Camilla Jessen
These ten easy habits will help you stay ahead of the mess—without losing your weekend to cleaning.
Housework rarely sparks joy—but it doesn’t have to be a source of stress, either.
By establishing a few smart household routines, you can keep your home sparkling clean without feeling like you’re always chasing dirt.
The key is consistency and small habits that add up to a big difference.
From making your bed the right way to getting the whole family involved, here are ten easy routines that will simplify your life and clean up your space.
1. Make Your Bed
Making the bed each morning is a proven mood booster, according to U.S. studies.
But don’t rush to cover it up—overnight, we lose up to half a liter of fluid, creating a cozy haven for dust mites.
Instead, pull back the covers and let your bed air out before making it. And for allergy-prone households, remove and wash the bedding weekly (gently, to avoid spreading allergens).
2. Keep the Fridge Fresh
The refrigerator is a magnet for spills, condensation, and bacteria.
Wipe down sticky messes immediately, line drawers with kitchen paper, and regularly check for expired food.
Clean the entire fridge every 4–6 weeks with a cloth and soft toothbrush for seals and crevices. Don’t forget to unclog the condensation drain—use a cotton swab or blow gently through a straw.
3. Banish Sticky Kitchen Grease Easily
Cabinet grime got you down?
Mix equal parts dish soap and vinegar, apply it, wait briefly, and wipe clean.
For extra scrubbing power, attach a brush head to your cordless drill—yes, really—and let the tool do the work.
4. Fight Toilet Odors Overnight
To tackle stubborn toilet smells, drop a denture-cleaning tablet into the bowl at night and let it work its magic.
For immediate odor control, light a match and blow it out—the sulfur helps neutralize the air (a tried-and-true trick).
5. Make Weekly Cleaning a No-Brainer
Structure your weekly cleaning with a room-by-room plan. Start with the bathroom (clean toilet last), then move to bedrooms, living areas, and finally the kitchen.
Use color-coded cloths—green for kitchen, yellow for bath, red for toilet, blue for living spaces—to prevent cross-contamination.
6. The “Do It Now” Habit
Channel your inner Isabella Rossellini: never leave a room empty-handed. Add to that: tackle small messes the moment you spot them.
Dust the TV while you’re on the phone, sort towels while watching the kids, or unload the dishwasher while dinner simmers. The little things add up fast.
7. Make Cleaning a Team Sport
Divide and conquer. Assign chores by room (dad does kitchen, mom the bath, kids the living room) or create rotating teams. Once a week, turn on music and host a 2-hour “family clean” session. Quick brief, then go—and maybe celebrate with a treat after.
8. Make Space Where You Thought You Had None
Overflow chaos often comes down to lack of storage.
Try underbed drawers for linens, shelf risers for plates and mugs, mobile carts for kitchen or hobby supplies, and door-mounted baskets for cleaning gear.
In kids’ rooms, store board games vertically to save space and simplify cleanup.
9. Stop Dirt at the Door
Dirt that never enters doesn’t need cleaning. Invest in heavy-duty entry mats: coarse ones for outside, finer ones inside. Wash them in the machine or spray them off with a hose.
They trap grime and soak up moisture, protecting your floors and your sanity.
10. Master Your Shopping List
Tired of constant supermarket runs? Apps like Bring! sync lists across family phones, Listonic remembers past purchases and tracks cost, and AnyList even turns recipes into shopping lists.
Bonus: With Siri or Alexa integration, you can update your list with just your voice.