Homekeeping Made Simple: Essential Tips for a Tidy Life
With the kids home for the summer and plenty of conversations with friends about household chores, I figured now was the perfect time to revisit the basics. Sure, I love a good cleaning hack, a DIY cleaner recipe, or a solid checklist, but it’s the fundamental routines that truly keep our home running smoothly day-to-day.
When the kids are home for summer break, it’s a reality check for how quickly things can go from tidy to chaotic. From beach towels and sports gear to three meals a day and endless sleepovers, the mess can spiral out of control before you know it. That’s where these “basics” come in. They’ve been our glue, and while some of them may seem ridiculously obvious, they’re absolutely worth repeating.
Let me start with my top tip for keeping your home under control: Set yourself up for success.
The key is keeping your cleaning supplies handy. Store your household cleaners in key locations where they’re easy to grab and use. Simplify your products—only keep what you really need to cut down on confusion for the whole family. I love all-purpose cleaners because they’re versatile enough for countertops, windows, stovetops, and quick floor cleanups. Keep bathroom cleaners under the bathroom sink and kitchen cleaners under the kitchen sink.
Here are the basics I rely on for 99% of our family’s cleaning tasks:
Essential Cleaning Supplies:
- Duster
- All-Purpose Cleaner (I mix distilled water, 2-3 drops of dish soap, vinegar, and tea tree oil for counters, appliances, glass, and floors)
- A couple of cloths (one for glass, one for surfaces)
- Vacuum
- Mop
For the Bathroom:
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Toilet brush
- Surface cleaner & towels
- Shower cleaner in a dispensing scrub brush
Cleaning caddies are a lifesaver for deep cleaning, but for daily messes, I like having everything I need right within reach. I also recommend keeping a vacuum and broom on each floor, with less-used specialty cleaners stashed out of the way (I keep mine in the laundry room). By simplifying, my family asks fewer questions and is quicker to grab what they need to get the job done.
Color Code Your Cleaning Cloths
We use microfiber cloths for just about everything, but to avoid cross-contaminating the bathroom with kitchen germs, I’ve assigned each area its own color. Green is for the kitchen, blue is for the bathroom (and dirtier jobs), and I added pink for pet-related messes. This system makes it easy for everyone to remember, and the cloths are always stored in their designated places.
Each week, I wash bathroom cloths with mop heads and bath mats, pet cloths with their bed covers and towels, and kitchen cloths with dish towels. Everything goes through a sanitary cycle during my Sunday laundry day.
Baking Soda & Dish Soap: Your Secret Cleaning Duo
Clear dish soap is an amazing stain remover and works wonders on furniture, clothes, rugs, and spills. It’s colorless, so I don’t have to worry about it damaging anything. Baking soda is fantastic for deodorizing and absorbing spills or stains. For tougher messes like cooking grease, soak pots and pans in a mix of baking soda, dish soap, and water—it’s a game-changer. These two are my cleaning power couple and tackle almost everything around the house!
Clean from Top to Bottom
This rule applies to nearly every cleaning job. It’s always easiest and fastest to start at the top and work your way down. When cleaning glass, start at the top and move in “S” motions downward. When cleaning the kitchen, wipe the counters and table first, then vacuum or mop the floor. In the bathroom, clean the mirror first, then move down to the sink and counter, finishing at the toilet. For outdoor cleaning, start at the top of the siding and work your way down. It’s simple but effective.
Clean With the Grain
Whether it’s wood, stainless steel, or floors, always clean with the grain. Cleaning against the grain can highlight imperfections and make surfaces look less clean. For a flawless finish, follow the natural lines of the material.
Dishwashers Aren’t Just for Dishes
Did you know you can clean so many other things in the dishwasher? Some things I’ve cleaned include light fixture shades, toothbrushes, sponges, scrub brushes, toys, soap dishes, shower caddies, combs, vases, and even baseball caps. Just be cautious with delicate items or anything made of wood or fragile metals. And remember to rinse items first to avoid clogging up your dishwasher.
Fold or Hang Clothes Straight from the Dryer
I used to have a habit of pulling clothes out of the dryer, tossing them into a basket, and taking them to another room to fold later. But now, I fold or hang them immediately—either right out of the dryer or as I carry them back to the laundry room. It only takes a few minutes and makes it much easier to put everything away right then and there. This has cut down on laundry piles and helped my kids take responsibility for their own laundry too. We even use lightweight baskets to make transporting easy.
Laundry can become overwhelming, but it’s much easier to stay on top of if you get into a routine. Everyone does their laundry on their designated day, and it’s been a huge relief to avoid weekend marathon laundry sessions.
Multi-Task Whenever Possible
I’ve built cleaning into my daily routine to make it easier to maintain. I wipe down the bathroom sink and counter while brushing my teeth, scrub the shower walls while I’m showering, wipe down kitchen counters while brewing my coffee, and clean the fridge when putting away groceries. These small tasks add up over the course of a week and make it easier to stay on top of things.
Make Your Bed Every Day
I used to be indifferent about making the bed every day, but now I can’t imagine not doing it. It’s one of the most impactful habits. It makes the whole bedroom feel put together and has a surprisingly positive effect on my mood. It’s a small task that can make a big difference in how the entire room feels.
Homekeeping Requires Effort
If there’s one thing I wish I could teach my kids about homekeeping, it’s this: life is easier when you just take care of things as they come. If that’s not possible, carve out a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy up. Too many times we’ve spent an entire afternoon tackling a week’s worth of clutter and mess. It’s time-consuming, and let’s be honest, I’d much rather spend my weekend doing something more fun than cleaning.
Of course, not everyone is naturally tidy, and some people are more tolerant of clutter than others. In our house, we’ve learned to work together and compromise. There are days when I let go of my clean-freak tendencies and simply enjoy the moment. We try to balance taking care of daily tasks and soaking up family time without stressing over every mess.
At the end of each day, we do a quick cleanup. I leave a flexible basket near the stairs to gather items that need to be brought down, and it’s perfect for collecting random things like electronics, mail, or stray socks. We always clean up the kitchen—run the dishwasher, vacuum or sweep, and wipe down the table and counters—and fluff the couch cushions before bed. Just 10-15 minutes each night helps us start the next day fresh.
While I wish there was a magic cleaning fairy or a “simple” button to make things effortless, the reality is that homekeeping requires consistent effort. We’re not perfect, and there are times when we need to catch up, but we do our best to keep things running smoothly with these basic habits. I also involve the kids in the process, teaching them that we’re all responsible for our home.
What about you? Do you have any tricks or routines that make homekeeping easier? I’d love to hear your tips and ideas in the comments below. Let’s share what works!
