1 / 13 | Time to come clean
If you don’t consider yourself a “clean” person, it can be easy to feel resigned to the idea that you’re either clean or you’re not. But, fun fact: Cleanliness is not a quality people are born with. Maybe you’re using cleaning products the wrong way or just have some bad cleaning habits, but all it really takes is a little resourcefulness and creativity. Get yourself some trusted cleaning products and follow these guidelines for a clean home.
2 / 13 | They know how to make space
Even if you don’t consider yourself a collector of “stuff,” that “stuff” always seems to pile up in every corner and on every countertop. “Start following the one in, one out rule going forward,” says Nancy Haworth of On Task Organizing in Raleigh, North Carolina. “When you buy something new, toss, sell, or donate an older item to create space for the new item.”
3 / 13 | They smooth surfaces
Junk drawers have a habit of spilling out onto what should be an otherwise clean, empty surface. Countertops and tables are practically begging to be littered with stray mail and other odds and ends. People with clean homes tackle that problem immediately. “When you keep large, flat surfaces clear, not only are they more visually appealing, but easier to wipe down as well,” says Carrie Higgins, author of Organization Hacks and founder of the blog Making Lemonade. “Don’t store appliances on countertops or clutter on your desk.” Here are a few items you shouldn’t store on your kitchen countertop.
4 / 13 | They set cleaning systems in place
Clean homes don’t just miraculously clean themselves—neat people have a protocol in place to keep things maintained and orderly. “People with neat homes tend to have a cleaning schedule and routines so dirt and laundry don’t have time to pile up,” says Higgins. “For example, they set a designated day to vacuum or do laundry every Monday so those big tasks don’t get skipped.” Sometimes you may need to do something small every day. You don’t need to hire anyone, but take the advice from a professional housecleaner about how they clean their own homes.
5 / 13 | They think clean when they step into the house
Sometimes it really is the little things that lend themselves to a sparkling abode. Bailey Gaddis, a certified professional organizer and author of Feng Shui Mommy, starts with a shoes-off policy. “When shoes are left at the door you prevent toxins, soil, leaves, and other goodies that quickly dirty up floors from making their way into your home,” she says. Check out some more secrets your housecleaner won’t tell you.
6 / 13 | They have a place for everything
“If you have too much stuff without a place to go, the clutter and piles in your home become impossible to actually clean,” says Jennifer Snyder, owner of Neat as a Pin Organizing Experts in Waco, Texas. So if you have a peg in the kitchen for your keys or a shelf for your mail, use them.
7 / 13 | They clean as they go
“People whose homes always appear clean don’t wait until it looks like a bomb went off,” wrote Brittany Bergman on HuffPost. Rather, they have routines. “This might mean rearranging throw pillows and folding blankets when they’re done in the family room each night, having kids put toys back in the toy box, hanging up clothes at the end of each day, and folding the laundry right when it comes out of the dryer.” Get out of these bad cleaning habits you may not have realized you had.
8 / 13 | They find clever ways to store more
People with clean homes use their smarts when it comes to products that help them stay organized. “An over-the-door organizer has a variety of clear pockets where you can store jewelry and make-up, sorting by type—pencils, lipsticks, brushes, and eye shadows,” says Paloma Baillie, a DIY expert with the 5mile app. “Everything is laid out, so you have easy access and can see items more clearly.” You can do a similar thing with office supplies if you don’t have room for a desk.
9 / 13 | They hire help
Not every household budget has room for a regular professional cleaning service, but those who do tend to keep up with daily maintenance for one very important reason. “It’s a good motivator to get things put away or moved along into the recycling bin when you know tomorrow is cleaning day and your house won’t get as clean if the cleaning service has to clean around all your stuff,” says Mary Gagliardi, Clorox’s in-house cleaning and laundry expert. That help may even show you some great cleaning products, like The Pink Stuff.
10 / 13 | They know how to delegate tasks
Unless you live alone, mess and clutter is a group effort; therefore, cleaning should be a group effort as well. “Everyone should have weekly chores (dusting, emptying trash, vacuuming, sweeping, etc) that not only build responsible adults out of kids but also makes it easier to keep the home clean—something everyone in the home should care about,” says Gagliardi. There are even cleaning products for people with allergies, so there aren’t any excuses.
11 / 13 | They make cleaning feel less like a chore
If it’s not your thing, it’s hard to imagine putting a fun spin on cleaning. But there are ways to complete a task while distracting your mind. “Make cleaning enjoyable by listening to your favorite podcast,” says Tisha Morris, author of Clutter Intervention: How Your Stuff Is Keeping You Stuck. “Get wireless Bluetooth headphones to give you the freedom to move all around the house. You might even get enough steps in on your Fitbit for it to count as a workout.”
12 / 14 | They make organizing look pretty
If you consider storage and organization as part of your decor, as many with clean homes do, it makes the project a feast for the eyes. “I separate my wardrobe so all my dresses are together, all my jeans are together, sweaters, tops, coats, skirts, etc. Then I color code each category,” says Rachel Parcell, style and design expert behind Pink Peonies. “I love the way it looks and it’s easy to find things.” Transform your closet with these tips from a professional organizer.
13 / 13 | They deal with dishes
If you wake up to a sink full of dirty dishes, you’re practically setting yourself up for failure. For one thing, you’ll have to do those dishes and pans first thing, which sets you back a crucial five to ten minutes, essential time on a busy morning. Worse, all that food and grease will be caked on and it will take even more time to get them clean. Do yourself a favor and load the dishwasher—and run it if it’s close to full—and wash the pots and pans before going to bed.
Now go forth, and be tidy!
