected] or 1-888-656-9988.

Marlyne Walker , Extension Ag. Curriculum Coordinator, Clemson University

This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed.

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The New York Times

The learning network | how important is keeping a clean house.

How Important Is Keeping a Clean House?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

• See all Student Opinion »

In any home, some cleaning-related tasks spark dread in some members of the household, while others don’t mind them at all. For example, one person might detest emptying the dishwasher, and therefore, complete other chores that he or she likes more, or at least is willing to do.

Do you think it’s fair to be able to pick and choose when it comes to cleaning and home maintenance? What if everyone likes and dislikes the same tasks? How are chores delegated in your household?

In the Op-Ed piece “The Case for Filth,” Stephen Marche suggests a solution to issues like the gender divide that keeps women doing more of the housework than men and even disagreements over what constitutes a household chore: everyone cleaning less. He begins:

In Claire Messud’s novel “The Emperor’s Children,” the ultraliberal Murray Thwaite comes home late, steps in cat vomit and keeps walking: “It still was not, nor could it ever be, his role to clean up cat sick,” Ms. Messud writes. The boomer hypocrite is practically a comic type by this point, but in his domestic disregard, Murray Thwaite is like most other men, liberal or conservative, old or young. Unlike many other rubrics by which you can establish the balance of power between men and women, there isn’t much evidence of a cohort shift in housework. Younger men are doing roughly the same amount of work around the house as their fathers did. It doesn’t look like they’re going to start doing more, either. Women today make up 40 percent of America’s sole or primary breadwinners for families with children under 18, a share that has quadrupled since 1960. And yet in America as well as in several other countries in the developed world, men’s time investment in housework has not significantly altered in nearly 30 years. A recent, large cross-national study on the subject by an Ohio State sociologist found that “women’s housework did not decline significantly and men’s housework did not increase significantly after the mid-1980s in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.” In the United States, men’s participation in housework topped out at 94 minutes at day in 1998, but by 2003 was down to 81 minutes, not much different than the 76 minutes it was in 1985. Think of all the other changes that men have undertaken in the period between 1980 and 2010. Taking care of kids used to be women’s work, too, but now the man with his kids is an icon of manliness. Foodie snobbism has taken on a macho edge in some circles, to the point where the properly brined Thanksgiving turkey can be a status symbol of masculine achievement. So why won’t men pick up a broom? Why won’t they organize a closet? Why can’t housework be converted — as the former burdens of food preparation and child rearing seem to have been for some men — into a source of manly pride and joy? Why would housework be the particular place to stall? At least one thing is becoming clear: The only possible solution to the housework discrepancy is for everyone to do a lot less of it.

Students: Read the entire Op-Ed piece, then tell us …

• How would Mr. Marche’s suggestion about cleaning less be received in your house? Why?
• What are the pros and cons of taking his advice?
• Have you observed or been part of situations in which people of one gender do more household tasks than the other? Explain.
• How important is a tidy environment to you?
• Do you enjoy cleaning and other household tasks?
• Do you think people tend to judge others by how clean–or dirty–their homes are? Explain.
• When you are living on your own, how do you think your approach to housekeeping will be like or unlike that of your parents? Why? Or, if you are on your own, describe this aspect of your transition to living independently.
• Mr. Marche states that cooking and child-rearing are now “cool” for men. Why do you taking care of the home hasn’t “caught on” to the same degree? Is this comparison valid? Why or why not?
• A November Student Opinion question asked about ordinary tasks you would pay someone else to do for you, if you could. Would cleaning your room or completing other household chores be on your list? Why or why not?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name . For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

Keeping a clean house is important because of hygene. A clean environment is essntial to living a healthier life. However, this doesn’t mean that people should obsess over their cleaning. Keep a good balance.

My motto is “A place for everything and everything in its place,” The floor is a place! I seldom do housework. On the rare occasions when I can afford it, I pay someone else, usually just to keep the living room moderately presentable. My adult son helps by lugging out the trash and changing the kitty litter. Mostly, I just keep organized enough to know which pile of clutter the item I need is buried in. But somehow I manage to keep my work (calligraphy) spotlessly clean.

I sometimes enjoy cleaning when i have help and i like to turn it into a game or contest to make it fun. When i clean with my sister, we usually make a bet and who every finishes first gets 10 dollars.

Its very important that you keep a house clean. That’s the way other people look at you by the way your house is set up.

Keeping a clean house is very important. Your house represents you. If you have a clean house, then you are a clean person. If your house is not clean, then you will be viewed as something else in my opinion.

Having a clean house is important you’ll never know who is comming to visit at anyday and if your house is not in the coorect stature it will give the visitor a bad oppinion and mindset about you and your cleanliness

a tidy enviorment is somewhat important to me, its important to me because i dont like being in the same room with alot of clutter. I rather a room be straightened up where i can find things if not completely clean.

I think it’s important to have a clean house, knowing that evryone sees clean in their own way i feel having a clean house inside and out speaks for your community and yourself. It helps’ beautify the community

I think that keeping your house clean is very important, especially if you have any household pets. Keeping a house clean keeps bacteria at bay. It also keeps things organized and neat.

So this is an issue in my household we strugle with this every week. every one has a busy scedule in my house so when we get home we are all tired. bt we have been making adjustments to thisand trying to keep the house in order. my parents feel that it is all on the kids to keep the house clean. they want us to clean and cook everyday but time is . our house isn’t filthy but it could be better

It is very important to keep a clean house. No one wants to sit in a nasty house because you can attract bugs and other unpleasant things in your home. I don’t even think its healthy to keep a dirty home because keeping a dirty home can cause different types of medical issues.However I don’t believe in having said “chores”. In my house we go by “You mess it up, you clean it up.” However I do think its important to have a day where its nothing but clean up. You clean your own room, the kitchen, bathroom, or whatever. That’s what we do in our home. You clean your own room on your own time, and if you dirty up the kitchen you clean it. And in some cases the bathroom. But as far as stuff like living room or hallway or something then its a set time to clean up, but those rooms hardly ever get dirty.

Being a teenager I see a clean home differently. Just because everything isn’t organized doesn’t mean it’s a mess. I go through that with my mother all the time reguarding my room. I personally feel like if the the floor looks clean it is clean, no need for me to grab a broom for dirt no one can see.

Oh Lordie! Is important to keep clean your house? Of course, it is! Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Plus it’s very unhelathy to live in a dirty home.

No I do not enjoy cleaning but if it keeps a homely environment and keeps my parents contempt then I’ll do it.

It is very important to keep a clean house because it takes away the germs and bacteria, and the dirt period.It is also important to keep a clean house because if people come over your house, it would be embarassing to have a dirty house. It would have them talk about it to other people and give you a bad name, also avoid people from coming to your house.

Cleaning your house is very important because you don’t want to have bugs, or to find food on the floor or hinden somewhere under your bed or similar.

Clean houses keep roaches away. No one likes roaches. People seem to judge you by the way your house looks and it would not be pretty if they saw roaches crawling around.

I think that keeping a house clean is very important. It serves to making life easier and more productive. Some people actually do focus better in clutter, but it is still good to live in a clean area in case of fire, medical issues, or any other types of disasters.

At my house I do the chores in exchange for my phone bill being paid.

I think it is very important to keep your house clean. Who wants a dirty house? It is very important to keep a clean house, it’s not healthy to keep a dirty house.

I think it is very necessary to have a clean and healthy home. It helps prevent bug infestations. It’s also safer, it makes it easier to move in case of emergencies. Plus, people can find it easier to judge you with a dirty home, clean houses gives you an overall better appearance. It can also be based on how hard of a worker you are, with a dirty home people could think you’re too lazy to even pick up a little bit in your own house.

its pretty important to have a clean house it shows how you are as a person being dirty isnt okay for anyone

I think its important to keep a clean house because , a clean house is a happy house . No one wants t sleep or et or even be in a dirty houe , its not only NOT healthy as well as not a good look, your houe can be so dirty that its infested with mice , roaches or other mysterious bugs . and you affect your neighbors with you dirty habts . When a house is clean you sleep better ! like said before a happy house is a clean houe . !

It is important to keep a clean house because its nasty not to be clean. If your house is dirty you will carry the smell with you. No one wants to smell anything that isnt plesent. If your house is dirty it can cause mice,and other creatures or insects its bad for your health.

Having a clean home reduces clutter in your life and is overall more appealing in life.I find that women maintain cleanliness more than men.Just one of many things women do better.

What's Next

Here’s our article on how to clean house quickly and efficiently, with step-by-step instructions!

Cleaning can be an exhausting undertaking if you’re disorganized and don’t have the right supplies. However, with a little bit of preparation, you can make it less time-intensive and more enjoyable. Keep in mind that if you are cleaning before a move, professional cleaners or professional movers may be able to help you clean and declutter even more quickly and efficiently.

1. Systemize Your Cleaning Routine

When it’s time to spiff up your home, try to have a clear game plan in mind. This means a strategy that allows you to tackle all the cleaning you need to do in a systematic, organized way. Some people say you’ll be so much more efficient if you choose one task (such as mopping, dusting, or vacuuming) and do this same task in every room.

Others say it’s better to zone clean, which is tidying up one room before moving on to another one. Which method you choose is totally up to you. Experiment with both, and see which one works the best. Once you find which one is the optimal strategy for you, stick to this routine and refine it.

2. Clean as You Go

One of the best ways to keep your home sparkling clean is to proactively clean as you go. Doing this helps you avoid time-consuming large messes. For example, in the kitchen, wipe down fridge spills as they happen and wash your dishes every day.

Clean off your stove and countertops with an all-purpose product after every time you use them. That’s because if you leave greasy splatters too long, they tend to get baked on. However, if your dishes do have baked-on crud or a greasy residue, use a nonscratch scrubbing sponge along with a gentle powder cleaner to take care of it.

Make sure you frequently clean the outsides of small kitchen appliances like coffee makers, toasters, and blenders with an all-purpose cleaner. Take off all removable parts and wash them by hand or in the dishwasher for a deeper clean.

Make putting away your clothes part of your laundry ritual. This beats having baskets full of clean clothes sitting around for days on end.

3. Keep Your Bedroom Clean

By making your bed every day, your bedroom will always look pulled together. That’s a nice thing to come home to after a busy day at the office. Besides, getting into a made bed feels so darn good. Making your bed also helps keep hair, dander, and drool off your sheets if you have pets.

Take all mugs, glasses, and other kitchenware out of the bedroom every morning. This will prevent dirty dishes from littering your bedroom.

Some people like to let their bed linens air out during the day. If you’re one of these individuals, make the bed with the sheets exposed by folding the blanket and top sheet halfway down towards the foot of the bed.

By getting a bedside table that has a drawer, you’ll be able to stash small items like hand cream and lip balm into it. That way, you’re not cluttering up your bedroom with junk.

4. Keep Tools and Supplies Organized

By keeping all your cleaning supplies and tools in a caddy, it’ll be easier to get all your cleaning done. That way, you won’t waste precious time looking for what you need. Nor will you have to worry about finding them when it’s time to clean again.

You can also wear a carpenter’s tool belt or an apron and fill the pockets with your tools. Because this might be challenging to do with large bottles of cleaning fluid, pour the cleansers into small reusable spray bottles. That way, they’ll be easy to carry.

Because Magic Erasers will often remove stains when nothing else will always keep a few in your cleaning caddy. They work on almost any surface, including tile, laminate, and wood.

5. Clear Out Clutter Beforehand

Before you even start cleaning, clear the clutter from every room. As you pick the junk up, decide where it will go, whether that’s finding a proper place for it in your home, throwing it in the trash, or donating it to Goodwill. Organizing your clutter helps cleaning go so much faster.

It also removes one of the biggest psychological obstacles for people who procrastinate when it comes to cleaning. This obstacle is having too much stuff lying around the house.

6. Create a Cleaning Schedule

By dividing your cleaning tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities, you won’t have to try to cram in an entire deep cleaning before the relatives come over. For example, you could wipe down and disinfect surfaces in high-traffic areas daily. Weekly chores would be things like washing sheets and towels, vacuuming and mopping floors, dusting furniture, and cleaning showers and tubs.

Taking inventory of the goods in your pantry, cleaning supplies, and toiletry areas to ensure you have plenty and that nothing is expired could be a monthly responsibility. Once you decide the timeframe for accomplishing a specific task, create a master cleaning schedule and stick to it.

Designate specific cleaning activities for different days. For instance, cleaning bathrooms on Mondays and Fridays, doing windows on Tuesdays and Saturdays and dusting on Thursdays. Post it in a conspicuous place so all family members can see it.

A fun and efficient way to get your cleaning done is to turn it into a group activity. Schedule a time to do it with your family, and assign each person a task to do. To make cleaning even more enjoyable, turn on some music that’ll put you in the mood.

7. Have a Plan of Attack

Some cleaning experts say that when cleaning, the best plan of attack is top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Cleaning from left to right ensures you cover the entire room instead of madly flitting from place to place.

They also say that for each task you must do, begin at the highest point in the room. For example, if you’re dusting, start with the highest shelves.

Then, move from left to right across the room. By doing it this way, you won’t accidentally knock dust onto already cleaned lower shelves.Most people’s cleaning method is to see something and immediately start to clean it. Then they look up and see something else and clean that. Unfortunately, this haphazard way of cleaning causes dirt to fall down on the things they just spiffed up.

8. Use the Right Dusting Techniques

Before you begin dusting, turn off any ceiling fans, as they will only blow the dust around. By dusting with microfiber cloths, you’ll decrease the amount of allergens in your home, thus boosting the air quality. To eradicate fingerprints, dampen a microfiber cloth with warm water.

For hard-to-reach areas (such as blinds and upper shelves), tie a microfiber cloth to the end of a mop or broom. You can use a lint roller to clean lampshades.

Use a vacuum cleaner to suck away all the dust and dirt from furniture fabric. An old-fashioned cleaning tool that’s making somewhat of a comeback is the feather duster. Use it to brush the dust off of dresser tops or bedside tables. If you’re planning on doing any vacuuming, dust first, then vacuum.

• Pull the string to close them one way.
• Dust the parts of the blind that this exposes.
• Close them the other way and clean this part.

This is much more effective than trying to do one slat at a time.

9. Clean Mirrors and Glass the Streak-Free Way

Buy yourself a professional-grade window squeegee if you want better results than you can get with paper towels and Windex. Place a drop of dish soap in a gallon of water, and then apply this solution to the window with a cloth. Next, squeegee the water off.

Move from top to bottom and wipe the blade each time at the bottom. This should result in beautifully streak-free windows.

If you don’t want to use a squeegee, a microfiber cloth and glass cleaner is the next best method. You won’t leave streaks if you use one damp microfiber cloth followed by a dry cloth. When wiping with the rag, use horizontal strokes and move from top to bottom. Don’t rub in circles because this will leave streaks.

It will be easier to notice and rectify streaks if you wipe in one direction on inside windows and another on outside ones. For more on how to clean windows , read our article.

10. Make Sure You Disinfect Surfaces

Ensure that you wipe down the places that people touch with their fingers. These are things like light switches, phones, and TV remotes, which are the areas most people tend to forget. That’s unfortunate because these places are among the most germ-laden places in your entire home .

Surfaces that are particularly prone to picking up germs should be wiped down with a nontoxic disinfectant solution. You can make your own by mixing ¼ to ½ cup of white vinegar with a cup of water.

Because people often touch the faucet and other parts of the sink with raw-food-covered hands, you should give this area of your house some extra attention. Use an all-purpose cleaner to wipe your sink free from bacteria and food particles.

11. Use Effective Grease Fighting Methods

To cut grease on kitchen surfaces, buy a cleaner with orange oil or a standard grease-cutting dishwashing detergent. The detergent will cut through the grease just like it does with dishes. Mix one tablespoon of liquid detergent with a gallon of warm water.

Test the solution in an inconspicuous area to ensure it won’t damage or discolor finishes. For tougher stains, mix baking soda with water and lightly scrub the area with a cloth.

When cleaning walls, apply a tiny amount of fabric softener to a sponge if you come across sticky patches. Rub it on the area and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, rinse it with a sponge and clean water.

12. Vacuum in Rows

Vacuum the entire length of a room in a straight row. Then, move over and start again at the front of the room. This trick makes vacuuming faster and more efficient. Put the cord over your shoulder, so you’re not fighting it. It’s not essential to vacuum every square inch. Keep moving — you’ll hit the places you missed next week.

Check out which robot vacuum cleaners we chose as the best if you want to free yourself from manual vacuuming altogether.

13. Use an Efficient Mopping Strategy

Do your sweeping before you mop. Start mopping from the furthest room corner and move back towards the doorway. That way, you won’t literally mop yourself into a corner. Rinse the mop every time you finish a 4′ x 4′ area.

To make mopping even easier, think about buying a steam cleaner . You can also check out our choices for the best robot mops on the market.

14. Clean Badly Scorched Pots with Baking Soda

Cover the burned area with a heavy sprinkling of baking soda if you have a badly scorched pot in dire need of scrubbing. Pour in enough boiling water to fill the pot a third to halfway up. When the water is cool to the touch, use a sponge and scrub away the scorched areas. Dump out the water and wash the pot with hot soapy water.

15. Regularly Clean Your Sponges

Ensure that you regularly clean your sponges to get rid of bacteria. You can do this by either running them through the dishwasher or your microwave.

If using a microwave, check to see that the sponge doesn’t have any metal in it. Then, get the sponge soaking wet and microwave it for two minutes. Exercise extreme caution when removing it, as it will be pretty hot.

If your sponge holder has bacterial or mold buildup, use a toothbrush dipped in white vinegar to scrub it away. Then, take the sponge caddy and wash it thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Alternatively, you can run it through your dishwasher.

16. Check Your Fridge When Emptying the Trash

A super-easy way to keep your fridge clean is by adding a simple ritual to your daily cleaning routine. Whenever you need to take out the kitchen trash, open the refrigerator and carefully survey its contents. If there are leftovers that have gone bad, dump them. If there’s food on the verge of going bad but not quite there yet, put it on the menu for that day.

If there are sticky spills in the fridge, soak a sponge in hot water and wring it out, so it’s not dripping. Press it onto the gooey spot until it starts to lose its heat. If the mess has sufficiently loosened up, wipe it away. However, if it’s still clinging to the fridge surface, repeat this method until it loosens. Then, you can wipe it clean.

17. Use The Right Code When Cleaning Couches

Upholstered furniture typically has a code that can help you determine which product you should use to clean it. You’ll usually find the code on the care tag underneath the furniture piece.

• W (wet cleaning only): You can clean this kind of furniture by diluting dish soap you put on a rag. Or you can use an upholstery cleaner with an upholstery cleaning machine.
• S (dry solvent cleaning only): Use a specialized upholstery cleaner for these fabrics, as water-based cleaners can cause damage.
• SW (dry solvent or wet cleaning): Use either wet or dry solvent methods.
• X (Professional cleaning only): This means you’ll need to find a professional to do it for you.

18. Try Lemon Juice to Clean Rust Stains

Use lemon juice to clean rust stains on porches, garage floors, patios, and driveways. The acid in the juice will dissolve the rust. Cut the lemon in half, squeeze the juice on the stain, and let it soak for approximately 10 minutes. For stains that have been there a long time, you might want to use a stiff bristle brush.

19. Use Proper Methods To Get Rid of Bathroom Mold and Scum

Mold and mildew plague bathrooms that aren’t well ventilated because the water tends to stay on the walls after you finish showering. This creates a perfect breeding ground for fungal bathroom infestations.

To eradicate this icky stuff, spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for five minutes or so before wiping it down. To prevent mold from returning, use a fan whenever you shower. After you’re done showering, squeegee the water off the tile walls and shower door.

Heat distilled white vinegar and wipe on doors to get rid of soap scum. Wait 30 minutes, then scrub with a non-scratch pad that has baking soda on it. Another method is to wet a dryer sheet and clean the glass in a circular motion.

You’ll end up with a milky white film, which you can wipe away using water and a squeegee, or paper towels and a microfiber cloth. You don’t even need to waste a brand-new dryer sheet to do this — just use an old one.

To keep the shower cleaner longer, switch to glycerin soap. That’s because animal fat and talc in regular soap tends to leave a residue. If you need to clean moldy tile or grout, apply a mold- and mildew-eliminating product. Let it penetrate the grout before you scrub the surface with a stiff-bristled scrub brush.

20. Use Vinegar To Get Rid of Mineral Deposits

If hard water mineral deposits have stained your plumbing fixtures, don’t use a bristle brush or pads to clean them. That’s because they can scratch the faucet. Instead, pour some white vinegar on a clean cloth and wipe the faucets. This will help them to sparkle like new again.

21. Use the Microwave Cleaning Trick

Baked on food in a microwave can be challenging to remove. One trick is to place a coffee cup full of water in the microwave and heat it until it’s boiling hot. This creates moisture that loosens up anything on the top, sides, or bottom of the microwave. Once it loosens, take a damp cloth and wipe the surfaces clean.

Final Thoughts

By using these 21 tips, you can keep your home blessedly free from dirt, debris, and clutter, while decreasing the amount of time you’ll need to spend on cleaning tasks. Which tip did you find most helpful? Let us know in the comments!

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Mop Tips & Tricks

10 Rules for a Clean and Tidy Home

Katherine Martinko is an expert in sustainable living. She holds a degree in English Literature and History from the University of Toronto.

• University of Toronto
• Natural Cleaning
• Pest Control
• Green Living
• Thrift & Minimalism
• Sustainable Eating

A few tasks a day keep the cleaning at bay.

The best way to keep a house clean, I've realized, is to fend off encroaching messes every single day. I do this by following a few basic rules that make the job much easier and prevent the house from reaching disastrous levels of chaos. Family members are aware of these rules and are expected to help out whenever possible. Of course, it doesn't always go according to plan, but it does help a lot.

1. Take your shoes off.

Simple and effective: Shoes stay in the mudroom so that dirt, sand, and bacteria (and formerly chicken poop) don't get tracked into the house. We all have slippers or other indoor footwear to wear inside, or we just go in socks, which isn't nearly as icky as it would be if shoes were also allowed in the house.

2. Be ready for laundry.

Don't start a load of laundry unless you're able to see it through to the end. That means hanging out to dry or putting in the dryer, folding, and putting away.

3. Swap out dishcloths and tea towels regularly.

You know that awful smell from a dishcloth that's been used far too long? It stinks up the sink and makes your hand reek, and who knows what it's doing the dishes and counters that it's supposed to be cleaning. Because of this, I have a 2-day max rule. After that, all dishcloths go in the laundry, along with tea towels. It's a small switch that makes a big mental difference for me.

4. Store leftovers in see-through containers.

It is much harder to lose food in the back of the fridge if you see it whenever you open the door. Not only will you save time and money by eating leftovers , but you'll avoid those icky, mega fridge clean-outs driven by a need to find the source of a horrible smell.

5. Empty the dishwasher immediately.

The dishwasher is for cleaning dirty dishes, not storing clean ones. This is a good chore for kids; the first thing mine have to do each morning is empty the dishwasher so it's ready for the breakfast load, and it makes all the difference in the world.

6. Tackle paper clutter as it enters.

It is astonishing how much paper kids bring home from school. I've had to develop a system for coping with it immediately, or else we'd drown in it. I immediately sort and recycle anything that's not necessary, fill out forms and return them to kids' backpacks, and put temporarily-important notifications in the fridge. (This gets cleaned off weekly.)

7. Everything has its place.

Designate a proper spot for every item in your home or else you'll be waging endless battles against them. This also makes it easier to find things when you need them.

