9 Daily Habits to Help Keep Your Home Clean
Want to be one of those 'tidy people'? These everyday rituals will keep your home shipshape, day in, day out
Pauline Morrissey
3 March 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Being a self-confessed homebody, home truly is where my heart is. Having fresh linen on the bed and fresh flowers on my desk makes me happy. I believe there's a story to tell under every roof and I'm so delighted to make a living out of telling them.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Being a self-confessed homebody, home truly is where... More
For people like me who enjoy having a clean home, getting things in order doesn’t just involve doing a last-minute tidy up whenever company rolls around; rather, it’s a way of life. We’re creatures of habit, and it’s through the completion of daily tasks and routines that an organised home can be attained. So, if you consider yourself a messy person but wish to have a cleaner home, adopt these everyday habits into your routine, and they will do the trick.
1. Straighten up before bed
Before calling it a night, instil a routine to do one last check around your house; turn on the dishwasher, place dirty clothes in the laundry, and fold the throws on the sofa. This way, as you wake up in the morning, your house will already be in order and you’ll be ready to tackle the day.
Bad habits that actually make you messy
Before calling it a night, instil a routine to do one last check around your house; turn on the dishwasher, place dirty clothes in the laundry, and fold the throws on the sofa. This way, as you wake up in the morning, your house will already be in order and you’ll be ready to tackle the day.
Bad habits that actually make you messy
2. Get rid of excess
Perhaps the reason there’s so much clutter around your home is because there’s just simply too much stuff. When we don’t have a place for items, they end up floating around and often get in the way. To have a clean home, you have to get rid of all the excess. This includes doubles and items that you are saving ‘just in case’.
Tip: Try simple behaviour- modification techniques such as asking yourself “Do I really need this?” when making a new purchase. You’ll be surprised at the effect this can have. Or, dive into the Marie Kondo method, and ask “Does it spark joy?”
Perhaps the reason there’s so much clutter around your home is because there’s just simply too much stuff. When we don’t have a place for items, they end up floating around and often get in the way. To have a clean home, you have to get rid of all the excess. This includes doubles and items that you are saving ‘just in case’.
Tip: Try simple behaviour- modification techniques such as asking yourself “Do I really need this?” when making a new purchase. You’ll be surprised at the effect this can have. Or, dive into the Marie Kondo method, and ask “Does it spark joy?”
3. Don’t procrastinate
You know that voice inside your head that says “Just do it later”? The trick here is to avoid it when it comes to little tasks around your home. For example, when you see a messy surface, polish it up right there on the spot. By ridding yourself of minor messes as they arise, you are helping avoid a much larger cleaning task ahead of time.
You know that voice inside your head that says “Just do it later”? The trick here is to avoid it when it comes to little tasks around your home. For example, when you see a messy surface, polish it up right there on the spot. By ridding yourself of minor messes as they arise, you are helping avoid a much larger cleaning task ahead of time.
4. Prioritisation is paramount
Tidy people tend to always have a long to-do list, but they are careful to prioritise. In order to stay productive, create a daily list of the tasks that are most important for that particular day. Focus on completing each task one by one until it’s done, and for those that you didn’t have time for, place them on top of tomorrow’s list.
Tip: If you need more assistance, put reminders into the calendar on your phone. Or, more helpful still, download a time-management app such as Todoist, Wunderlist or Swipes.
Tidy people tend to always have a long to-do list, but they are careful to prioritise. In order to stay productive, create a daily list of the tasks that are most important for that particular day. Focus on completing each task one by one until it’s done, and for those that you didn’t have time for, place them on top of tomorrow’s list.
Tip: If you need more assistance, put reminders into the calendar on your phone. Or, more helpful still, download a time-management app such as Todoist, Wunderlist or Swipes.
5. Divide and conquer
Sometimes it can feel like it takes an entire village to keep a house clean. Where possible, divide chores between all the people who live in your home. Delegation is one of the simplest and most-effective management tools, and one that seems effective in the domestic environment.
Tip: If it’s easier, divide the responsibilities by rooms instead. Younger children might like taking ownership of tidying up their room once a week – good luck with that!
The no-nonsense guide to organising the kids
Sometimes it can feel like it takes an entire village to keep a house clean. Where possible, divide chores between all the people who live in your home. Delegation is one of the simplest and most-effective management tools, and one that seems effective in the domestic environment.
Tip: If it’s easier, divide the responsibilities by rooms instead. Younger children might like taking ownership of tidying up their room once a week – good luck with that!
