You probably have that friend who always has a clean and tidy home. And you’re not sure how they’re able to even keep it that way. They might have kids and/or a busy life, but their home is always spotless.
And then you wonder what you’re doing wrong. You don’t know why you’re struggling to keep a consistently clean house and stay on top of the chores.
But there’s a lot more going on than you think. They’re not just spending hours each day keeping their homes impossibly clean. In fact, they’ve built up good habits that have helped them to maintain a clean house.
They’re delegating tasks, tidying up as they go, and even tackling small tasks throughout the day so that the chores don’t start building up. They make the time for the little cleanups so that they don’t turn into one big cleaning day.
And if you’re curious about their other good habits, I’ve broken down some of the best clean-house habits you can adopt yourself. They’re not hard to try and once you have a rhythm going, you’ll always be one of those people who knows how to keep your house clean.
1. They Make Their Bed First Thing
I’m not always so crazy about making my bed first thing in the morning. I’d much rather have a cup of coffee instead. ☕️
But,ย I have found that when I do it (and don’t make excuses), it helps me to…
- Keep things clean around the home in general – I’m able to start off the day with a general attitude of just keeping things straight.
- Feel so much better about how my space looks – It’s like when this one things is done, the rest of the room feels a lot more put together and clean. And when things feel clean, I end up feeling a lot more relaxed.
And people with consistently clean homes are very careful to keep this morning ritual a part of their daily routine.
2. They Break Down Their Cleaning Schedule
People who always have a clean home don’t do all of their chores at once, they break it down.
So for example, instead of spending a full day scrubbing and cleaning, you might find it easier to do a little bit each day.
You could do vacuuming one day, cleaning the bathrooms a different day, and mopping another.
And by not overworking yourself, you’ll be more likely to stick with a routine and be able to consistently keep your home clean.
3. They Clean as They Go
When youโre cooking, donโt leave the dishes until after the meal or worse, the next morning. Or if you just came in and tracked in some dirt, don’t let it sit there.
Clean up as you go about your daily life.
So if you just used that bowl to mix up a sauce, either quickly wash it by hand or place it in the dishwasher. Or if you just brought in some dirt with your boots, take them off and sweet up the mess before anything else.
That way these little and big messes don’t stack up into one huge cleanup.
4. They Find Ways to Make Cleaning More Fun
These kinds of people try to find ways to make the cleaning process more fun, interesting, and speedy.
So for instance, they put on some music as they do the dishes, they time themselves to see how fast they can get a certain task done, or they have a small reward they give themselves at the end of a chore.
5. They Have the Right Equipment and Supplies
A major part of making sure that the house is always mess-free is to have all of the right supplies and keeping them in easy to reach place.
So make a list of all the cleaning utensils, appliances, and solutions you’ll need. That way you won’t have an excuse to put off a chore for later and can take care of it right away. 😉
6. They Donโt Own โThe Chairโ
Almost all of us are well aware of “the chair” and why it’s a problem. It’s that spot in the bedroom where clean but not super clean clothing gets put and starts to pile up throughout the week.
But clean and tidy people don’t turn any of their chairs into a place where clothes and random items pile up.
They always make sure that there’s no clutter; everything is in its place.
7. They Delegate Cleaning Tasks
Cleaning the house is not a one-man job.
And people with a clean house always make sure that everyone in the house has a job to do when it comes to keeping it spotless.
But if that makes you feel uncomfortable because you’re afraid it won’t be done right, then it’s time to start teaching your kids or significant other the way you want something done.
And once you’re past that, you won’t have as much on your plate.
8. They Donโt Enter the New Day With Old Problems
Before going to bed, they thoroughly scan the whole house and make sure that everything is in the right place.
The pillows on the couch are set, curtains are closed, sheets are folded, dishwasher running, and the laundry is put away.
This way when they wake up the next day, everything is taken care of and there’s no need to fix yesterday’s messes.
9. They Remove Their Shoes
Itโs a horrible feeling when you’ve just finished vacuuming or mopping and someone tracks dirt across your clean floor.
It can make you wonder why you even bothered.
But getting your entire household into the habit of removing their shoes by the door will help you to never have that feeling again and keep your floors spotless.
It really is a simple way to get rid of the extra maintenance.
10. They Have a Regular Laundry Day
I’m going to be honest with you, I’m still working on getting better at this one.
But Iย have noticed that people who are great at keeping their homes straight just keep a regular laundry day.