8. Make your bed.

It's such a small task that gives a real and immediate sense of accomplishment. It sets the tone for the rest of the day and gives you something to look forward to at bedtime because, seriously, nothing beats climbing into a neatly made bed.

9. Never leave dishes overnight.

It's stinky, ugly, unhygienic, and dare I say lazy? You won't feel any more eager to do dishes in the morning when you're trying to get out the door to work and competing for kitchen space with other family members, so make a promise to yourself to get it done right after dinner. Every. Single. Night.

10. Do a biannual purge of each room.

Do it more often if you can, but I think a spring/fall purge is the most realistic schedule for busy people. This is when you take a half-day, sit down and go through everything, packing it into the usual three categories of keep, donate, and toss. You will feel so much lighter when it's done, and cleaning will be easier too.

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Clean and Scentsible

11 Daily Habits to Keep a House Clean and Tidy

This post is sponsored by bobsweep .  As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Keeping up with the daily house keeping can be a drag, but it doesn’t have to take up all your time.  I feel that keeping a clean home is less about the time involved, and more about creating some good habits that you {eventually!} start to just follow instinctively.  Yes, there are still times that things get crazy and I’m not able to always follow through with the daily cleaning, but, for the most part, I do try to follow these 11 habits to keep a house clean and tidy.  I promise – the more you do them, the easier it gets! If the list seems overwhelming to start with, just pick one or two to get started and then add in more as you are able.

Start by Making the Bed. I know some people think that making the bed is a waste of time, but it really makes a big difference in how tidy the room looks and only takes a couple of minutes.  Plus, I think it starts off the day well and I love climbing into a made bed at the end of the day.  To make things easier, simplify your bedding as much as possible.  We ended up cutting out our top sheets {as they always just ended up in a big puddle at the end of the bed anyways} and just use a duvet and washable cover.  If you love your top sheets though, you can look at minimizing the number of pillows on your bed or using a large enough comforter or duvet that you don’t need to tuck in your sheets.

Do One Load of Laundry Per Day. Now, depending on how many loads you typically do per week, you may not need to do this every day, but, for us, we definitely go through at least 7 loads of laundry per week.  Try to get in the habit of putting in one load of laundry first thing in the morning.  If you work outside of the home and won’t have a chance to dry it before your leave, put your machine on delay {if you have this as a feature} so it will be ready to put in the dryer when you get home. Alternatively, put the load in the machine in the morning and just turn it on when you get home.  Make sure you save some time somewhere in your day to complete  the load – including putting it away.

Be Happy with “Clean Enough”. As a perfectionist, this is probably the hardest one for me.  You want your house to be relatively clean and tidy but that doesn’t mean that every little thing has to be perfect.  I always {try!} to follow the 80/20 rule – meaning that I am happy with 80% of the cleaning being done.  Getting caught up in all of the little details that make up the last 20% {like making sure every little speck is cleaned up off the floor or getting to all of those little out of the way and hard to reach places to dust} are huge time suckers and are probably details that no one would really notice.  I’m not saying that they never need to be cleaned, but make them part of a deep cleaning routine rather than your regular weekly cleaning schedule.

Prioritize. Not all cleaning is created equal.  Make a list of what you would like to get done and then prioritize what needs to be done and what can wait until the next day or two.   Given the time that you have available , write down your top 2 or 3 {realistic!} cleaning goals and stick with these before attempting to do other things.  I always used to hate writing out lists but I find that it really helps me to stay focused.

Get the Whole Family Involved. This is one that I have really tried to work on lately.  Yes, it is often actually easier to just do the job yourself, but spending the time to teach your children to do age appropriate jobs will be better in the long run for both of you.  Start by just working on having your kids pick up after themselves – putting their coat and shoes away when they come in the house, putting dishes in the dishwasher, cleaning their room, etc. – and add in other chores as able.  It’s amazing how much of a difference it can make in the overall tidiness of the house if just these simple things are done.  For the first few weeks that you do this, you will likely need to be on your kids a lot, but over time this will start to be a habit for them as well and it should eventually be able to be done with minimal reminders.

Do a 15 Minute Nightly Clean-up. Make it a routine to do a family 15 minute nightly clean-up.  For some reason it doesn’t seem quite so bad to clean up when everyone else is doing the same thing.  Put on the timer and just stick with the top cleaning priorities.  Kids can clean their rooms or do other small household chores while you finish up the kitchen cleaning or fold and put away laundry.  Start with the things that are making the biggest mess or creating a lot of clutter or any “must dos” that need to be done before bed.  I always run my bObi robotic vacuum during this time – usually in our high traffic areas.

Keep Basic Cleaning Supplies Close to Where You Use Them. I have all of our bathrooms stocked with basic cleaning supplies – microfiber cloths and a polishing cloth, a toilet scrub brush, and a spray bottle with water and vinegar {or a multi-purpose cleaner of your choice}.  This makes it so much quicker and easier to give the toilet a quick swipe or wipe the gross toothpaste spit from the mirror instead of having to track down cleaning supplies.  Try to do these simple tasks as you see the need – most of them take only a minute or two – and it will really reduce how often you need to do a top to bottom deep clean.

Never Leave a Room Empty Handed. This is one habit that can make a huge difference in the general tidiness of your home.  As you move from one room to another {or from one floor to another}, try to do a quick scan to see if there is anything that you can take with you that belongs where you are going.  Take only what you will have time to put away – moving a pile from one room to another without actually putting anything away doesn’t really help you out much.  It can be a couple of dirty dishes that you put in the dishwasher or some laundry that needs to be put away upstairs.   Always keep in mind the “one touch rule”, meaning that you ideally only want to touch items one time before they are put away.  Every time you touch an object to move it from one place to another you are using up precious time and energy so make that extra little effort to put it directly away.  Again, I think it is really more about habit than not having the time.

Declutter. This one may need to be implemented over a longer period of time, but taking the time to declutter and organize your home will drastically cut down on the amount of time needed to clean.  Having a spot for everything {that is both easily accessible and easy to put away} makes it so much easier to tidy up – for both you and the rest of your family. Less items out on the counters and surface tops cuts down on dusting and makes cleaning a lot quicker.  If you are unsure of where to start, try my 6 Week Decluttering Challenge or read this post on how to keep the clutter out .

Know Your High Traffic Areas. If you focus on keeping the high traffic areas clean on a daily basis, you can really help to prevent the spread of dirt and dust throughout the rest of the house.  Make sure you have a dedicated spot for shoes at the entrances to your house to remind everyone to take off their shoes and to keep all of the shoe dirt contained in one spot.  Small area rugs at doors can also help to trap a lot of the incoming dirt.  For furry friends that come in and out, have a an old towel by the door to quickly wipe down paws as they come in {you can see other ideas for keeping your house clean with pets here }.  Try to sweep or vacuum these areas daily.  It doesn’t need to be much – just a quick 5 minutes or so should do it.

Clean as You Go. This one may seem obvious but I think it’s something that we often don’t do.  Putting things away as you go doesn’t really take up much time but it will definitely make the difference between a tidy house and a messy house at the end of the day.  Take your clothes off by your closet and either hang them back up or put them directly in the laundry.  Load the dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher instead of just placing them on the counter.  Put your shoes and coat away as you come in the door.  Have all the family help out cleaning up the kitchen after dinner so you are not stuck with a messy kitchen when it’s really time to go to bed. All of these little things are just habits that can be created with a little intentional planning.  Obviously there will be times when this is not possible, but do it when you can and you will save yourself a ton of cleaning up in the end!

One of the tools that has really helped me out with my daily cleaning is our new bObi vacuum. I’ve always been curious as to how well the robotic vacuums actually work so I was pretty excited when I was sent a  bObi from bobsweep to try out.  I really liked the sleek design and the start-up guide that came with it was really simple to use.

After some basic set up and initial charging time, she was all ready to go.  bObi is able to sweep, vacuum, mop {although I haven’t actually tried this function} and also adds a UV sterilization.  There are three basic touch screen buttons that you can use – “Go” for regular cleaning, “Waffle” to clean extra dirty areas that you want it to spend extra time on, and “Juice” which will tell it to go back to its charging station to refuel.  I usually got at least 90 minutes of run time out of bObi before it needed recharging and it will automatically return to its charging dock when there is less than 15% of battery power remaining.

While we do have a pretty open floor plan on our main level, there are some divisions between rooms and lots of transitions between hardwood flooring, area rugs and carpeting.  I did find that bObi did get stuck a few times {such as underneath the sofa or in the chairs in our dining room table}, but for the most part, she did really well navigating around the house and cleaned well on the variety of surfaces {you just need to be careful that the area rugs are laying flat and don’t have any corners flipped up}.  When she did get stuck, she would let out a little chirping noise so I could go and rescue her. 😉

bObi makes a humming kind of noise when she runs but it is way quieter than a regular vacuum and you can easily go about your regular tasks without it bothering you.  There is a remote control that you can use to direct her exactly where you want {or don’t want!} her to go, but I generally just let her run wherever she wants – she’s usually pretty good at getting all of the major problem areas.  bObi has parallel bristle and rubber brushes on the underside for extra sweeping power as well as side brushes to get into corners and along baseboards.  She also has sensors to detect walls, edges, and other obstacles in her path so I don’t worry about her falling off the stairs.

After a little experimenting, I now have bObi integrated into our daily cleaning routine. I use it in the mornings {usually for around 90 minutes} on our main level every second day, and alternate between our basement and the upper level on the other days.  I also use it at night during our 15 minute tidy up in our high traffic areas {usually by the kitchen or front door}. It works great for getting up all of that daily dirt, crumbs, and dust that seem to appear from nowhere and really helps to cut down on dirt being tracked around to other areas of the house.  It should be noted, however, that it does not replace a really thorough vacuuming as there are still areas that it does not get to, BUT, it significantly cuts down on how often I need to vacuum or sweep.  Here are a couple of other tips to get the best use out of bObi…

• Use it on a regular basis.  I found that the bObi does best cleaning up the daily, wear and tear messes.  Since it doesn’t have a really large debris bin, it would get full really quickly if I hadn’t vacuumed for quite a few days.  You can even program bObi to start at a certain time everyday so you don’t even have to think about it.
• Do a quick scan of the rooms that you will be cleaning to remove any obstacles that may be in bObi’s way.  This includes little toys {i.e. LEGOs!} that may be scattered around, area rugs that are bunched up, or other smaller obstacles on the floor.  I found that this actually worked really well when it came to getting the boys to clean up their room – they were given the option of getting everything off the floor so the bObi could go in there or they had to vacuum their room themselves.  Guess which option they chose. 😉
• Get in the habit of emptying the debris bin after every use.  There isn’t an indicator to tell you when it’s full so this is the easiest way to make sure that it is always ready.
• At the end of each week, do a quick clean of the rotary brushes to remove any hair or strings that may have gotten a bit tangled up.  If these get really tangled, an error light will come on bObi to let you know.  They are super easy to remove though and only take a minute or two to clean.
• While it is possible to program bObi to run while you are not home, I preferred to be around in case it got stuck on something.  It’s not a big deal if it does get stuck as it will turn itself off, but I liked to know that it was busy cleaning!

For more information on bObi, you can check out their website or head over to Amazon to purchase.  Happy Cleaning!

For more cleaning tips and tricks, check out these posts…

How to Clean Your Washing Machine

Best Cleaning Tips of 2015

20 Items to Declutter From Your Kitchen 

May 30, 2016 at 5:17 pm

“Clean enough” is so important. Yeah, it’d be great if everything was spotless all of the time, but that’s just not possible (unless you do nothing but clean all.day.long.). I would rather have a whole decently clean home, than one that is perfect in a room (or two) and the rest of the spaces be waiting for their turn! Decluttering is my nemesis, though. I’m really good at having good intentions. I’m really good at starting. I’m also really good at hyperfocusing, and am also really good at quickly getting overwhelmed because of it. xD I try and try and try and I’m still battling it. But man, it’s so important (which is why I refuse to give up, ha).

June 2, 2016 at 4:00 am

This is a very good list of activities to minimize the effort to keep your house. If you and your family commit to following this list you will on average remove 80 to 90 percent of the un clean existing in your house at any point in time. The remainder is what we normally catch on a deep cleaning. I would encourage each of you to commit to this list for a month and see how your home is transformed over that month before deciding if you want to continue the process.

June 2, 2016 at 12:16 pm

These are amazing tips! We just moved from a small apartment into our first house and the growing list of things that need to be cleaned have created a burden for us. Being a perfectionist in a small apartment is easy, not in a 4 bedroom house. Thanks for sharing! I hope it helps.

June 3, 2016 at 2:45 am

Yes – it’s definitely a lot different keeping a 4 bedroom home clean compared to an apartment. I’m sure you’ll find your balance as it is pretty much impossible to have everything perfectly clean at the same time! Enjoy your new home!

June 7, 2016 at 8:41 am

Your home is gorgeous! It mops too??? Where can I sign up to get one for free??? lol Great tips. The biggest thing for me, is just doing the dishes right away. I live alone, so I was leaving them waaaay too long! It really is easy to just go ahead and do it! Whoa! That shot of the front of the washing machine was scary dirty! lol 2usestuesday

June 9, 2016 at 2:07 pm

We have lived in our three bedroom apartment for the past nine years. My husband, two teenage sons, the Jack Russell Chihuahua pain-in-the-toosh-dog, all of whom believe that it is my one and only duty to clean up behind them and clean house all day long.

Over the past year, for a variety of reasons, things have fallen behind with my level of cleaning and are looking rather shabby I’m ashamed to say. It has gotten so bad because of my health and lack of help around the house, that I am seriously considering hiring a cleaning service to come in and give me a “clean slate” so to speak to start fresh from. I love these tips and have bookmarked them for easy reference!

I popped over from your link on the Mother 2 Mother Sunday’s Best Linkup and I’ve nominated your post as my pick of the week!

June 16, 2016 at 1:50 am

Thanks so much for picking me! I have been working a lot more on getting the kids to help out and clean up after themselves – it’s a rather tedious process but it’s definitely something they need to learn and one person can’t be expected to do it all. If you have the money, don’t feel bad at all about getting some help in to get you back on course. Sometimes it’s just overwhelming to get started and once it starts looking a little better the motivation increases!

June 16, 2016 at 2:23 am

Exactly!!! If I can just get the house even halfway back to normal I know without a doubt I would have much more motivation, drive and determination to keep it that way! Getting the kids to do something with their rooms takes an act of Congress LOL! I wish I could share a picture of the 13 year old’s room with you – OMG y’all would have heart failure lol!

June 9, 2016 at 2:47 pm

One of the things I had to get used to about having kids was that my house will never be as clean as I’d like. The idea of getting used to “clean enough” is a good one…though a little hard for a virgo like me…LOL! Thanks for joining us at Share The Wealth Sunday!

June 10, 2016 at 1:23 am

Great tips!!

My children are grown and I am finding the “clean as you go” method works well. It seems if I just start a task, it’s easiest enough to finish. Where before, I would procrastinate.

I also feel so much better having the bed made first thing. I will actually make my bed before I go to bed on those rare occasions I didn’t get to it in the morning. lol.

Thanks for sharing!

June 10, 2016 at 3:37 pm

With 4 homeschooled kids and 4 dogs and a making 3 meals a day in our kitchen, I have a time keeping the house tidy. I get so overwhelmed because I can clean like crazy and have everything picked up and sparkling, and then before the day is over, it’s a mess again! Ugh! but I like your 15minute nightly clean up routine. that one seems like it would help a lot! I think if I could just keep the counter in the kitchen clean, it would be a huge triumph. 🙂

June 16, 2016 at 1:44 am

Yes! It is definitely a never ending task! The 15 minute nightly tidy up does make a big difference though and it’s nice to feel that things are tidy before bed!

June 14, 2016 at 5:51 am

Thanks for linking up over at Family Fun Friday. This is one of the posts I’ll be featuring this week.

June 14, 2016 at 2:50 pm

Love these habits and I liked hearing about the pros and cons of the Bobe! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!

July 8, 2016 at 11:10 am

I absolutely support the idea of an organised cleaning. Before I start any sanitising procedures, I make a small checklist if everything I need is in order. I totally agree with @Jenn Lifford, that 15 minutes of tiding and cleaning are enough to keep the house in some decent order.

July 20, 2016 at 6:52 am

The good tips. It’s so good. I can follow this tip to make my room tidy. And my mom can’t complain about the mess room. Instead of, she will treat me.

January 25, 2017 at 7:43 am

I used to have a hard time with the “clean enough” idea. Then I had kids and all of that went out the window. A little bit of clutter is OK. However, being the perfectionist I am I do a major deep clean a couple times a year. Sometimes I hire extra help to get it done. As long as I know that there are a few times a year that my house will be spotless, I can live with a mostly clean house the rest of the time.

January 25, 2017 at 7:47 am

That’s exactly what I like to do too!

February 4, 2017 at 11:36 am

I love robotic vacuums! Technology has indeed made things a lot easier for us especially for moms. It is so true that you should get the whole family involved in your cleaning activity. Having a couple of hands is better than just having two. 🙂

March 2, 2017 at 5:07 pm

Such a great and helpful article and so true.I had been trying to make Wednesdays my clean-all, but it is just too much! I like this idea of splitting things up a bit more. It might be good to put these in a google calendar and set reminders…

April 27, 2017 at 8:06 am

I`m a big fan of the cleaning gadgets. I also have a B0bi and it`s amazing! I feel like I`m not alone when doing such stuff around the house.

A quick tip: follow the 2 min rule – if a task takes less than 2 minutes(putting the books back on the shelf, washing a few dishes, etc), JUST DO IT!

July 23, 2018 at 11:45 pm

Loved all your habits here. Just came across this article, very informative and great tips! Thanks so much and keep up the great content.

March 21, 2019 at 3:27 am

Great tips, thank you for posting! I live in the UK where it’s really not uncommon to have hired help come in once a week for a few hours. I realize it’s probably due to affordability as a 3-hour weekly cleaning service cost as much as a (medium-priced) takeaway dinner for 2! By far, this is the expense I have the least amount of guilt for. It makes life so much easier and somehow we are better in keeping everything tidier and cleaner as we remind each other, e.g. “This bathroom gotta last another 5 days!”

March 21, 2019 at 9:31 pm

I’ve thought about doing this a few times but have never done it. I feel like I would be stressed about “tidying up” before they came to clean. lol! I like the idea of it making you keep things tidier and cleaner to last until your next service though. I hadn’t thought about that!

April 7, 2020 at 1:03 pm

I just loved reading this blog! It is amazing how much of these habits I have but when it’s impossible to continue and conquer because the other person you live with is the antichrist of cleaning it can be tricky! Nonetheless, I find all these habits time efficient and helpful.

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Importance of Cleanliness Essay

500 words essay on importance of cleanliness.

Each one of us enjoys living in a clean environment. We all have the ability to maintain cleanliness as it is not a tough task. Cleanliness is a habitual process that we must do on a daily basis. For instance, personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness are equally important to lead a happy life. The importance of cleanliness essay will explain this in further detail.

Importance of Cleanliness

Cleanliness is a very essential component of human life in both physical and spiritual terms. Spiritual cleanliness refers to following the beliefs and rituals of your religion. On the other hand, the physical one is essential for the well-being of and existence of humanity.

It is essential to lead a healthy and well life. In fact, health and cleanliness are related to each other. To get good health, one must practice hygiene. It is essential to practice maintaining good health and prevent diseases .

Moreover, equally important is the cleanliness of our environment. When you maintain cleanliness, you can prevent disease and lead a healthy life. Health professionals advocate hygienic practices to prolong the lives of individuals.

Moreover, when the environment is clean, safety is enabled. For instance, we must ensure no spilling of water to prevent people from falling. Similarly, clearing bushes around homes will offer safety from harmful insects and animals.

Further, we must not only clean the environment but organize the environment carefully. In other words, put away harmful objects to prevent accidents. Similarly, in the food industry, cleanliness is of the utmost importance.

It ensures the well-being of the consumers. Most importantly, cleanliness enables the extension of a lifespan of an object. When you keep the metallic objects free from dust and rust, they will have a longer shelf life.

Thus, we see how cleanliness is important in every sphere of life. Whether it is living or inanimate objects, everything requires cleanliness. Moreover, it is also a moral virtue that makes people admirable.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

How to Maintain Cleanliness

There are many ways through which one can maintain cleanliness and keep themselves and the environment happy. A major way of maintaining cleanliness is brushing and bathing regularly.

Similarly, it is also important to wash hand as often as possible, mostly before and after meals. With the onset of the coronavirus, it has become even more important to wash our hands repeatedly.

Further, we must keep our nails trimmed and eat healthy food. Moving on to environmental cleanliness, we must clean the mess in our surroundings regularly. Try your best to avoid plastic bags and littering around by throwing garbage carelessly.

It is essential to effectively dispose of waste and wastewater . Most importantly, adopt reusing and recycling techniques to monitor pollution levels. Thus, we must practice all this and more to ensure cleanliness.

Conclusion of Importance of Cleanliness Essay

We must all do our bit to maintain cleanliness in our life. There are many initiatives launched by the government to practice cleanliness but it won’t work unless all of us do. It helps in inculcating good habits in citizens of the country. Along with practising it ourselves, we must also stop others from disturbing cleanliness.

FAQ of Importance of Cleanliness Essay

Question 1: What is the importance of cleanliness?

Answer 1: Maintaining cleanliness is a vital part of healthy living as it helps to improve our personality by staying clean externally and internally. It is everybody’s responsibility and one should keep themselves and their surroundings clean and hygienic.

Question 2: What are the effects of cleanliness?

Answer 2: Cleanliness has many positive effects on everyone. It directly impacts the ability to learn and has a significant effect on the mind of students. When there is a dirty environment, it may increases levels of stress. Moreover, cleanliness keeps one happy.

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Essay on Cleanliness of Environment for Kids

Kids nowadays are growing up in a world where they are constantly exposed to germs. They go to school, play outside and come into contact with people and things that can cause infections. The best way to protect themselves from getting sick is by being clean. Here is an essay on how you can help your kids stay clean and healthy by teaching them the importance of keeping their environment clean. When we think about the environment, the first thing that comes to mind is the pollution humans create. In reality, the cleanliness of our surroundings is just as important as our environmental responsibility . Read BYJU’S essay on cleanliness of the environment to learn the significance of keeping the environment clean.

The health of people and other living beings depends on a healthy environment. Clean air and water are essential for human health, while plants need clean soil to grow healthy. Keeping our surroundings clean can help protect our health and the environment. There is a famous saying, “ Cleanliness is Godliness ”, and we must follow some basic hygiene steps to maintain the same. Encourage your kids to participate in environmental education programmes. These programmes teach kids about the importance of conserving resources and keeping our planet clean. In addition, we have briefly explained the top five ways to keep our environment clean in this short essay on cleanliness of the environment.

Table of Contents

How to encourage good hygiene in kids, top 5 ways to keep the environment clean, importance of cleanliness.

Cleanliness is one of the most important things to maintain in our environment. It is not only good for the environment but also for all living beings. We need to encourage good hygiene in our kids if we want them to be responsible stewards of their surroundings. We have provided some ways to maintain the cleanliness of the environment here in BYJU’S essay on cleanliness of environment in English.

Set a good example yourself and keep your home clean. This will help your kids see that it is vital to take care of their environment. Help your kids learn about the importance of taking care of their bodies. Talk about how dirty our hands and feet can be, and show them how easy it is to clean them up.

There is no denying that maintaining a clean environment is something that we need to always keep in mind. It improves the overall look and feel of our surroundings, and it also helps protect the health of ourselves and the animals that reside in our ecosystem. This cleanliness of environment essay will discuss the top five ways to clean up our environment that positively impact both the quality of life and the environment itself.

