Introduction
Keeping your home looking clean, organized, and well-maintained can seem like an endless task. From deep cleaning the kitchen to decluttering the closets, there are dozens of chores required to make a house really shine. However, with a few simple tips and tricks, maintaining your home’s beauty doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming.
In this comprehensive guide, we provide 47 household hacks to help keep your home looking its absolute best. From quick daily tidying to deep cleaning techniques, storage solutions to layout ideas, these practical tips will transform your house into a gorgeous haven you can’t wait to come home to. With a little effort and know-how, your home can always look photo-shoot ready.
So read on for dozens of clever cleaning, organizing, and decorating ideas to make your house look amazing every single day!
Daily Tidying Tips and Tricks
Staying on top of daily tidying is key to maintaining a beautiful home. Follow these tips to keep your house looking fresh day in and day out:
Make Your Bed Every Morning
Making your bed first thing is an easy task that makes a big visual impact in your bedroom. Smooth out the blankets and arrange the pillows neatly to create an orderly, welcoming space.
Clear Clutter Immediately
Don’t let clutter accumulate. Put items away as soon as you’re finished with them to avoid piles. Deal with mail, bags, and shoes as soon as you get home.
Do a Quick Tidy Before Bed
Spend 10 minutes tidying before bed – load dishes, hang coats, straighten pillows. You’ll wake up to a neat space.
Clean as You Go
Wipe spills and messes as they happen so they don’t have time to dry and stick. Toss trash as it accumulates instead of letting it pile up.
Assign a Home for Everything
Ensure items have designated spots so you can put them away quickly. This prevents clutter from building up around the house.
Do a Daily Sweep
Walk through rooms with a trash bag and basket daily, picking up out-of-place items and trash. This keeps floors clear.
Kitchen Cleaning Tips and Tricks
The kitchen sees a lot of use, so you’ll need to thoroughly clean it to keep it looking its best. Follow these kitchen cleaning hacks:
Clean the Sink Daily
Use a gentle cleanser and soft sponge to scrub the sink after each use. This prevents stains and grease buildup.
Wash Dish Rags and Towels Frequently
Dirty towels spread germs and smells. Wash cloths, towels, and rags on a hot sanitize cycle at least once a week.
Clean the Fridge Weekly
Toss old food, wipe up spills, and wash shelves and drawers to keep the fridge fresh. Baking soda absorbs odors.
descale the Kettle Monthly
Remove mineral buildup in kettles and coffeemakers by boiling equal parts water and vinegar, then rinsing well.
Deep Clean the Oven Quarterly
Use a heavy duty oven cleaner and allow it to sit overnight, then scrub off grime and grease in the morning.
Replace Sponges Often
Kitchen sponges harbor bacteria. Replace frequently and disinfect sponges by microwaving for one minute.
Bathroom Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Since bathrooms easily accumulate dirt and grime, stay on top of cleaning for a pristine space. Use these bathroom cleaning hacks:
Scrub the Toilet Weekly
Use a toilet brush and toilet cleaner to scrub the bowl. Let the cleaner sit to dissolve grime before scrubbing.
Clean the Shower Often
Spray shower walls with cleaner after each use. Let it soak in, then rinse clean for a spotless glass door.
Use a Squeegee on Mirrors and Glass
Wipe condensation off mirrors and glass shower doors with a squeegee to prevent water spots.
Freshen Sinks and Drains
Pour baking soda and vinegar down drains weekly, then flush with hot water. For fresh sinks, rub lemon halves on faucets.
Replace Towels Twice Weekly
Using fresh towels prevents mildew smells. Wash bath towels and hand towels twice a week on a hot setting.
Check for Mold
Inspect tile grout and caulk for mold. Scrub with chlorine bleach or oxygen bleach to remove it as soon as it appears.
Floor Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Dirty floors make the whole house seem dingy. Use these floor care tips to keep floors looking their best:
Vacuum High Traffic Areas Daily
Quickly vacuum entryways and high traffic areas like halls and living rooms to remove surface dirt between deeper cleanings.
Mop Tile, Vinyl, and Wood Weekly
Use the appropriate cleanser and mop type for your floors. Changing mop water often gets floors cleaner.
Deep Clean Carpets Monthly
Shampoo or steam clean carpets every month or two to refresh fibers and remove deeply embedded dirt and allergens.
Clean Under Furniture
When vacuuming, take the time to vacuum under and behind furniture to get rid of dust bunnies.
Sweep Porches and Entryways
Use a broom to sweep leaves, dirt, and debris from outdoor floors and entryways to prevent it from being tracked inside.
Shake Out Doormats
Carpeted entry mats trap dirt and debris from shoes. Shake them outside frequently to keep them clean.
Furniture Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Well-maintained furniture makes a home look cared for. Follow these furniture cleaning tips:
Dust Furniture Weekly
Use a microfiber cloth to dust tabletops, shelving, and furniture every week to remove dust and dirt buildup that dulls finishes.
Disinfect Surfaces Regularly
Clean furniture surfaces like tabletops with a disinfecting cleaner to kill germs and bacteria. Pay attention to handles and knobs.
Clean Leather Quarterly
Wipe leather furniture down quarterly with leather cleaner and conditioner to hydrate fibers and prevent cracking. Test cleaners first.
