Tips for a Tidy Home
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Quick and easy tips to conquer chaos, pull it all together and keep a tidy home. It’s easier than you think!
It’s no secret……I like a Tidy Home!
Hence the name, TidyMom.
Ever wonder HOW I got that title?
My oldest daughter assigned me that title years ago when we first got online. Does that girl know her mom or what? LOL
I’m not neurotic or one of THOSE moms. I don’t really LIKE to clean, I just LOVE the end result. I like to look around the house and see clean. I don’t like the stress of seeing a mess.
Trust me, I have piles of junk like everyone else, some are just hidden in closest (remember my Monica Closet?).
How do I keep my house looking tidy?
I’m going to share a few of my tips oh how I keep my house tidy
Don’t let it sit for later (Clean ASAP) – a mess is much easier to clean up when it happens. Once food or dirt is allowed to dry or soak in, it’s going to take a lot more time and elbow grease to clean it later.
Don’t Put it off – this is probably my BIGGEST household tip! Clean as you go. You’ll be amazed that many things only take a few minutes to do if you clean as you go, rather than hours of cleaning if you put it all off to do at once. If you stay on top of these things daily your house will look nice and you will be more organized and relaxed. Some of the things I do daily are:
- make my bed
- wipe down the bathroom after I have gotten ready – I keep Clorox wipes and a cloth diaper under the bathroom sink – and I give the bathroom a quick wipe down daily.
- clear the dinner table AND do dishes as soon as we finish eating.
- load the dishwasher any time there’s a dirty dish – it really only take a few seconds, instead of having a sink or counter piled with dirty dishes.
- wipe off the counters and table.
- sort mail, throw out junk.
- do at least one load of laundry
- fold and put away laundry as it comes out of the dryer
Set a Timer for Quick Clean Ups- Many days I will give myself 15 minutes and run thru a few rooms and just pick up stray times, fluff and straighten the room. You’ll be surprised how often this will motivate you to keep going. Get the kids to help – make it a game!
Dust While on the Phone – often if I’m on the phone with my mom or daughter, instead of sitting on the couch, I will get up and dust a room while we chat! Multi tasking is my friend
Don’t walk to another room empty handed – there’s almost ALWAYS something in a room that belongs some where else – don’t pass it up, grab it on your way – even if you just open a door and toss it in!
Clean up as you cook – I have a small kitchen, so I really get stressed if I have no room to cook or bake. Like wise, if you’re waiting on dinner in the oven, clean up the mess while it cooks.
I LOVE to come home to a Clean House- I try and pad my “to go time” by 15-30 minutes and do a quick run thru before I leave, put dirty dishes in the dish washer, wipe off counters, pick up stray items, even vacuum if I have time. I especially did this when I worked, that way I could walk in to a clean house and start dinner with out the stress of a messy house to pick up as well.
You might also enjoy:
Count Down to Clean Series (with free Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Annual cleaning checklist to print)
How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances
Do you have any quick cleaning tips?
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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The 15 minute timer is an excellent idea!! Some days I'll take it in my closet and just spend that much time sorting and going through clothes. It doesn't seem so overwhelming when you know it's only going to be 15 minutes, and amazing what you can get done in very little time. 🙂
Great tips, Cheryl.
The 15 minute timer is an excellent idea!! Some days I'll take it in my closet and just spend that much time sorting and going through clothes. It doesn't seem so overwhelming when you know it's only going to be 15 minutes, and amazing what you can get done in very little time. 🙂
Great tips, Cheryl.
these are great tips! i know what you mean about walking into another room with stuff to put away. We keep a "stairs basket" that sits on our steps nicely so when we are going up for the night we can take things back to respective rooms – usually clothes or toys that were brought downstairs by the kids! I also make sure to start each day out with a new dishtowel and kitchen towel each day by putting the current day's one in the laundry room at night and the new ones out in the kitchen so they're all ready for me in the morning! 🙂
~Candy @ http://www.mommypalooza.com
these are great tips! i know what you mean about walking into another room with stuff to put away. We keep a "stairs basket" that sits on our steps nicely so when we are going up for the night we can take things back to respective rooms – usually clothes or toys that were brought downstairs by the kids! I also make sure to start each day out with a new dishtowel and kitchen towel each day by putting the current day's one in the laundry room at night and the new ones out in the kitchen so they're all ready for me in the morning! 🙂
~Candy @ http://www.mommypalooza.com
I love these tips! I also swear my my timer. And I try to do things in the little spurts of time I have. While tea water boils? wipe down the sink. Waiting for a kid to potty so I can wipe them? empty the bathroom trash and clean the sink. By taking advantage of the teensy moments, it all gets done. And it's amazing how much you can get done in 10 minutes. I used to be a once a week cleaner but it was anxiety-inducing and stressful. So much easier to do what you say is the clean as you go method. It really does work. So much more time to do the things that matter. Like comment on blogs.
