15 House Cleaning Tips to Keep Your Home Spotless… Even with Kids & Pets!
Use these simple house cleaning tips to make your house stay spotless.
Feeling a bit cluttered lately?
By following these simple house cleaning tips, you’ll be able to easily keep your house spotless every day. Yes… even with kids!
Learn how to declutter your home with our easy and FREE 4-week step-by-step program.
Here are the best organizing tips to keep your home spotless:
1. The number one home cleaning tip is to give every item in your house a home.
You’ll have more clarity about where to put things in your home when everything has a place. Consider donating items that no longer serve a purpose and find a place for things you’re constantly shuffling around.
Emily recently grabbed this affordable pack of acrylic organizers for all her drawers. Shown above.
2. Sweep or vacuum your hard floors daily, especially after meals.
Sweep eating areas (and high-traffic areas) every day, especially after meals. Move out your kitchen stools, clean up the crumbs, and throw the mess in the garbage. This will also help keep bugs out of your home.
“I love using my microfiber mop after we finish eating dinner. We tend to eat at our kitchen counter often, and the kids always spill food on the floor. After I’m done cleaning everything and wiping counters, I do a quick run around the floors with my broom, and the microfiber picks up everything.” – Mandy, Hip reader
3. Making your bed in the morning is one of the best cleaning tips and makes your whole day better.
Making your bed when you wake up is one of the best morning routines to make your day better. By simply making your bed, your room will look much cleaner and put together, and start your day on the right foot.
Even better, doing this small task will lead to higher productivity which will give you plenty of energy to incorporate all of our other house cleaning tips into your daily routine.
It’s never too early or too late to get the kids involved in the bed-making department as well. Making their bed will give them something to be proud of and also start their day on a positive note.
“I make my bed pretty much as soon as I get up, and I love how it looks for the rest of the day. Even something small like that makes a difference in the rest of my day and makes our room inviting (even if the rest of the house is messy).” – Lina, Hip sidekick
Hip Tip: Read my review on this luxury bedding for less. I tested every piece for many months and it rated better than other top brands.
4. Wipe down all of your appliances regularly.
Stainless steel appliances can get dirty fast. By simply wiping them down, your whole space will shine. Grab our favorite stainless steel cleaner and a microfiber cloth to keep under your sink and make this your last to-do when cleaning up the kitchen.
Hip Tip: Shop my top-rated & eco-friendly natural cleaning products if you’re looking to go toxic-free in your home.
5. Grab your laundry basket and do a load of laundry every day.
One load of laundry a day will keep the piles away. 😂 This is especially important for people with kids since laundry literally piles up overnight. Having a laundry system where you can do at least one load a day will make the task seem less daunting when it’s time to fold and put away.
Plus, it keeps your hampers and laundry room tidier and rooms smelling fresher too.
“I prefer doing several loads of laundry each week, sometimes once a day, so that it never gets overwhelming.” – Melinda, Hip sidekick
My Hip teammate, Jessica, uses this cleaning tip to keep up with laundry and enjoy some downtime! One of my favorite house-cleaning tips yet, thanks, Jessica! 👏🏻
“I do laundry every night because that’s the time I get to watch TV and fold. I love it!” – Jessica
Hip Tip: Minimize your spending and grab our favorite non-toxic laundry products that will save you money and be safer for your health.
6. Clean all of the dishes after every meal.
It’s important to clean up after every meal whether you eat three meals at home or just one at night. The kitchen is the heart of the home and nothing will bring you down quite like a full sink of dirty dishes.
Ahh! Don’t you feel better already looking at this before and after?! 🤩
“I do my dishes right away. Dirty dishes go right from the sink into the dishwasher, so my sink is always clean. I always run my dishwasher at night and empty it first thing in the morning.“ – Bryn, Hip sidekick
Hip Tip: Our team loves this roll-up dish drying rack which will quickly become your favorite most versatile item in your kitchen. 😉
7. Organize and put things back where you got them so the other tips for cleaning come even easier.
Have you ever grabbed something from the pantry and were too lazy to put it back? While we’re all guilty of it, this habit creates clutter so make sure to put things back in their dedicated places when you’re done with them. If my kiddos can do it, you can too!
