11 Tips & Tricks to Keep Your House Spotless (Even with Kids)
Not everyone can have a house so clean it would make even Marie Kondo jealous, but these tips and tricks will ease you on your way to a spotless house in no time! Talk about serious home goals!
1. Give every item a home.
If everything in your home has a dedicated place, where it’s organized and can be easily cleaned up and put away (preferably out of sight), your home will look so much cleaner and more organized.
“I have cute little boxes for everything. For papers on my desk, for my recycling, for specific items in my fridge, etc. It really helps to contain any clutter.” – Jessica C.
2. Sweep your kitchen and dining room floors every day.
No matter what type of tile or hardwood floor you’re cleaning, sweep these eating areas every day, especially after meals. Move out those kitchen stools, clean up the crumbs, and throw the mess in the garbage. This will also help keep bugs out of your home.
“I love using my microfiber mop after we finish eating dinner. We tend to eat at our kitchen counter often, and the kids always spill food on the floor. After I’m done cleaning everything and wiping counters, I do a quick run around the floors with my broom, and the microfiber picks up everything. Then I just vacuum it right up!” – Mandy
3. Make your bed in the morning.
Even if you don’t clean your bed as often as you should, making it when you wake up will have a positive effect on your mood. By simply making your bed, your room will look so much cleaner and put together.
“I make my bed pretty much as soon as I get up, and I love how it looks for the rest of the day. Even something small like that makes a difference in the rest of my day and makes our room inviting (even if the rest of the house is messy).” – Lina
4. Wipe down the stainless steel appliances.
Stainless steel appliances can get really dirty – especially when the kids constantly rummage through it for their 100th snack for the day. Grab some cleaner and a towel and wipe it down. Sparkly clean kitchen appliances make your whole space shine.
Hip Tip: Say goodbye to fingerprints on your stainless steel for good with this tip!
5. Do a load of laundry every day.
One load of laundry a day will keep the piles away. 😂 This is especially important for people with kids since laundry literally piles up overnight. Having a laundry system where you can do at least one load a day will make the task seem less daunting when it’s time to fold and put away. Plus, it keeps your hampers and laundry room tidier.
“I do laundry every night because that’s the time I get to watch TV and fold. I love it!” – Jessica
6. Clean dishes after every meal.
Whether you eat three meals at home or just one at night, it’s important to clean up after each meal to keep your kitchen spotless after it’s used.
We’re also big fans of this foldable drying rack which is easy to store away – and also this clean and dirty sign that lets you know when it’s time to unload the dishwasher!
“I do my dishes right away. Dirty dishes go right from the sink into the dishwasher, so my sink is always clean. I always run my dishwasher at night and empty it first thing in the morning. I have a bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s countertop spray right next to my sink, so I can easily wipe down my counters several times per day.” – Bryn
7. Put things back where you got them.
Have you ever grabbed something from the pantry and were too lazy to put it back… so it sat on the counter for a few days instead? While we’re all guilty of it, this habit creates clutter. Put things back in their dedicated place when you’re done with them.
Hip Tip: Did you catch Lina’s pantry makeover? Plus, try these 8 easy pantry organization strategies!
8. Pick up before you go to bed.
Simply fluffing up your pillows and folding (and putting) throw blankets where they belong make such a huge impact on how picked-up a room looks. Pick up anything that’s on the floor such as kid or pet toys. You’ll go to bed less stressed and you’ll feel good about waking up to a neat house.
“Every night, after I put the kids to bed, I grab my large decorative basket, throw all the kids toys in it, and put it in the corner. Then I fluff up our couch pillows and place throw blankets where they normally go. I wake up feeling refreshed by my clean living area.” – Sara
9. Implement the “one thing out, one thing back rule”.
This goes for you and the kids. If you take something out, put it back before you move onto something else. While it may take kids a bit longer to get used to this system, stay consistent with this important habit so your entire house doesn’t end up becoming cluttered and messy.
Hip Tip: Check out these clever ways to store kids toys!
10. Perform light cleaning when necessary.
Most people tackle deep cleaning every other week (or some, just once a month). What about all that time in between cleanings? If you notice a dirty bathroom vanity, mirror, kitchen sink, etc. – take the time to wipe it up or clean it quickly and move on with your day. You’ll also find that deep cleanings become a lot easier (and quicker), too.
“I like to keep our bathroom cleaning supplies in the bathroom sink cabinet. When I get out of the shower and I’m waiting for my lotion to not feel so sticky, I can grab the countertop spray, spritz it on the counter, and do a quick wipe down to help keep it clean between deep cleanings.” – Emily
11. Shut the door on the mess, literally!
Sometimes we just can’t do it all. Life happens, kids are messy, and there are days our messes get the best of us. When that happens, shut the doors and go take a nap! Out of sight, out of mind, am I right? 😂
Can you tell me where I could get the sink caddy?
Yes, riya! This is the Mainstays Flexible Sink Caddy that sells at Walmart for $3.86 here. This is sold in-stores only and works great!
Thank you!