I love these tips! I also swear my my timer. And I try to do things in the little spurts of time I have. While tea water boils? wipe down the sink. Waiting for a kid to potty so I can wipe them? empty the bathroom trash and clean the sink. By taking advantage of the teensy moments, it all gets done. And it's amazing how much you can get done in 10 minutes. I used to be a once a week cleaner but it was anxiety-inducing and stressful. So much easier to do what you say is the clean as you go method. It really does work. So much more time to do the things that matter. Like comment on blogs.
Thanks for the tips. I agree that it takes less time to keep things clean than to clean up after you let it get really bad.
Thanks for the tips. I agree that it takes less time to keep things clean than to clean up after you let it get really bad.
Oh, I need you as my personal assistant!!! As I'm typing, there's a stack of mail to my right 5 inches tall…bowls of icing next to the sink that I left there to check blogs "just for a few minutes"…and well, I DID manage to make the bed today, so that's one thing I did right! 🙂
Oh, I need you as my personal assistant!!! As I'm typing, there's a stack of mail to my right 5 inches tall…bowls of icing next to the sink that I left there to check blogs "just for a few minutes"…and well, I DID manage to make the bed today, so that's one thing I did right! 🙂
I remember hearing that tip about never leaving a room empty handed when I was just a young mom, and it has helped me control chaos all these twenty years.
Also, I get up a mere ten minutes before the rest of my crew: sounds silly, but ten short minutes can make the world of difference if it is uninterrupted busy time at the start of the day! Before anyone else even hits the floor, I have a load of laundry in, the dishwasher is emptied from the nighttime cycle, and the dog food is ready. It's a finely honed system, not to be messed with.
I remember hearing that tip about never leaving a room empty handed when I was just a young mom, and it has helped me control chaos all these twenty years.
Also, I get up a mere ten minutes before the rest of my crew: sounds silly, but ten short minutes can make the world of difference if it is uninterrupted busy time at the start of the day! Before anyone else even hits the floor, I have a load of laundry in, the dishwasher is emptied from the nighttime cycle, and the dog food is ready. It's a finely honed system, not to be messed with.
My helpful tip? Get someone else to do it! OK, so she doesn't come every day, but I love, love Wednesdays, when everything is clean and tidy.
My helpful tip? Get someone else to do it! OK, so she doesn't come every day, but I love, love Wednesdays, when everything is clean and tidy.
Putting things away as I go…There are only 2 of us at home now, if you don't count the 4 pups…anyhoo, I'm terrible at just leaving things here and there and within two days … AHHHHH!
I'm learning to ask myself…'Self, where does this go?' And then put it there 🙂
Cleaning as I go helps bunches…if it's clean, I find I keep it clean…if it starts to look cluttered … heaven help me.
xoxoxo
Robin
Putting things away as I go…There are only 2 of us at home now, if you don't count the 4 pups…anyhoo, I'm terrible at just leaving things here and there and within two days … AHHHHH!
I'm learning to ask myself…'Self, where does this go?' And then put it there 🙂
Cleaning as I go helps bunches…if it's clean, I find I keep it clean…if it starts to look cluttered … heaven help me.
xoxoxo
Robin
Ok, I'm thinking that your blog is one of my new favorites! 🙂 These tips are awesome, I especially love the last tip! What a good idea.
I stopped on this morning to check on the status of the appliance winner…
Ok, I'm thinking that your blog is one of my new favorites! 🙂 These tips are awesome, I especially love the last tip! What a good idea.
I stopped on this morning to check on the status of the appliance winner…
My house is so much tidier today! 😉
I was telling my husband about your post this morning (while I was packaging up cookies) and a minute later I heard water running in the kitchen. He shouted out, "I'm cleaning in honor of TidyMom." 🙂
My house is so much tidier today! 😉
I was telling my husband about your post this morning (while I was packaging up cookies) and a minute later I heard water running in the kitchen. He shouted out, "I'm cleaning in honor of TidyMom." 🙂
Lovely tips; subconsciously, I almost never go up or downstairs empty handed, and I'm lucky that with 2 adults, things find their way into the dishwasher pretty fast.
I love my parents loads, but one thing that irritates me when staying with them is they always leave the previous evening's dishes until next morning. We get up, have breakfast, and then have to deal with such a horrible mess!
Lovely tips; subconsciously, I almost never go up or downstairs empty handed, and I'm lucky that with 2 adults, things find their way into the dishwasher pretty fast.
I love my parents loads, but one thing that irritates me when staying with them is they always leave the previous evening's dishes until next morning. We get up, have breakfast, and then have to deal with such a horrible mess!