Yes, it can feel easier to just do it whenever you want. But then those annoying piles of clothing just end up building up and stressing you out.
So it’s a lot better if you can have your own designated laundry day and get rid of that extra stress in the home.
11. They Put Laundry Away Immediately
People who have a clean home are great at just quickly doing tasks as soon as they arise.
And when it comes to the laundry, they try to make sure that as soon as the dryer is finished, the clothing is getting folded and put away.
That way there are no piles of clean clothing waiting to be hung or folded and making the space look like a mess.
12. They Wipe as They Go
This habit is pretty simple. It doesnโt matter if you just spilled a bit of water in the bathroom, got some food on the dining table, or dirtied the kitchen counter while making dinner.
The rule here is always the same; clean it up as you go along.
It’s an easy way to keep up on the cleanliness of your home.
13. They Organize Their Papers
Another fun thing that comes with adulthood are papers.
And one thing I know people with clean homes do well is to keep their papers organized and under control.
They buy folders or binders or anything they need to separate them based on whether they’re:
- Recyclable (junk mail)
- Important (insurance documents, birth certificate , etc.)
- Temporarily Important (bill information, receipts, etc.)
Also, this makes life WAY less stressful when you have a place for easily finding all of these things, and they’re not just lying around in a random drawer. 🤷♀️ย
14. They Keep Their Fridge Organized and Clean
One of the BEST ways to make it look like you have it all together in the first place is to have your fridge organized and clean.ย
There are no foods about to expire, there are no spills that need cleaning up, and everything you need is easy to find and grab.
Also, it just feelsย soย good to open up the fridge and see how clean and nice everything looks and feels.
So make it a regular habit to clean up small messes, organize, and get rid of expired goods each week.
15. They Have a Place for Their Shoes & Coats
Tired of seeing your kid’s shoes under the coffee table and jackets laid on the bed or couch?
Well when you take just aย couple of minutes to decide where you want the shoes and outerwear to go once you and your family get home, it’s gonna make a big difference.
It’s such an easy life upgrade. I mean, keeping the kitchen clean is a lot more work, but doing this fast and simple task is gonna make you feel so much better and more organized.
16. They Get the Dishes Done Before Bed
One of the worst things to wake up to in the morning is a pile of dirty dishes in the sink.
Like how many times have you woken up and wanted to actually make a nice breakfast only to find that you first have to wash some dishes? Not fun.
But on the other hand, waking up to an empty sink and clean counters is probably one of the best feelings as well.
So definitely adopt this habit and give yourself the chance to start your mornings off right by getting those dishes done as soon as you’ve finished dinner.
17. They Empty the Dishwasher Every Morning
People who always have a clean home pay the utmost attention to their kitchen because itโs the easiest place to get dirty.
And a great habit to start is to empty the dishwasher every morning.
It’s just a great way to make sure that the dishes aren’t piling up in the sink. Also, if you do need to do another load of dishes during the day, it’s getting done before you start prepping for dinner.
18. They Clean Their Tools
Cleaning your home only works if the tools themselves are clean.
Vacuum cleaners should be emptied regularly, cleaning and dusting cloths should be washed after each use, and your dishwasher should be cleaned every so often.
This way, your home will actually be clean, rather than the dirt just being transferred around. Or appliances will be able to work properly and not break down.
19. They Give Everything a Place
People who always keep their home clean also have a place for everything in their house.
Doing this not only keeps their homes looking organized and tidy, but they also have a much easier time finding everything theyโre looking for. So, make sure to use organizers and give everything a home!
20. They Tidy Up the Rooms Before Bed
People who have a clean home tidy things up before going to bed.
They check to see if there are any dirty clothes, shoes, books, or other things that might not be in their place and put them away before finishing the day.
It’s a great way to make sure you’re waking up to a much cleaner house and you’ll feel so much better.
21. They Regularly Throw Items Away
Sometimes the best cleaning tip is just to get rid of things.
Go through your fridge, freezer, cupboards, drawers, and dressers and remove all of the out-of-date food items, tools, clothes, makeup, toiletries, and appliances you never use.
If your home is in need of a serious clean up, then this might be the best first habit to implement so that you can free up some space and get rid of clutter.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.
I hate starting the day with my 1 big task, but I really am so productive if I am able to get my big tasks done first.
Tip #7 is so helpful. Everything needs a home. Great tips.
Great tips that I can attest work. The one thing on your list that I consistently struggle with is dusting. I HATE it! But your tip for making a schedule for it is GOOD, and I’m going to try it!
