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5 Professional Tips to Keep Your House Clean

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Most of us want to live in a home that feels neat and tidy, but it can be hard to know where to start once the mess has gotten away from you. Suddenly, you may notice your space is cluttered and disorganized, filled with dishes and dust and laundry—oh my.

Maintaining a clean and tidy home doesn't only improve the aesthetic of your living environment, it can also promote peace of mind. While kicking off a home cleaning project can seem overwhelming, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow to keep housekeeping from becoming overwhelming.

Read on for some tips for keeping your home clean and tidy.

How Often Should You Tidy Your Home?

As with most cleaning tasks, regular maintenance keeps the mess at bay. How often you will need to tidy your home depends on lots of different factors—from how often you cook to children or pets to regularly entertaining. Develop a routine that works for your lifestyle and stick to it—you'll be glad that you did.

  • 01 of 06

    Make Sure Everything Has a Place

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    A place for everything and everything in its place—it's a phrase we've all heard, but what does it really mean? In a nutshell, each item in your home should have a designated spot where it belongs. When everyone in the family knows where specific items go, it's much easier to keep the house clean and organized. It may take a bit of time to get everyone on board, but the payoff is worth it.

    A well-organized home is a calm and relaxing oasis, while a cluttered and chaotic home can be stressful and overwhelming. So, take the time to create a system that works for you and your family, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having a neat and tidy home.

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  • 02 of 06

    Implement a "One In, One Out" Rule

    Organizing Ideas to Declutter the Floor: bookshelves
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    One of the best ways to avoid excess clutter in your home is to implement a "one in, one out" rule. For every new item that comes into your space, get rid of something old. This can be difficult at first, but it's a great way to keep your home tidy and organized.

    If you're considering buying new furniture or decorations, you can recycle or donate old items to confidently bring something new into your space. And if you're ever uncertain about whether or not to get rid of something, just ask yourself: "Do I really need this?" If the answer is no, then it's time to let it go.

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    Set Aside Time Each Day for Decluttering

    Flowers in vases on wooden commode in contemporary living room interior with pastel pink sofa
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    Making time each day to declutter and straighten up can help to prevent messes from piling up. Whether it's before bed or right when you wake up, designate a specific time to tidy up. This will help you to stay on top of the messes and keep your home looking its best. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the mess, set aside time each day to declutter and straighten up—you'll be glad you did.

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  • 04 of 06

    Make Your Bed Every Day

    a freshly made bed

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    Making your bed every day is not just a chore, it's an important habit that can start your day off right, plus, it can help you keep your whole space cleaner. A neatly made bed can give you a sense of order and calm, setting the tone for a productive day.

    Additionally, taking the time to make your bed sends a message to yourself that you're worth taking care of. It's a small act of self-care that can make a big difference in your mood, outlook, and home. Not to mention, it only takes a few minutes to do.

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    Keep Cleaning Supplies Easily Accessible

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    When it comes to cleaning, the old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" rings true. That's why it's important to keep your cleaning supplies easily accessible and within reach.

    When you have to hunt for a dust cloth or search through a cluttered cupboard for your favorite cleaner, you're far less likely to bother with small messes as they happen. As a result, messes build up—until you can't stand the sight of them and are forced to do a deep clean.

    By keeping everything you need right at your fingertips, you'll be more likely to use it regularly and prevent big messes from forming in the first place. Trust us, your future self will thank you.

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  • 06 of 06

    Hire a Professional Regularly

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    A home is one of the biggest investments a person will make in their lifetime, and it should be treated as such. That’s why it’s important to have professionals deep clean your home in between your regular maintenance. Dust, dirt, and other allergens can build up over time, causing lots of unwanted issues.

    A professional deep cleaning will remove all of these contaminants from your home, leaving you with a clean and healthy environment, so all you have to worry about is keeping it neat.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Decluttering Your Life: How Cleaning and Mental Health Are Connected with Dr. Dawn Potter. The Cleveland Clinic.

  2. Bodrij FF, Andeweg SM, Prevoo MJL, Rippe RCA, Alink LRA. The causal effect of household chaos on stress and caregiving: An experimental study. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol., vol. 2, no. 8, 2021. doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100090

  3. McRaven William Harry. Make Your Bed. Grand Central Publishing, 2017.

  4. Dust Allergy. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.