Tag: cleaningtips

9 Habits Of Women Who Always Have A Clean Home

Learning these habits of women who always have a clean home will help you keep your home clean and tidy (all the time) too.

To some extent, we all get motivated to clean — when the holidays are here or when a company is expected.

But keeping the house mostly clean, all the time, amid a daily grind, seems an unachievable thing.

Especially after the holidays, when you’ve been already cleaning and hosting extensively.

I have never been a neat freak, be it cleaning or any part of homemaking. Nor do I aim for. I only wish for good enough results.

I swear by the beauty of a lived-in house.

A few things make a great deal of difference over others.

And so today I’m listing out some things that can make a difference in how clean or messy your home appears to someone.

I love watching YouTube for cleaning motivation videos.

Moreover, I am more into watching real-life homemaking vlogs and learning tips from them than the “cleaning experts”. I enjoy watching genuine homemakers’ lives. Their daily routines. The way they perform their household duties. I admire their hard work. And I keenly learn homemaking tips, tricks, and techniques from them.

Over time, I’ve observed one thing that all of these women (full-time homemakers and working moms) have in common. They knew what was next. They hardly got sidelined. I think that’s because they grew accustomed to the sequence of tasks. That’s the power of habits.

Today, I’m putting out habits these ladies had in common that helped them keep their house clean (all the time). Well, in particular, these tasks are more organizational than cleaning. Because they make your home come out more orderly or tidy than clean.

How?

We’re not working toward excellence here. So, there’s nothing like hard scrubbing, washing, or purifying — daily. Just executing the tasks, and doing them well. That’s it.

9 HABITS OF WOMEN WHO ALWAYS HAVE A CLEAN HOME

Habit #1 Clear sink:

Clean freak women never let dishes pile up in the sink. They’re just conditioned to wipe off everything in a jiffy. They never mind if things are spic and span. They just devotedly get them out of the way. Washed utensils, clear drain traps, and clear countertops are three mere tasks that keep your kitchen feeling nice and fresh, and easy to operate.

One habit of women who always have a clean home is deep cleaning. If they had a few spare moments, they would just remove the stuff from the drawers and give it a good wipe; purge unused/out-of-date things, and quickly place everything back.

They exercise their cooking time. So, they would just put away clean dishes, dust the cabinet tops, wipe down cabinet doors and surfaces, refill food jars, and so on.

Habit #2 Tidy surfaces:

Meticulous freaks make time to tidy surfaces every day.

They discard and clear trash like banana peels, tea or coffee cups, plates after eating; plastic wrappers, and clothes scattered on the bed or floor.

They place dustbins around the house and encourage kids (and ADULTS) to use them. Something that is of utmost help.

They pick up as they go. Example: They keep a basket near the stairs to put the items that belong upstairs. While going upstairs they look for anything that needs to go up.

Similarly, they make sure to grab the basket downstairs.

Habit #3 Clutter control:

Neat freak women know clutter can be paralyzing. They declutter and organize from time to time.

They assign “donate‘ or ‘discard‘ boxes. While dusting or tidying surfaces they review and discard musty, outworn, or things they don’t love or need anymore, then and there. Which helps them keep things super manageable.

They deal with the paper clutter — mail, newspapers, magazines, brochures, immediately.

Read: The Secret To Staying On Top Of Homemaking

Habit #4 Refrigerator care:

Refrigerator — one more thing that demands attention regularly.

One of the secrets of women who take care of the house is – they discard molded food from time to time.

They put placemats in the refrigerator. Quick tip — to make your fridge look clean instantly you can remove the placemats/sheets and ta-da you have a clean-looking refrigerator in no time.

Another tip is to keep a bowl of baking soda in the refrigerator. Baking soda absorbs the odor and makes your refrigerator smell fresh.

Habit #5 Spot-free floors:

They have a no-shoe rule.

In India, it’s a common rule followed by most households. Especially, traditional cultural families. I am one of those. We don’t bring shoes inside the house. And if we do, we have a shoe rack at the entrance. This not only helps prevent soil, dust, or dirt but also bacteria from getting into your home.

The women with clean homes also make sure to sweep/vacuum/mop the floors each day. They deal with the spots and spillage instantly.

Habit #6 Dusting/wiping down routine:

Neat women sense the importance of routinely dusting and wiping down surfaces. They know how to maintain dust-free walls and surfaces. Like removing cobwebs; and dust on walls, windows, furniture, and light fixtures.

