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If you feel like your home is in a constant state of chaos and that you’re always cleaning, you might need to put a little order in the mix. These five daily tasks will help you maintain a clean home with minimal effort. Start with one every day for a week and add a new task every week until you’ve mastered them all, or do all of them from the start.
MAKE BEDS
Set the tone by making your bed daily. Teach your kids to make their beds and this job is even easier. I find that by keeping the bedding simple and It will instantly make your bedrooms look more put together and in reality it takes under a minute to complete.
CHECK FLOORS
Most days I need to at least do a quick sweep of the hardwood floors on our first level. Sometimes I grab the vacuum cleaner and do a little touch up, but most of the time it’s just a quick once-over with my broom or a microfiber floor duster. My kids are in charge of crumb clean-up under the kitchen table with a little mini broom and dust pan.
WIPE COUNTERS
I wipe the kitchen counters after each meal and I check the bathroom counters daily and give them a quick wipe if they need it. I use this method for kitchen counter clean up and keep bar mop towels in a cute jar for easy access and great wipe-down capability. I love keeping soaps and sprays contained on the counters with this dish.
CLUTTER
Clutter can be toys on the floor, stacks of mail or papers to file, or just stuff that should be put away or tossed. Some things that work for us: toss any flyers or unnecessary mail at the door, open and file any bills that need to be paid, and bins and file folders in a filing cabinet for kid papers. In our house we toss (recycle) most worksheets and keep the special artwork and papers. Clutter is different for every person and family. If you have a big clutter problem you could use this item on your list to get some decluttering done every day. Make a list of all your little clutter areas and then every day spend 10-15 minutes knocking them off your list. For me, I use this time to sort through daily mail and papers. I need to deal with paper clutter every day to keep up with it and not let it get out of control. If you struggle with paper clutter, check out this post.
LAUNDRY
I do at least one load of laundry every.single.day. I know it sounds annoying and monotonous, but for me it’s the only way to stay on top of the potential piles and piles of laundry. What’s the key to making one load a day work? Actually starting AND finishing a load of laundry every day. Don’t let it pile up in a corner or on a table or couch or bed or outside the laundry room. Start and finish it. It’s a great process to master because you will have clean clothes at the ready at any time and you shouldn’t have to iron as often if the clothes are put away right away. If laundry every day sounds daunting, check out this post for more ideas on Laundry Day vs. Laundry Every Day.
If you are trying to get into a cleaning routine (or better yet, my cleaning routine) and are just struggling with the daily stuff, clutter, and mess, stop the cleaning routine and work on these things until you feel like you’re getting on top of the dailies. Are you following me on Instagram? I post my weekly cleaning routine there too!
This post is a good one to get you started – you’ll find links to 3 free printables too!
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Love cleaning and DIY cleaners or just want a simplified approach to cleaning and homekeeping? You’ll LOVE my new book Simply Clean – pre-order it now!
Deborah Says...
I love this. First thing I need to do is declutter and a deep clean of all the house! Closets and drawers included. Plus my craft room, that everyone thinks is a storage room.
Susan Kaplan Says...
Yes. Me, too!
LuAnne Smith Says...
Oh my goodness I don’t know how to thank you enough for having this incredible website that hopefully will help me to finally get everything done ✅ in the proper order and ways I should tackle this insurmountable (to me so far) task of trying to make this house a ???? home…. big dogs ???? had been locked ???? in all day everyday…. flooring (carpet & linoleum) trashed…. walls badly in need of paint ???? and 3 bedrooms (master suite,sewing room,guest room) 2 bath ???? 1,800 sf modular….. and all on a budget & living in it and trying hard not to get discouraged by not being able to make it livable and presentable at the same time. I’ve preordered your book ???? and need help to know what printouts will have the best advice or routines to follow that will help me accomplish things as well as living a life that is comfortable. BTW I am 72 years old and have RA but VERY active. My dear husband is 82…. God bless you for BEING!!!
Becky Says...
Post authorWelcome and thank you so much for your kind words – happy cleaning!
Rolande Says...
OMG, you have such a great site…making easier to do the daily tasks… after working crazy schedules for 30 + years on crazy shifts… lost touch with daily things…just the necessary ones but the rest not so often…now retired and at a lost for where to begin till you came along…thank you!
Chris Fitzsimmons Says...
Where can I get the turquoise glass ware you have in your kitchen, I love it and want to copy.
Becky Says...
Post authorIt’s mostly Fiestaware 🙂
Nicole Says...
Curious what Hand soap and dish soap you have in picture next to your sink.
b r Says...
Post authorCaldrea!
Keenya Says...
Hi, What laundry method would you suggest to someone who has to go to the Laundromat to wash clothes?
b r Says...
Post authorI would recommend weekly and filling as many machines as you can to get it done all at once 😉
Susan Kaplan Says...
These are all great ideas. But to implement them, I have to spend a lot of time first putting stuff away and finding homes for things that don’t have homes that work for me. I don’t hoard. I just don’t put things away after I’ve used them. But making the bed every day is almost embedded into my routine now.
sehendri Says...
Just found your website. I’ve been a housewife for 49 years and while I have always had a schedule/plan to keep my home clean, I “retired” from housework about 1 1/2 years ago when my husband retired from out-of-the-home work. I totally lost interest in caring whether the work was done, the meals cooked or that my home was presentable! It actually felt WONDERFUL after all those years….HOWEVER, I am ready to get back on the bandwagon and return to a nice, clean home! I think what I needed was a reprieve from it all, and it worked! My “vacation” was exactly what was called for at that point in my life! I regret nothing! Sure my house was messy, but hubby and I had such fun for the first time in our marriage being free to pick up and GO whenever and wherever we wanted without worrying about kid schedules or his work schedule.
We’ve had about 18 months of that, and I’m now feeling the pull of my formerly clean, organized home! I’ve also come to realize that if I have a routine for the times I’m home, I can have a clean home AND time to enjoy hubby being retired! I’m ready for a kick start, and yours looks like THE one for me! I just joined your Society and am looking forward to learning from a young chick! LOL!
b r Says...
Post authorThat sounds like just what you needed – congrats for doing that and for retiring. Thank you for joining me – hopefully my routine is simpler that what you were doing before 🙂
Sara Says...
I am IN LOVE with your house!!!! I love your color scheme and decorations!!! I’m a busy working mama of 2 little girls (4 & 7) and a big kid (my hubs- lol), so it’s basically up to me to keep my house clean, work full time, AND take care of my kids! I love the simplicity of your routine, and plan on getting it down this summer before I have to return to work (I am an elementary teacher). Thanks for your ideas and inspiration!
b r Says...
Post authorThank you Sara!