Hip Tip: Get some serious pantry inspiration with these food storage containers Walmart offers on a budget.
8. Don’t forget to pick up random items before you go to bed to wake up to a clean house.
Simply fluffing up your pillows, putting throw blankets where they belong, and picking up miscellaneous items like toys will make such a huge impact on how picked-up a room looks. By doing this before bed, you’ll wake up less stressed.
“I have 2 baskets at the bottom of the stairs and I collect all the things they bring to the first floor throughout the day. Then it’s their responsibility to bring it back upstairs to their rooms at night and bring the empty basket back.” – Rachel, Hip sidekick
9. Implement the “one thing out, one thing back rule”.
This goes for you and the kids and eventually, everyone will get on board with repetition and consistency. It’s as simple as putting something back before you get something else out. While it may take kids a bit longer to get used to this system, stay consistent with this useful cleaning tip so your entire house doesn’t end up becoming cluttered and messy.
“I once read that if a child has the ability to take a toy out, then they have the ability to put it back. That ability starts at a very young age (maybe 1.5 – 2 years old) so this really put things in perspective for me and I made sure all 5 of my kids cleaned up after themselves. Another rule I instituted when they were a little older was that if they leave their toys out in public areas (like the living room or yard or in a shared bedroom), they become ‘public property’ and their other siblings could play with them. This worked especially well with the toys they loved.” – Eva, Hip reader
Hip Tip: Got kids? A bean bag stuffed toy storage solution makes cleaning up way more fun for kids and they’re functional too.
10. Perform light cleaning house services when necessary.
Don’t forget about tending to your spaces in between deep cleanings. If you notice a dirty bathroom vanity, mirror, kitchen sink, etc., take the time to wipe it up or clean it quickly and move on with your day. You’ll also find that deep cleanings become a lot easier (and quicker), too.
“I like to keep cleaning wipes in the bathroom sink cabinet. When I get out of the shower and I’m waiting for my lotion to not feel so sticky, I can do a quick wipe down to help keep the sink countertop clear between deep cleanings.” – Emily, Hip sidekick
Hip Tip: Make the switch to Swedish dishcloths if you’re using way too many wipes or paper towels. They’re eco-friendly, will save you money, and are one of our favorite reusable products EVER.
11. Let the kids double-check each other to help avoid daily battles.
This awesome house-cleaning tip came from one of our very own Hip readers and it even takes a little pressure off parents if you have young kids at home. Plus, it holds them accountable for keeping their own spaces clean and gives them a sense of responsibility too.
“The best organizing and cleaning tip of all is when you assign the kids to inspect each other’s work. LOL! They’re way harsher than I would ever be. 🤣 The little ones love being able to tell the big ones ‘you missed a spot!'”
12. Hang up coats, and clothes, and put away shoes every time you wear them or don’t wear them.
Clothing can quickly get out of control especially if you get in the habit of trying things on and throwing them on the bed. You’ll have a much tidier foyer and bedroom by putting clothing back, hanging up coats after you walk through the door, and having a designated spot to place shoes.
Don’t have time to put clothing back right away? Consider placing a hamper for clean clothes in your closet so you can hang them later without them being an eyesore.
13. Sometimes, you just have to get rid of stuff to lessen the load.
Despite the tons of great organizing tips and house cleaning tips, there are out there, sometimes the only way to truly tidy up is by getting rid of the junk collected over the years.
Extra items build up easily, but there are likely plenty of things you can live without. Luckily, we have a few tips for taking care of the clutter:
- Host a yard sale. Ask neighbors if they want to join, don’t forget to check and see if you need a permit.
- Clear out old, unused electronics. Once you know how to recycle electronics, you’ll be freeing up space in your home for the ones you actually use. Did you know you can recycle electronics for cash too?
- Donate items or learn how selling on Facebook Marketplace could earn you some extra cash.
- Check-in with friends and family. If you’re looking for a quick and reliable way to get rid of perfectly good items, ask around to see if anyone you know needs them first. This will also save you the hassle of trying to sell them.
Hip Tip: Learn how to declutter your home with our 4-week step-by-step program. It’s FREE!