Women with clean homes consider periodically cleaning windows, blinds, ceiling fans, carpets, doormats, upholstery, etc.

They learn about the newest tools and techniques that provide an effortless dusting and wiping experience.

Habit #7 Well-ordered bathroom:

Another habit of women who always have a clean home is they keep bathrooms well-organized. Not squeaky clean but enjoyable.

They ensure that they wipe off the shower glass and floor with a wiper.

I can guarantee that these prompt steps — restoring items, and a quick wipe down will make your bathroom clean and appealing.

Habit #8 Crisp bed:

While making the bed, I observed one woman — remove the sheets, shake them out well, and place them back neatly. She did that every single day in between the laundry intervals.

Doing this helps knock off tiny dirt and dust particles and keep the bedsheet looking fresh until cleaning time. Plus, you know how good a crisp bed feels.

Habit #9 Laundry routine:

Organized women quickly squeeze in a couple of minutes to start a load of laundry. They stop being lazy and show care. To avoid buildup and to complete the cycle — they wash, dry, fold, and iron right off.

This is such a helpful tip to keep on top of things.

Final words:

Those were the habits of women who always have a clean home. That I’ve learned from some dutiful homemakers. And you guys, they work. THEY’RE. JUST. SO. EFFECTIVE.

Do try them and don’t forget to share your thoughts. Also, let me know if I missed out on something. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!

February 13, 2022
How To Get Motivated To Clean

The holiday season is here, it’s time to shake things up a little bit at home.

During this time of the year, when you just want to get cozy snuggling up in your warm blanket with a hot cup of coffee. Cleaning is the last thing on your mind.

Sunny mornings have something to brighten up your mood and get you to clean without thinking much. Fall cleaning? Certainly calls for motivation.

If you’re still easing up, I’m here to help you with some tips and tricks to get motivated to clean.

HOW TO GET MOTIVATED TO CLEAN

Have a cleaning caddy:

Firstly, in order to make the cleaning process convenient, buy yourself the appropriate tools. Trying a new appliance or product is a great way to get motivated to clean.

Having a well-organized caddy will make cleaning the entire house a lot easier (grab and go).

Check out why you must own proper cleaning tools and some affordable options here

Dress suitably:

Outfit changes our attitude. So dress up for success.

I have a separate pair of cleaning outfits. Something comfortable and nice-looking. I also like to tie my hair up in a bun and wear my apron and gloves.

Identify your cleaning personality type:

Do you like to get the cleaning done in one go or one thing at a time? Determine your cleaning personality type to work accordingly.

If you’re someone who likes to clean in one go, set aside two or three days depending upon the level of cleaning. Dedicate those days to cleaning only.

What I do on the days I deep clean is – order food from outside and use disposable cups and plates to save additional workload – cooking and cleaning. I also skip the laundry that day. I don’t blog and don’t exercise. Instead, I only spend my time cleaning to get it done as quickly as possible. That saves me energy and time from my daily activities and helps me get the deep cleaning done real quick.

Limit the time:

I love how The fly lady says “your house didn’t get messy overnight don’t expect it to get clean in a night “.

Ascertaining time is the key to getting motivated to clean. The timer technique does well in this case.

Stopping amidst a project you could no longer resist the urge to clean the next day.

Speed up:

Often, the chores take lesser time than we think.

Getting lost/consumed in thoughts or distracted by your phone or TV reduces our pace of work drastically. But actually being sluggish is a huge stumbling block too. Nobody wants tedious tasks.

Similarly, some mistakes can impede speed.

For many years, I didn’t realize what was taking me so much time to do just a few dishes. Then I figured I was using the dish detergent excessively. By excessively I mean awfully.

I don’t know what got me thinking more product means cleaner utensils. In fact, more product means 5x times more rinsing; more waste of water; more cleaning to do. Plus, it is harmful to your health if the dishes didn’t get rinsed properly.

One way to increase your working speed is by recording the time it takes you to complete each task (from start to finish). Then, next time, while performing the same tasks set the timer five minutes early than the time you require to finish them.

Challenge yourself to finish the task before the timer goes off, and do it well.

Practice this every day to increase your speed of work.

Make a cleaning checklist/use free printables:

Having a visual checklist will keep you sane. You’ll have a basic idea of what you want to accomplish.

