Cleaning Basics: 5 things you can do every week to keep your space tidy

Do you ever wake up in the morning and think to yourself, “Wow, I’m super excited to learn about cleaning basics today!”

Yeah, we don’t either.

Cleaning isn’t fun for most people. It’s a bit of a drag, but it’s something you have to do in order to make sure your living space is usable and ultimately, habitable.

Luckily, you don’t have to spend your entire weekend cleaning if you take a few minutes every day of the week to do a little bit. There are easy steps you can take to prevent disorganization, filthiness and having to clean for hours at a time. Check out these simple cleaning basics tips that will keep your space looking tidy week-in and week-out.

Cleaning Basics #1: Put Things Away After Using Them

This tip may seem obvious, but it’s so easy for people to use things and then just leave them sitting around. 

Putting things back after you use them is the easiest way to keep things out of the way and avoid clutter. For this to happen, though, you will need baskets, bins, cabinets and a designated place for each item in the room. 

Then, when leaving a room, take a quick scan around before moving to the next space. Is there anything you can take with you? If not, is everything in this room put away? 

#2: Wipe Things Down After Using Them

A simple box of disinfectant wipes will do wonders for your house. 

After using common surfaces that might collect dirt, crumbs and other particles, wipe them down. This goes for almost any surface in the house, including countertops, showers, sinks, toilets and even dishes. Not only will this clean those places, but it will also prevent mold and bacteria from building up.

Spending an extra minute wiping down commonly used surfaces after each use allows you to come back later to a clean and ready-to-go space.

#3: Think Before You Buy

When you’re out for your weekly shopping trip or grocery run, you’re in a prime position to ensure that your house stays tidy before you do any cleaning.

Try not to buy things you already have or don’t really need. Doing so will cause clutter and extra cleaning down the road. Before you buy, think about these questions:

• Do I already have this item/a similar item?
• Do I really need this item?
• Do I have a place to put away this item?

#4: Stick to a Daily Schedule

Schedules are a great way to help you stay on top of cleaning without taking much time to do so.

Start by making a punch list of small things you can do every day to keep your space clean, and spread them out. For example, when you get out of bed in the morning, go ahead and take 30 seconds to make it back. This could be the first thing you do each day, and it’s a simple way to keep things orderly. 

Here are a few other cleaning tasks you could punch off the list each day:

• Wipe messes up when they happen – don’t leave them for later in the day
• Clean dishes while cooking dinner each night
• Do a 10-minute power cleanup before you go to bed

#5: Stick to a Weekly Schedule

On top of tackling small things on a daily list, creating and sticking to a weekly plan is a great idea too. 

Assign one or two rooms or a couple of tasks to each day of the week. When you have free time during the day, conduct a thorough clean of the assigned space. This will ensure that the space gets a good clean at least once per week, so you don’t have to do the whole house at once. For example, see the start of a weekly schedule below.

• Monday: laundry and dusting
• Tuesday: bathrooms and vacuuming
• Wednesday: living room and mopping

Cleaning is not fun. And most of the time, it’s hard too. 

That’s why doing easy, little things each week will help you stay on top of cleaning while not boring you to death. Follow these simple cleaning basics tips so that your house can be clean and tidy without too much hassle.