I worked in the restaurant business for over 15 years, and more than 10 of that as a waitress. I learned a few tricks to working efficiently that I carry over with me in my housework. These are my 5 easy tips to keeping your house clean.
Clean as you go
That should go without saying, but if you wipe off a counter in the kitchen when you are done preparing a meal, wipe out the bathroom sink right after brushing your teeth, or putting away that book or magazine as soon as you are done reading it, you’ll save a lot of time.
Find a place to file your mail, bills, receipts, etc and do that immediately. When you get a bill in the mail, consider setting up an automatic bank payment that day for the due date of the bill. That keeps the paper clutter down to a minimum, and you will save money because you don’t forget to pay a bill on time.
Never walk around empty handed
This is the biggest lifesaver ever. If you go from your living room to the kitchen for a cup of coffee, bring that breakfast plate with you. If you see some one left their shoes in the bathroom, have the offender put them away right away.
Grab a dust cloth on your way from the laundry room and give the flat surfaces a quick “once over”. If you have to wait on someone to get their shoes on to go out the door, empty the trash can and take it with you.
Follow a routine
Clean the bathrooms fully on Tuesdays, vacuum on Wednesdays, wash towels on Thursdays. Following the same routine daily for your housework will help you stay on top of things without breaking your back.
Declutter in 15 minutes
Spend only 15 minutes a day decluttering a shelf, drawer, or room. Don’t take out more than you can do in 15 minutes. Do this as a break from cooking, working at a desk, or if you need to get the kids involved in something to distract them from arguing with each other (not that we’ve ever done that….).
This is also good if you work at home like I do and need a “brain break”. In the restaurants, we had to “deep clean” certain areas daily, and it took making sure that area didn’t have a lot of junk on, or around it first.
Keep only what you love or use
This is getting to be the “in” thing…keeping only what you love, find beautiful or to be useful. There is something to be said for having less to clean up and less to take care of. Having only 1 9×13 baking pan forces you to clean it out as soon as you are done with it. Having less clothes is less to have on the floor, or less to have to wash. In the kitchen, having only 1 set of measuring spoons or cups means less to have to wash later after baking.
Keeping what you really love means that you will use it, and most likely take better care of it. When I had more than 3 muffin pans, I didn’t really care if one or two got rusted out as I “had others”…now that I am down to only 1, I make sure that it stays clean and dry right after use.
Those are the things that I do to keep my house running well, and fairly clean. Yes, life happens and my house “gets trashed” at times, but with this system in place, it’s much easier to get back to where I like it.
What are some of your tips for keeping your house clean?
Heather’s homesteading journey started in 2006, with baby steps: first, she got a few raised beds, some chickens, and rabbits. Over the years, she amassed a wealth of homesteading knowledge, knowledge that you can find in the articles of this blog.
Jessica says
I am always carrying stuff I find in one room to the next room to declutter. I just wish the hubby or kids thought like that too. I also wish my kids didn’t wat like cookie monster and leave crumbs all over the place.
Holly @ My Plant-Based Family says
I need a routine. We’ve gotten better lately and have been cleaning on the weekends. I invite people over often so I have a deadline.
Ginnie says
Great tips! I am so bad about this, but it’s one of my goals this year keep my apartment cleaner so this is really helpful. Stopping by from your SITS Girls Tribe.
Emily M. Hammann says
Great tips! I love the one about taking stuff with you as you walk from room to room in your home. I often forget to do this, and have to go back for a second trip. Although, this is probably good exercise. 🙂 Since I stay at home, the house has been much cleaner because I can keep up on it better than I used to when I was working outside the home. Lovely blog! Stopping by from SITS.
May says
I resisted routine for a long time. I guess it seemed to stuffy or uptight. Once I embraced it, I discovered how incredibly helpful it is.
[email protected] says
Yes, yes, and yes! And I find that just as junk attracts junk, clean attracts clean. If you keep it pretty picked up, it’s easier to keep it that way and get even cleaner all the time. Once you get behind, it’s hard to catch up…especially when you add a couple of kiddos to the mix. Found you via SITS!
diane padoven says
my tip is to not buy anything unless absolutely needed…helps to avoid clutter.
Thank you
best,
diane
Dropping by from SITS girls today.
#SITSBlogging
Tiffany (NatureMom) says
A great post to read for Saturday morning…I need to wake everyone up and declutter our kitchen.
Felicia says
I really need to put
Felicia says
I really need to put these tips into action! I’m so bad at keeping up with cleaning and I really should do a better job of it. I swear, wherever I go a mess ends up following, so it’s something I need to work on for sure, haha. It would especially be good if I start getting into a routine and cleaning up before I have children. I can only image the mess there will be then!
Leigh (@greenforu) says
We have a motto in our house no trip goes empty handed… which means we cannot go up or down stairs without something that needs to move to different floor. I love your tips, I need to follow them.
Erica C @ Mama's Mission says
These tips are really great. The offenders outweigh me in this house. I am forever picking up. They walk over and around everything as if its not really there. Sometimes I feel like there simply isn’t enough time in a day.
Yuliya says
Those are some really easy, time saving tips! I try not to walk empty handed, but I end up forgetting something that I need to take on the trip back or get distracted by something else I need to do. Hah – need to work on my memory, I suppose.
PS- I found you via BYB.
Mardesia @ Keeping Your Cents says
This is my biggest challenge – cleaning and keeping it that way! We are a family of 5, but most days it feels like no matter what I do, I am the only one picking up stray shoes and putting dirty dishes in the kitchen. I think my first step needs to be decluttering and getting rid of stuff we don’t need. It’s hard to find a place for everything if you have too much stuff.
Thanks for the tips.
Tonya says
I do a lot of these things already, but you’ve given me even more tips to help me keep up with my crew. Thanks!
Danelle Ice (Home Ever After) says
Never walk empty handed is one of my faves, especially since we live in a 2 story house now. It’s always easy to grab something that belongs upstairs on a trip up there and put it away!
ashley says
I like the clean as you go tip-I try to do this as much as I can, its definitely a time saver!
Merri Dennis says
These five ideas are something I could keep in my head and follow. Now I just need to get a schedule in place. 🙂
I’m stopping by from 100 Days Challenge and looking forward to gleaning more wisdom from your blog.
TaMara says
I love these tips! I need to share them with my small people. They seem oblivious to anything on the floor, counter, stairs, etc., that doesn’t belong there. Maybe if I can get them to buy in and at least clean up as they go and never walk around empty handed, our house will stay neater.
Kayla says
Awesome tips! With 3 children routine cleaning is essential!! Visiting from BYB!
Carla says
These are great tips! My favourite is the routine – we follow this in our home and it works perfectly!
Joie says
I need to get on a routine. I have a chore chart for the kids and I think I need to make one for myself too.
Angie says
Great tips. I only wish my children will clean as they go. 🙂
Corina Romero says
These a great tips, I just need to follow them! I have way too much house with many pets to help me make a mess.
Jennifer says
Thanks for the easy tips that will help you to clean your house properly. I can bet that if one follow these tips can easily clean their
house. Cleaning all the areas will help you maintaining your house good look.
Pria says
This really helped me soooo much! Never walk around empty handed was funny and smart! New take!