With a list, nothing will be forgotten or undone. Printables will point out unremembered tasks.

It’ll help you keep track of your progress as well.

Conquer OCD:

Once you have cleaned one thing really well. Proceed. Don’t get stuck in one place ensure everything is clean over and over again.

As we saw in the earlier post, there’s no such thing as perfection.

Don’t strive for it. Or you will feel unfulfilled all the time.

Remember done is always better than perfect.

Related: One Simple Trick That’ll Transform Your Homekeeping

Avoid needless cleaning:

Clean only what needs care and attention. You shouldn’t get caught up with things that are clean already.

Watch someone clean:

Watching someone else cleaning or working hard on their home is a surefire way to get motivated to clean. I have learned far simpler dusting, cleaning, and organizing techniques from YouTubers.

You can check out a few cleaning YouTube channels to see how they do things differently than what you’re doing.

Are you following an inappropriate cleaning sequence, using the wrong tools, or following improper methods? Is there anything you do inaptly?

A friend or an aunt who always has a clean home can be your perfect cleaning guru as well.

Final words:

Forget about festivities, for ones like me, need the motivation to clean – Every. Single. Day.

So, I keep on looking for ways that make cleaning dreadless.

I hope these tips will come in useful and get you motivated to clean.

Would you like to add something to the list? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you for reading. Happy Cleaning!

October 19, 2020
15 Affordable Cleaning Tools For Every Home

Cleaning is an essential part of making a home. We’ve got to do it no matter how busy life is. But we can make it easier by having the right cleaning tools.

First off, cleaning is difficult to accomplish. With that, not having the right tools can make it a more tedious task. Making us procrastinate endlessly. Hence, picking the right tools is going to be a smart move, that’ll favor not only your cleaning efforts but will keep your home in tip-top shape.

Getting new advanced cleaning tools and products motivates you to clean as they make the job easier. That said, there are countless cleaning supplies and tools on the market. You do not need a lot of them. Especially, if you’re a frugal homemaker like me, you want something that is multitasking or cost-effective.

Along with intense cleaning checklists and motivation tips, having essential cleaning tools are important. Because to be honest, no one have I ever seen loves to clean. Today, we’re going to take a look at the essential cleaning tools and supplies that could be useful.

15 AFFORDABLE CLEANING TOOLS FOR EVERY HOME

1) Sweeper/Broom and Mop

Ever thought about what all our floor surface collects in a day?

Dropped sticky food, dried food crumbles, pet hair, dirt underneath our shoes, dust, and soil can build up when the floors aren’t cleaned regularly.

One of the easiest ways to get control over this is by sweeping and mopping the floors regularly.

Sweeping before you mop is a quick and effective way to remove dirt, debris, hair, or any harmful substance on the floor.

The good old broom is an economical, handy dandy tool that helps clean the floor quickly, on a daily basis.

Mopping is very important with kids or pets around the house.

It is a good way to disinfect the floor if you add a little bit of disinfectant to the rinsing water. Disinfecting the floors is necessary to eliminate harmful germs and viruses.

A spin mop takes forward the cleaning which a broom cannot. It removes all the moist, sticky foodstuffs, spillage, spots, and micro dust particles that still remain after sweeping the floor.

A broom and mop are your low-cost cleaning tools to clean up the house the simpler way.

2) Lint-roller

This is such a multi-tasker. You should add one to your cleaning kit if you don’t already. A lint roller isn’t only for clothes, it has plenty of domestic uses.

Dust or pet hair on the carpet or furniture? Just quickly brush a lint roller.

Want to clean up tiny pieces of paper, and glitter after kids’ craft projects? A lint roller can come in handy.

Quickly clean the drapes before the unexpected guests arrive? A lint roller is your bestie.

3) Dish Soap, baking soda, and white vinegar:

Having caught up buying expensive cleaning products is understood.

I endorse them also.

The effectiveness of the products specialized to work precisely interests us. Namely, glass cleaners, metal cleaners, disinfectant cleaners, and the rest.

We want powerful solutions to treat stains, which is true at times.

But did you know that dealing with stains untimely makes them more stubborn?

If you get into the habit of cleaning everything and also something specific like treating the stains promptly. Then the basic household products – dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar can clean everything just as great.

It’s way less costly. And safe, unlike heavy-duty cleaners.