• There are many ways that you can help keep the environment clean. The first way to keep the environment clean is by maintaining a healthy ecosystem and reducing the usage of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
• Keeping the environment clean is essential for everyone. Children are the future of the world, and they need to learn how to care for the environment.
• Using less energy can save a lot of money in the long run. For example, if we use electricity to power our lights instead of a light bulb, we can save a lot of money.
• Recycling can also save money. If we recycle materials, such as paper, plastic, and metals, we will save a lot of money in the long run.
• Finally, using public transportation is one of the best ways to conserve energy and protect the environment. Public transit uses less fuel than driving in cars. It also reduces traffic congestion and air pollution.

Pollution is a problem any time it enters the environment. Across the world, pollution comes from several sources, including automobiles and factories. Pollution also comes from natural sources, such as rain, sea salt, volcanoes etc. Here are two reasons why it is vital to keep our environment clean:

• Good for our health : Pollution can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, and even cancer. By keeping our environment clean, we can reduce the risk of these illnesses. It protects our resources. Polluting our environment harms natural resources such as water and air. We can save environment and these resources for future generations by cleaning up our act.
• It preserves our heritage : When improperly disposed waste ends up in rivers and oceans, it can harm fish populations and contaminate marine habitats. By keeping our environment clean, we can prevent pollution and preserve all the species in aquatic habitats as well as other living beings on Earth.

It is now commonly acknowledged that the health of our environment is linked to our own. We must take measures to clean up our act and preserve the natural resources we depend on. However, many people continue to put their convenience above all else, leading to an increasingly polluted world. We need to reduce the cause and make a difference. We can create a cleaner, healthier future for ourselves and for generations to come by doing so. For more kids learning activities, like essays , worksheets and stories , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay on Cleanliness of Environment

What are some ways to clean the environment.

There are many ways to clean the environment. Some of the ways are recycling, composting and using green energy. Each of these methods has its pros and cons, so it is important to choose the one that best suits our needs.

What is the importance of a clean environment?

A clean environment is vital because it can help improve health and well-being because it reduces the exposure people have to harmful chemicals. It can also reduce the risk of accidents because it makes it easier to see and avoid obstacles. Finally, a clean environment is less likely to produce harmful emissions that can impact the environment and human health.

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15+ Tips to Keep Your House Clean All the Time

Last Updated on February 17, 2022 by Kravelv

Keeping a house clean all the time can be challenging, especially when people have tight schedules these days. This is a serious dilemma, as some people hate to clean their house. One reason for this is that they might hate the actual work involved in cleaning the house. Another reason may be that having a clean house takes time and effort, and many people can’t do everything regularly. But, there are still ways to make sure you can always maintain your home in its clean state. Here are some tips from Houston maid service on how to keep your house clean all the time.

1. Keep Clutter at Bay

Clutter can be one of the biggest reasons a house doesn’t stay as clean as it should be. It is easy for items to pile up, and they become a reason why you can’t clean your house quickly. Keeping clutter at bay makes it simpler to wipe down countertops and sweep floors without being blocked by random items.

2. Use a Cleaning Schedule

Having a weekly, biweekly, or monthly cleaning schedule is good to know which days are best to clean specific rooms. This saves time because you need to follow the preset steps that have already been set out beforehand instead of researching what you should do.

3. Create a Checklist of Things that Need to be cleaned

If you have a cleaning schedule, it is good to list everything that needs to be done in respective rooms. It can help if you cross off items after they are completed, so you know when each room has been finished without having to look around the house for clean spots.

4. Maintain Order

It may be easier to clean up if, before you start cleaning, everything is already in order, so it will not take time from your schedule. If the items around the house are already stacked and put where they should go at all times, then you can readily spot dirt or dust when cleaning without having to waste your time searching for things to clean.

5. Use Cleaning Appliances and Tools

Some many different gadgets and appliances can make your life easier when it comes to cleaning the house. For example, you may find a vacuum cleaner handy if you want tidier floors. Things like these make it easy because you don’t need to do as much manual work. You can invest in things like these to make house cleaning faster and better.

6. Have the Right Tools Readily Available

It will help if you have all different tools at your disposal when you are cleaning your house, including gloves for dusting surfaces, a brush for scrubbing more challenging spots, etc. Having them accessible will allow you to clean the home faster and more efficiently.

7. Use Proper Storage Methods for Items

If there are items like toys that might only need to be cleaned once a week or month, it is good to use storage boxes to keep them away from other things. This will ensure that they are not dirtying other items or changing their particular scent, making it easier to clean the house.

8. Make it Easy to Wipe down Surfaces

There are different items you can use when wiping down countertops, tables and other areas of your house where dust might settle. You can use a spray bottle to add some water and lemon juice to make it easier to wipe down surfaces. Paper towels, cloths and gloves can also be useful items that will not take too much time cleaning the house.

9. Clean in Sections

If you have a large enough house where it takes a while to clean it, it is good if you clean in sections. You can split rooms into different sections to make it easier to focus on one area per time instead of doing the entire house at once.

10. Do not Leave Dirty Dishes in the Sink Overnight

If you have dirty plates and utensils, do not leave them in the sink overnight. Try to clean them as soon as possible because they will be hard to clean if they are crusty and dry.

11. Buy Natural Cleaning Products

There are many natural cleaning ingredients you can use that don’t contain harsh chemicals and will not leave a strong scent around the house, such as baking soda, lemons, and other items. These work like manufactured cleaning products but do not smell as much and do not have any side effects.

12. Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals

Different solutions found in the market are fine for cleaning your house, but you should avoid using any products which contain harsh chemicals or bleach because they can damage the floors and countertops over time. Even if you were to use these sparingly, it is best not to leave them in one spot for too long as they could ruin the flooring and other surfaces.

13. Use Cleaning Cloths for Non-Carpeted Floors

For non-carpeted floors, you should use cleaning cloths that shine those areas and make them easier to clean. You can even use old T-shirts or baby socks if they are exceptionally soft.

14. Use Cleaning Cloths for the Oven

You should use old towels or other cloths when cleaning your oven because it can be difficult to properly clean if you use sponges, paper towels, and other items that don’t have a good grip on the surface.

15. Use a Dryer Sheet to Clean Stovetops

A dryer sheet can help you clean harder spots on the stovetop because it will allow you to get rid of all of the dirt and debris if you use it with water. You should keep a dryer sheet in a spray bottle with some water so that you can clean the stovetop whenever you have dirty spots.

16. Clean your Fridge Regularly

You should take a few minutes each day to wipe down all surfaces of the fridge and inside it, which will allow you to avoid those hard-to-reach places from becoming too dirty with mold, dirt, and grime.

17. Hire a Cleaning Service

If all else fails, hiring a professional cleaning company may be the best option in getting your house cleaned fast. The pros like Affordable maid service have insider knowledge of how to make it easy for you to keep your house clean all the time without too much hassle.

Final Thoughts

Finally, there are many different ways you can keep your house clean. From hiring professional services to buying natural cleaning products, there are multiple things you can do so that you have an easier time keeping your house clean without too much hassle. These tips should help get you started on how to maintain a spotless home.

Essay on How to Keep Our Surroundings Clean

Students are often asked to write an essay on How to Keep Our Surroundings Clean in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on How to Keep Our Surroundings Clean

Importance of clean surroundings.

Clean surroundings matter for our health and well-being. Dirt and filth breed diseases, while clean areas promote good health and a pleasant environment.

Ways to Keep Surroundings Clean

Start by reducing waste. Use less plastic, recycle, and compost organic waste. Next, clean regularly. Sweep your area, pick up litter, and dispose of trash properly.

Role of Everyone

Keeping surroundings clean is everyone’s responsibility. Encourage others to maintain cleanliness, participate in community clean-up drives, and set a good example. Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier world.

250 Words Essay on How to Keep Our Surroundings Clean

Introduction.

Cleanliness is a fundamental aspect of our lives, closely related to our health, well-being, and the environment. To maintain cleanliness in our surroundings, we need to adopt a proactive approach and develop a sense of responsibility towards our environment.

Understanding the Importance of Cleanliness

Clean surroundings help in reducing the spread of diseases and contribute to overall public health. It also enhances the aesthetic appeal of our environment, making it more pleasant and conducive for living. A clean environment is a sign of a healthy and progressive society.

Practical Steps to Maintain Cleanliness

To keep our surroundings clean, we should start with waste management. Segregating waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable can significantly help in proper disposal and recycling. Composting organic waste can serve a dual purpose of reducing waste and providing nutrient-rich soil for plants.

Role of Education and Awareness

Educating people about the importance of cleanliness and the consequences of a dirty environment can foster a sense of responsibility. Awareness campaigns, cleanliness drives, and including environmental education in the curriculum can go a long way in promoting cleanliness.

Individual Responsibility and Collective Action

Every individual should take responsibility for their actions. Keeping personal spaces clean, not littering, and responsibly disposing of waste are small steps that can have a big impact. Collective action, such as community clean-up drives, can also contribute significantly to maintaining cleanliness in our surroundings.

In conclusion, cleanliness is not just an individual responsibility but a collective one. A clean environment is a shared asset that we need to guard for our health, well-being, and for future generations. It requires consistent effort, education, and a sense of responsibility towards our surroundings.

500 Words Essay on How to Keep Our Surroundings Clean

Cleanliness is not just about personal hygiene; it extends to the cleanliness of our surroundings. The environment we live in directly impacts our health, well-being, and overall quality of life. As responsible citizens, it is our duty to ensure that we keep our surroundings clean. This essay explores various strategies to maintain cleanliness in our surroundings.

The Importance of Clean Surroundings

Clean surroundings are vital for sustaining a healthy lifestyle. They reduce the risk of diseases, enhance the aesthetic appeal of our environment, and contribute to the overall well-being of the community. Moreover, cleanliness fosters a sense of responsibility and respect for the environment among individuals, making it a societal norm.

Strategies for Keeping Our Surroundings Clean

There are several strategies that can be employed to keep our surroundings clean.

Proper Waste Disposal

The first step is ensuring proper waste disposal. This involves segregating waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories, using designated bins for disposal, and advocating for recycling and composting.

Community Cleanliness Drives

Organizing community cleanliness drives can be an effective way to involve everyone in the cleanliness effort. Such initiatives not only clean the environment but also foster a sense of community and shared responsibility.

Green Spaces

Promoting green spaces like parks and gardens can significantly contribute to cleaner surroundings. They not only enhance the aesthetic appeal but also improve air quality.

Educational Programs

Educational programs about the importance of cleanliness and the adverse effects of pollution can instill a sense of responsibility in individuals.

Government Policies and Regulations

Government policies and regulations play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness. Strict enforcement of littering and waste disposal laws can deter individuals from polluting the environment.

Keeping our surroundings clean is a collective responsibility. It requires the active participation of every individual, community, and the government. By adopting the strategies mentioned above, we can ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for ourselves and future generations. Remember, cleanliness starts with you. Let’s pledge to keep our surroundings clean and make it a way of life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Green Earth Clean Earth
• Essay on Clean Mumbai Green Mumbai
• Essay on Clean Ganga Mission

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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10 SIMPLE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE CLEAN AND TIDY

Do you struggle to keep your house clean and tidy? Do you waste your weekends trying to stay on top of it?

Well stop! There’s an easier way.

Now, I’m not going to sugar coat it. Cleaning isn’t fun. I hate it. I mean, most people do.

But there are some tricks to making it So. Much. Easier.

So let’s take a look at 10 incredibly easy ways to keep your house clean and tidy.

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. This means that I may make a small commission off any purchase, at no additional charge to you. I only recommend products and services that I use and love and will totally help you rock the #momlife juggle. You can learn more and read my entire disclaimer here.

So first of all, the less you have, the less you have to clean.

Because of this, the first step to simplifying your cleaning is to declutter.

