A Cleaner Home: 15 Simple Steps to Follow

Declutter

9 Sept

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the mess and running out of time to deal with your household tasks? Don’t worry, you are not alone. There are many simple habits you can incorporate into your routine to simplify your cleaning.

By dedicating a small amount of time each day, you can gradually create a more manageable space. Once you establish a routine, it can motivate you to stay on track and prevent things from getting out of control again.

With that in mind, here are 15 simple tips to help you maintain a clean, tidy, and organised home.

1. Keep Laundry Off the Floor

Keep a laundry hamper in a convenient place where you usually get changed. Try putting your dirty clothes directly into the laundry hamper. Encourage everyone in your household to follow the same habit. This can make it easier to manage your laundry when it is time to do a load of washing.

You can also use separate hampers for different types of laundry if that makes sorting and washing easier.

2. Return Dishes to the Kitchen

If you sometimes eat or drink in your bedroom or another area of your home, take any dishes, glasses, or cutlery back to the kitchen when you leave the room.

Load used dishes directly into the dishwasher when possible. If the dishwasher is full, place them neatly near the sink until they can be washed.

Encourage everyone in your household to return their own dishes to the kitchen after eating.

3. Manage Loose Hair in the Bathroom

Loose hair can easily find its way into the shower drain and contribute to clogs over time. While showering, gently collect loose hair with your fingers and keep it away from the drain or stick it to the shower wall temporarily. After you finish your shower, dispose of it immediately.

4. Repurpose an Old Toothbrush for Cleaning

Repurpose old toothbrushes as small cleaning tools, keeping separate ones for different areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom. Their compact heads and bristles can be useful for cleaning grout, scrubbing around faucets, reaching tile edges, and tackling other small corners around your home.

Wash and dry each toothbrush after cleaning so it is ready to use again.

5. Keep Your Hairbrushes Clean

Wash your hairbrush regularly to remove hair, oils, dust, and product residue that can build up over time.

Start by removing any trapped hair, then clean it according to its material and type. Keeping it clean helps prevent old residue from being transferred back onto your hair and scalp.

6. Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Keep your cleaning supplies free from dirt and grime, as using dirty tools may spread residue onto other surfaces.

Wash reusable cleaning cloths, brushes, mop heads, and other tools regularly. Allow them to dry properly before storing them.

Keep separate cloths for different areas, such as the kitchen and bathroom.

7. Dust Removal

Use a dry cloth to remove loose dust from surfaces. Move small objects while dusting instead of cleaning only around them. Start dusting from higher areas and work your way down.

Keep a dedicated dusting cloth in an easily accessible place so you can quickly clean dusty surfaces whenever you notice them.

8. Avoid Unnecessary Duplicate Kitchen Items

Take a look through your kitchen and identify items that serve the same purpose. If you regularly use one item while another similar one remains untouched, consider whether you really need to keep both.

For example, if you prefer using a steel spoon and rarely use a similar silicone or plastic one, you could keep the one you use and donate or responsibly dispose of the other.

Reducing unnecessary duplicates can free up drawer and cupboard space and make it easier to find your kitchen essentials.

9. Keep Socks in a Convenient Location

Keep a few pairs of socks in a convenient place near the door.

Having them close to where you put on your shoes can save you from walking back to your bedroom or searching for a pair when you are getting ready to leave.

Give them a dedicated basket, drawer, or other small storage space so the area remains tidy. If everyone in your household uses the same storage area, keep different family members' socks separate to make them easier to find.

10. Create a Simple Cleaning Routine

Divide your bigger cleaning tasks into smaller ones throughout the week. Start with just 10 to 15 minutes of cleaning each day. Use a few spare minutes to complete a small cleaning task.

For example, you could clean the toilet one day and tackle the rest of the bathroom another day, so your cleaning feels less overwhelming.

11. Keep Indoor and Outdoor Footwear Separate

Keep separate footwear for indoor and outdoor use. Create a shoe rack or designated place near the entrance for your outdoor shoes to help keep the entryway organised. Keep your indoor slippers nearby so you can easily change into them.

12. Stack Smart

If you have shelves with unused vertical space, consider using stackable organisers to make better use of the available space.

You can arrange different categories of items, such as spices, snacks, and cereals, at different heights, keeping them visible and easier to access.

13. Clear Your Countertops

Keep only the items you regularly use on your countertops. Appliances and other items you rarely use can be stored inside cupboards or another suitable storage area.

Promptly remove empty containers, packaging, paperwork, post, receipts, and other unnecessary items from your kitchen countertops.

Leave some countertop space clear for preparing food.

14. Ventilate Your Bathroom After a Shower

Keep your bathroom door or window and shower curtain open for a while after a shower, or use an extractor fan if you have one. Also, hang wet towels properly and avoid leaving damp bath mats or towels piled on the floor.

This can help steam and excess moisture escape while improving air circulation in the bathroom.

15. Keep Clutter Baskets in Busy Rooms

Place a small clutter basket in frequently used areas such as your living room, bedroom, or family room.

When you notice items that belong somewhere else, place them inside and, whenever you have a few minutes, return them to their proper places. Emptying the basket regularly can prevent items from piling up over time.

Final thoughts

I hope you found some useful tips that you can add to your everyday routine. With a little effort, you can be on your way to a cleaner and more organised home.

A Gentle Closing Note

There is always more to explore when it comes to living simply and mindfully. I look forward to sharing more with you in my upcoming articles.

In the meantime, feel free to check out the Home page. It’s where I gather everything from book reviews, self-care, simple joys, Smart spending , spiritual reflections to organization hacks and Time management, —basically all the little things that help us spend time mindfully and find more joy in the everyday.