How to Keep a Clean House Clean

Get family members in on house chores.

A clean house proves to be a satisfying and relaxing atmosphere in which to live, but coming home to a house that is in a shambles can be distressing and exhausting. After your have done your weekly cleaning, take a few minutes every day to keep your clean house looking spic-and-span to get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of your living space. Keeping up with your house will make your weekly chores less burdensome as well.

Things You'll Need

• Rags
• Duster
• Cleaning solution
• Soap
• Pen
• Paper

Instructions

1. Stay stocked with cleaning supplies. A full supply of rags, dusters, cleaning solutions and soaps will make your cleaning sessions painless. Keep a list of supplies that are running low to stock up on when you make your next trip to the grocery store.

2. Put it away. When you come home, instead of setting everything on your kitchen table or other catch-all area, put the items in their intended spot. Store shoes in a closet, dishes in the dishwasher and paper or mail items in your office area or file cabinet. This will help cut down on the visual clutter.

3. Make a cleaning checklist for each room. For example, the kitchen might include wiping down the counter, cleaning the sink, loading or emptying the dishwasher and wiping down appliances. Post the list in each room to make tasks automatic.

4. Designate a specific amount of time every day to spruce up your clean home. Pick the same time everyday to turn your efforts into a habit.

5. Spot clean. If you have a few extra moments in your day and you notice that your living room is covered in dust or a door is full of smudges or splatter, take out a cloth and clean it off. Cleaning small areas throughout the week makes your weekly cleaning shorter and easier to accomplish.

Tips & Warnings

• Get family members to help. If other people live in the house, assign each member a specific amount of chores to get done each day. Breaking up housework between members makes cleaning less daunting.

• Don't stress. If some clutter accumulates in a few rooms, don't let it get to you. Life happens and everybody gets busy. Designate a few extra moments when you have time to pick up after yourself when you are able to.

References

• CNN Living; How to Clean Your Home in 19 Minutes; July 2007
• Red Lotus Consulting; The Ten Habits That Keep Your Home Clean; Kathryn Weber
• Real Simple: Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist