Why Your House Still Isn't Clean

Why Your House Just Won't Stay Clean

Do you find yourself cleaning all the time, or even weekly, only to have a mess sprout back up out of nowhere? Here are some mistakes you might be making, and how to fight against them.

Mistake #1 You don't "clean as you go," making tackling a chore a much bigger obstacle for you later. Everyone knows it's easier to clean as you go, whether it be cooking in the kitchen, cleaning the bathroom counter after brushing your teeth. But let's be honest, how many people actually keep up with it for more than a day? To start off, make it your goal to clean one thing a day, as you're going through your normal routine. It will feel much better waking up to a clean bathroom, instead of a makeup covered counter.

Mistake #2 You don't clean top to bottom. We all have those chores we don't like, that we try to get out of the way first. But let's get real, you can't vacuum your floor with clothes laying everywhere. The same can be said for dusting. It does no good to vacuum, and then dust all your shelves, that dust will eventually settle back on the floor you just cleaned.

Mistake #3 You don't sort your laundry BEFORE you wash, making it harder to do at the end. You have whites, towels, kids clothes, all thrown in the same basket or pile. Which means you're either sorting everything on laundry day, or you're washing it all together. Gross. Whites won't stay white, and your clothes will be covered in towel fuzz. Not only will sorting your clothes be better during washing, but it makes everything easier when the time comes to fold and put those items away as well.

Mistake #4 You don't take off your shoes at the door, tracking dirt and other unwanted muck throughout the house. Dirt is annoying, and gross. Whether you have tile, wood, or carpet, chances are, if you're not taking your shoes off at the door, you're tracking in gunk. Not only does that gunk end up spread wherever your shoes have touched, it just gives you more mess to clean up down the line. Whether you decided to set up a rack by your front door, or just carry them to the closet, take off your shoes as soon as you step inside.

Mistake #5 You save all the cleaning for one day of the week. I know you're busy. Whether it's school, work, kids, or whatever you have going on in life that keeps you busy. Stuff happens. But deciding to clean every room of your living space, and do laundry in the same day... That's just cuckoo bananas. Most of the time there aren't enough hours in the day to finish. From now on, set up a schedule. Tuesday will be bathroom day, Thursday can be for dusting, and laundry can still be done on Sundays.

Mistake #6 You have a catch all. I know how it is. You come home, exhausted, toss your keys, the mail, and whatever other junk you're carrying in a drawer, or on a table. And usually, that junk ends up piling up. I get it, you're tired, you want to relax. But how easy is it to relax in a dirty house? Taking the extra minute or two will have you feeling thankful a few days later.

Mistake #7 You let your laundry pile up. What is your biggest laundry obstacle? For me, it's that we live in an apartment complex that charges $3.00 per load to wash and dry. And when I say load, I mean 5-7 items of clothing fit in there. Instead, I head to my mom's house. But with work, school, other people using the washer and dryer, this means that I'm waiting until my very last pair of dirty underwear. Gross, I know. It also means I'm spending six hours, or a whole day, just on my clothes. Don't be me. If your household uses up clothes quickly, make it a goal to wash once a week, MINIMUM, twice if you can.

Mistake #8 You get lazy. Let's face it, people get lazy. You eat dinner, and don't put your dishes in the sink. You have guests over and then say "I'll clean it tomorrow." If it's just you, then you need a game plan, a way to motivate yourself. If you live with other people, be each other's support, and help push each other to keep working at it.

Mistake #9 You don't make your bed in the morning. For most people, this doesn't really seem like a big deal. How you wake up can definitely affect the way your whole day goes. What better way to put yourself on the right track, especially with keeping your home clean, than to make your bed as soon as you wake up? It also just helps your room look nicer, and more inviting in general.

Mistake #10 You let your kid(s), roomate, spouse make a mess. I have a four year old. She is a super sonic mess maker. If I leave her to her own devices, her play area will look worse than a trailer park after a tornado. For kids, there needs to be rules for cleaning. If my daughter is playing with her play-dough, she can't play with anything else until her play-dough is all closed and put away. For adults, a friendly reminder usually goes a long way. When all else fails, go WHITE GIRLS on them and just have a BF.

Now, I know all these adjustments are much easier said than done. Make a plan that suits you and your household, and just do your best to stick to it. Some days, you might mess up, forget, make a mess. It happens to everyone. Get yourself together and get back into the routine.