19 Helpful Tips to Keep a Home Clean and Tidy

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Learn these simple habits to keep your space spotless

Co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO® and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: November 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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Some people see cleaning as a relaxing and enjoyable activity they can look forward to each day. If you've landed on this article, though, that's probably not you. If cleaning is the last thing you want to do, but you still want to live in a neat and tidy space, you're in luck! We've gathered some of the best tips you can use to keep your home clean, plus expert insights from house cleaning and organization professionals. Keep reading to get started!

Best Tips for Cleanliness at Home

Tidy up as you go, rather than putting it off.
Make your bed every morning.
Wipe down and dust surfaces on a regular basis.
Vacuum or sweep heavy-traffic areas each day.
Clean the kitchen each night before going to bed.
Do laundry throughout the week to keep it from piling up.
Donate things you don’t need anymore.

1

Tidy up as you go.

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Cleaning up after yourself immediately helps you keep your home clean. It’s a lot easier to clean if you do it right away, instead of putting it off for later, explains residential and commercial cleaning expert Arturo Perez. “If you spill something, clean that. If something is not in its place, pick that up. Basically, clean up after yourself. That’s the best way to keep your house clean,” he says. ^{[1]
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Expert Source

Arturo Perez
Residential & Commercial Cleaning Expert

Expert Interview. 22 March 2023.}
- Get in the habit of putting things back the way they're supposed to be after you're done with them.
- For example, if you moved blankets and pillows while watching a movie in the living room, take a moment to fold the blanket and fluff the pillows when the movie is over. ^{[2]
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  Research source}

2

Make your bed every morning.

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A tidy bed lifts the entire room and makes it look neater. If your bed is made, the room will look a lot tidier, even if a few things are still out of place. It really only takes a couple of minutes every morning to make your bed , and once you get in the habit of it, you won't miss the time. ^{[3]
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- Making your bed every morning has a motivating effect as well.
- If you start your day by making your bed, that's one task that you've already successfully completed, which puts you in the frame of mind to complete other tasks as well. ^{[4]
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3

Wipe down surfaces.

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Use a duster or damp rag to wipe off shelves, tables, and counters. This shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and can easily be done while you're doing something else, like watching TV or listening to music. If you wipe off flat surfaces every day, your home will look a lot cleaner, and dust and grime won't accumulate. ^{[5]
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- Get in the habit of wiping things off as soon as you use them. For example, after you've cleared the dishes from dinner, take a second to wipe down the table, rather than saving that task for later.

4

Disinfect things you touch often.

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Things like TV remotes and door handles can accumulate a lot of germs. It’s a good habit to disinfect these items and surfaces on a regular basis to keep your home clean and keep your family healthy. ^{[6]
X
Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source} Disinfecting wipes work well for this, and they’re super easy to use. Just wipe the item you want to clean, and that’s it!

5

Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas.

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Take 5 minutes each day to sweep around doors and hallways. The areas where people walk the most are going to get the most dirt. Sweeping every day keeps this dirt from building up and ensures no one will track it through the rest of the house. ^{[7]
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- When sweeping, “always use smaller, shorter strokes,” recommends house cleaning professional Guy Peters. “Not only will these be more precise, but they also won’t make a mess in the process of sweeping. Trying to go too quickly with big strokes will end up pushing dust and debris around the room.” ^{[8]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Guy Peters
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 12 July 2021.}
- You might want to consider sweeping the porch or entryway outside your door as well. This limits the amount of outside dirt and debris people bring inside with them.

6

Wipe down the shower after each use.

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The steam and hot water from your shower loosens grime. This means that your tub or shower is a lot easier to clean immediately after you finish using it. If you keep the bottle of bathroom cleaner sitting next to your shower or tub, it'll remind you to do a quick spray and wipe-down when you get out. ^{[9]
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- Freshening up your shower on a regular basis also keeps dirt and soap scum from building up, so you never have to worry about scrubbing. ^{[10]
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7

Give the toilet a quick scrub every night.

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Squirt the toilet bowl cleaner in the bowl, then let it sit while you brush your teeth. After you're done brushing your teeth, washing your face, and whatever else you do at night to get ready for bed, give the toilet a quick scrub and a flush. That's all you need to do to keep the toilet bowl fresh! ^{[11]
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8

Declutter before bedtime.

