When homeowners have regular weekly or biweekly maid service, they often tend to take it for granted that their house is neat and orderly. But in those periods between cleanings, things can rapidly get out of control.
Just a few days of neglect and you can discover that your home is messy, smelly, and potentially dangerous — especially if you have pets or children.
So here are five simple things you can do to keep your house clean and neat until your next scheduled professional cleaning appointment.
Good Habits
The first is the most simple and obvious, but the one most people ignore: Get into the habit of cleaning up after yourself as you go. And encourage the rest of your family to do the same.
If you carry a plate of food to eat in front of the TV, make sure you return it to the kitchen when you are done. And rinse it off and put it in the dishwasher before moving on to the next thing.
Developing other good habits will also help keep your house clean. These include things like turning on the dishwasher at night, putting dirty laundry in a hamper or laundry basket so it’s off the floor, and giving your walk-in shower a quick wipedown with a squeegee after every use.
Mechanical Help
Appliances like dishwashers and laundry equipment are pretty standard today. But other less popular mechanical equipment can help keep your home looking neater and smelling fresher.
Garbage disposals eliminate leftover food so it doesn’t smell up your garbage can. A robotic vacuum can remove debris from floors on their own while you are doing something else.
Finally, giving your home a quick tidying up at the midway point between maid visits is a good way to maintain consistency in the cleanliness of your home. If your maid comes every other Saturday, for example, consider doing a quick clean on the Saturdays in between.
And if you still have trouble keeping up, consider increasing the frequency of your professional cleaning appointments.