My sister is comming in November, maybe your available for a quick tidy up? Seriously I hate to clean more than anything else, I do it under duress:(
My sister is comming in November, maybe your available for a quick tidy up? Seriously I hate to clean more than anything else, I do it under duress:(
Stopping by from Julia's party. 🙂 I LOVED this post…these tips are all completely doable. The laundry would be the hardest thing for me to work on every day…but I NEED to b/c it is piling up. Thanks so much for sharing!!
Stopping by from Julia's party. 🙂 I LOVED this post…these tips are all completely doable. The laundry would be the hardest thing for me to work on every day…but I NEED to b/c it is piling up. Thanks so much for sharing!!
I can always use great tips like these! THANK YOU! I'm hosting a giveaway at my blog of genuine Cross Bottles valued at $175. It ends Monday, so hurry over. I think you'll love them!
I can always use great tips like these! THANK YOU! I'm hosting a giveaway at my blog of genuine Cross Bottles valued at $175. It ends Monday, so hurry over. I think you'll love them!
Love these tips! Now if you could just give some tips on how to get your husband and kids to do the same! LOL
Come take a peek at my new blog. I would love the visitors!
Love these tips! Now if you could just give some tips on how to get your husband and kids to do the same! LOL
Come take a peek at my new blog. I would love the visitors!
I love your tips – especially not going to another room empty handed!
I love your tips – especially not going to another room empty handed!
Great tips! My question is whether or not you have any tips on how to do this with young kids. I'm constantly finding myself short on time for everything and cleaning up with a babe in arms takes twice the time…LOL
Great tips! My question is whether or not you have any tips on how to do this with young kids. I'm constantly finding myself short on time for everything and cleaning up with a babe in arms takes twice the time…LOL
Those are wonderful tips! I really WANT to have a clean house I just am not good at it! with in the last few years I have been pro making the bed every day…it's been wonderful! Now I have a chore chart that seems to be working..I hope I can keep it up!
Those are wonderful tips! I really WANT to have a clean house I just am not good at it! with in the last few years I have been pro making the bed every day…it's been wonderful! Now I have a chore chart that seems to be working..I hope I can keep it up!
Great tips! I learned the value of 'never leave a room empty handed' while waiting tables many years ago! It's carried over into home life for sure…very true – there's ALWAYS something out of place!
Stopping by from Remodeling This Life, I'm sure I'll be back!! (I tried several of your recipes from 'Living Locurto' menu monday btw too!) 😉
Great tips! I learned the value of 'never leave a room empty handed' while waiting tables many years ago! It's carried over into home life for sure…very true – there's ALWAYS something out of place!
Stopping by from Remodeling This Life, I'm sure I'll be back!! (I tried several of your recipes from 'Living Locurto' menu monday btw too!) 😉
I'm also stopping by from Remodeling This Life, and so glad I did. This is a great post– and a good reminder. These tips are what guarantees a basically tidy home most of the time. And they are simple actions that, once they become a habit, they're addictive because they're so easy and bring such big results. I'll be back!
I'm also stopping by from Remodeling This Life, and so glad I did. This is a great post– and a good reminder. These tips are what guarantees a basically tidy home most of the time. And they are simple actions that, once they become a habit, they're addictive because they're so easy and bring such big results. I'll be back!
I realize this is a very old post, but I just found your blog. I love it! Thanks for sharing. I am just like you, down to the padding my leave time so we can do one more quick once-over before we leave. I LOVE to come home to a neat home.
We don't do 15 minute cleanups – we do 10. My kids call it the "10 minute scramble." Definitely helps to involve the kids! (I have 4 under 7)
I realize this is a very old post, but I just found your blog. I love it! Thanks for sharing. I am just like you, down to the padding my leave time so we can do one more quick once-over before we leave. I LOVE to come home to a neat home.
We don't do 15 minute cleanups – we do 10. My kids call it the "10 minute scramble." Definitely helps to involve the kids! (I have 4 under 7)
thanks! i needed to read that!! whewph! off to clean my house, one step at a time!
thanks! i needed to read that!! whewph! off to clean my house, one step at a time!
Ship shape and bristol fashion indeed, from one tidy mom to the next wishing you a fab week. Great tips.
Ship shape and bristol fashion indeed, from one tidy mom to the next wishing you a fab week. Great tips.
Just found your blog and I love it!! Thanks for the tips!
Just found your blog and I love it!! Thanks for the tips!
Oh, love your blog! Very cute – I haven't seen many blogs on organizing or housecleaning or just being tidy! I look forward to seeing all your tips from a mom who's had older kiddos, too! Mine are still young, but it's truly possible to have a clean house even if you have little ones! Thanks!
Oh, love your blog! Very cute – I haven't seen many blogs on organizing or housecleaning or just being tidy! I look forward to seeing all your tips from a mom who's had older kiddos, too! Mine are still young, but it's truly possible to have a clean house even if you have little ones! Thanks!