Wash Removable Covers
If furniture has removable cushions or slipcovers, take them off to machine wash every month or two.
Use Vacuum Attachments
Use narrow crevice tools and brush heads to vacuum dust and dirt from furniture crevices, seams, and detailing.
Touch Up Nicks and Scratches
Use touch-up markers and wax sticks in coordinating colors to easily conceal nicks and scratches in wood finishes.
Wall Cleaning Tips and Tricks
While often overlooked, dirty walls make the entire room look dingy. Follow these tips for spotless walls:
Spot Clean Often
Wipe scuffs or marks on painted walls as they happen using a damp microfiber and gentle cleaner. This prevents stains.
Dust Wall Hangings
Use a microfiber duster on a telescoping handle once a week to remove dust from hangings and artwork.
Wash Fabric Wall Art
Remove tapestries, macrame hangings, and other fabric wall art to occasionally hand wash or dry clean. Let air dry.
Deep Clean Twice Annually
Twice a year, clean walls top to bottom by washing with warm water and a mild cleaner using a soft brush and sponge.
Check for Mold
Inspect walls in moist areas like bathrooms for mold growth. Kill and remove it immediately with a chlorine bleach solution.
Touch Up Paint
Use matching paint on a small brush to quickly disguise scuffs and scrapes on painted walls to keep them looking freshly painted.
Window Cleaning Tips and Tricks
Clean windows make the whole house seem brighter and more open. Follow these window cleaning tips:
Close Curtains During the Day
Keep curtains closed while windows are exposed to direct sunlight, which exacerbates dust buildup and streaking.
Dust Window Frames Weekly
Use a microfiber duster on window frames and sills weekly to remove surface dust and dirt before it cakes on.
Wash Screens Seasonally
Remove screens in spring and fall to gently hose down and scrub to remove accumulated pollen, dirt, and debris.
Clean Glass with Vinegar
Use a 1:1 vinegar and water solution to cut through dirt and grease. Wipe dry with newspaper or a lint-free cloth.
Use Vertical Motions
Wipe vertically with overlapping strokes, then follow with horizontal strokes to eliminate streaking.
Dry With a Squeegee
Wipe excess cleaning solution off glass using a professional window squeegee for a perfectly streak-free finish.
Storage and Organization Tips
Cluttered, disorganized spaces make a home look messy. Use these tips to keep possessions tidy and out of sight:
Purge Unused Items Annually
Go through your home once a year, donating or discarding unused items to clear clutter.
Use Bins and Baskets
Keep surfaces clear by using baskets, bins, and containers to store items neatly out of sight. Label contents.
Install Shelving
Maximize unused space by installing shelving in closets, pantries, and garages for organized storage.
Utilize Furniture Space
Use storage ottomans, chests, under-bed drawers, and other furniture with internal storage.
Hang Tools and Hardware
Mount boards, slatwall panels, pegboards, and hooks to keep tools and hardware organized and accessible.
Group Like Items
Keep similar items stored together – medicines in one cabinet, craft supplies in labeled bins on one shelf, etc.
General Upkeep Tips and Tricks
In addition to cleaning, these general maintenance tips will keep your home looking its best:
Replace Air Filters Quarterly
Dirty air filters make air circulation inefficient. Replace furnace and AC filters every 3 months.
Inspect Caulking and Grout Annually
Recaulk bathtubs, sinks, showers, and tile when they become grimy or cracked to prevent moisture damage.
Touch Up Wall Paint Every 2-3 Years
Repaint high traffic areas like hallways periodically to keep paint looking fresh and clean.
Power Wash Siding and Concrete
Use a power washer annually to remove grime and rejuvenate the exterior. Be gentle on wood and brick.
Prune Shrubs and Bushes
Trim trees, shrubs, and bushes away from homes to prevent damage. Prune overgrowth for a tidy exterior.
Service Appliances
Schedule annual tune-ups for appliances like furnaces, AC units, and water heaters to keep them running efficiently.
Decorating Tips
Decor touches like furnishings, accents, and florals make a house look like a beautiful home. Use these decorating ideas:
Style Coffee Tables
Style coffee tables with trays, books, candles, small plants, decorative objects, and other accents to create an inviting vignette.
Update Throw Pillows
Refresh sofas and beds seasonally by replacing throw pillows with new colors and patterns. Store off-season pillows.
Hang Curtains High and Wide
Maximize light and give the illusion of taller ceilings by mounting curtains as close to the ceiling as possible and extending past the windows.
Add Fresh Flowers
Keep bouquets, sprigs, and vases full of fresh, seasonal flowers to add life, fragrance, and beauty throughout the home.
Style with Scented Candles
Groupings of matching candles create a polished look while scenting and brightening a space.
Rotate Decor
Pack up a portion of decor items like figurines, vases, frames, and accent pieces each season to keep the home looking fresh.
Conclusion
With a small daily effort – making beds, tidying messes, sweeping floors – you can stay on top of housework and maintain a beautiful space. But set aside time periodically for deep cleaning tasks like scrubbing ovens, washing walls, and decluttering too. Lastly, incorporate decorative touches to create a finished, welcoming look.
Follow these handy cleaning, maintenance, organization, and decorating tips, and your house will always look its absolute best – guaranteed! Which tips are you excited to try first?