The no-nonsense guide to organising the kids
6. Place things where they belong
Make it a daily habit to put things away where they belong, this will surely save you time and stress later. When you see something amiss, pick it up and take it immediately to where you’ve determined it lives. This will not only help keep your home clean, but you’ll also be rewarded by knowing exactly where certain items are as you need them.
Make it a daily habit to put things away where they belong, this will surely save you time and stress later. When you see something amiss, pick it up and take it immediately to where you’ve determined it lives. This will not only help keep your home clean, but you’ll also be rewarded by knowing exactly where certain items are as you need them.
7. Clean as you cook
The kitchen is notoriously the easiest room to get messy, therefore, it’s important to make an effort to stay on top of it. The best way to achieve this is by multi-tasking as you cook. Don’t leave scraps lying around, toss them in the bin as you go, wipe down surfaces along the way, and place dishes in the dishwasher as you finish using them. Come serving time, there will be hardly any cleaning left to do.
Tip: Keep a container on your benchtop for daily food scraps such as peels and cores. Then, when it’s full, empty it into the bin. Segmenting it up this way makes it easier to stay in control overall.
The kitchen is notoriously the easiest room to get messy, therefore, it’s important to make an effort to stay on top of it. The best way to achieve this is by multi-tasking as you cook. Don’t leave scraps lying around, toss them in the bin as you go, wipe down surfaces along the way, and place dishes in the dishwasher as you finish using them. Come serving time, there will be hardly any cleaning left to do.
Tip: Keep a container on your benchtop for daily food scraps such as peels and cores. Then, when it’s full, empty it into the bin. Segmenting it up this way makes it easier to stay in control overall.
8. Put your clothes away
Most of the time we deal with clothes in a rush. We’re either swiftly getting dressed for the day, chucking clothes we decided not to wear on the floor, or quickly getting undressed when we get home, and throwing our worn clothes on the bed. However, by taking your time to place clothes where they truly belong – either back in your wardrobe or straight in the laundry basket – you will save yourself time later, and as a result, keep your house in order.
Tip: If you look at your wardrobe and shake your head at how disorganised or overloaded it is, don’t attempt to sort and tidy it all in one go. Break it down into type of clothes, i.e. one day sort out your trousers, another day your shirts etc. Once it’s organised, book an annual wardrobe clean-out into your diary.
See some well-organised wardrobes
Most of the time we deal with clothes in a rush. We’re either swiftly getting dressed for the day, chucking clothes we decided not to wear on the floor, or quickly getting undressed when we get home, and throwing our worn clothes on the bed. However, by taking your time to place clothes where they truly belong – either back in your wardrobe or straight in the laundry basket – you will save yourself time later, and as a result, keep your house in order.
Tip: If you look at your wardrobe and shake your head at how disorganised or overloaded it is, don’t attempt to sort and tidy it all in one go. Break it down into type of clothes, i.e. one day sort out your trousers, another day your shirts etc. Once it’s organised, book an annual wardrobe clean-out into your diary.
See some well-organised wardrobes
9. Make your bed every morning
It’s a small task with a big impact. Yes, it’s true; making your bed every morning improves your lifestyle. By doing so, you’re starting the morning off with a sense of accomplishment, which will likely create a positive momentum for the rest of your day. Plus, the bed is the primary focus of your bedroom, so having this area tidy will also help the rest of your bedroom feel cleaner.
Tip: Here’s a simple but clever trick: leave room around your bed to help make this task easier. Having to clamber over piles of books or pieces of furniture can discourage you from good daily habits.
Tell us
Are you an organised person, or do you just wish you could be? Share your tips and tales of untidy woe in the Comments below.
More
Read more stories about organisation
It’s a small task with a big impact. Yes, it’s true; making your bed every morning improves your lifestyle. By doing so, you’re starting the morning off with a sense of accomplishment, which will likely create a positive momentum for the rest of your day. Plus, the bed is the primary focus of your bedroom, so having this area tidy will also help the rest of your bedroom feel cleaner.
Tip: Here’s a simple but clever trick: leave room around your bed to help make this task easier. Having to clamber over piles of books or pieces of furniture can discourage you from good daily habits.
Tell us
Are you an organised person, or do you just wish you could be? Share your tips and tales of untidy woe in the Comments below.
More
Read more stories about organisation
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These are really exquisite but simple tips to follow. It then does not become chores but a part of 'living'.
beautiful collection of light scandi furniture
Great tips but please don't suggest people put their dishwashers on as they go to bed. Unnecessary fire risk !