4) Sponge cloth and squeegee:

These two are the secret and most inexpensive tools to have a top-notch kitchen.

Honestly, these two things have entirely changed the way my kitchen used to be.

Since the sponge cloths are highly fluid absorbing, they work perfectly for spot-cleaning, wiping up spills, and quick cleanup of the gas stove and countertops.

Not only that but the sponge cloths can be used anywhere and everywhere in the house – electronic appliances, glass, mirrors, tiles, wood, fixtures, etc.

A squeegee can be useful after you’re done handwashing the dishes. To instantly dry the area around the sink.

Read: 5 Steps To A Cleaner Home

5) Disinfectant cleaner:

Cleaning surfaces with soap and water isn’t enough, sometimes. Soap and water do well in some cases.

But, off and on, you just need extra protection.

Which areas need care?

Certain parts such as doorknobs, cabinet handles, door keys, mobile phones, tv remotes, keyboards, touchpads, and air-conditioner remotes require to be disinfected.

Again, the floors and bathroom need to be disinfected too.

Be sure to read the instruction written on the product carefully before using it.

6) Bathroom brush:

There are days when your shower area or bathtub needs a good wash.

That might sound impractical on a daily basis. Yet it becomes totally easy with a bathroom brush like this one.

You can give the bathroom floors or bathtub a quick scrub when you’re in there to take a shower.

7) Bathroom wiper floor mop:

The wet shower area or bathroom is a breeding ground for bacteria.

A good way to keep it clean hygienically and looking good is by keeping it dry.

A small squeegee is great for instantly wiping down the shower glass and tiles. And, the big telescopic-handled brush works fine to dry the floors in a single swipe.

8) Wall Duster:

Dust removal is a real struggle in our homes. We require a good solution for that. Though this is called a wall duster it’s a multipurpose tool. It can be used at home, car, office.

As per your requirements, there are a variety of options in the market. This one is a light-duty microfibre cleaning duster. The expandable rod makes it easier to clean ceiling fans, corners of walls, and window edges as well.

9) Toilet cleaner balls:

You get two types in this category – one which you can put inside the flush. So like the first one gets dissolved in the flush water. And the toilet rim hanger. Both are great to maintain good hygiene in between cleaning intervals.

10) Hand Gloves:

Last but foremost, don’t forget to buy yourself good quality gloves. You don’t want to harm your hands by exposing them to different harsh chemicals and also hot water temperatures.

Particularly, when you’re the one who cooks at home. You have to be very careful. Because there are some awful cleaning tasks to do at home.

Hand gloves safeguard against abrasive cleaners and germs while cleaning. And makes your manicure last longer.

Final words:

A clean house is important for our well-being and peace of mind. But there’s no reason to drain yourself. By having a proper cleaning kit you can make life easier. All the items mentioned here are super affordable.

Do you think I have missed out on something? Let me know which cleaning tool should I add to my list? Thank you so much for reading. Happy Cleaning!

June 25, 2020
No More Dirty Dishes: 8 Hacks To Make Hand DishWashing Easier
If handwashing dishes is your least favourite task too, go easy, I have some dishwashing hacks that will make your job way easier.

Washing dishes post every meal is the best thing you can do for you, your family and your home (for hygiene and an orderly home), it is easier said than done.

Over and above how much you dislike a chore, it’s always good to take charge of your own housework. Appreciate doing things for your loved ones without expecting someone else to do it for you.

Because no one (not even hired help) can do the cleaning for you as you do for your family with a sense of responsibility and care.

It could be dreary in the beginning. But with these steps, you’ll have an easier time doing dishes. Maybe you start liking it or at least don’t mind doing it.

NO MORE DIRTY DISHES: 8 HACKS TO MAKE HAND DISHWASHING EASIER

1. Make rinsing a priority:

The greasy food particles on the dishes dry up and harden when left unsoaked for a long time. These dishes, pots, and pans (with dried food buildup) take great deal of time and energy to clean.

We, generally, tend to procrastinate activities that take time and grind — resulting in piling up of the dishes.

That’s when my very own “The Quick Rinse method” helps to prevent the situation.

It’s pretty easy.

After finishing your meals or while cooking — make sure to give all the dishes and utensils a good rinse.

I brought them from IKEA. They’re super affordable and effective.

You can use a brush too to ensure that grease and residue are washed. Then, stack them nicely to clean later.

