What helps you keep on top of your home?

[Jess2003]

I’ve been thinking about how different people manage their homes, especially when life is busy and there never seems to be enough time. Some do a little each day, some blitz at weekends, and some just tackle things when they can’t stand it anymore!

 

Here are 3 things I’ve noticed help a lot:

 

1. Start with one reset: Choose a single room (often kitchen or bathroom) and get it back to baseline.

 

 

2. Keep a simple kit: Just a handful of reliable products and cloths make it easier to get started.

 

 

3. Mini resets: 10–15 minutes daily stops everything from sliding back.

 

 

 

Personally, in my own home I do a quick evening routine — tidy up, hoover, flat mop (it’s quick and easy), a room spray, and fabric freshener. Then at the weekend I’ll do a deeper clean.

 

I’m curious — what works for you? Do you have any routines, hacks, or tricks that help you keep on top of your home?

 

I’m always looking for ways to grow and develop the services I run. My aim is to support busy, overwhelmed people who need a practical helping hand. My passion is creating supportive space resets that genuinely make homes feel lighter and calmer, and my goal is to keep building that here in our community.

[bebe]

I bought a carpet swiper few years ago and it’s a game changer, mostly on the rug, couple of minutes in the morning during the week, cleans all the crumbs , pet hair etc. 

[Jess2003]

Thanks for the tip! I did a quick search and I’m thinking of grabbing a Bissell one. Looks like it’d be really handy for crumbs and pet hair without dragging the hoover out all the time — and especially at night when I don’t want to wake the kids 😅. For me the flat microfiber mops with the bottle attached has been game changing. No more lugging a bucket about, the thought would put me off at times 

[beansprout]

Personally can’t stand carpets however where I am renting has carpet in  bedroom and hall. Not great quality and certainly not cleaned.

Was  in B & M recently and looking at carpet shampoo -wow got a can costing £2.99 to test.. No scrubbing as others seemed to imply. Spray, leave and poof - smells great, no dabbing or scrubbing and c leaving rubbish.

First to admit is only temp solution but no need to hire carpet cleaner instantly  or pay for a company to come and deal with professionally.

For 3/6 months happy to have used this - Have a carpet cleaner and in a month or so plan to use it. 
 
Buy a steam cleaner for floors - not expensive - much better than mop and bucket and more hygienic all round. Can pick up second hand ones on e bay.

[Jess2003]

Carpet can be a pain at times, the maintenance takes effort. I’ll look into that spray as a handy in-between for freshening things up. Steam cleaners are becoming more popular too and definitely seem more hygienic than a mop and bucket.

 

[Jenijenjen]

There was me overcome with memories of articles in women's magazines from the 1950s advising their readers how to be a good housewife and thinking it's like feminism never happened. Until I read the last paragraph. Be warned, this is PR from someone who runs a cleaning company.

[Angelina]

I disagree with the who concept of tidying one room at a time.

I find it's more effective to increase the overall level of tidy by 10% regularly, and take regular breaks. 

Always straighten your bed first - your bed is your priority and your haven. Change the sheets if you have clean ones to use.

1. pick up all rubbish around the house; take it out.

2. pick up all crockery etc that needs a wash: put it all in one place and start to sort it out. Wash and dry whatever you can put away easily. Wash things by type - I'll do cups then plates, then cutlery, then pots.....

3. Kitchen surfaces - tidy things you can, be ruthless - everything is going to need a home. Sweep the floor, wipe the surfaces.

4. Pick up all laundry around the house. Start to sort it out so you are in control of it - wash types together - eg all sheets. 

4. bathroom - so on.....

Then, the entire house is an better environment.

and you can just keep going.

 

[Spartacus]

I operate an organised chaos strategy 

[Angelina]

Your mental health is affected by your environment, and how you do things affects your life. If you can focus on small things, it will have a big impact.

I think you're being facetious, but people do live like that.

I also operate an organised chaos strategy, as I'm sure many people do, which is essential with family and busy lives

[Jess2003]

2 hours ago, Jenijenjen said:

There was me overcome with memories of articles in women's magazines from the 1950s advising their readers how to be a good housewife and thinking it's like feminism never happened. Until I read the last paragraph. Be warned, this is PR from someone who runs a cleaning company.

You are correct. I do run a solo cleaning company that offers resets and decluttering I've advertised here on ED forum

In regards to your feminism comment, nowhere have I mentioned the gender of the reader. Men and women run homes so I'm sorry you were triggered unintentionally. 

This post however is about me and in parallel refining my service. I also run my own home with 2 children and alot of the things I've learned as a solo cleaner I apply at home. Every tip trick, product and equipment gets invested back into my own life. I firmly believe in practice what you preach and I aim to ensure my advice and services are personal and lived. It means my clients get holistic support.  This isn't an advert it's me trying to learn more ways to help myself and therefore others. 

1 hour ago, Angelina said:

I disagree with the who concept of tidying one room at a time.

I find it's more effective to increase the overall level of tidy by 10% regularly, and take regular breaks. 

Always straighten your bed first - your bed is your priority and your haven. Change the sheets if you have clean ones to use.

1. pick up all rubbish around the house; take it out.

2. pick up all crockery etc that needs a wash: put it all in one place and start to sort it out. Wash and dry whatever you can put away easily. Wash things by type - I'll do cups then plates, then cutlery, then pots.....

3. Kitchen surfaces - tidy things you can, be ruthless - everything is going to need a home. Sweep the floor, wipe the surfaces.

4. Pick up all laundry around the house. Start to sort it out so you are in control of it - wash types together - eg all sheets. 

4. bathroom - so on.....

Then, the entire house is an better environment.

and you can just keep going.

 

Thanks for sharing your way of doing it – I like how practical your steps are, especially the rubbish and dishes by type, that makes a lot of sense.

 

I get where you’re coming from with the 10% everywhere approach. For me, I find doing one room at a time feels less overwhelming because I get that little boost of seeing a space fully finished. I guess it really comes down to what feels easiest and keeps you going – different methods click for different people.

1 hour ago, Angelina said:

Your mental health is affected by your environment, and how you do things affects your life. If you can focus on small things, it will have a big impact.

I think you're being facetious, but people do live like that.

I also operate an organised chaos strategy, as I'm sure many people do, which is essential with family and busy lives

Angelina I think that poster took that picture off Google. Hoarding and clutter are serious mental health problems so I'm not going to entertain it. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Jess2003

[Insuflo]

Someone said: “don’t bother with housework, after the first four years the dirt doesn’t get any worse”. It was either Quentin Crisp or Bob Champion.

[Spartacus]

Quentin  and the quote was "There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse" 

[Insuflo]

No, it was definitely Bob Champion. Or Joseph Merrick.

Edited 47 minutes ago by Insuflo

[Jenijenjen]

Maybe it was Howard Hughes