Running around doing errands and having way too many responsibilities at work can often leave you with no time to take care of your home. Fortunately, there are many hacks that you can rely on to make sure your lovely abode is always clean and tidy. Here are seven tips that are guaranteed to work.
Have a quick routine to get rid of clutter
For starters, you might have plenty of clutter in your home that you don’t even notice. In case clutter is making your living quarters messy, there are various ways how you can tackle it. Try creating a quick routine that you can do every day that will help you get rid of various knickknacks. For example, if you take simply 5 to 10 minutes out of your day, you can stay on top of clutter. If you’re watching a TV show, use the commercial break to tidy up the coffee table. Then, you can take a few minutes after you wake up or before you go to bed to clear your bedside table. Keep a basket in every room where you can put all clutter and go through it once a week or month to toss everything you don’t need. Make your bed every morning and fluff the throw pillows on the sofa after each use.
Clean the dishes as you go
If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, chances are that it can get messy really fast. To prevent this from happening, you want to clean up as you go. When making meals, do the prep work in advance and fill the dishwasher with everything you’ve used before you actually start cooking. Once you’ve eaten, do the same with all the cookware, plates, and utensils. It’s a good idea to run the dishwasher in the evening and empty it in the morning while waiting for your coffee to brew. In case you don’t have a dishwasher, you should not let the dishes pile up in the kitchen sink but wash them as soon as possible.
Don’t let the laundry pile up
Just like you shouldn’t let dirty dishes pile up, you also need to stay on top of your laundry. If you live on your own, you might not have a lot of laundries to deal with on a weekly basis but if there are several members in your household, the laundry might accumulate quite easily. To tackle this, you want a hamper in each bedroom and one or two in the bathroom for linens and towels. For even more efficiency, you can separate the whites in advance. Depending on how much laundry you have, you basically have two approaches. One, you can run the washer as soon you get home so that you can fold everything in the evening. On the other hand, you can also run the washer and dryer only on weekends. Whichever method you choose, make sure you put the clothes away immediately as they will pile up otherwise. Something else that is useful is regularly going through your closet and getting rid of things you will no longer be wearing, whether by donating, selling, or tossing them.
Use your bedtime routine to clean the bathroom
You surely have a self-care bedtime routine. Well, have you thought about cleaning the bathroom during this time as well? For instance, the time that would take you to brush your teeth and wash your face is exactly how much it takes for a cleaning product to work. So, spray the tub, sink, and toilet with a product of your choice, complete your nighttime routine and rinse out the cleaner. Don’t forget to wipe down the counters and change the towels every night as well. Every household member should have their own towel that only they use and towels need to be properly washed to prevent bacteria from breeding. To avoid germs from spreading and maintain the cleanliness of your home, you can also install a quality hand dryer in the bathroom. This is also very handy when you have guests as you will not have to share towels.
Keep floors and surfaces clear
Something else you can do in the evening before you go to bed is wipe down all surfaces and floors. Once everyone is in bed, it shouldn’t take you long to sweep and mop the floors. That way, the floors will have time to properly dry and they will be clean in the morning. The same approach goes for every surface in the home. From the bathroom and kitchen counters to the dining room table and coffee tables that are spread around the house, give them a wipe and quickly clear them of clutter to ensure a spotless environment once you get up the following day.
Take the trash out regularly
Another thing you want to deal with regularly is a garbage disposal. Of course, you don’t want trash just lying around your home, which is why most rooms need a bin where the household members can throw away things they don’t need. You can collect the trash bags and toss them out in the evening if they are full every day. On the other hand, you can simply take it out with you when you leave home for work or other errands. The most important thing is to not let it sit in your home for too long and start releasing odors.
Maintain a chore schedule
Finally, a great way to ensure your home is always clean is having some sort of cleaning schedule. There is no need to vacuum every single day if you don’t have time but remember to do it every Saturday, for instance. You can also use the weekend for changing the bedsheets. These chores can all be done in one morning, giving you the rest of the weekend to relax. Something else you can do once a week is going through your pantry and fridge and toss the food that has expired. Finally, while putting away clothes is something you need to do regularly, going through your closet and deciding which items you no longer need can be a monthly chore.
Taking care of your home doesn’t have to be a full-time job. Get other household members to help you out and use these tricks for a spotless home.
