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7 Clean As You Go Tips

by | Nov 12, 2015 | Decorating Inspiration, Domesticity

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7 Clean As You Go Tips

One thing I’ve learned over the years of trying to keep up with several kids and pets in our home is that if you really want to have a “clean enough house” like I do, you need to find ways to be very efficient and make it a habit to clean as you go. It really isn’t any extra work to clean more often, in fact, it’s actually less work to clean as you go than it is to save up all the work until your house is a giant mess. Being prepared to clean by having the right supplies ready to go and then actually cleaning up as you go through the day will make a difference in so many ways!

7 Clean As You Go Tips
Because I try to keep up with my daily routines for housekeeping, I love having what I need on hand to keep up on washing dishes and laundry, it just makes me feel prepared and efficient. There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of dishwashing detergent on a busy week! I recently received a bundle of cleaning products from The Honest Company delivered right to my door, it doesn’t get any more efficient than that! The Honest Company products are so adorable and clean smelling and we love the convenience of the service! Honest’s goal is to provide you with a little relief by delivering the family essentials to your doorstep– to simplify your life and bring more delight to every day. They definitely achieved their goal at our house!

Here are some of my tried and true clean-as-you-go tips:

1. Make it a daily habit to put things away where they belong to save yourself time and stress later. When you see something amiss, pick it up and take it immediately to where it belongs, rather than letting things pile up. Keep a basket near the stairway to toss items that go up or down stairs to save a few extra steps.

7 Clean As You Go Tips

2. When you see a messy countertop or a dirty sink, take a few moments to clean and polish it up right there on the spot. To make cleaning easier, I keep an all-purpose cleaner and rag or paper towels handy under the sink so I can quickly clean up a mess before it has a chance to grow and multiply.

7 Clean As You Go Tips

3. Schedule online deliveries directly to your home for frequently used cleaning items like dish soap and laundry detergent. Always be stocked with what you need to do laundry and dishes so they will never pile up waiting until you can get to the store. I ordered my essential cleaning products in a significantly discounted bundle from The Honest Company (with up to 40% off versus ordering items individually) and they can be conveniently scheduled to ship regularly so you can refill your supply as often as you need without making emergency trips to the store. You only pay when they ship! Orders are obligation free and so convenient!

4. Empty the dishwasher before you start cooking. With an empty dishwasher, you’ll be able to put your cooking and dinner dishes immediately into the dishwasher after dinner and go to bed with a clean and shiny kitchen.

7 Clean As You Go Tips

5. Wash dishes after every meal. Yes, at first it will seem as though you are always doing dishes. But the alternative is dirty dishes piling up in the sink and all over the counter all day long. I personally love using the Lemon Verbena Dish Soap and the Honest Auto Dishwasher Gel. They are tough, but smell great and are safe for your family and home with advanced plant-based cleaning. Keep up with the dishes and soon you’ll become accustomed to a clean kitchen and never want to go back to letting dishes pile up again.

7 Clean As You Go Tips

6. Keep cleaning supplies in every bathroom for quick and easy access. With easy to grab cleaners and towels you can quickly polish up a sink and with toilet wands available you can easily swish out a toilet. If you have to go to another part of the house to grab supplies first, you’ll be more likely to put off cleaning or simply forget to do it.

7 Clean As You Go Tips

7. Toss in a load of laundry in the morning, move it to the dryer and use a timer to remind yourself to remove items and immediately fold, hang and take to the proper location. Keep laundry moving along and you’ll avoid ironing and laundry pile ups.

What are your favorite clean-as-you-go tips?

Honest was kind enough to offer the first 25 readers 25% off their first Honest bundle! Click here and use the code INSPIRED25OFF at checkout!

Terms: Offer valid only for first-time bundle buyers at Honest.com, now through November 30th, 2015, 11:59pm PT. This offer can only be redeemed once per customer and cannot be applied to International Surcharge, taxes, shipping, previous purchases, current Bundles, the purchase of gift cards or gift Bundles. Offer cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with any other coupons or promotions. Terms of offer are subject to change.

This post has been sponsored by The Honest Company who provided products and payment. All opinions are my own.

11 Comments

  1. D. Nelson

    A lovely friend of eighty-some years told me many years ago, her mother always said
    “It’s easier to keep up than catch up”
    That short phrase always has helped spur me on when I really, just don’t feel like finishing up what’s at hand.
    *Your posts and website are lovely, beautiful and homey. Thanks for sharing your creativity!

    Reply
  2. Debbie from MountainMama

    Well this is exciting!! A cleaning product I have never heard of?? Wow!! I had to jump right onto their site and order myself a little bundle – can’t wait to try it out – thanks for the tip!!

    Reply
  3. Cristi

    I do really like the Honest Company but just be sure to do the math on what you would like to buy versus buying the bundle. I was going to do the bundle package at $35.95 but realized that the 5 products I chose (all cleaning supplies) only added up to $27.95. So going with the bundle I actually would have paid MORE for the products than the regular retail price. I’m sure the bundle is a good deal if you are buying the more expensive personal or baby items but just check the math first to be sure. I had just assumed the bundle would be the better deal given their advertising but it’s not always.

    Reply
  4. Lisa Mothersead

    I, too, love a clean, organized home. Calm and peaceful. I actually unload the dishwasher after getting the food in the oven…as you can set the table with the plates, cups, and silverware from the dishwasher. And laundry is never a by itself chore. Always combine with other chore and break for beep of dryer. (My new dryer even has a wrinkle shield option so it will continue to periodically spin and beep, if you don’t get to it right away.).

    Reply
  5. Cristina Festa

    OMG this is my life ! I have 2 small kids, a dog and I work full-time 4 days a week. I feel like my house is always a mess because none of us put things back where they belong. We’re always rushing so we leave things out then it just piles up so much that it’s unmanageable to clean up. Toys end up all over the house despite the fact that we have a large playroom. They are kids so I get it. My counters always have spills or crumbs and I do try to wipe up as I see them. I love your idea of having the cleaning supplies already in each bathroom are. I keep my in a hall closet and I have to go get the stuff and take if room by room to clean. I love the basket at the bottom of the stairs to take up at the end of the night idea also. I usually just pile everything up on the stairs that has to go up. Thanks for the tips and wish me luck.

    Reply
  6. Marian L

    Hi Melissa,
    Wonderful and helpful advice! I can’t wait to give these products a try. Can you tell me how you keep your matchstick blinds clean? I want to put some in my kitchen but I’m afraid that kitchen grease, etc. will make them a mess in no time and other than vacuuming I haven’t a clue how to clean them.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  7. Joanne B.

    It’s just my husband and I now as we are empty nesters. Oh- and the dog- who sheds- a lot! I find that I am always keeping up and straightening, but I feel if I let things go too far (like not vacuuming at least 3X week) then when I do decide to pick up I want to get out a toothbrush (that is an exaggeration, but you get the idea!) and go crazy cleaning everything from top to bottom. I wholeheartedly agree with your first poster who said it is easier to keep up than catch up!

    Reply
  8. Margaret Powling

    My mother always told me, way back when I was a child learning to cook in the 1950s, to “clean up as you go”. This stood me in good stead because when I was later learning Domestic Science at school, I’d already become a tidy worker in the kitchen which brought praise from my teacher. And now, to have an empty dishwasher ready to receive the pots and pans is automatic (as automatic as the dishwasher!)
    I do feel we complain too much about housework, though. It’s a doddle with all the cleaning equipment we have these days. We no longer have to sprinkle tea-leaves on the carpets in order to stop dust rising as we sweep them with brooms!

    Reply
  9. Ms. Maggie the Elder

    One day I realized that I had 7 bathrooms when considering both homes: answer was to keep supplies in each bathroom and that sure helps. I do one big job per day in the home that I am in and that keeps things spring like- my hubby is a good man too but he can only keep up so much. We make sure to do those dishes each day routine too. Some people exercise- I clean. Put music on when it gets too tedious… I like the smell of the natural products too. My appliances sing too- so many have some nice ring tones…

    Reply
  10. Carol D.

    These are great tips! I do several of them but the most beneficial one for me is using a subscription service for cleaning supplies, TP, paper towels, cat litter, cat food and laundry, razors detergent. I use Target for the paper goods and cat supplies, Harry’s for razor blades, Honest company for the cleaning items and Amazon DASH for laundry detergent…it has made my life so much easier but did take a while to determine the best delivery schedule for me.

    Reply
  11. Morgan

    I totally agree with what you’re saying here. When it comes to keeping your house in order and good shape, it’s really helpful to clean as you go, before the mess gets out of control. Thanks so much for all the pointers!

    Reply

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