When you have a busy household, the notion of having a home on cleaning autopilot sounds far fetched. It seems that the everyday tasks such as dishes and laundry are difficult to continually stay on top of and that the deep house cleaning tasks will never get done. Once the deep cleaning is accomplished, we vow that we will "keep it that way" only to find that the busyness again consumes our lives. And when something has to give, it's usually the deeper household chores because truthfully, you have more important things to do with your free time. Here are 5 things you can do to put your house on cleaning autopilot.
The Cleaning Services from Maid Affordable
How to Put Your House Cleaning on Autopilot
Maid Affordable Staff
1) Make a Family Game Plan to Pattern Behaviors
One of the very best things you can do to keep things perpetually clean is to create systems and processes for cleaning within your household. Yes, having assigned chores is 100% helpful, but here we're talking about having your family actively participate in behaviors that lead to less mess and less cleanup.
Start by identifying things that are the most difficult or frustrating to keep up with. Is it the spots on the glass shower doors or maybe the baseboards in the kitchen? Then resolve, as a household, to create patterns of behavior that will reduce or even prevent recurrence of the same concerns. Hang a squeegee in the shower and put in the work to actually clean the glass after every use. It will seem like too much to someone in the family at first, but before you know it, it's second nature and significantly reduces buildup and water spots. Or for baseboards, place a container of cleaning wipes in the cabinet and make a habit of wiping a surface in the kitchen each time you get up from the table or put a plate in the sink. And most of us know, once we start it's hard to stop. You may go on and keep cleaning other spots you see on trash cans, cabinets or switchplates. These little, patterned behaviors lend themselves to not only having a clean home, but having a household of people who "think" about cleanliness more frequently.
Be patient and remember that changes and new patterns take time. The process will likely be ditched at some point. As soon as you realize you've gotten off track, get right back on.
2) Divvy Up the Work
Most of us know the importance of divvying up chores. We've had the conversations about who is responsible for what, and then we've had the conversations again. Often when the housework is stacking up, there are outside factors making it difficult to prioritize housework. This could be a new job, school, aging, or illness amongst other things. Spend some time exploring what works for your family. Experiment with different chore apps, charts and divvying of tasks to see what is most effective. Remember, starting something new takes time, patience and persistence. Most chore systems will work with consistency over time but some are better than others. While there are some chores no one in the house loves, there are often preferred chores amongst individuals, so it can be helpful to try to consider assigning tasks that are enjoyable and allow the assigned family member to contribute in a positive way to the upkeep.
3) Simplify & Declutter
Clutter makes having a perpetually clean home seem impossible. Most of us have a culture of acquiring things, whether that is from shopping, gifts or inheriting items. The more furniture and belongings a home has, the larger the task of upkeep. Start by committing to regularly cleaning out junk drawers and closets. Even setting aside a few hours each quarter can help be moving out old items and allowing space for other items that have started to spill over onto surfaces. Once you have simplified, take an inventory and make sure you have a spot for all your items. Have a designated spot for things like mail, important papers, coins. As the saying goes, everything in it's place and...a place for everything.
4) Make Mini Cleaning Kits
Create small cleaning kits with tools needed to maintain the cleanliness in each room. In bathrooms, add a glass cleaning towel, a microfiber towel and a small spray bottle of all purpose cleaner, for example. Each bedroom cleaning kit may include a swiffer, a small roll of trash bags and some room spray. Consider the task you may follow in each room and stock accordingly. But don't set it and forget, repeat #1 above and ensure the family is regularly accessing and utilizing the kids as part of their daily routines.
5) Leave the Dirty Work to Us!
And of course, one great way to keep the house perpetually cleaned, is to enlist the help of a professional, top rated maid service. Maid Affordable is your trusted, local provider of home cleaning services in San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Contact us with any questions about how we can best serve you, or request a free estimate today!