How To Keep Your House Clean In Between Cleanings

This post was updated August 14, 2020.

Some people think their house will always look messy because it is just too time consuming to clean. And when you have kids?…forget about it!

I completely understand this and don’t disagree.

But what I have come to realize is that not every time I clean does it need to be a deep, thorough, get-behind-every-nook-and-cranny kind of cleaning. I mean, who has time for that?!

Yes, it is important that we make time for really thorough cleaning. We should vacuum often, dust, disinfect certain areas – but we definitely do not need to do these things everyday. (With that being said, do any of you do this everyday? If so, how do you find the time and energy? Please share in the comments below because it could be helpful to us all!)

Instead, there are small things we can do on a daily basis to make it look like we have cleaned even when we really haven’t put all that much effort into it.

This isn’t meant to replace deep cleaning and those important tasks but is meant to help us get through those in between times. With just a few minutes here and there, you can rest in the sanity of a tidy place until it is time to go a little deeper.

Bathroom

• Keep disinfectant wipes in the bathroom and wipe down counters every morning after everyone is done getting ready. These make wiping areas down so quick!
• Keep glass cleaner and paper towels or some kind of rag you like to clean with in the bathroom and wipe off the mirror every morning or every other morning. A clean mirror makes a huge difference 🙂
• Wipe down the toilet bowl both outside and under the lid with a disinfectant wipe.
• Keep the shower curtain and liner closed. Not only does it help prevent mold and mildew from forming on them, but it also hides whatever mess may be behind them.
• Keep a sponge in the shower and quickly wipe down the walls before you step out. Or even scrub the walls while you’re showering! You’ll notice it’s easier than doing it while you’re standing outside the tub.
• Make sure all soap is rinsed off the bottom of the tub before you get out to prevent build up.

Kitchen

• Do the dishes while you cook. Most of them should be done by the time you are ready to eat, which means you only have a few left to do afterward.
• Unload the dishwasher as soon as it is finished. This keeps it available to put dirty dishes in right away instead of having them sit in the sink or on the counter. If you’re anything like me, I absolutely cannot stand clutter on my kitchen counters!
• Wipe down the kitchen sink with dish soap after the dishes are done.
• Sweep the floor every night after the kitchen is cleaned up.

Bedrooms

• Make the beds every morning. This one little task can make a bedroom seem so much cleaner! And be sure to assign this responsibility to everyone in the household that is age-appropriate.
• Clear off the dresser before bed by putting things that were placed on it in their proper “home.” Again, this responsibility should be assigned to everyone that has a dresser.
• Pick out your clothes the night before. This will save time in the morning and will prevent any clothes from lying around from multiple attempts at trying on outfits in the morning and changing out of them. (Do you ever notice when you change out of multiple clothes in the morning that more of them end up on the floor to save time before you have to leave for work?)
• Wake up an extra 15 minutes earlier in the morning so you’re not as rushed. Then you will have more time to put things away.

Family/Living Room

• Fold up blankets and put them away as soon as you are finished using them or before you go to bed.
• Put remotes in a designated place.
• Push couch cushions in, if necessary.
• Put away anything that is just lying around. Make sure kids put their toys away before bed.

Whole House

• Make sure most rooms have a garbage can so trash can immediately be thrown away.
• Have “drop buckets” for displaced items for family members to put away. These can be crates, baskets, boxes, or whatever else may work for your house. Each family member gets their own bucket and throughout the day, anytime you or someone else sees an item that was left out, the item should be put in the bucket to whomever it belongs. Then everyone must empty their boxes before they go to bed.
• Do a sweep of the house for 10 minutes every night before you go to bed. Pick up anything out of place and put it in its proper “home” or “drop bucket.”
• Whenever you exit a room, grab two or three things that don’t belong there. Depending on what they are, put them in their proper home, a drop bucket, or trash can.
• Every time you buy something new, get rid of something old. This goes for adults and children!
• Sort mail right away so it does not pile up on the counter or kitchen table.

Staying mindful of these things can help you get a head start when it is time to clean a little deeper. Plus, it will make your house look clean even though you know you weren’t able to touch every area of the house!

Don’t let these tasks take away from other cleaning responsibilities such as mopping the floors, dusting often, and disinfecting the entire bathroom. Tasks like those are still important! But use these tips to help you get through in between those cleaning times.

These tasks can also be done quickly if you are suddenly expecting company.

How do you keep your house looking clean in between your regular cleaning routine? Please comment below!

If you enjoyed this post or think it could benefit someone else, please share 🙂

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