1. Smell. It doesn't matter how clean your house really is, if it smells bad it doesn't feel clean. The fact is, however, that a few kids, a hardworking husband and a pet or two can sure do their part to make sure your house smells more like a public bus terminal than an inviting haven. My favorite tip to keep my house smelling fresh even when it isn't? Spray the entry mat with fabric refresher spray so that when guests wipe their shoes they will kick up a pleasant smell!
2. The Floors. Clean floors go a long way to making your house look, feel, and even smell clean. So go ahead and mop them. Daily. Stop laughing, I'm serious. There are days that I fail to do this, but I always regret it later when I get a slimy wet cheerio stuck to my sock.
3. Empty the Garbage. An empty white trash bag in the bathroom garbage can turn an ordinary bathroom into a hotel-like luxury spa. Well, not quite....but almost!
4. De-cluttering. Any ten year-old can tell you that all you need to do to make a room look satisfactorily clean is to shove everything you own under the bed. Even a very clean house feels messy when there is stuff everywhere. I'm not really suggesting that you shove everything under the bed, but do try packing away half of you pretty little decorative doo-dads and see if your house shines just a little bit more. I'm certain it will.
5. Light. Don't fall for the urban legend that says dimming your lights hides the mess. It doesn't. Dark houses look dirty. Open the shades and turn on some lights. Your home will thank you.
Tell me, what is YOUR trick to make your home feel fabulously clean?
I've always believed that even if a bedroom is completely trashed, making the bed will make it look 75% cleaner right away. After all, the bed usually takes up the largest portion of the room and your eye is drawn to it.
ReplyDeleteI also CLEAR floors--pick up the little things that are scattered here & there & run a quick vacuum over carpet. Lovely!
I am big on the floors too! Even if I cant spend a few minutes a day dusting I always everyday swiffer the wood and tile, vaccume the carpets and wipe up the foot and paw prints with a damp towel. That in combo with a made bed and clean sinks makes my day so much better if that is all I can get to.
ReplyDeletehaha the thing every college kids needs when their parents come to visit
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! Now all I have to do is convince the rest of the family to tidy up!!
ReplyDeletei agree with megan...a made bed makes a HUGE difference. An empty sink also does wonders. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have always said the fastest way to make your house feel cleaner is to vacuum or mop because you have to get everything up off the floor to do that. Mostly it's just a bunch of stuff that gets tossed in the toy box and hamper but it does make a huge difference. Love these tips! :)
ReplyDeleteI have a major daily task for each day of the week. But there are things that I do DAILY to keep on top of it! Daily I do 1-2 loads of laundry (however many I have) first thing in the morning! My bathrooms are wiped down every day with Clorox wipes and Windex wipes (including the shower and bathtub). My kitchen MUST stay clean or I fall to pieces! Haha! Bed is made instantly upon waking, as are my kids. And I vacuum every single day- sometimes more than once! I mop 2-3 times a week, sometimes more if needed. These are just a few of the things I do now since becoming a stay at home mom last year! Now I wonder how I even stood my house when I was working! Haha!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice : ) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletei don't think anybody who mops daily could be accused of imperfect homemaking. But I love the advice and I will try and up my floor cleaning in general. but darn, i feel like i have a ton of floors. like my whole house is covered with them. and they are covered with dog hair and cherios.
ReplyDeleteHaha! This cracked me up! My floors are all over my house too!
DeleteBut Kelly, I really like my do-dads! I also really enjoy your article. Thank you:)
ReplyDeleteI always tell my kids if they'd just straighten the throw pillows on the couch I wouldn't harass them to pick up the living room. I swear the throw pillows make or break the whole room!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you all use to clean hardwood. Shark, eureka, mop and spray, hand and washcloth?
ReplyDeleteFor cleaning the hardwood floors: I vacuum, then the kids put on "dusting socks" (swiffer pads with a bit of almond oil) and dance all over the place!
ReplyDeleteI agree with the you about the floors. If nothing else, I get my floors vacuumed...no where near every day, but one time when with my in-laws in their vacation home I caught my mother-in-law vacumming during the day. I realized she vacuumed every day, I just never saw it! I suddenly realized the secret to her neatness, I would have to work harder! I'm just not as naturally neat, but vacuuming is quick and REALLY helps.
ReplyDeleteI like to keep my kicthen sink clean and wipe down my bathroom sinks and toilets daily. I also love to use my steam mop as many days a week as possible and vaccuum twice a week.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about the clutter! Even if I don't have the time to properly clean, just straightening up and hiding extra possessions that have been hoarded into the house (haha) makes a huge difference!
ReplyDeleteMy mom, God rest her loving heart, if she was really busy she would leave the vaccuum sitting out in the middle of the floor in case anyone would drop by unexpectedly they would think that she was cleaning. (smart woman).
ReplyDeleteHi, I am curious if you use a steam mop? I have been considering buying a steam mop. If you have one, would you share what brand it is and what you like about it? Thanks!
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