This article was co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO® and by How.com.vn staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Marty Stevens-Heebner is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Clear Home Solutions, a home organizing and senior moving management company based in Southern California. Marty is the President of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM), with certifications in Senior and Specialty Move Management, Professional Organizing, and Aging in Place. Clear Home Solutions was the first nationally accredited firm in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Marty is the first Certified Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) in the United States and has been acknowledged as a Hoarding Specialist and ADHD Specialist through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Marty also hosts How to Move Your Mom (and still be on speaking terms afterward), a podcast dedicated to later life and all its idiosyncrasies. She received her B.A. in History from Cornell University and an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Some people find cleaning a relaxing and enjoyable activity, something they look forward to every day. If you've landed on this article, though, that's probably not you. If cleaning is the last thing you want to do, but you still want to live in a neat and tidy space, you're in luck! We've gathered some of the best tips, from the general to the specific, that you can use to keep your home clean in just a few minutes a day—leaving you plenty of time to do things you enjoy more.
Steps
What Are Your Top Three Annual Home Maintenance Priorities?
Community Q&A
- QuestionWhen is the right time to take out the trash?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerWhen your trash can is full, pull out the bag and put in a new one. Take the full one out immediately. If it's late at night, you can also set the bag by the door to take out in the morning. Avoid simply pushing the trash down when the can gets full, though—you'll end up with a heavy bag that might rip. - QuestionHow can I clean my house during the winter when I'm freezing?How.com.vn Staff EditorThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Staff AnswerHow.com.vn Staff EditorStaff AnswerThe good news is cleaning is physical work that will increase your body temperature and keeping your body moving is a good way to get warm. Throw on an extra sweater or hoodie to get started—you'll probably find you want to shed it as you work your way through the house. - QuestionWhat can I do if I don't have time in the morning, and everyone is too tired to do it?Community AnswerTry to clean up as you go. For example: when you're done with your makeup, put it back in its place, and when you're done eating, put the dishes back into the dishwasher.
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Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Tips
- Delegate tasks to everyone in the home. Even small children can do their part to keep their living space clean and tidy. If everyone pitches in, no one gets overwhelmed and it's much easier to clean your home and keep it that way.[18]Thanks
- Try listening to music or your favorite podcast while cleaning to stimulate your mind and take your mind off an otherwise monotonous task.[19]Thanks
- If you feel overwhelmed, be kind to yourself. Changing your habits is hard and even if you just do one thing, it's better than nothing.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- Motivate yourself while cleaning by listening to music or rewarding yourself with a treat afterward. It will make you enjoy cleaning.
- Keep a to-do list of chores and things that you want to clean so it's easier to keep track of what you've done.
- Keep a waste bin in every room so that you can toss out trash wherever you are in your home.
References
- ↑ Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®. Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager. Expert Interview. 14 January 2020.
- ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
- ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
- ↑ https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a4055/a-quicker-way-to-clean-house-83178/
- ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
- ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a25816/reasons-to-make-your-bed/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/3sK3wJAxGfs?t=10
- ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
- ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-your-house-in-20-minutes-a-day-for-30-days-131142
- ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-your-house-in-20-minutes-a-day-for-30-days-131142
- ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
- ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
- ↑ https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a4055/a-quicker-way-to-clean-house-83178/
- ↑ https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a4055/a-quicker-way-to-clean-house-83178/
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a37462/how-often-you-should-clean-everything/
- ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
- ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
- "I had been sick with a lung infection for months. My house got really dirty, and I had no energy in addition to no motivation. It helped to play music and divide it into shorter sessions. I realized I did not have to do the whole house all at once. Thanks."..." more
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