Quick Cleaning Tips to Keep Your House Tidy During a Busy Week
Between work, school runs, errands, your kids’ sports, and family time, the last thing you want to spend your precious hours doing is cleaning. But keeping your home tidy doesn’t have to be a big, time-consuming chore. With a few simple and effective strategies, you can maintain a clean house throughout the week without feeling overwhelmed. Here are some quick cleaning tips to help you stay on top of the mess while managing your busy schedule.
1. Start with the Kitchen and then the Living Room
Whether I am cleaning the entire house on a Saturday morning or doing a quick onceover on a Tuesday night I always start with cleaning the kitchen. A clean kitchen can make your entire home feel clean.
Start by picking up the clutter on the countertops. After a busy day or week things start to stack up - mail, school papers, etc. Next, use a degreasing spray cleaner and microfiber washcloth and wipe it down.
Next, wash the dishes. I know after a long day and cooking a meal for your family the last thing you want to do is wash a sink load of dishes.
Lastly, get your family to help and pick-up the living room. I know on a daily basis I find at least 2-3 pairs of shoes laying all over! Drives me crazy! :) Have your kids pick-up their shoes, backpacks, water bottles, game console controllers, jackets, snack wrappers, etc. Straighten up the pillows on couch and fold any blankets left out.
These two tasks should be done on a nightly basis. It takes 10-15 minutes max, especially with the help of your family. Trust me, you’ll thank me in the morning when you wake-up. :) Even a small tidy-up at the end of the day can make a huge difference in how your home looks and feels.
2. Clean One Room at a Time
Rather than bouncing from room to room, focus on one room at a time for maximum efficiency. This helps you stay organized and prevents you from feeling scattered. Start with the room that’s used the most, like the kitchen or living room, and work your way through the house. Breaking the cleaning down by room makes the task feel more manageable and ensures every space gets attention.
3. Declutter as You Go
Clutter is the #1 thing that makes a home feel messy, but it doesn’t have to pile up. As you go about your day, make a habit of putting things away as you move through the house. If you’re cooking dinner, wipe down the kitchen counters while waiting for your food to cook. Wash the dishes that were left in the sink from breakfast that morning.
4. Use the “One-Minute Rule”
For quick cleaning wins, follow the “one-minute rule”: if a task will take a minute or less to complete, do it right away. This could be things like wiping up a spill, hanging up a towel, or putting dirty dishes in the sink. Tackling these little tasks in the moment prevents them from becoming bigger chores later on and helps keep your home looking cleaner without taking up much time.
5. Keep Your Cleaning Supplies Handy
Having cleaning supplies within easy reach makes it more likely that you’ll actually use them. Keep a small caddy with the basics—like a multi-surface cleaner, microfiber cloths, and a broom—on each floor of the house or in key areas. That way, when you see a mess, you can quickly grab what you need and clean it up in just a few minutes. Quick access to supplies removes the excuse of not having time to grab everything you need.
6. Multitask While Watching TV
Turn idle time into productive time. While watching your favorite show or unwinding after a long day, use that time to fold the laundry.
7. Delegate and Involve the Family
If you have kids or a partner at home, don’t hesitate to delegate simple tasks to them. Even young children can help by putting toys away or wiping down surfaces. Older kids and adults can handle tasks like vacuuming, taking out the trash, or sorting laundry. Creating a routine where everyone pitches in will lighten the load and make it easier to keep your home clean with minimal effort.
8. Do a Weekly Deep Clean in Small Bites
If you don’t have the time to do a big cleaning session, break it down into smaller tasks that you can handle throughout the week. For example, one day you can focus on dusting and vacuuming, and another day you can clean the bathroom. By spreading out your deep cleaning tasks, you’ll keep your house in great shape without dedicating a whole day to it.
Keeping your house clean during a busy week doesn’t require hours of work—just a few small, consistent habits can make a huge difference. By taking a few minutes each day to tidy up, declutter, and clean as you go, you’ll prevent messes from piling up and keep your home feeling organized and calm. Incorporating these quick cleaning tips into your routine will help you stay on top of housework and free up more time to spend with your family, rest, or enjoy your day-to-day life.