11 Ways to Have a Clean Place Without Cleaning
If you don't enjoy cleaning, tidying up your place may feel like a time-consuming and mind-numbing task. However, there are little tricks you can do to lessen your load and expend less effort toward cleaning yet still have a sparkling clean residence. Here are some ways to have a clean place without cleaning.
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Everything Has Its Place
Remember that every item has its place in your home, and if it doesn't, find a spot for it. Organize your things and make sure that every time you take something from its rightful place, you're always returning it to where it belongs when you're done using it. You'll prevent clutter from building.
Reduce Your Stuff
If you have less possessions, you'll have less clutter to deal with. Check out our recommendations of things you should throw away today. Be mindful when shopping and don't buy things you don't need, even if you're tempted to.
Take Off Your Shoes
Taking off your shoes before going into your home may feel strange, but it actually helps minimize cleaning time. You won't have to vacuum up and mop away all the dirt and grime that you've been stepping on all day. It goes without saying that you should also clean your pet's paws before letting them enter your home as well.
Have a Welcome Mat
Get a welcome mat so people can wipe their shoes on it before entering. Even if they are planning on taking off their shoes before coming in, you'll have less to clean if everyone is wiping their shoes off before placing them in your entryway.
Don't Leave Your Windows Open for Too Long
When airing your room, make sure that you're not leaving your windows open for too long or dust will start to collect.
Invest in a Hand Vacuum
This handy cleaning equipment will help cut down on cleaning time. Have a few stray hairs lying around or spilled some glitter from your DIY project? Just suck them up with a hand vacuum, and the mess will be clean in a few seconds. The hand vacuum is an investment that will pay itself off over time.
Cover Your Furniture
You can protect your furniture with some covers so that it'll be protected from any spills or dirt on your clothing. For example, find a nice waterproof tablecloth for your table or invest in a slipcover for your couch that will be easy to throw in the wash.
Buy Disinfectant Wipes
Buy some disinfectant wipes so you can quickly clean up spills or maintain the cleanliness of an area. Using these wipes won't feel like you're cleaning because it takes very minimal effort to do so.
Eat in the Rightful Place
Don't eat snacks all around the house, or you'll find yourself with crumbs and smears on your bed, sofa, or floor. Eat your meal properly while sitting at a table. Don't try to multitask when you're eating, or you'll end up spilling stuff on your clothes.
Carefully Consider Pets
Before you jump into a long-term commitment to a furry friend, make sure that you're accounting for all the messes you'll have to clean up. If you're not keen on continually vacuuming up fur, perhaps consider breeds that don't shed much or ones that are hairless. You could also opt for a lower-maintenance pet such as a fish.
Split Up Chores
Dislike cleaning? Try to trade or split up chores with your roommate or partner. Perhaps you can do the cooking instead of doing the dishes, or grocery shopping instead of vacuuming. Offer to take up other household duties in exchange for getting off scot-free when it comes to cleaning obligations.
Do you have any other tricks that help you lessen your cleaning time? Share them in the comments!
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Great tips! I can attest to the difference that not wearing shoes at all inside the house makes. I am still surprised at how many people are still not doing this. It actually is a wonderful way of symbolically putting the cares of the world behind one's self as well. One additional advantage is that hardwood floors' finish lasts much longer, thereby saving money on refinishing. One tip I would recommend is to split up floors of the house into different cleaning days. For example, I vacuum the first floor every two weeks and dust probably once a month or two since we don't have much dust on the first floor. On the alternate week, I dust and vacuum the second floor. This works out really well as it is not so overwhelming. I do a thorough one-hour cleaning of our master bath every two weeks as well. That takes an hour. I keep a calendar to log when I clean and this is key. My house is immaculate and I feel that even though I clean less frequently, when I do clean, I am able to take my time to be extremely thorough and that makes all the difference.
"Every time you take something from its rightful place, you're always returning it to where it belongs when you're done using it."
This is what makes the biggest difference for me. I'm pretty busy, and I sometimes have a bad tendency to throw clothes or other things around when I'm rushing out the door. I am proud to note, though, that my apartment has remained (mostly) clutter free for the last couple of months.
I wish I could take my shoes off at the door, but my doctor says I have to wear shoes all the time (except for the shower and when I am in bed). People with diabetes or who otherwise have foot problems cannot go without the protection and support of shoes.
To combat the dirt, dust and dog hair in my own home, I invested in a decent rechargeable bagless stick vac that is effective on both carpet and bare floor and runs for 17 to 24 minutes on a charge. A few minutes a day of zipping this thing around cuts my heavy duty vacuuming time with the "big" vacuum cleaner (and saves me in the expensive HEPA bags, too).
I suppose someone could reserve a clean pair of shoes for indoor wear only to change into.
I'd second that, Guest. My feet will often get cold without shoes when it's not summer (even when I have socks on), so I keep a pair of clogs around as my indoor shoes.
My mom is Chinese so in my house, we never wore shoes inside. I actually feel so uncomfortable when I do (honestly, I hate going to people's houses when I have to leave my shoes on) and I usually ask people to take their shoes off when they come inside my house. It's just something that's normal for me.
I like your idea of getting tablecloths to cover couches - I try to keep mine covered with something because I have 4 cats but for some reason, never thought of tablecloths. I think I'll have to go out and buy some cheap ones just for that purpose!