If there is anything I have learned in taking care of a home with kids and working, it is that success in keeping a tidy home means creating vital daily habits.
The second most important thing is that you keep nothing in your home that doesn’t serve you or represent who you are today; otherwise, it will require energy from you. And as busy as we all are, there is just no time for that.
Daily habits for a tidy home
The whole house reset daily
Sometimes, the easiest thing to make your home instantly look tidy is to pick everything up and return it to its home. I spend at least fifteen to thirty minutes picking up the house daily, resetting everything I see out of place. But I don’t exceed that time frame, especially on busy days; I stick to the fifteen minutes.
The microwave minute
I spend more time in the kitchen than any room in the home. I would say most people do. This means, more often than not, I am waiting for something to warm up in the microwave or something to cook inside the air fryer.
I use the microwave minute method to do a quick tidying of something. It could be two minutes of warming up a muffin, and I will wipe the counter.
Instead of standing around and staring at the numbers counting down, I will race the clock to sort through the mail or unload the dishwasher.
You get the point: I steal a quick tidy-in whenever I can.
Basket method
Sometimes, if company is coming over, you don’t have more than five minutes to pick up. The basket method is an easy-to-follow habit that can help reduce clutter and mess. Have a basket where you pick up things off the ground or toys. Then, when you have more time, take the basket and return the items to their home.
Nightly Cleanup
Before heading to bed, do a quick run-through of your living spaces. Put away any stray items and do a surface clean. Waking up to a tidy home can positively impact your morning routine.
Clean as you go
My grandmother was the queen of clean-as-you-go, and she taught me that, especially in the kitchen. But this quick swipe and clean method can keep your home tidy daily.
You can even make all-purpose wipes in containers around your home to wipe as you go through your daily routine.
For example, as soon as you finish brushing your teeth, wipe the counter with a wipe. Wipe the toilet down with a wipe after each use.
These quick swipes can cut down on the deep cleaning sessions. Or time in general if you hate cleaning.
Never leave a room empty-handed
Too often, we walk over or past a mess or things not in their homes. If you train yourself to remember to take it with you. You will find your house will stay tidy more often.
Make it easy to put away
I remember being at a summit, and an attendant asked me during my presentation how to get her husband to stop putting beer and soda cans all over the house.
I thought about what she said and visualized what this scenario looked like. Then I told her to make it easy for him.
Controversial response, I know.
Some women may have thought that he should get up and clean up after himself, or he is being lazy, or whatever they thought should be done by the husband.
But see, my job is nonjudgmental, and I could care less what he should have been doing—more about getting the habit established to getting him to do it now.
Clearly, it was a pain point for her and may have been causing tension inside the home. Perhaps he worked long hours, fell asleep on the couch, and proceeded to the bed shortly after with no thought of the can he left on the side table.
I explained to her that if he is sitting on the couch and can’t seem to make it to the garbage, bring it to him and get him to at least start the habit of putting it where it belongs.
I suggested a small bin, decorative basket with a bag, or anything she could put closer to the sitting area and asked him to place them inside.
Then I told her to move the bin further away as time passed.
Cause mentally, what is going to happen is he will be caught off guard looking for the bin, and his brain will want to put it in the basket.
That’s just how the habit system works.
She was thrilled and excited to try the new habit. I wish I could have spoken to her again to follow up to see if that habit took.
But the audience loved the idea.
Because sometimes, we just need to make things easy until we can create that habit of keeping a tidy home.
I use this same concept for my kids by keeping easy-to-reach bins.
Anything you find that tends to linger or hangs out after use has a considerable possibility that having to put that item away is a tension point because it’s not easy enough. Sometimes, a new bin in a different area is a simple way to increase the ease of use and goal of having it put back quickly.
Do smaller laundry loads
Most people struggle with putting the laundry away after cleaning because they are doing loads and loads. Instead, make them smaller and adjust your machine’s water to the correct setting. A smaller load means you will have better success in putting it away instead of creating those couch mountains we tend to create.
Do the dishes daily
A clean sink instantly creates a cleaner home. Doing the dishes daily or after every meal is an easy way to keep the kitchen tidy and clean.
Keep cleaning stuff in every room
Keep a basic microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner handy in bathrooms and other areas of the home to create mini cleaning kits to help wipe up or dust in minutes to reduce dirt and grime.
Let go of the all-or-nothing mentality
Can’t get the whole master bathroom done, but was able to get the counters wiped and clean today and can maybe get to the shower or toilet the next. It’s ok; you don’t have to clean a whole room from top to bottom to reap the benefits. Just get something cleaned today.
How do you develop tidy habits?
You probably think I have no time as it is; how am I supposed to add new daily habits to keep the house clean? I think sometimes we need to reframe our perception of time. We do this by using the pocket system.
Pocket system does require you to multitask.
Here are some tips to look for those pockets of time throughout your day. Sitting in a car school pickup line, clean the front seat or wipe the car down.
Kiddos playing in the bathtub? Wipe down the counters or declutter expired body products.
It’s those small tiny pockets that can make a huge impact and give us a chance to catch up on some of those cleaning or tidying jobs inside our home.
What daily cleaning habits helped you have a more tidy home, especially when you are short on time? Share them below.