As a content editor for Solved at H&G, I spend all day researching, writing, and thinking about cleaning and organizing, which I am pretty sure makes me an expert on the topic. So much so, that my friends now text me with cleaning questions, rather than turning to Google.
Spending all this time learning about cleaning has certainly spilled over into my home. I have to test so many different tricks and habits that it only makes sense that some of them have actually stuck, helping to keep my home hygienic and (largely) tidy.
But which ones have stood the test of time? After spending over 5,000 hours writing about cleaning, these are the five cleaning tips that have stuck with me, and I now can’t live without.
Cleaning habits I cannot live without
Finding the right cleaning balance in my home has taken me a long time, especially when I am testing so many new tricks every few weeks. However, these five are the habits that have truly stuck. Here’s why I deem them some of the best.
1. Closing shift routine
I first wrote about my closing shift routine at the beginning of 2023, but it's still something I stick to most evenings.
It helps you to close down your home so it is ready for you to sleep and is tidy when you wake up, helping you organize your morning routine.
I typically follow the same steps – locking the doors, closing down the kitchen by washing up (or at least stacking the last few dishes neatly) and cleaning the counters, clearing the coffee table, and fluffing up the couch cushions ready to sink into with breakfast early the next day.
It might seem like a lot of effort to start cleaning before you go to sleep, but I find that putting on some soft lighting and relaxing music provides me some time to wind down from screens, knowing my home will be easy to navigate come the morning.
I have Amazon Alexa speakers across both floors of my house so that I can play music everywhere at the same time so it is easier to move between rooms when doing chores.
2. The different-day, different-room schedule
I like to think of myself as a highly organized person, but I enjoy the flexibility of getting things done when I have the energy to do them, rather than forcing myself to get through a task and hating it.
However, deep cleaning is the one exception to the rule. The different-day, different-room housekeeping schedule is a golden rule in my household, helping us stay on top of cleaning the kitchen on Fridays and cleaning the bathroom on Sundays.
These two spaces need deep cleaning every week to keep them hygienic and prevent mold and bacterial growth (no one wants pink mold on their grout lines, after all). The different-day schedule means the rooms are always covered by either me or my partner without having to work out when they were last done.
I swear by the Method cleaning sprays for my kitchen and bathroom. This citrus anti-bacterial spray smells like fresh oranges, not artificial citrus, making cleaning more rewarding. It's plant-based, too.
Method's bathroom cleaner is a great all-around spray for bathroom surfaces. It also smells fantastic, mitigating the harsh chemical smell that usually comes with cleaning showers and toilets.
Microfiber cloths are a must for cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. I use a few per room and color code my cloths to avoid contamination between surfaces and then throw them straight in the washing machine after for use again next week.
3. Body doubling
Even I struggle to get motivated to clean sometimes. Given that I spend so much time thinking about it, it can be hard to actually get up and get started, especially if I am feeling burnt out.
I have found that one of the best ways around this is body doubling – the act of working alongside someone else doing the same task, either physically or virtually, to help hold yourself accountable and feel like you are working towards a shared goal.
I usually use a YouTube video from one of my favorite creators to help spur me on to complete my tasks. Doubling has even helped me overcome a decluttering roadblock and find the motivation to maintain a tidy garden – it has truly become my ultimate secret weapon.
4. One-tool cleaning method
Full disclosure, I don’t tackle all my rooms on the different-day housekeeping schedule. If I did, I would spend every day cleaning and I would be miserable come the weekend.
For spaces like the living room, bedroom, and home office, I will clean them as they need it, typically using the one-tool cleaning method.
Rather than just vacuuming the living room, for example, I will vacuum the whole house in one go. Similarly, if I have my prized Scrub Daddy Damp Duster in hand, I will dust every room of the house, not just one.
Working this way actually speeds cleaning up as I bound from one surface to the next between rooms before returning the tool to the cleaning cabinet, reducing how often I have to stop and start to streamline cleaning and make it less overwhelming.
Damp Dusters are the best way to clean up dust. The damp ridges pick up dust, rather than spreading it around or disturbing it into the air, ensuring your surfaces are actually clean, not just temporarily clear.
5. Going green
Green cleaning is something I switched to when I moved in with my partner who is very conscious about sanitation. Habits such as cleaning with vinegar and cleaning with baking soda, cleaning an oven without chemicals, and steam cleaning became the norm.
There have been several benefits to switching to green cleaning besides it being better for my partner. For a start, my house no longer smells like strong chemicals after cleaning, which means I finish cleaning with far fewer headaches than I used to. Me and my home are healthier for it, too, as I breathe less contaminants in, and I don't have to worry about food contamination.
Green cleaning often works out a lot cheaper than having to regularly repurchase chemical cleaning solutions, too, helping me save money at home by largely relying on steam. Yes, investing in the best steam cleaner was expensive up front, but it has more than paid for itself (it once helped me get rid of fleas with steam and without chemicals, too). It helps that I have also completely switched to reusable, machine-washable microfiber cloths, from Walmart, meaning I save money on paper towels and wipes, too.
Don’t get me wrong, I still use commercial cleaners for some tasks. Method’s plant-based sprays are perfect for disinfecting and cleaning bathrooms, and there are so many things you can clean with The Pink Stuff that I would be foolish to give it up, but there are no more astringent bleach and chemicals you have to wear gloves with in my cabinets.
I buy baking soda in bulk, using it for everything from cleaning windows to laundry to deodorizing furniture and unclogging drains. It is a superpower ingredient.
Distilled white vinegar is a powerful acidic cleaner that helps to break down tough doors, grease, and mineral deposits without damaging surfaces like bleach does. It's better for your health and the environment, too.
Steam cleaners are an investment, but they pay for themselves over time. This steam mop has attachments to help you clean hard and carpeted floors, upholstery and clothing, tiles and grout, ovens, and counters without the need for chemicals or additional supplies and I swear by it for cleaning my kitchen.
Testing out what works for you and your household takes trial and error, and not everything will work for everyone all of the time. However, given these five are habits that have stuck with me out of hundreds, they are certainly good places to start when establishing your own daily cleaning habits for a tidier home.
