When it comes to a clean house, some people always seem to have their ducks in a row. The floors are mopped, the counters are cleared, the laundry is put away, and there appears to be no visible sign of clutter anywhere!

What is their secret? Do they have a full-time maid? Hours to spare on the daily?

While it may seem like these people spend hundreds of dollars a month on professional cleaning services and have endless time to spare meticulously cleaning their houses, the likely answer is that they’ve implemented systems and have made cleaning a daily/weekly habit. 

Fortunately, like any habit, you can learn to make cleaning a part of your daily routine and achieve the seemingly impossible accolade of “guy/gal with the clean house”.

A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place

Having a designated place for all of your belongings is essential for keeping a clean home. Piles and clutter (toys, mail, gadgets, etc.) are a direct consequence of not having a proper place to store them. 

Even if your cabinets and drawers are organized, if there’s no space to put new items or even existing items, they’ll inevitably take up residence on your kitchen counter or dining room table.

What to do:

• Make space - clear out drawers, closets, and cabinets
• Designate a space for your items 
• If you’re not using something, put it back in its designated place

Do It Now, Not Later

Do you ever walk through a kitchen or living space littered with kids' toys, dirty laundry, or dirty dishes and think “I’ll clean that up tomorrow”?

Do it now!

Cleaning as you go is essential for keeping a clean home. If you see something that’s out of place and it takes less than a minute to clean up and put away, make a habit of doing those little tasks now. 

Not only will this help keep your house tidy, but you’ll also have more time to focus on bigger cleaning projects like cleaning the bathrooms and mopping the floors.

What to do:

• Pick up dirty dishes on your way downstairs or to the kitchen
• Put away loose clothing items (shoes, jackets, socks, etc.)
• Tidy up other any other items like mail, TV remotes, and gadgets as you walk through the house

Make Cleaning Your House Fun

Cleaning doesn’t have to always feel like work. Think of some clever ways to make the process more enjoyable. For example, listen to your favorite podcast, turn on your favorite music, and reward yourself for a job well done.

If you make the process of cleaning your house enjoyable, you’re more likely to make it a part of your daily and weekly routine. 

What to do:

• Find a podcast you can listen to while cleaning
• Create a playlist to keep you motivated
• Reward yourself with a bedtime movie, snack, or even a new item you’ve wanted to buy (of course after you’ve made space for that item)

Make Cleaning A Part Of Your Routine

Just like exercising, cleaning is a habit that delivers the best results with consistency. You won’t have the physique you desire if you go to the gym for two hours and think “well, that’ll do it for the month”. 

No. Fit people go to the gym daily/weekly and over time achieve their desired results. 

Similarly with cleaning, if you’re not making it a part of your daily routine, you won’t get the “clean house” you’ve always wanted.

Most people don’t have time to deep clean their entire home every day. But, there are a few things you can do daily to help make cleaning a part of your routine

What to do:

• Clear the surfaces (counters, tables, etc.)
• Make the beds
• Do the dishes (and put them away)

Hire Help

Sometimes it just makes sense to hire out help around the house. For example, getting your rugs and mattresses professionally cleaned, cleaning the outside windows, and power washing the driveways and patios, are some tasks that could be delegated to a professional.

Certainly, most people don’t need their patio power washed every week, but hiring a professional every 6-months to a year can help maintain appearances as well as the longevity of your home.

What to do:

• Make a list of things that need professional attention
• Find a reputable provider
• Add these tasks to your calendar so you don’t forget!

Get Rid of Things

We all have a tendency to hold onto things that we no longer need or use. Maybe your closet is out of control, your garage is piled high with junk, or your child’s playroom is spilling with old toys.

Chances are, there are tons of items you rarely use that could find a better home. Make it a habit of purging these items every few months. Not only will you clear up space in your home, but you may find someone who could actually use them.

What to do:

• Donate furniture, clothes, toys, and other items you no longer need
• List your items on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or OfferUp
• Throw it away!

Keeping a clean home doesn’t have to be a farfetched reality. If you follow the steps above and make cleaning a part of your routine, you’ll be the “guy/gal with the clean house”. So make it a habit. We also have a downloadable House Cleaning Checklist to keep track of your daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks.