Use these simple cleaning tricks to make your house stay spotless.
Need some tips & tricks for keeping your home in top shape?
Between kids, work, errands, and a thousand other things, keeping the house clean can definitely be a struggle! It’s no easy task and sometimes we just don’t know where to start. 😅
And while not everyone can have a house so clean that it would make even Marie Kondo jealous, these cleaning tips and tricks will ease you on your way to a spotless house in no time! Talk about serious home goals. 🙌
1. Toy organization is key – give every item in your house a home.
If everything in your home has a dedicated place where it’s organized and can be easily cleaned up and put away (preferably out of sight), your home will look so much cleaner and more organized.
If you’re in need of some stylish storage baskets, our team loves these best-sellers from Target! 😍
“I have cute little boxes & baskets for everything. For papers on my desk, for my recycling, for specific items in my fridge, etc. It really helps to contain any clutter.” – Jessica C.
Hip Tip: Don’t know where to get started? Check out our 4-Week Decluttering Challenge!
2. Sweep your hard floors every day.
No matter what type of tile or hardwood floor you’re cleaning, sweep these eating areas every day, especially after meals. Move out those kitchen stools, clean up the crumbs, and throw the mess in the garbage. This will also help keep bugs out of your home.
Our Hip reader, Mandy, is a fan of this cleaning tip:
“I love using my microfiber mop after we finish eating dinner. We tend to eat at our kitchen counter often, and the kids always spill food on the floor. After I’m done cleaning everything and wiping counters, I do a quick run around the floors with my broom, and the microfiber picks up everything.” – Mandy
Get the team-favorite Turbo Mop on Amazon for only $39.95 (regularly $49.99)!
3. Make your bed in the morning for master bedroom goals & peace of mind.
Even if you don’t clean your bed as often as you should, making it when you wake up will have a positive effect on your mood. By simply making your bed, your room will look so much cleaner and put together.
My Hip teammate, Lina, loves starting her morning with a neat bedroom:
“I make my bed pretty much as soon as I get up, and I love how it looks for the rest of the day. Even something small like that makes a difference in the rest of my day and makes our room inviting (even if the rest of the house is messy).” – Lina
Hip Tip: Speaking of beds… if you’re in the market for some fresh linens, our entire team shared why they’re so obsessed with these sheets. And the best part? They’re super affordable!
4. Use a stainless steel cleaner and wipe down all of your appliances.
Stainless steel appliances can get really dirty – especially when the kids constantly rummage through them for their 100th snack of the day. 🤪 Grab some cleaner and a towel and wipe it down. Sparkly clean kitchen appliances make your whole space shine.
Better yet, Lina shared a super frugal and reusable trick to really make your appliances shine again and again!
5. Grab your laundry basket and do a load of laundry every day.
One load of laundry a day will keep the piles away. 😂 This is especially important for people with kids since laundry literally piles up overnight. Having a laundry system where you can do at least one load a day will make the task seem less daunting when it’s time to fold and put away. Plus, it keeps your hampers and laundry room tidier.
My Hip teammate, Jessica, uses this cleaning tip to keep up with laundry and enjoy some downtime!
“I do laundry every night because that’s the time I get to watch TV and fold. I love it!” – Jessica
Hip Tip: Scoop up this stain-removing bar! It’s a team favorite and really affordable compared to big, name brands!
6. Clean all of the dishes after every meal.
Whether you eat three meals at home or just one at night, it’s important to clean up after each meal to keep your kitchen spotless after it’s used. We love using this innovative sponge for all types of jobs and to keep it out of sight, you might want to scoop up this versatile (& super cheap) sponge holder, too.
We’re also big fans of this foldable drying rack which is easy to store away – and also this clean and dirty sign that lets you know when it’s time to unload the dishwasher!
My Hip teammate, Bryn, uses this tip to keep her kitchen clean & organized:
“I do my dishes right away. Dirty dishes go right from the sink into the dishwasher, so my sink is always clean. I always run my dishwasher at night and empty it first thing in the morning. I also have a bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s countertop spray right next to my sink, so I can easily wipe down my counters several times per day.” – Bryn
7. Organize, clean, and put things back where you got them.
Have you ever grabbed something from the pantry and were too lazy to put it back… so it sat on the counter for a few days instead? While we’re all guilty of it, this habit creates clutter. Put things back in their dedicated places when you’re done with them.
Hip Tip: Want to make your own pretty labels like Lina? Check out her Rae Dunn-inspired containers to DIY your own. If you’re getting your spices in order too, we shared an easy tutorial for how to made some spice labels.
8. Pick up around your living room furniture before you go to bed.
Simply fluffing up your pillows and folding (and putting) throw blankets where they belong make such a huge impact on how picked-up a room looks. Pick up anything that’s on the floor such as kid or pet toys. You’ll go to bed less stressed and you’ll feel good about waking up to a neat, clean house.
“Every night, after I put the kids to bed, I grab my large decorative basket, throw all the kids toys in it, and put it in the corner. Then I fluff up our couch pillows and place throw blankets where they normally go. I wake up feeling refreshed by my clean living area.” – Sara
9. Implement the “one thing out, one thing back rule”.
This goes for you and the kids. If you take something out, put it back before you move onto something else. While it may take kids a bit longer to get used to this system, stay consistent with this useful cleaning tip so your entire house doesn’t end up becoming cluttered and messy.
This clever beanbag to store toys will make cleaning up way more fun, too.
10. Perform light cleaning services around the house when necessary.
Most people tackle deep cleaning every other week (or some, just once a month). What about all that time in between cleanings? If you notice a dirty bathroom vanity, mirror, kitchen sink, etc., take the time to wipe it up or clean it quickly and move on with your day. You’ll also find that deep cleanings become a lot easier (and quicker), too.
“I like to keep bathroom cleaning supplies & paper towels in the bathroom sink cabinet. When I get out of the shower and I’m waiting for my lotion to not feel so sticky, I can grab the countertop spray, spritz it on the counter, and do a quick wipe down to help keep it clean between deep cleanings.” – Emily
Hip Tip: If you find yourself using too many paper towels, consider trying out Lina’s favorite replacement – they’ve quickly become a team and reader favorite around here, too!
11. Let the kids double-check each other.
This awesome cleaning tip came from one of our Hip readers! They said, “The best is when you assign the kids to inspect each other’s work, they’re way harsher than I would ever be. 🤣 The little ones love being able to tell the big ones ‘you missed a spot!'”
It takes the pressure off of you to check behind the kids, and it holds them accountable for keeping their own spaces clean. 🙌
12. Sometimes, we gotta just get rid of stuff!
Despite the tons of great cleaning tips out there, sometimes the only way to truly tidy up is by getting rid of the junk that’s collected over the years.
It’s so easy for our extra items to build up, and next thing we know, we’ve got boxes and closets full of things we could probably live without. And some of them are hard to get rid of!
Luckily, we have a few tips for taking care of the clutter:
- If you have the space for it, host a yard sale!
- Get rid of old electronics (and make some money!) by recycling or reselling them.
- Donate unneeded items or sell them on Facebook Marketplace.
You can also see if any friends or family need some of your items before you get rid of ’em!
13. Shut the door on the mess, literally!
No matter how many cleaning tips we learn, sometimes we just can’t do it all. Life happens, kids are messy, and there are days our messes get the best of us. When that happens, shut the doors and go take a nap! Out of sight, out of mind, am I right? 😂
The last thing we need is to feel stressed about a messy house on top of all the other responsibilities we have, so you can relax knowing there’s no need to be perfect!
Pick up a container of this amazing Pink Stuff cleaning paste!
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