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Do a quick walk-through of each room, pick up any clutter you see, and put these items back in their designated spots. You may find it helpful to use a small box or basket to gather up everything at once, so you don’t need to make several trips back and forth. ^{[12]
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Research source} When you do this each night, you’ll wake up in the morning to a clean, tidy home!

9

"Close down" the kitchen every night.

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Try to make it a habit to never go to bed with a dirty kitchen. Take care of the dishes, clean and disinfect surfaces and handles, and sweep up any debris on the floor. This process shouldn't take more than 10 minutes, but it can do wonders for the cleanliness of your home.
- If you have housemates that are on different schedules, give the kitchen closing duties to whoever is the last person to use it.
- If you have a dishwasher, try to run it each night. This way, it'll be ready for you to unload in the morning while you're making breakfast or brewing your coffee. ^{[13]
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10

Clean out your fridge weekly.

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This will get rid of any spills or leaks coming from food containers, prevent unpleasant odors, and make it easier for you to access the things you need. This is also a great time to make a list of the things you’re running low on, so you can pick them up the next time you go to the grocery store. ^{[14]
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Research source}

11

Do laundry throughout the week.

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This prevents dirty clothes from piling up. You may be tempted to save all your laundry for one big weekly laundry day, but as the dirty clothes overflow their hampers, your home will start to look cluttered and untidy. You’ll also be stuck spending a whole day doing all your laundry loads, which is stressful and inconvenient, explains professional organizer Marty Stevens-Heebner. Instead, she recommends spreading out your loads of laundry over the course of the week. ^{[15]
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Expert Source

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager

Expert Interview. 14 January 2020.}
- For example, you might go around and collect all the dark clothing from your hampers each Friday evening and wash them . Then, on Saturday morning you could collect and wash the lights , and on Sunday you could tackle your towels and linens.
- “The idea is to have a system, and to break it down in bits and parts so it doesn’t seem overwhelming,” says Stevens-Heebner. ^{[16]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
  Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager
  
  Expert Interview. 14 January 2020.}

12

Dust each room weekly.

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Work from top to bottom and left to right to thoroughly dust a room. Using this method means any dust or debris that gets swept off won't fall on an area you've already cleaned. ^{[17]
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Research source} Accumulated dust can affect the air quality in your home and make it more difficult to breathe, so this task is as much for your health as it is for the sake of cleanliness. ^{[18]
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- If you’d like, you can spread out the dusting over the course of the week, instead of doing it all in one day.
- For example, you might dust your bedroom on Monday, the living room on Tuesday, and the kitchen on Wednesday.

13

Clean the floors weekly.

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Mop or vacuum your way out of one room each day. Start at the back corner of the room and mop or vacuum towards the door. Then, when you leave the room, you'll be done cleaning it! ^{[19]
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Research source} Schedule a room (or two, depending on the size of your home) for each day of the week, so you're not doing them all at once.
- For example, you might vacuum your bedroom carpet on Monday, mop the living room on Tuesday, and mop the kitchen on Wednesday.

14

Don’t wear shoes inside.

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Shoes can track dirt and germs into your house. To keep your floors looking fresh and clean between vacuuming and mopping sessions, consider making your home a shoe-free space. You can even set up a shoe rack near your door, so that your shoes are tidy and easily accessible.
- This also prevents you from tracking harmful bacteria and allergens into your house, so it can be beneficial for your health, as well! ^{[20]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

15

Donate things you don’t need.

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Keep a single donation box for things you no longer use. Getting rid of clothes and objects you don’t use frees up more space in your home and helps you keep your space clutter-free. If you have a hall closet, that's a good place to put your donation box. If space is tight, you can also hang a bag on a hook inside a closet door. Clearly label your box or bag for donations, and put things into it as you go. When the box is full, take it to your favorite donation center. ^{[21]
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- This is also helpful if you have children. As soon as a child grows out of something, put it straight into the donation box so you don't have to worry about it anymore.
- If you get in the habit of putting things into the box regularly, your closets and storage areas will always look neater, and you won't have to tackle the hours-long task of sorting through things once or twice a year.

16

Have a convenient place for everything.

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It’ll be easier for you to find the items you need if they each have their own designated place, and you'll also be more likely to put things away after using them, as well. ^{[22]
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Research source} For example, you could have a hook near your front door for your keys, a basket in your kitchen for mail, and an over-the-door organizer in your bathroom if you don’t have a lot of counter space.

17

Get a laundry hamper for each person in your home.

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Put each person’s hamper where they typically change clothes. Laundry is likely to pile up in a corner of a room or on the floor of the bathroom if the laundry hamper isn’t easily accessible, and this makes your home appear more cluttered. To avoid this, make sure there's at least one hamper for each person in your household, and that they're all conveniently located. ^{[23]
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- If you're not sure where to put the hamper, look at where the laundry typically piles up. If you place a hamper there, you’ll still be able to toss your clothes into that spot when you take them off, but it will look much neater!

18

Store cleaning supplies in every room.

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You can place them in a plastic bin, a drawer, or a closet. This makes it easier to clean things up immediately because you won't have to go around hunting your house for what you need. For example, put bathroom cleaners in every bathroom, disinfectants and multi-purpose cleaners in all rooms, and kitchen cleaners in the kitchen. ^{[24]
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- While this might mean that you have to buy several bottles of the same cleaning products, they'll last a lot longer because you're not using them all over the house. Sure, you'll spend a little more initially, but it'll even out.
- If it isn't feasible for you to have multiple brooms or vacuum cleaners, put these tools in a central location where they can be easily accessed from the entire home.
  - If your home has two floors, though, it's still worth it to spring for one upstairs and one downstairs so you don't have to lug them back and forth.

19

Create a deep-cleaning schedule.

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Set dates for larger cleaning projects. A lot of cleaning tasks only need to be done about once every calendar quarter, twice a year, or even yearly. Schedule these tasks on a household calendar and set reminders so you'll know when they need to be done. Here are some tasks to get you started: ^{[25]
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- Wipe down inside your fridge and freezer (every 3-6 months)
- Clean inside your oven (every 3-6 months)
- Wash pillows and comforters (every 3-6 months)
- Wash drapes and curtains (every year)
- Deep-clean windows (every year)
- Deep-clean carpets and upholstery (every year)

What Are Your Top Three Annual Home Maintenance Priorities?

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When is the right time to take out the trash?

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When your trash can is full, pull out the bag and put in a new one. Take the full one out immediately. If it's late at night, you can also set the bag by the door to take out in the morning. Avoid simply pushing the trash down when the can gets full, though—you'll end up with a heavy bag that might rip.

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How can I clean my house during the winter when I'm freezing?

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The good news is cleaning is physical work that will increase your body temperature and keeping your body moving is a good way to get warm. Throw on an extra sweater or hoodie to get started—you'll probably find you want to shed it as you work your way through the house.

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What can I do if I don't have time in the morning, and everyone is too tired to do it?

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Try to clean up as you go. For example: when you're done with your makeup, put it back in its place, and when you're done eating, put the dishes back into the dishwasher.

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Delegate tasks to everyone in the home. Even small children can do their part to keep their living space clean and tidy. If everyone pitches in, no one gets overwhelmed and it's much easier to clean your home and keep it that way. ^{[26]
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Try listening to music or your favorite podcast while cleaning to stimulate your mind and take your mind off an otherwise monotonous task. ^{[27]
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If you feel overwhelmed, be kind to yourself. Changing your habits is hard and even if you just do one thing, it's better than nothing.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Motivate yourself while cleaning by listening to music or rewarding yourself with a treat afterward. It will make you enjoy cleaning.
Keep a to-do list of chores and things that you want to clean so it's easier to keep track of what you've done.
Keep a waste bin in every room so that you can toss out trash wherever you are in your home.

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[1]

Expert Source

Arturo Perez
Residential & Commercial Cleaning Expert

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

Go to source

[7]

[8]

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager

[16]

[17]

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[22]

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19 Helpful Tips to Keep a Home Clean and Tidy

Best Tips for Cleanliness at Home

Steps

Tidy up as you go.

Make your bed every morning.

Wipe down surfaces.

Disinfect things you touch often.

Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas.

Wipe down the shower after each use.

Give the toilet a quick scrub every night.

Declutter before bedtime.

"Close down" the kitchen every night.

Clean out your fridge weekly.

Do laundry throughout the week.

Dust each room weekly.

Clean the floors weekly.

Don’t wear shoes inside.

Donate things you don’t need.

Have a convenient place for everything.

Get a laundry hamper for each person in your home.

Store cleaning supplies in every room.

Create a deep-cleaning schedule.

What Are Your Top Three Annual Home Maintenance Priorities?

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Tips from our Readers

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