Do you ever wonder how some people can keep their homes so clean, sometimes despite the fact that they have kids and/or pets living with them? It’s like no amount of surprise visits can faze them because they’re always ready and their homes are always in tip-top shape.
The living rooms is warm, cozy, and inviting. The kitchen looks and smells clean, the tiles in the bathroom are sparkling, and the bedrooms are just immaculate. And you just know that if you could take a tour of their basement, their broom closet, or their pantry, that everything is going to look incredibly organized, too.
As impossible as it may seem right now, your home can be the same way too! You just have to make a habit out of putting things back where they belong after you used them and other little things like that. According to research, it takes around 66 days for new behavior to become a habit. So, while you’re still feeling that “new year, new me” hype, why not focus your energy into building these habits that will make your home cleaner and more organized?
#1 Make your bed
It may sound cliche but doing this little thing in the morning can greatly affect your day. Seeing your bed made will make you want to get the rest of the house nice and tidy as well.
#2 Clean while you cook
The worst part about cooking is the cleanup after the meal. So why wait until the meal’s over before you start cleaning? While waiting for the dish to finish cooking, start soaking the pots and pans you’ll no longer use, load up the dishwasher, and start wiping down the counters. If you have some more time, you can start cleaning the floors to get rid of whatever fell there during prep, too.
#3 Load AND unload the dishwasher every day
Some people load up their dishwasher but rarely unload it. They just leave the plates, cups, and utensils there until it’s time to use them again. Make it a habit to load and unload the dishwasher every day, at the end of the day. This way, it’ll be ready for tomorrow’s load and nothing will be left in the sink, waiting until the dishwasher is empty again.
#4 Go through your pantry every month
Once a month, make it a habit to go through your pantry to wipe the shelves down, get rid of anything that’s expired, and put anything that’s out of place back in its place.
#5 Put everything back in its proper place after use
It takes 2 seconds to put the scissor back in the drawer after you’ve used it so why keep it laying around and make it a catalyst for clutter? And, speaking of clutter, try picking up clutter as you go and then putting them back in place. It’s a life changer!
#6 Clean while you shower
What do you do in the 3 minutes that it takes for your conditioner to work its magic? Do you just stand there and stare at the wall? Pick up that sponge and start scrubbing the walls, the tub, the shower glass, and/or the mirrors. You’ll be surprised at how big a difference this can make.
#7 Dry the mirror and the shower glass before you leave
Those watermarks that are so stubborn and hard to get rid of? They don’t have to be there. Take half a minute before you leave the bathroom to get the squeegee and dry the mirror and the shower glass to get rid of droplets that can turn into water marks in the future.
Bonus tip: if you have shower curtains, close them after you shower to prevent mold and mildew buildup.
#8 Do a 10-minute roundup every night
Every night, just walk around the house and see what needs to be put back in place, wiped down, mopped, or swept up. If you already did a lot of the things mentioned previously, there’s a good chance you won’t even use up half of the 10 minutes.
Doing all of these, you might sometimes find yourself feeling like a Roomba, just going through your house and sucking up the clutter and getting rid of the dirt, but it’s all going to be worth it when you realize just how light and easy the cleaning for your home will be.