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