If you’re like me, you could probably learn a thing or two from those people with perpetually immaculate homes, where everything is in its place, and every surface is spotless. I’m always in awe when I walk into someone’s home and every room looks neat as a pin and effortlessly put together. Meanwhile, whenever I have company over, I end up panic-cleaning until the last minute and inevitably shoving things into closets to hide the mess. Life would be so much easier if my house were already clean on a day-to-day basis (and I’d probably host more often, too!).
As it turns out, the key to keeping a clean house isn’t marathon scouring sessions or hiring a cleaning service to handle it (I wish!). It’s about small, consistent habits that prevent mess from building up in the first place. If you’re trying to channel that same energy, here are a few simple tricks that can help you keep your home neat more often than not. Read on for the simple habits you can learn from women who always have a clean house.
1. Take your shoes off inside
If you don’t live in a shoes-off household, taking them off at the door might feel unnatural. However, this small habit makes a massive difference in the cleanliness of your home. We don’t even realize how much dirt we track inside with our shoes. By removing them, you can keep your home cleaner with almost zero effort. Add a shoe rack by your door for storage, and get a good pair of slippers to wear around the house. Once you make this change, you will never go back.
2. Declutter regularly
It’s nearly impossible to keep a clean house if you have way too many things. Overflowing closets, packed drawers, and no room for new items are signs that it’s time to declutter. As the seasons change, look around your home for things that are no longer serving you and donate them. The only way to make room for new things is to eliminate the old.
3. Multitask while cleaning
If you feel like you never have time to clean because you’re just too busy, think again. Plenty of women who always have a clean house lead hectic lives—they have just developed routines that fit their schedules. A huge aspect of this is multitasking while cleaning. Knocking off multiple things on your to-do list is so satisfying and more sustainable than carving out an hour to clean every day. So, next time you do laundry or wipe down your counters, call your mom, schedule that appointment you have been putting off, or even throw on your favorite podcast or audiobook to turn cleaning into some self-care time.
4. Make the bed every morning
Making your bed only takes a few minutes, and it’s a simple way to start your day with a win. It’s easy for the bedroom to get cluttered, especially if you get ready for the day here, and a made bed will instantly make the space feel put together. It might even inspire you to tackle that pile of laundry in the corner or put your shoes away while you’re at it.
5. Only purchase easy-to-clean furniture and decor
One of the biggest secrets of people who always have a clean house? They make it easy on themselves. You can follow suit by intentionally choosing furniture and decor that is easy to keep clean. For example, opt for machine-washable rugs instead of wool or jute ones, which can be impossible to clean. If you’re shopping for a new sofa, look for performance fabrics that will naturally repel spills and stains. Choose throw pillows with removable covers that you can easily toss in the washing machine. By paying attention to your home purchases upfront, you can make cleaning a lot easier for yourself later on.
6. Use the “one-touch rule”
The “one-touch rule” is an easy habit that keeps your home much cleaner. The premise is that when you pick something up, you should immediately take it to its home; don’t put it down and touch it again before you do so. Often, we have the best intentions of putting something back in its place, but we get sidetracked with another task, and it ends up abandoned. This rule eliminates that issue. The “one-touch rule” becomes a habit so quickly that you won’t even realize you’re consistently putting things back where they belong within a few weeks.
7. Put dishes away immediately
A sink piled high with dishes can be overwhelming, and the same goes for plates and cups scattered around your living room (I’m guilty of both, TBH). Instead of letting the dishes sit, load them in the dishwasher right after you eat. If you don’t have a dishwasher, hand-wash them in the sink and set them on a drying rack. It will only take a few minutes and will save you from a giant dishwashing sesh later in the day.
8. Incorporate organization in every room
Quick cleanups shouldn’t require much effort, especially if your home is designed with organization in mind. Incorporate cute storage baskets, ottomans with hidden compartments, and in-drawer organizers into your space to make cleaning up as simple as tossing items into their designated containers. You’ll feel more motivated to maintain a clean house when putting stuff away doesn’t feel like a huge chore.
9. Clean while you cook
Let’s be real: Cooking gets messy. Cleaning while you go saves you from having to deal with a stack of dirty pots and pans afterward, and it keeps the kitchen organized as well. Keep dish towels handy for spills, pick up anything that gets dropped on the floor immediately, and wash dishes as you go. Once you’re done with your meal, take the extra few minutes it takes to put your kitchen back to its original state. You might just be tempted to cook more often if your kitchen doesn’t turn into a disaster zone every time you make dinner.
10. Do small loads of laundry regularly
A heap of laundry can send shivers down anyone’s spine, especially since the bigger the load, the longer it takes to fold and put away. If you tend to have an overflowing hamper, try to do a smaller load of laundry during the middle of the week. This will then break down all of your laundry into smaller loads and prevent a huge mound of clothes from piling up.
11. Keep the refrigerator tidy
Expired food can wreck the vibe when opening your fridge. To keep better tabs on things, make it a habit to check in on your fridge weekly. Toss any expired food, wipe down any surfaces that need it, and organize it in a way that makes grabbing your favorites easy.
12. Know where everything goes
The key to keeping clutter at bay is to make sure every little thing in your home has a place. If you’re not sure where to put your keys, mail, shoes, empty Amazon boxes, or whatever else you may have lying around, take some time to organize and decide where your things live. This will keep the chaos to a minimum as long as everything goes back to where it belongs.
13. Wipe down surfaces throughout the day
A quick swipe of the kitchen and bathroom counters throughout the day is one of the easiest cleaning habits to pick up. Wiping down surfaces is key to a clean house, and it only takes a few seconds. Keep a hand towel nearby in your bathroom to wipe up any excess water after you brush your teeth or wash your face. Wipe down kitchen counters after dinner, and do a quick sweep of your dining table, too. Sparkly clean surfaces keep your spaces looking and feeling clean, so try to do it often!
14. Stay on top of trash
There’s nothing worse than a smelly kitchen, and nine times out of 10, bad kitchen odors are because of the trash can. Be sure to take the trash out regularly, and keep the trash can itself clean as well. Make emptying the trash part of your evening routine, especially on nights when you cook and throw away food scraps.
15. Tidy up before bed
A closing shift is essential for anyone who wants a perpetually clean house. It always feels good to wake up to a tidy kitchen and living room—and the magic happens the night before. Take some time before bed to put things away, fluff pillows, run the dishwasher, and set yourself up for a smooth morning. Your future self will thank you.
16. Keep a cleaning schedule
A clean house doesn’t happen without effort and organization. Anyone with a consistently clean home no doubt follows a schedule. Whether you save your cleaning spree for a Sunday afternoon or do a little bit every day, a cleaning schedule will keep you on track. It’s helpful to break down your cleaning tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly lists and to save deep cleaning projects to just once a month or even seasonally.
Kristen Garaffo, Contributing Home & Living Writer
Kristen Garaffo is a Washington DC-area-based freelance writer. She specializes in home and lifestyle content and loves helping others live their best lives at home and beyond.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