On another note, one thing not on your list is the bathroom. I have made a habit of taking my bath cloth and wiping the sink and counter after brushing my teeth and washing my face. This really helps keeps the bathroom looking clean in between cleanings and it doesn’t increase my dirty laundry!
That’s a great tip, thank you! ๐
I totally agree with you about dusting and vacuuming. I swear I have to vacuum every day to keep up with the pet hair and crumbs!
I leave the bed unmade for at least an hour to let it air out. This inhibits tiny little creatures!
Totally agree…never leave dirty things to pile before you clean them. Don’t wakeup and leave your bed to do somethings before you make it up…you can even forget it.
Thank you very much for your advice.
You are so right! And you’re welcome. ๐
Great list and I’ve stuck to these habits for over 50 yrs. I would add another that my Mom taught me…. Clean as you go while cooking! It’s so much easier and less time consuming when meals are finished. The final clean up is a breeze.
Be married 50 years, I do these things too. It doesnโt take long to clean if you follow these tips! Did this when I worked 55 hours a week . Also had 2 children to care for. Every one helped out. Teach kids to help too.
Great ideas!
I totally love these tips. I have also found that everyone in the family should get in the habit of putting things away when they are done with them, a drop zone near the front door makes sure you always know where your keys and wallet are and you donโt forget anything when you leave the house. I also think dusting once a week can go a super long way!
Totally agree on all 8 ways to keep a tidy home
This is so me Iโve been doing this since 1980 41 years yes and still happily married to the same Guy we r a good team , love having a tidy home and I donโt mind the time or work it feels awesome having a tidy and organized home
Seriously, these are quite common habits of clean people. I can relate to this blog.
That’s our house 100%. Makes life easier
Thank you. This article has helped me quite a lot. Val
Our mom used to force us to make our beds when we were kids (which we hated) so maybe that’s why we stopped when we grew up. I’d be surprised if all my nieces and nephews even know how to do this simple chore. I’m sending your list to my sisters as a challenge.
I am learning how to be really organized and this has really helped. Thank You
You’re welcome. So glad we could help you, Gloria! ๐
I was amazed that I do 7 out of 8 of those notes. The 8th one, dusting, and vacuuming. Notice I did spell it right! Anyway, I feel so proud of myself. My bedroom carpet gets messy so I bought one of those gadgets with a handle and is round and sticky. Need I say more……
thanks for the good tips.
Suzie (I spell mine with an e) ( My husband always called me Suz)
I enjoyed reading thanks it will be great plan for 2021
That’s a huge NO for the bed making from me. If you make your bed right after getting up you are trapping ALL the moist (from sweating or just from body temperature) under the covers. The sheets and blankets need their time to ventilate so the best you can do is moving them around as much as possible and opening a window for some 3-4 minutes ๐ At least. After that it’s more safe to do it. Although when you live in the city it’s questionable how much of a “fresh” air will enter the room ๐
That’s a very good point, thanks Nelly! ๐
PS – Sorry, I just now saw this!
They are sorted | color coordinated | fixed & peachy sort of vibe in the house …if you do this you’ll start noticing a change in your mind. Clean clothes, less clutter and approximately 15-20 mins to do this. So good luck guys โค๏ธ
I agree so much with Making The Bed not to mention The Dirty Dishes. I also make sure that the Bathroom is always clean because they are next to the Kitchen the most frequently used part of the house. When It comes to Paper, I wait until the Bill is officially due then I tear it up and I open the Envelopes right away because you never know what’s inside. On Hoarders a Man had all kinds of Paperwork and lost a chance to cash Two Income Tax Return Checks.
You air your bed when you wake up in the morning. You pull back the sheets to get the body heat, sweat, smells, to leave the bed. Because you open the window to air the room also. And later you make the bed which will be cold and smell fresh aired. Hygienic. The habits of Europeans when they used to hang the duvets over the verandas to air etc.
You’ve mentioned all the necessary information regarding a clean home. Thanks for sharing this post.
Thanks for sharing this helpful post. I will surely follow all the instructions and tips which are mentioned in this post.
Great article
I always try to keep my home clean but something was missing and u have mentioned that in this post. Glad I found it.
Great page great info 8 habits to keep a clean house.
Great list! Sorting and dealing with papers as they come is such a huge tip! I don’t know how many times I have wasted time and energy dealing with cluttered piles later!
Thank you so much Suzi! I really appreciate it! ๐