14. Give everyone in the house a chore so you’re not doing everything by yourself.
There’s no household where one person can do it all and making the tasks a team effort is one of the best ways to clean a house fast! So if you have a roommate, significant other, or kiddos old enough to chip in, assign everyone a daily or weekly chore to keep up with, and don’t be afraid to make it fun!
Our Hip sidekick, Jenna, loves her Skylight calendar to keep her life organized and assign kids daily chores. She says it even helps encourage them to do them too!
“We divide and conquer. With 4 kids and 3 full bathrooms, 2 kids take their bathroom upstairs and 2 kids take their bathroom downstairs. Dishes are done on a daily rotating basis. Oldest to youngest. If that particular person is not home or busy with homework, then it goes to the next person in line. Sometimes I forget whose turn it is so I’ll just ask whoever I see first. Each kid is responsible for keeping their room clean daily and doing their own laundry. Housework is teamwork over here.” – Melissa, Hip reader
Hip Tip: Make cleaning even more fun with our free printable bingo chore chart for kids.
15. Shut the door on the mess, literally!
No matter how many house cleaning tips we share, some days our messes get the best of us or it’s simply not feasible with the current stage of life you may be in. Give yourself some grace – you’re not alone and simply shut the doors!
Out of sight, out of mind. 😉
The last thing we need is to feel stressed about a messy house on top of all the other responsibilities we have daily. Instead of comparing yourself to others, remember there’s no such thing as perfection and sometimes getting outside for a walk and fresh air will alleviate more than completing a chore. 🤗
Some of our easy tips on how to organize your life won’t cost you anything.
You forgot to give EVERYONE who lives in the house a job they are responsible for. A friend of mine raised a large family she had a job jar and everyone drew a job out that they were responsible for. (Even the daughter’s boyfriend that was invited to dinner) It teaches life skills. Our kids are grown now my husband and I split the rooms to clean. I clean the living room, bedrooms and downstairs bathroom. He cleans the kitchen, garage and upstairs bathroom. It works well and I don’t feel taken for granted or under appreciated.
Yup! This is how my house stays clean! Nobody gets to live here for “free”! Everyone is expected to to chores and they know they won’t be paid for them! Chores start at age 2 and they get inspected for quality. The best is when you assign the kids to inspect each other’s work, they’re way harsher than I would ever be 😂 the little ones love being able to tell the big ones “you missed a spot!” 😂
I love that the kids inspect each other’s work! They’re not scared to tell the truth.
12. Send the kids outside as soon as they wakeup & don’t them back in until dark. 😆😆
😂😂
This IS what my mom used to do! 🤣🤣We drank water out of the water spigot and were only let in to use the bathroom. We learned how to occupy ourselves and play together! We lived on a farm and always found things to do/play outside.
Yeah, dream on lol. 6 kids, I sweep my kitchen floor 5x a day and it’s still a mess, my kids are told 100x a day to eat at the table. Never do lol. Crumbs, bowls all over. Had to put a key lock on the pantry and a bike lock on the fridge. My Mom came over last night lol thank God for grandmothers the house was straight when she came over. I’m not scary enough and the kids know she is my boss lol. I do all this stuff and more all day long, I do like we have 4 acres, that we can just send the kids out in. It’s rough a 6 month long school break is crazy, fun, and hard work. I love it.
Great post! Thanks so much for all of your awesome tips! 👍👍
You’re so welcome! Glad you enjoyed the list!
GORGEOUS house!!!!!!
I feel you. My oldest girls are 11 months apart so I had both in diapers and finished breast feeding one just to start with another. At one point on time I was lucky just to sleep. It will get better. Now that they’re older…. I’m like a drill sergeant. I have four kids and I’m a grandma now so I have to be. Hang in there and stay safe
To new mom Christine- The best and hardest advice I got as a new mother was to let go of the housekeeping as much as you possibly can when they’re little. You will have plenty of time when they are older to try to have a perfectly tidy house. It was hard for me to do this because I really feel guilty and out of sorts if my house is too messy. But honestly, just taking time to be with those littles and to get some rest when you can is what will really matter when all is said and done. ❤️
This post was inspiring. Just what I needed today. Thanks!
Oh awesome! SO glad the post was helpful! You’re very welcome!
