They Keep High-Touch Surfaces Germ-Free
There’s no denying that wet wipes make disinfecting surfaces easy (and satisfying). Keep a container handy, and use wet wipes once a week (or daily during flu season) for attacks on light switches, remote controls, drawer pulls, banisters and doorknobs.
They Take Off Their Shoes
Cleaning and removing your shoes when you enter your home (and requesting guests do the same) not only reduces the amount of actual dirt trekked into your home, but also limits your exposure to the "other stuff" you walk through. A comfortable, livable home starts with clean floors, and floors paced with dirty shoes require extra maintenance.
They Own a Broom They Love
A daily sweep of the home collects and keeps the dirt at bay, and if you have furry pets or are a family who wears shoes indoors, any efforts to clean the floors can make a huge difference in the cleanliness of your home. Regular brooms may be fine, but buying my 24" microfiber dry mop was a life-changing experience. Its width makes it easy to wipe down the floors in our entire hallway in one swift back and forth, and it articulates easily to reach under beds and around dining room chairs.
They Clean While They Cook
Forget what you've heard about leaving dishes to soak in the sink. By cleaning up while you cook -- even if that means giving cutting boards and sauce pans a quick rinse -- you'll break down food particles more easily and minimize the mess.
They Put Their Appliances Away
We're not saying that your coffee maker can't sit on the counter. We are saying, though, that your coffee maker doesn't need to be accompanied by your blender, slow cooker and toaster. Having all of these appliances next to each other will make your kitchen look cluttered and leave little room for meal-prep, so consider tucking them out of sight after you're done using them.
They Favor Drawers Over Open Shelves
Open shelving units and floating shelves might look great, but they require more upkeep than closed door cabinets, especially in the kitchen if they’re located near your cooking areas. When you’re choosing how to display your belongings, remember to factor in how much time you’re willing to invest in cleaning the surface
They Run the Dishwasher Every. Single. Day.
Owning a high-efficiency appliance makes this routine economical. Make it a habit of loading the dishwasher and running it every night after dinner, and unloading it as your coffee brews the following morning. If you only produce enough to fill some of the dishwasher, keep in mind that many appliances have a half-load setting that targets the top rack and uses up to 30% less water.
They Organize Their Refrigerators
Achieving refrigerator organization feels a lot like getting the high-score in Tetris, but keeping the shelves and drawers clean is a sure-fire way to level-up. Every time you’re planning a grocery run, take a moment to shift items off the top shelf, give it a thorough wipe-down, and then re-organize. Next week, focus on cleaning the next shelf down, and then shelf #3, and so forth. By the end of the month, you’ll be rinsing out the lowest crisper bins, and reveling in how clean your fridge has stayed by taking it one level at a time. Note that you'll never have to completely empty your fridge to get this chore done when you take it one shelf at a time!
And Regularly Revist Their Pantry
Instead of (unintentionally) saving baking ingredients and canned goods long after they've expired, check their sell-by-dates on a regular basis. A weekly sweep of your pantry will not only remind you which items you still have in stock, but will also help you get rid of anything that could potentially make you sick.
If They Clean Anything Before Bed, It’s The Kitchen Counters
There’s nothing like waking up to a clean kitchen in the morning. Load the dishwasher, scrub down the sink, and make sure the countertops themselves get a complete wipe down so they’re free of grease, germs and crumbs.
They Leave It to Lists
Instead of making a mental note of your weekly tasks and chores, write everything down on a chalkboard or dry erase calendar. You'll stay more organized and reduce your paper clutter by keeping everything erasable.
Also, They Know How to Clean the Walls
Whether you notice it or not, there’s often a lot of dust built up on the walls of your home. Routine dusting can keep buildup at bay, and washing the walls also keeps it free of oils, dirty fingerprints and, kindly nodding towards my children, evidence of jam hands.
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