I have an entire article that walks you through the whole process right here.

But taking a little time now to declutter will save you loads of time cleaning going forward.

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KEEP STUFF IN THE ROOM WHERE YOU USE IT

But decluttering alone isn’t enough to simplify your cleaning. And in the case of keeping your home clean and tidy, a little organization goes a long way.

The easiest way to organize your space? By keeping stuff in the room where you use it.

For example, you might have all the kids’ toys in their bedrooms or playroom, but if you normally play board games or do puzzles in the living room, find a place there to keep them.

Or if you read in the armchair on the first floor at night but keep all your books upstairs, it just makes it more difficult to keep the books put away. I know that if I had to run up and down the stairs every day to put things away that they wouldn’t get put away.

So make it easier by keeping things in the area you use them.

Pro-Tip: Cute baskets are one of the easiest ways to keep random odds and ends tidy. Amazon has some really cute baskets that will work in a pinch. Target also just released some new baskets that I can’t wait to get my hands on.

PUT THINGS AWAY AFTER YOU USE THEM

Which brings me to my next tip: always put things away when you’re done with them.

If you were working on a stack of paper at the kitchen table, don’t leave them on the kitchen table, telling yourself you’ll put them away later.

It would take 2 seconds to do it now.

Granted, you do need to know where to keep things. To help you out, I have an article here on incredibly simple things you can do to organize your house.

It’s also helpful to train your kids to do this, as well.

I know mine has a rule at school that they can’t get something else out until they put away whatever else they’re playing with first.

So I try to make that a rule at our house, too.

Even having the kids spend 10 minutes picking up can save you loads of time and stress at the end of the day.

NEVER LEAVE A ROOM EMPTY-HANDED

And one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re always putting things away when you’re done with them is to try to never leave a room empty-handed.

In college, I was a waitress at a place that always made sure we had something in our hands when we were leaving the kitchen and something in our hands when we were coming back in.

As annoying as it was at the time, it actually makes a lot of sense. And it’s something I always try to do around the house.

If I’m upstairs, I look around and see if there’s anything I can take with me before I go back downstairs.

If I’m in the living room I’ll grab whatever I can on the way to the kitchen.

Since you’re already going to that room, it doesn’t take any extra effort to bring things with you. And everything you can take with you as you go leaves one less thing for you to pick up later.

CLEAN AS YOU GO

You also want to make sure you clean as you go.

It can be tempting to leave the dishes until after the kids are asleep. Or wait to pick up the living room. Or the bathroom. Or whatever the case may be.

But if you instead rinsed the dishes and put them in the dishwasher as you’re cooking and after dinner, you won’t have to do it later.

And if you got the kids to pitch in and everyone picks up together, your living room will be back to normal in no time.

Plus, you don’t want to leave yourself an hour of work after they’re asleep.

First of all, there are other things you could be doing during that time to relieve yourself from a weekend cleaning spree (which I’ll come back to in a second).

But also, that’s #winetime.

SPEND 15 MINUTES AT NIGHT PICKING UP

One great thing you can do to keep your house clean and tidy is to spend just 15 minutes in the evening picking up.

And you don’t have to go crazy here, but doing this will have a drastic effect on your house.

Here are a couple of things you could easily do in this time:

• Put stuff away in the bathroom
• Fold your throw blankets and put them away in the living room
• Pick up the toys from the floor
• Put all the shoes away
• Hang up any coats that were thrown wherever (thanks kids)
• Put any remaining dishes in the dishwasher
• Wipe down the kitchen counter
• Put away anything left on the coffee table

Taking just 15 minutes in the evening to pick up your house will help prevent the clutter from building, making the rest of your cleaning a total breeze.

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KEEP CLEANING SUPPLIES WHERE YOU USE THEM

Another way to help you keep your house clean and tidy is to keep cleaning supplies where you use them.

I have cleaning supplies in the kitchen and both bathrooms, with the rest in the cleaning closet.

This way, I always have what I need to wipe down those rooms quickly during the week.

Because again, it doesn’t take long to do this. And it’s so much easier to take a minute or two to wipe down the bathroom once or twice during the week so you have one less thing to do on the weekends.

I usually do this while my son’s in the bath because I’m already hanging out in there.

SIMPLIFY YOUR LAUNDRY

Laundry is also something that tends to build up and drive people crazy.

Because of this, I always suggest doing one load of laundry a day (if needed).

Because it’s just my son and me, I do a load every other day. But sometimes it still ends up being a load a day because he’s going through a phase where he changes his clothes five times a day and gets them all dirty regardless of whether he’s wearing something for 5 hours or just 5 minutes.

But I know doing a load of laundry a day is easier said than done.

So first of all, it’s helpful to have some sort of visual reminder that you’re doing laundry so you don’t keep forgetting about it.

In my old house, my laundry was right off the living room, so I always saw it.

At my new house, it’s in the basement. So it’s super easy to forget about until I have to go pull something out right before bed.

To help myself out, I leave a hamper at the top of the stairs while I’m doing laundry so I remember to go down to switch it out.

A reminder on your phone would work, too.

But, if you’re gone most of the day, that doesn’t help, either.

In this case, I suggest throwing a load in the washer before you leave for the day.

If you come home for lunch, throw it in the dryer. If not, throw it in when you get home for the day.

Then, go grab it while the kids are in the bath or after they’re asleep and fold it and put it away.

I know you’ll be tired. But it doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to fold just one load of laundry, and another 5 to put it away.

And if doing this means you don’t have to do 10 loads of laundry on the weekend, then it’s totally worth it.

CREATE A DAILY CLEANING SCHEDULE

Another thing you can do to keep your house clean and tidy (and save yourself loads of time on the weekend) is to create a daily cleaning schedule.

This doesn’t mean spending an hour plus everyday cleaning. It simply means doing a few quick things during the week so you don’t have to do them on the weekend.

An example of this could look like:

• Monday: Wipe Down the Bathrooms
• Tuesday: Wipe Down the Kitchen
• Wednesday: Pick Up the Living Room
• Thursday: Pick Up the Bedrooms
• Friday: Clean Out the Fridge (Depends on Trash Day)
• Saturday: Family Day
• Sunday: Dust, Vacuum, and Wipe Down the Floors

And again, I’m not talking about deep cleaning each of these rooms every night.

I just mean to wipe everything down, pick everything up, and make sure stuff is put away.

As long as everything is decluttered and organized, this can easily be done in 15 minutes or less. (I mean, if you have like 5+ bathrooms, you may want to spread them out over multiple nights or just clean the ones you use regularly during the week.)

Here’s a breakdown of things you can clean in each room to help you prioritize and fill in your weekly cleaning schedule:

• Always Have an Empty Sink
• Empty Dishwasher
• Wipe Down + Declutter Counters
• Wipe Down Appliances
• Clean Out Pantry + Fridge (And Keep Organized)
• Sweep and Wipe the Floor
• Put Away Books, Toys, Games
• Declutter Coffee + End Tables
• Fold + Put Away Blankets + Throws
• Dust Mantel, Coffee Tables, and End Tables
• Vacuum Floors and Furniture
• Wipe Down the Sink and Counters
• Scrub the Shower, Tub, and Toilet
• Clean the Mirrors
• Wipe the Floors
• Make Your Bed
• Put Away Laundry
• Dust Desks, Nightstands, and Shelves

CREATE A WEEKLY CLEANING SCHEDULE

Once you have all of the daily cleaning tasks out of the way, creating a weekly cleaning schedule is a piece of cake.

All I really do on the weekends to clean is dusting, vacuuming, wiping down the floors, and then changing bedding, washing towels, and stuff like that. It really only takes me about an hour as long as I kept up with everything else during the week.

The only time this isn’t the case is when I deep clean, which I do about once a month, maybe every 6 weeks if we’re super busy.

But following the incredibly simple steps I laid out for you in this article will help you keep your house clean and tidy in a fraction of the time.

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27 Bedroom Organization Ideas to Kickstart Your Spring Cleaning

  27 Bedroom Organization Ideas to Kickstart Your Spring Cleaning Looking for some bedroom organization ideas? Wanting to get a jumpstart on your spring cleaning? Ready to transform your bedroom into your own personal oasis? Then you’re in the right spot....

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The importance of regular house cleaning

Mildred Sanchez

A clean home is like heaven and it is always welcoming to come to a clean house. It takes a lot of effort to maintain and keep your house clean but it has its own advantages and perks. If you clean regularly and effectively, your house as it will always look as good as new. Hygienically it is important to live in a clean house. Here are some great benefits or importance of regular house clean.

House cleaning is a very challenging task that we all have to do at some time. The main motive of getting the place clean and organized is to make it inviting and most peaceful place to stay in and relax at the same time. There are plenty of handy organizing tips available that come in very useful when you are planning to clean and organize your place.

Cleaning and organizing should be done as a ritual as staying in a disorganized and dirty house eludes a sense of chaos and discomfort. It is very important to keep some time aside for the cleaning rituals and you should also encourage your family members to help you to keep the house clean and comfortable.

Below are some few reasons that, why it is important to have a clean home as follows:

Regular house cleaning kills germs

Germs suppress the immune system and cause you to become sick. However, by continuously cleaning your home with a quality disinfectant, you can kill up to 98 percent of the daily germs and it also helps to keep your family healthy.

Improves the quality of the indoor air

Poor indoor air quality can trigger disorder such as allergies and asthma as well as other breathing problems. The airs in the home become degraded from accumulated dust bunnies, mildew and animal dander.

Vacuum cleaning

Regular using a vacuum cleaner is a great way to keep dust and dirt from accumulating and making allergies to kick up. Get a vacuum cleaner that uses high-efficiency particulate air filters for the best results. Do not stop vacuuming when you are done with the carpets. Take the attachments and run them over the upholstery where invisible dust tends to collect and go unnoticed.

You can sleep better

There is nothing more relaxing than jumping in a bed with clean sheets and saying good night to an orderly house. You can rest at ease when you’re not waking up to chaos.

It is good for children

It is not good for humans of any age to live in filth, but especially children. Young children of crawling age can pick up anything on the floor and put it in their mouth.

Children are also susceptible to bacteria, molds, and mildews that can also affect your health. Keeping your house clean and sanitized that can keep your children and your whole family healthier. In the case of children family members should be much aware of the importance of regular home cleaning.

You can easily find things

Lost your keys or cell phone again? With a clean home, you can spend less time looking for things you have misplaced. You will be feeling better when your home is organized as you find what you need in its rightful place.

Vacate cleaners

Vacate cleaners consume most of the time in cleaning kitchen and bathrooms. You can ask the cleaners to clean the kitchen properly, especially those areas where most cooking and grilling starts off.

Reduces allergies

For those who suffer from allergies, sensitive skin or other ailments, they know better the importance of regular house cleaning is a must. Things that dust on the floors, linens, and blinds really irritate your sinuses.

Also, if you have kids that are constantly sniffling so it could be from all the particles that floating around inside the home. So in addition to getting your place really neat, you can also get your air conditioning vents cleaned  for further help to improve the air quality in your home.

Helps you stay organized

With regular house cleaning, you cannot help to have everything in great order. That way, you never have to wonder where your important papers are or if your favorite shirt that is lying in a chair which is clean or dirty.

When you tidy then you can make a point to put everything in its place. As a result, you will be sure and able to get dressed at record speed that allows you to get out the door much faster.

Once in a while your home will need a deeper cleaning. So according to that set aside a weekend or help with your family, and get it done. Then, continue your small daily cleaning habits to keep enjoying your clean, neat and organized house for the rest of the year.

The Real Reason It's So Hard To Keep Your House Clean

It feels like an endless battle. You want that pristine house you see in internet ads and on your friends' social media accounts, but for you, it seems like it's not meant to be. No matter how much time you put in, it feels impossible to keep your house clean . But you're not alone. It's a struggle for millions of people every day. You don't have to feel inadequate. Keeping a house clean isn't easy, despite how many people you think manage to do it.