I have 2 older teen daughters who both work and go to school. We each pay $75 a month to have our home deep cleaned bi-weekly. Time is money, we’d rather all chip-in and spend time together. Some things just aren’t worth the hassle, though I can understand this isn’t feasible for some ❤️
Thank you for the inspiration 😀. I like the others that chimed in about the chore jar and letting housework go when they are little.
“Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo. But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep! I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep”
There’s a great quote from Phyllis Diller…”Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing”. That is so true! We have to stop putting so much pressure on ourselves to have everything look a certain way. I grew up in a squeaky clean house, and as great as that was, all of my childhood memories are of my mom cleaning and not of her spending quality time with us. I don’t want my kids to have the same experience, so we make chores a family activity and have learned to live with a laundry mountain sometimes! Life is short, keep your priorities straight 🙂
I blast music and turn on the mini strobe light and my kids (14,12,9) find cleaning the house not so dreadful but kinda fun.
How old do each of you feel like a child is old enough to pick up after themselves? One of our kids have four children 11, seven, soon to be 4, and their mom and dad say they are too young to learn how to pick up after themselves. So the two oldest boys have to do all of the twins cleaning and their own cleaning.
Three is plenty old! I think even a one-year-old can simply put at least a few toys in a basket. My young kids know that before they watch a movie in the late afternoon, the downstairs needs to be picked up. It gives them motivation and has turned into an automatic habit.
I once read that if a child has the ability to take a toy out, then they have the ability to put it back. That ability starts at a very young age (maybe 1 1/2 – 2 years old) so this really put things in perspective for me and I made sure all 5 of my kids cleaned up after themselves. Another rule I instituted when they were a little older was that if they leave their toys out in public areas (like the living room or yard or in a shared bedroom), they become “public property” and their other siblings could play with them. This worked especially well with the toys they loved.
#2 is such a struggle for me with all the hardwood floors. Every room is hardwood. My 1 & 8 yr old are messy eaters, and with a dog that sheds like crazy, it’s hard to keep them clean. I can’t do it every day🥲 But I do like 10 of these things on the list. 👍And it helps!
My husband and I r both neat freaks. We have 4 kids 9, 6, 2 and infant. Thanks for the reminders that chores can wait. I’m that mom that spends too much time cleaning and organizing and not enough time doing fun things with the kids. I luv all the tips shared by H2S including the last one. I luv how u look at this from all angles.
I feel that if you at least keep up with a few daily chores like making the bed, do a load of laundry, keeping the floors free of items, vacuuming and wiping down counters and sinks, then the home doesn’t get so far gone that you can’t keep up. My kids grew up this way because I set an example and I think it makes life much easier.
I know some don’t like to do this…but always taking off your shoes and making guests do the same really cuts back on your floor cleaning. I never allow people to wear shoes in my house.
A clean home creates a calm, safe environment.
Somewhere along the life I learned about “2 minute tidy.” Everyone goes to a room and a timer is set for 2 minutes and everyone tidies and cleans as quickly and properly as possible for those 2 minutes. When the timer beeps the room is done regardless of what’s not cleaned or out away.
The tidy method is not to replace proper cleaning. It’s meant to make a room presentable.
We all do something before we leave the house in the morning whether it is empty the trash on the way out the door or put the dishes in the sink etc. I usually start a load in the morning and come home at lunch and hang it on the line and go back to work (weather permitting, or put it in the dryer) and treat myself with a cup of coffee with a tablespoon of baileys in it. Yummo.
Thanks for sharing your daily routine! ❤️ I like to get a few house chores done at the beginning of my day too! It helps start out my day feeling productive. 🙌
my mom would save mini boxes to put in drawers to keep them organized. The smaller junk drawers or bathroom drawers would all have Velveeta cheese cardboard boxes to house the pens, paper clips, rubber bands, combs, extra travel toothpaste, hair clips, etc. Little Tupperware bottoms that have long lost their tops to keep things in their place. I always wanted to buy plastic or acrylic organizers, I remember my frugal mom pinching pennies would say; I have those at home! don’t spend your money! lol
Love to hear about your mom’s thrifty-ness for organizing, lisa. 🥰 I’ve definitely upcycled containers as well, though I still love the clean look of the acrylic organizers, when I do grab a set. I’ve also used food containers (usually a cheaper store brand) for the same type of organization. 🙌