How to Keep Your House Clean! Tips & Tricks

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Moving out on your own is a big wake up call. I'm going to share a secret, and this may come as a surprise to you, but when you leave your parents house you have to clean for yourself. I know, shocker!


I'm a relatively clean person. I wouldn't consider myself a slob by any means, and I appreciate a beautiful, fresh space. Nobody can be 100% disciplined 100% of the time, right? Right!

Even the most cleanly people don't always feel like cleaning, so let's talk about some tips I've adopted into my cleaning routine, and some tricks that have helped me enjoy cleaning more.

PS. Stick around to the end for an adorable FREE printable, just for you!

Watch Cleaning Videos

Now, this might sound like a cop-out. What do you mean watch other people clean? That's basically me doing twice the work where I watch them do it and then I have to do it! 

Wrong! Cleaning videos are extremely motivating. I don't know what it is or how it works but whenever I have NO desire to clean (but the house is grimy) I will go on YouTube and watch someone speed clean. 

Don't knock it until you try it! 

Pinterest Infographics

Before we get into the real world of cleaning, there's a few other resources I'd like to share with you! Pinterest is a great resource for practical things, not just pictures of cute puppies and beautiful outfits. Use Pinterest to find out how to clean that one pot that REFUSES to look new again or that windowsill without scrubbing for days. 

Most of my greatest cleaning references are from articles or infographics that I've found on the website, and, for a girl who likes lists, provides great structure. 

Here's a couple of my favourite cleaning infographics:

Source

Source

There are so many more of these that you can find for your specific needs!

Speed Clean

If you tried #1, you'll notice that a lot of videos on YouTube are of people speed cleaning. Speed cleaning is when you set a timer for however long you want (or however long you have!) and clean without stopping until the alarm rings. There are two important parts to this method: 

1. No taking breaks! This eliminates how a 2 minute Instagram scroll can result in a 2 hour documentary on the creation of artisanal breads (and no cleanup).

2. You resolve to be happy with whatever cleaning you were able to do in the time you had. You are doing the best you can. 

Speed cleaning can be a fun way to challenge yourself to get as much done as possible in a short amount of time. Think of it as The Quiet Game's cousin. ;)

Play Music/Podcast

Is there a Spotify playlist you've been dying to listen to but haven't had the chance to yet? There's no greater time than this! Crank up the bops and sing, dance, mop, dust, wipe, clean! 

Make a frankly mundane routine something that you can look forward to as YOU time! 

A clean space really does make a clear mind. You will feel so much better once you're done! 

If you don't want to listen to music, you could listen to a podcast instead. I'm really loving the How Stuff Works podcast and listen to it when I'm detangling my hair (another mundane, dreaded process). It's made the chore fun for me because I get to learn about topics that interest me!

Make DIY Cleaning Products

Now this tip won't necessarily make you want to clean more, but it will make your wallet happy (which, basically makes the whole cleaning idea much nicer). 

Make your own cleaning products! I DIY my all-purpose cleaner and it's so easy and cheap to create that you probably have all of the ingredients already. 

Here's my all-purpose cleaner recipe:

1/2 cup of vinegar

1 1/2 cup of water

10 drops of Tea Tree Oil (YAS for bacteria killing properties!)

(Note: Don't use this on marble or travertine surfaces)

There are lots of benefits to using vinegar when you clean! This is a great, cheap, no-harmful-chemicals alternative if you can handle the temporary strong smell!

Use a Diffuser

Now that the vinegar is potent in the air, it's time to use your diffuser! After my husband cleans the kitchen (we divvied up household cleaning tasks depending on preference before we got married!), he makes a blend of essential oils to diffuse. It makes the house smell wonderful and extra spotless!

His current fav blend is:

Lavender

Tea Tree

Mint

One of the best and most satisfying parts of cleaning is how good it smells afterwards!

Know Your Bad Habits & Make Preventative Solutions

Everyone knows about 'the chair'. We've all done it, don't be ashamed. Everyone has bad habits in regards to cleanliness that prevent them from feeling their best, and prevent their homes from looking the best. 

My husband is the master of all 'chair' habits. We don't even have a chair in our bedroom, so you can imagine how that's going. I have my own moments as well, TBH. 

So, we came up with a preventative solution that helps keep clothes off the floor and keeps me sane. We installed hooks behind our closet door! Now when I open the door to walk in, I can't even see what kind of crazy is going on on his side of the closet.

Voilà! We prevented many detrimental things from happening: clothes on the floor, nagging wife, husband has own space to do what he pleases...everyone's happy! 

Be proactive about your cleaning habits and you won't set yourself up for failure.

Have a Cleaning Checklist

This is where I come in to help you! Checking off a list of cleaning tasks every day, week or month can really help you feel productive and accomplished. Not only that, but it helps maintain accountability for yourself and your family. 

I've done some of the work for you, and wanted to gift this adorable weekly cleaning checklist for you to fill out and enjoy! 

Download in 3 beautiful colours: Pink Dust, Rain Washed and Concrete. I've also included a blank version of Concrete if you wish to fill in your own routine!

Lemon Graphics by Freepik

DOWNLOAD HERE!

& always remember,

Cleaning and organizing is a practice, not a project. - Meagan Francis