In fact, all that mess might be stressing you out, according to a survey by Apartment Guide.com . A full 66% of those surveyed said that a cluttered and messy home was causing them anxiety. The survey also found that 63% do their own cleaning rather than hiring a cleaning service. That puts an onerous burden on a whole lot of people who just want to live in a neat home. The real reason you find it hard to keep a clean house varies from person to person, but these are the most common.

Decluttering and organizing will help

Maybe you lead a busy life without a lot of time to clean but also have way too much stuff in your home. Maybe you're not even getting the help you need. Making sure a house is clean is often not a job for one person, especially if it's a larger space where multiple people live.

One clue that you have too much stuff is that you keep organizing but nothing ever seems organized, according to Apartment Therapy . Also, if you struggle to find spaces for things when organizing, it might be time to declutter and remove things from your home you know you'll never use again.

You may also feel like you're all alone in your quest for a clean house. If you have kids, Apartment Therapy suggests enlisting their services by giving them set household chores and cleaning schedules. You can even have checklists that make keeping and making things neat and clean part of the daily routine. Even if you live with other adults, this approach can work.

Finding the time to clean isn't always easy

Perhaps your life is just too busy to keep a pristine home. A new job, a new baby, or an illness in the family can disrupt your domestic routine, according to Apartment Therapy . You find the disruptions to be more important than looking around and seeing everything in order in your living space. Get help if you need it, but also learn to let it go and not feel guilty if your house doesn't look like you envision every minute of the day.

Apartment Therapy also suggests that in the end, you just may be too hard on yourself. Remember, that perfectly decorated home or that clean-as-a-whistle living room and kitchen your friend posted on social media might have been set up just for a photo op. In the end, your house might not be so messy after all.

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Clean like you mean it: the ultimate guide to spring cleaning your home

Blitz your wardrobe! Scrub that keyboard! Shine your teaspoons! It’s time for a brutal spring clean – so roll up your sleeves and follow our 43 expert tips from cleaning and decluttering gurus

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Open your eyes

If you’re unsure where to start with decluttering: “Walk around your house as if you’ve never been there, or are looking to buy,” advises Jenn Jordan , a Yorkshire-based Marie Kondo who organises homes in Leeds and London. “Your house will tell you what it needs. Or you can start by gamifying the task – try getting rid of 10 items in 10 minutes.”

Space is as important as stuff

“Clutter is magnified by small spaces,” says Caroline Solomon , a New York- based lifestyle expert whose TikTok @neat.caroline has more than 276,000 followers. “It’s tough medicine, but let your space define how much stuff you own. If you live in a one-bedroom flat, don’t cram it as full as you can.”

Clean start

Empty the wardrobe completely, says Dilly Carter , presenter and professional organiser. Make piles on the bed of like with like: shirts, dresses, blazers, etc. Go through each pile and reduce. Ask yourself: do I need 20 pairs of jeans and 15 skirts? (Spoiler, no!) Does it fit? Do I love it? Do I have space for it? Take out winter clothes, bulky coats and knits and vacuum pack them – store them under the bed or in the loft. Put what’s left back in, hang left to right, heaviest to lightest and keep things in garment groups.

Donate old clothes

Many charities, including Oxfam , BHF and Save the Children , offer a free downloadable postage label or will send you a bag for donations via their websites. Consider sending work-appropriate clothing to Smart Works , a UK charity that gives unemployed women confidence to reach their full potential and secure job interviews. Your local council will have a list of clothing donation points where items are sorted for donation and recycling. For Londoners, Traid will collect larger quantities of clothing from your home. Book a collection via the website. Collection4Clothes offers nationwide collections for donations.

Dispatch stray socks

Purge your house of every stray or abandoned sock. Once rounded up, do not look for their pair. Put all the strays in a bag, ready to go to your nearest textile recycling spot. Then, joy of joys, get yourself a sock organiser for your drawer. A Place for Everything does them in grey linen, each sock tray has 16 compartments. Pair, roll up, pop in. Get to it and put your best foot forward.

Marshal your handbags and shoes

To achieve a fully functional space that utilises every inch available, says Erica Davies , stylist and author, first work out how many bags and pairs of shoes you have so that you can plan the storage accordingly. “For bag storage, I swear by canvas boxes which I buy from Homesense . Each box has a ‘theme,’ whether that’s bright clutches or useful day bags, so I know where to find each immediately. I have also switched to thin velvet hangers from TK Maxx, which streamline any bulk. With shoes I try to keep some on display, but I have lots of flats and trainers that I have to store at the bottom of the wardrobe spaces. It’s a busy, packed space, but I am really good at regularly clearing out pieces I am not wearing enough – a lot goes to resale sites, such as t he Second Row or Matisa Market , or I sell through Fashion Reboot, a project I started locally with a friend. It has to be that way because I like to see everything – otherwise you miss pieces and don’t wear them!”

Streamline your beauty products

Go for multipurpose products, says Observer beauty expert Funmi Fetto. Back in the day one could get sniffy about products that claimed to be excellent at tackling everything. Jack-of-all-trades and all that. But times have changed; formulations and knowhow are much better. Jones Road’s Miracle Balm (£36), for example, is brilliant as a bronzer and highlighter, and provides a swash of colour for eyes and lips. A good retinol like Ole Henriksen’s Double Rewind (£59) will smooth and exfoliate the skin, tackle acne flare-ups and also minimise the look of dark spots. Multitasking products are not only financial wisdom, they will save you time. And clutter.

Ditch the big stuff

It’s time to purge the home of that rusty ironing board or spare mattress for sleepovers that no longer happen. All you need is a skip, which your council may offer via a community scheme. They tour boroughs, a little like a dull pop band, setting up on your street for everyone to dump their unwanted washing machines and mattresses.

Clear the way

“Before diving into a deep clean, decluttering is essential,” say deep-cleaning experts The Cleaning Gurus . Go through each room and set aside items you no longer need or haven’t used in the past year. Make piles for charity shop donations, regifting and chucking.

One room at a time

When cleaning, work room by room, to avoid feeling overwhelmed, advise The Cleaning Gurus. Start from the top of the room and work your way down: ceilings, walls, furniture, floors. Pay special attention to overlooked areas such as skirting boards and light fixtures.

Clean your cleaning products

The things that clean your things also need cleaning, reminds Caroline Solomon ( @neat.caroline ). Wash your microfibres. Sprinkle baking soda in the drum to deodorise your washing machine. Run a dishwasher cycle with a bowl of vinegar in the top rack, and use a toothbrush to clean the filter.

Corral your cleaning products

Get yourself an easily portable task basket or container for your cleaning products with every different type of flannel, handheld brush and cleaning product you’ll need for each room, advises Benji Lewis , interior designer. Easy access and knowing that it’s all in one handy place is half the battle.

Get the children involved

“The most important tip when it comes to decluttering kids’ toys is, involve them in the process,” says declutterer and psychotherapist Kate Ibbotson , founder of A Tidy Mind. “Regularly refer to the fact that most belongings don’t last forever and letting go of the old makes space for the new. Let them see adults in the home decluttering regularly – we have to practise what we preach! Have them come with you to drop items off at a local charity shop or the recycling centre and encourage the mentality that by passing some of their toys on when they have outgrown them is a good thing. Always gain their permission before getting rid of a toy – this builds trust and makes them feel in control of the process, which will make them more confident and decisive in their decluttering decisions in future.”

Everything in its place

Home organising has little to do with hacks, but relies more on setting up sustainable systems. Pick spots for your keys, glasses, wallet and headphones. A tray can help. It’s the same effort to throw a coat on the floor as to hang it on a hook.

Van Gogh you!

If your kids love craft, don’t jam their creations into a box, says Anna Greenaway of decluttering service Thelovelytidy.com . Curate a little gallery and display their art so everyone can enjoy it. At the end of the month go through the backstock and decide what to keep, what to photograph and what to let go.

These boots are made for hiding

Keep the shoes you regularly use by the door, and the rest somewhere else.

Stick to makeup shelf-life dates

Expiry dates are there for a reason, says Funmi Fetto. If you’ve had your mascara for over three months, bin it. If your foundation has been knocking around for 18 months, bin it. If you’ve not used that lipstick for over a year… You get the gist. At best, using old products will not provide the efficacy you need. At worst, they’ll give you an infection.

Chuck dud pens and pencils

When was the last time you sharpened a pencil? Pull out all your old felt tips and pencils (or your kids’) and set up a little factory – bin those that are broken or without lids, and bring new life to the blunt and forgotten.

Bank your books

There is something exquisitely satisfying about scanning the barcode of an old book, and an app instantly offering you hard cash for it. The impulse then, of course, is to take your app (try Ziffit ) and start scanning everything in the house you want to get rid of, from candles to sons, but sadly the tech is not yet up to spec.

Show your keyboard some love

Your keyboard is disgusting. It just is. One study tested a load of computer keyboards and found they contained strains of everything from bacillus (which can make you sick) to staphylococcus aureus (which can cause upper respiratory tract infections). Here’s how to clean yours: dip an old toothbrush in a half-vinegar, half-water solution and scrub between the keys.

Towel refresh

Towels can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Recycle threadbare ones in the textile banks at your local household waste and recycling centre. For an eco-friendly softener, add a cup of white vinegar to the tray of your washing machine.

Prune kitchen gadgets

We don’t always need more storage space, we just need less stuff, says decluttering YouTuber Madeline Hegedus , AKA the Minimalist Mum. First, ask yourself: Do I really use my slow cooker? When have I last used this waffle maker? Do I avoid using this sandwich maker that’s hard to clean? How many travel water bottles do I really need? If I lost this item, would I replace it at full price?

Cupboards should work for you

Madeline Hegedus asks, are the spices and cooking oils close to the hob? Are your teabags close to the kettle? Do you have lots of random packets of rice and pasta? Before buying containers, declutter first. You might find you don’t need as many containers as you thought. It’s not about having a perfectly aesthetic cupboard, but rather a functional one that works for you. For a lean, clean pantry, take everything out, then sort products into those you can let go (toss, recycle or donate, and don’t forget to check those expiry dates) and items that belong somewhere else in your home.

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Larder lovelies

There’s nothing more joyous than being able to see what you’ve got in your larder or kitchen cupboards. Sort and store according to kind. Put tins in wooden storage bins: they come in different sizes at A Place For Everything . Put pasta in clear, labelled containers. Put bags of spices and bits and pieces in Hay’s fab, bright, stackable crates .

Sort and store your jewellery

Make a feature of your jewellery storage and display favourite sentimental pieces in a glass display box. This way you can see everything at a glance and it’s easier to dust. Oliver Bonas offers all kinds of attractive and affordable jewellery storage options in colourful glass or ceramic trinket trays; having everything on display makes you more likely to wear it. Tackle larger collections with Muji’s transparent mini drawer units (from £20) and build a customised storage solution. Donate unwanted (and even broken jewellery) to alzheimers.org.uk ; donations of old jewellery have raised more than £2m so far.

Be your own bouncer

Smaller wardrobes benefit from a militant technique: one in, one out. Bought new black jeans? Out with the old. “The Jedi level is throwing out things you love, ahead of time,” says Caroline Solomon ( @neat.caroline ). “If you’ve worn a sweater to death, maybe it’s time to let go, and make space for something new.”

Regift cosmetics

Skincare and cosmetics are never returnable – which is annoying if you’ve bought the wrong shade or simply don’t like a texture or scent, says Funmi Fetto. So either re-gift it (this does not apply to mascaras. For lipsticks and creams just scrape the top off ) or, if totally unused, donate to charities like Beauty Banks , which offers drop-off in 100 Superdrug stores nationwide.

