Ask a room full of people about how often they clean their homes, and you’ll likely get some different answers. Self-described “clean freaks” usually flaunt their cleaning tendencies, while those who don’t mind a mess might want to change the subject. No matter where you fall on the cleaning habit spectrum, the question “how often should I be cleaning my home?” really does have an answer.
We spoke to cleaning specialist Whitney White of @simplecleanfit_whit, who says everyday maintenance is the best.
“You should be cleaning your home every day – but maintaining is key! Small bits at a time, with a small goal every day such as tidying up the kitchen, vacuuming, or wiping down surfaces helps you stay on top of it.”
White also suggests starting in the kitchen. “The kitchen is where we often find ourselves the most overwhelmed and having a clean kitchen will lead to motivation to continue keeping the rest of the home clean.”
Everyday maintenance is more efficient than cleaning a whole house top to bottom less often. Schedules are helpful, especially when prominent and visible. Print one out and post it in area you regularly see. Or set up reminders on your phone for what small tasks you want to accomplish each day. Some folks designate specific rooms on specific days of the house, or just reminders that it’s vacuum day, toilet day or whatever system that works.
White shares her 3 top tips for cleaning:
- Create a “home” for everything in your home. If something doesn’t have a specific spot to be put away, it ends up as clutter making it more overwhelming to clean.
- Follow a cleaning schedule with a daily/weekly goal.
- Declutter your home – often times we feel overwhelmed by cleaning when we have too much “stuff.”