Even in the case of a dishwasher — this habit of rinsing will make your life so much easier.

Sponging and having the dishes separated (kept out of the sink) will keep the sink empty. Now the only thing remaining will be — soaping and rinsing the dishes.

Because of this step, your dishes and utensils will be pretty clean already. Now all you’ll have to do is soap them, place them into hot water, and pull them out on the drying mat/rack.
- In the case of two sinks — you can use one side to stack the rinsed dishes, pots, and pans. And keep the other side empty. This will save you the extra work of unloading the sink before you actually begin washing the dishes.
- With one sink you can keep the rinsed dishes and utensils out on the counter, in a way that shouldn’t block your worktop.
- You can straightway place them into the dishwasher in case you own one.
- Last but not least, if you feel motivated to step forward and get the task done then there is nothing better.
Rinsing dishes immediately is an alternative to the soaking method. Since soaking leaves odour, it’s off-putting to tackle a sinkful of dirty dishes that are sitting there too long.

Related Topics:

5 Steps To A Cleaner Home

8 Ways To Enjoy Being A Stay-At-Home Mom/Wife

11 Inexpensive Ways To Beautify Your Home

How I Save Money On One Income With No Kids

2. The 5-minute trick:

In this technique, you set the timer and allow yourself to wash dishes only for 5 minutes. This step serves in 2 ways –
1. Most of the time, getting started is the main hindrance to getting things done. You can overcome that by tricking yourself to do the cleaning for the minimum time frame of 5 minutes. By the moment your timer goes off, either you’ll have finished your task, or will be driven to complete the job as only a few items would be left. The likelihood of this first situation is really high.
2. Still, if you’re not prompted to continue washing till the end, at least you’re halfway through it (in the case of a large pile of dishes).
Always a win-win.

3. Add baking soda to dishwashing detergent liquid/Bar:

Add some baking soda to the cleaning product. Be it ceramic/glass dishes or stainless steel cookware, it’ll make cleaning a breeze.

You have to take baking soda and dishwashing liquid in a ratio of 2:1.

That means the dish liquid is half the quantity of baking soda.

Using less detergent will ensure the soap rinses off quickly, make dishwashing super easy.

The baking soda will remove the odors and cut off grease/oil/burn smoothly, making the dishes come out squeaky clean in no time.

No elbow grease and you’ll have spotless dishes before you even know it.

Adding baking soda will not only save you time, effort, and water, but the dishes will come out really clean.

4. Use fewer utensils throughout the day:

For instance – each member will use the same cup of drinking water the entire day. Noone need different cups every time you want to drink water. Also, while cooking, start ahead of your time to be mindful & use fewer utensils.

Because if you watch carefully we tend to use lots of bowls, cups, and plates when cooking in a hurry.

5. Have a routine:

Decide how many times in a day would you prefer to wash the dishes.

A mountain pile of dishes — once a day; the whole stack in two shots, or a small number of dishes post every meal?

Whatever you choose for yourself — having a routine will make things easier.

6. Air dry dishes:

As far as possible, bypass the insignificant and time-consuming step of cloth-drying the dishes for lint-free dishes, pots, and pans.

7. Put on some peppy music or enjoy quiet time:

Some people like to enjoy music while doing the dishes. But, if you’re someone like me, you’ll appreciate the quiet time washing them with full attention – to get it done faster and cleaner.

8. Make it a family-time activity:

Regardless of all of the steps — dishwashing is sure to be dreadful with a large family.

How about asking each member to wash their own dishes?

Here’s how:

Take a soap dispenser bottle; fill it with dish detergent, baking soda, and water. Mix it well and keep it near the sink in a tray along with a sponge.

Post every meal, each member will be in charge of washing their own dishes — they’ll take one pump soap on their plate, lather, rinse, and place it on the drying mat and they are done.

Another way is having kids unload the dishwasher. Or dry and put away clean dishes as you wash them.

Additional Tip:

Make it a habit to clean the stove, surfaces, and sink every time after doing the dishes, to experience clean kitchen countertops, any time you/someone else enters the kitchen.

Once you start keeping your kitchen clean you’ll always want to have it that way all the time.

Developing the habit of having a clean kitchen most of the time will inspire you to maintain it.

Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to share your dishwashing tips and tricks in the comment section below. Happy Dishwashing!
December 15, 2018

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