Sell wardrobe bygones

First, sort things into piles for resale and donation. You can sell items and clothes online at sites like eBay , Facebook Marketplace and Vinted – the last one is great for reselling children’s clothing and high street fashion. It’s free to list items and buyers pay the shipping charge. You can pay a fee to gain better visibility on the item feed and newsfeed using the Spotlight and Bumping options. Reluxefashion.com will evaluate your designer pieces and email you a price list. Royal Mail offers parcel collection right from your doorstep. Don’t over-fantasise the cash potential of car boot sales, advises Jenn Jordan. “You’ll wake up at 5am to drive to a field and argue with a member of the public about £1, before going home with 40-60% of what you arrived with.”

One fragrance at a time

However tempting it is to have a few on the go, try to use up one fragrance before shifting to another – that way you don’t end up with over 73 almost empty bottles that have long gone off but you still can’t bear to throw in the recycling. Ugh.

It’s easy being green

Keep it simple, using multipurpose cleaners that work on various surfaces, and eco-alternatives to harsh chemicals, to harsh chemicals, advise The Cleaning Gurus. “Or make your own, using simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and essential oils.” Baking soda and white vinegar are basically magic. Other magic is available. For bleach discoloration on counter tops, Connoisseurs Jewellery Cleaner can reverse yellowing – but patch test first. Water stains in wood, meanwhile, can be evaporated using a hairdryer. Keep it moving to avoid damaging the grain.

Get rid of monsters under the bed

Feng shui tells us to avoid storing anything emotionally charged under the bed. Avoid family photos, diaries, tax papers or anything work-related. Go for something with no emotional baggage – like linens.

Height hack

Need to make more storage space under your bed? Buy bed raisers .

Oil you can eat buffet

The mesh screens in your cooker’s extractor hood can and should be removed and degreased in soapy water. Disgusting, but deeply satisfying.

Steam dream?

You can rent steam cleaners, often by the front of supermarkets. Your carpet is not the colour you think it is.

Sweeter dreams

Rotate and air your mattress, and use the upholstery attachment on the vacuum (if you haven’t lost it) to suck up any dust. By which we mean your dead skin.

Make your spoons shine

You can resparkle your tea-stained spoons by putting them in a mug with washing powder and boiling water, and leaving for an hour. If the mug was also stained? Double your money.

Microwave magic

Fill a bowl with boiling water and slices of lemon, and microwave for five minutes. Leave to sit for five minutes more, to steam clean the interior walls, then wipe them down. Put the turntable in the dishwasher.

Boiling white vinegar will descale your kettle, while immersing a detached shower head in a bowl of it will decalcify any clogged jets. Wash off before you reattach. (Having said that, a vinegar rinse leaves hair shiny and smooth, and can even treat eczema.)

Clean psychology

The act of tidying can represent a variety of emotional needs. For some, it is purely functional. Others may confront issues of control and territory. Others closely associate cleaning with being kept in mind. “Couples often talk at cross purposes,” notes Hannah Sherbersky, associate professor at Exeter University and CEO of the Association for Family Therapy. The untidier partner isn’t usually trying to communicate that they don’t care about the other, but that’s the argument that ends up being had. “They generally don’t realise there’s a bigger meaning.” If your housemates have very different ways of operating, discussing these will help you navigate competing needs.

Disappearing act

Magic erasers have been a hero product for years, cleaning crayon off walls and grass stains off white trainers. They are as abrasive as 6,000-grit sandpaper, however, so use delicately and not on precious surfaces. Cut in half to double your use.

Thanks, I love it?

Hanging on to unwanted gifts weighs us down. There’s an anxiety that friends and family “are going to come round and wonder where their stuff is. They won’t,” reassures Jenn Jordan. Often the gift is the gesture of giving, not the object itself. If needed, have a difficult conversation about your tastes and feelings about space, and steer them towards things you’d prefer.

Cool kids knowhow

If you’ve defrosted the fridge, wiggle it away from the wall and vacuum the fan and coils on the back, too.

Pomodoro it

To improve productivity and focus, try the Pomodoro management technique – set a 25-minute timer followed by a five- or even 10-minute break. Split each task, or even room, into “Pomodoro intervals”. Listen to your favourite playlist or a podcast, get into a flow state and… enjoy.

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Shop The Paris Guide

10 Ways to Keep Your House Clean

I recently had a reader that asked how I keep my house so clean and tidy. I assure you, not every space is neat and organized. My desk and my closet are probably the messiest parts of my house. My desk is a brain dump of ideas and the craziness of managing too many things. Once the comment came in, I immediately took a few minutes to organize and clean it.

Keeping things clean and organized helps me feel a bit more in control. When there is so much out of my control right now, I know as my home is my safe space and where I am spending the most time, I can keep this organized. It is a complete coping strategy that I am happy to admit.

There are few things that make me happier right now than a clean kitchen and puppy snuggles.

For those of you with kids right now who feel like there is WAY TOO much happening, please do not feel stress or pressure from this post to do anything more than you are doing now. I do not have small kids at home except for Henri who has not learned to pick up his toys before bed. Parents with kids at home, I applaud you and think you are amazing.

Here are a few small things I do daily/weekly to keep my home clean and tidy.

Make the Bed. When I wake up, this is the first thing I do after brushing my teeth. I am not an expert bed maker but it instantly makes the room feel more pulled together. I also love crawling into a made bed at night. It is a simple pleasure.

Vacuum/Swifter. I love to vacuum. I am very lucky Henri does not shed. I shed a lot and feel like I am constantly cleaning up dirt and hair around the house. The kitchen is probably the place that has the most to vacuum on a regular basis. I keep my Dyson here and make it accessible to clean up crumbs and dry spills. Henri isn’t the biggest fan, but we are getting there. I really like to pick up anything that he could chew on or eat right away so he doesn’t get something he isn’t supposed to. I also have darker floors so dirt shows a lot faster. In a perfect world, I would vacuum daily as my nightly clean-up routine.

Load/Empty Dishwasher. This may be one of my favorite things. I actually named her Rosie. I LOVE a clean kitchen. Please don’t ever give me a dirty sink with dishes. I can’t handle it. I have been known to clean up dinner before actually eating because I am thinking about the dishes the whole time. (it’s not normal) At night, I load the dishwasher and clean the sink. You can stick your sponge in the dishwasher to give it a good healthy clean. In the morning, I empty the dishwasher while I make my French Press coffee. It is a great way to multitask.

Wipe Down Counters/Kitchen Table at Night. This is such an easy thing to do and makes all the difference when you wake up in the morning. This goes along with the clean sink/clean dishwasher.

Reduce the Clutter and Clear the Area of Things You Don’t Need This goes in the category of everything has a place. If you don’t need it, put it where it belongs or get rid of it. I traveled to Paris and back out of a suitcase for two years and didn’t have room for a bunch of things I didn’t need. Make a pile for donation and take it on a weekend run when you are out.

Place items on Stairs to bring up/down My mom used to do this to my sister and me as kids. Anything that didn’t belong downstairs needed to be brought upstairs. I do this now to get the clutter out. It also helps me remember to bring something upstairs or downstairs.

Laundry/ Wash sheets Weekly I typically do this on a Sunday because I have the time and I am home. I love fresh sheets to start the week off. I hang dry a lot of my clothes especially all my workout clothes. Sheets go in the dryer and I wash with Laundress. 

Everything Has a Place My mom makes fun of this for me. But really it helps keep me organized and my brain can manage more knowing that I know exactly where my keys are. In the kitchen, there are drawers that have all my most used items in the front for easy access. If everything has a place, it is easy to return it when you tidy up. If it doesn’t have a place, toss it or donate it.

Baskets in Every Room I have baskets in pretty much every room to keep things organized. Hats, gloves, masks, and all Winter items can easily fit in a basket and easy to grab on the way out the door. Henri even has a basket of toys in one of the middle rooms. He loves to keep toys ALL around the house. I love them to be picked up at the end of the night so I don’t trip on them. I find Target has an inexpensive and good selection. I also keep baskets in the closet to organize things too if I don’t have enough drawer space or shelves.

Light a Candle This is a simple thing you can do as you are cleaning. I love having a candle on the kitchen counter to light as I am doing the dishes or organizing. It helps me unwind at the end of the day.

Take out Trash/Recycling Often. I like to clean the fridge on the weekends before meal prep so I have empty clean containers for meals. Boxes are piled up at the door after they are emptied and they can be taken out when I take out Henri. This is a quick and easy Sunday task. Henri likes to follow me around everywhere. Right now the trash is all up high because he likes to get into it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! If you have the budget and ability to hire someone to help clean your home safely, do it!

This post includes affiliate links. I make a small commission off of items purchased through my links. Merci!

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How do you keep on top of mail, bills coupons etc? If you say a pile on your desk, I’m doomed. My desk is chaos although I know where everything is and what’s on the desk! Then there are the piles of magazines waiting to be read. I pretty much do what you describe in this article but the mail pile described above eludes me still

Hi Jacqueline,

I try to tackle the mail as soon as it comes in. Most of my bills are electronic and I try to pay those right away. If I don’t read something within a few days, I will toss it. My fiancé will keep magazines and newspapers out and I pitch them the next day. Typically if we don’t read them on the weekend we won’t touch them during the week. I hope this helps. Just a few minutes a day going through papers will help you stay on top of things.

Great way to start off the new year!

Thank you, Rose! I love a clean house.❤️

Oh my goodness there is so much of me here! I have the same vacuum, and it’s a godsend with a dog and 4 kids. I ALWAYS clean as I cook because mess stresses me. I’ve slowly got my husband on board with the bed making daily. I’m still dealing with the towels on my own. We have a large house and it’s crazy how stuff collects. A place for everything is essential!

Dear Rebecca,

Great post! I have a question about that beautiful mirror above the mantelpiece – is it affixed to the wall? I recently purchased a vintage gilded mirror and it is heavy and need to attach it to drywall somehow – any tips for securing it? I was planning to let it stand on the matel but also get attached to the wall for support, it has a hook but I am not sure what to use on the wall for securing it safely. I am in lockdown still in Toronto so hardware stores are closed….

Love the new website! Love how your posts are organized. Great tips! So many of the things you mentioned made me laugh because I do them similarly too. I also like to clean up the prep dishes as the meal is cooking. My husband has made dinner for special occasions (like mother’s day) and I was NOT encouraged because I think he used about every pan and all I could think about was the big mess. I’ve since asked to eat out on those occasions even if the budget only permits fast food 🙂 My parents also taught me that everything has it’s place and that makes sense to me! I love hunting for French ironstone or china but I have a rule that I can’t buy it (no matter how beautiful or great the price) unless I have a specific place or use for it… I’ve kind of shifted my mindset in our house over the last couple of years. I evaluate what I have based on “if we were moving and packing everything up, would this be something that I’d want to take?”

I like to wash the prep dishes before eating, too. And I have to have all the towels folded and facing the same way which my husband mocks me for! It just looks neater!

Hi Dorothy,

Thank you for being on board with the dish prep before eating 🙂 I am happy I am not the only one. Don’t worry about your husband mocking you. You are doing a great job. Now I am going to have to up my towel game in the drawer 😬

You are a kindred spirit because I do all of the things that you have suggested. I love a clean, fresh smelling and organized home! I even do the dishes and clean the kitchen before I sit down to eat, as well. It makes the meal more enjoyable knowing I don’t have much to clean up after. And, I agree, Target is one of the best places to buy baskets and pretty storage containers.

I also have the up and down rule on the stairs, the clean kitchen counters in the morning and a made up bed. Now, for vacuum cleaning, working on it slowly.

Our organizing and cleaning habits are quite common 🙂

I am happy to hear I am not alone! Any favorite tips I missed that you always do?

I have a 7 year old so things do tend to get unorganized- which is also required for the development of a child. However, I have a morning and evening overall cleanup routine. Twice a day, I would make sure to move through the entire house and put stuff back in order so things don’t get out of hand and I don’t have to take a lot of pressure of cleaning up a big mess. I am also trying to teach my daughter to put stuff back in the right place before she leaves a room. We are still in that learning curve 🙂

Quelle jolie maison, et quelles bonnes idées! De plus, Can we talk about how much I love that you named your chien Henri? Mon élève vedette!

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