5 Important Tips For Regular House Cleaning

Regular housekeeping or, better termed, daily housekeeping is a must, even if you are fortunate to have a professional cleaning service doing the overall cleaning. The secret to a clean home is to follow certain steps daily. Here are five important tips to keeping a home clean on a daily basis:

 

1.     Have a plan: It is something like taking a trip where you plan what you will take and then pack with a system.  Your home can be a giant suitcase. You need to make a map of each room and in that room list all the things that need to be done regularly. For example, the kitchen will need daily attention in the areas of wiping down counters, sweeping floors, doing dishes either by hand or in a dishwasher, clearing the table and wiping it clean, emptying garbage (if needed), putting away any leftover food either in the cupboard, fridge, or freezer and wiping any spills on cupboards or appliance surfaces. Each room has its set of daily chores, which should be noted in your plan.

2.     Put things in their proper place: Adults and children alike need to develop the habit of putting items away as they are used. For example, clothes should be hung up or put in the dirty clothes hamper, toys and adult paraphernalia should be returned to where they came from, and drawers and cupboard doors should be closed. It is amazing how children will respond to keeping a home tidy if they see the adults doing so and if they are encouraged to do so from a young age.

3.     Designate who cleans what: Unless you live alone, there will be more than one person living in a home, and all hands should be on deck. Even children as young as l8 months can be a part of the daily cleaning routine. (sometimes seniors aren’t able to clean due to health restrictions) Make a schedule of what needs to be cleaned and who will be responsible for each task. Especially for children, build a reward system into the schedule. However, grownups like rewards as well, so sometimes it is fun to reward them too. For example, all ages enjoy brownies and milk or a dish of ice cream.

4.     Keep cleaning supplies current and handy: Have a designated closet or area where cleaning supplies are kept. You will need essentials such as a broom, dustpan, vacuum, cleaning cloths, paper towels, and appropriate cleaning solutions for your home. Many people today like to use environmentally safe cleaning solutions made from everyday items like lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar, and dishwashing detergent. If you check online under homemade cleaning remedies, you will find a number of recipes.

5.     Do a nightly check: An adult so designated should take a look around the home each evening before going to bed. Hopefully, everyone will have done their share. Since the COVID situation, it is recommended to do a light disinfectant spray throughout the home at the end of each day. If the smell bothers those living in the home, then doing the spray in the morning by the last adult out may work better.

 

While the above tips may seem cumbersome and time-consuming, you will find that once a routine is established and those living in the home are in the habit of daily cleaning, things will go smoothly. Those living in the home will also find pleasure in having a clean home to relax in and enjoy.