Have your apartment cleaning habits been fallen by the wayside? It’s time to get back in the swing of things!
Sometimes, the clothes and dishes pile up, but it's not for lack of trying. Life gets in the way, and a disorderly apartment is left in its wake.
We get it, making time to clean is difficult. And old habits are hard to break.
But if a busy schedule is preventing you from having a clean home, then something has to give.
The first step is to form daily cleaning habits. A regular cleaning routine will help you maintain a happy, healthy, and organized home.
Below are nine essential cleaning habits that will make your home sparkle!
1. Put Coats and Shoes Away
Putting shoes and coats away is a natural habit, but sometimes it gets ignored. Do you find yourself rushing to make dinner instead of putting your outerwear where it belongs?
If you're in a hurry, it's easy to procrastinate on putting your stuff away. But this behavior only leads to unnecessary clutter.
It's likely you already have a spot for them in your mudroom closet. If so, put them back in their "home."
Whatever you do, don't dump your coat on the sofa and leave your shoes at the door (unless there's a shoe cubby).
Put things away as soon as you step inside. This habit will prevent messes in your entryway and the rest of your home.
2. Keep High-Traffic Areas Free of Clutter
Pay attention to the areas in your apartment that get the most traffic. Spaces where people hang out the most tend to get the messiest.
And it doesn’t take long for that mess to spread to other areas of your apartment.
Try to make a point of tidying up once a day. Focus on the rooms where people spend the most time.
Besides clutter, there’s also dirt. To avoid having to scrub and vacuum all the time, asks guests to take off their shoes when they enter.
You can also add a few rugs near doorways. Strategically placed rugs will trap dirt and keep it from spreading to other parts of your home.
3. Do a Load of Laundry Daily
If you tend to have a lot of dirty laundry, don’t allow it to pile up.
Laundry isn’t exactly a fun chore, so it’s easy to “forget” about it. But that’ll result in bigger piles and a longer laundry day.
Instead, try to knock out a load once a day, or at least every other day.
Staying on top of your laundry will create more time for you to focus on other tasks. That means more fun and less cleaning!
4. Get Rid of Your Extras
Sure, it’s great to have a few extra sweatshirts to stay warm. But that means you have to wash more clothes and you have less space in your closet.
The same goes for shoes, games, and even books. The more stuff you have, the bigger your burden.
Instead of having several of everything, only hold onto what’s most important. Keeping sentimental items is fine, but don’t allow yourself to keep everything under the sun.
Do your best to eliminate extras and only keep what you need. If you get into the habit of throwing things out, you’ll be less likely to accumulate more in the future.
5. Keep Papers Organized
It’s easy for piles of paper to stack up on your desk and kitchen counter. After all, who wants to tear up junk mail and figure out what to do with that letter from Aunt Mary?
While it’s convenient to ignore it, that’ll only create a bigger mess.
Instead of allowing papers to take over, go through your mail right away. Toss the things you don’t need and file the important documents for safekeeping.
6. Make Your Bed Every Day
What’s the first thing you should do when you get out of bed every morning? (Besides brushing your teeth, of course.)
You should make your bed! This small yet useful habit can help you start the day with a tidy bedroom.
Every time you walk into your room, you’ll love the clean vibe. It should encourage you to keep the rest of your apartment organized too!
7. Wipe Down Surfaces Right Away
After you get done showering or doing the dishes, wipe down the surrounding surfaces.
Sure, you could put this off until your weekly cleaning day. But that only means you’ll have a bigger mess to clean.
Plus, bacteria can live for up to 24 hours on surfaces. By eliminating them early, you’ll create a healthier environment for you and your family.
It’s easy to wipe down the shower and quickly clean up the kitchen counters. Take a few extra minutes to do so, and this daily routine will lend itself to a cleaner apartment.
8. Keep Cleaning Supplies Nearby
To make cleaning easier, keep supplies on hand. That way, you’ll always have what you need to give your home a quick cleaning.
The bathroom is an excellent place to keep the basics. Then, if you want to clean the toilet or wipe down the sink, the supplies will be within reach.
Also, put a few cleaning supplies in your kitchen. With a box of wipes and a bottle of spray under your sink, you’ll have everything you need to disinfect your kitchen on a moment’s notice.
9. Straighten Up Before Bedtime
Before going to bed, take care of any lingering messes.
If there are blankets scattered around in the living room, fold them. If there are dirty glasses left in the kitchen from guests, load them into the dishwasher.
You won’t be able to do everything in one night, but it’s a good place to start. By tackling messes on a nightly basis, pretty soon, it’ll become a habit!
In Conclusion
What habits will you start forming today?
Instead of overwhelming yourself, start slowly. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it’s the same way with your apartment.
The more you repeat positive habits, the easier it’ll be to keep your living quarters clean and tidy!
Author Bio:
Sherry Haney serves as the Business Manager for TriVista, where she is responsible for overseeing the operations and efficiencies of the company's property management, sales, marketing, and renovation activities.
