What non-obvious things make a house feel clean?

[Custardapples]

Obviously you can have a clean sink, loo, etc. but I think there are some non-obvious things that help make a house look and feel clean and I want to know what they are! My house never feels like this and some other people’s homes do. I feel like I’m missing crucial knowledge of how this works.

One thing I’ve just discovered is that the grout between our kitchen floor tiles hasn’t been sealed and that’s why it’s always so grubby. Things like that.

What else can I do to help my house feel clean, fresh and pleasant apart from the obvious?

Thank you!

Don't be sarcastic. A lot of people in the UK use jugs.

Dark grey grout on floors.

White will never look clean.

No clutter, no dirt

I agree with that, having said all I did about floors. Light coloured grout is the work of the devil, so much so that if ever I get round to decorating the room I am sitting right now, I will build into my colour scheme accents of black, as I want a tiled floor in here (due to it leading to a back door, and the main one at that) so that I can mop it, but no way will I have anything but black grout.

Mentioned on another thread but I have an electric mop, that thing brings up a nice sheen on the floors.

I have also recently acquired a posh cloth. Don't know what it's actually called but you use them to buff up stainless steel (I think!) so I use it on my taps/sink... But also the door handles/light switches, glass chandelier/pendant light things...

On the tangent of shiny things I seem to be on, Wood Silk spray makes all wooden shelves etc GLEAM!
I guess shiny surfaces means they're dust-free: clean home 😁

open windows and fresh air

You need to keep up with general maintenance like painting walls and skirting boards and carpets

I haven’t for a while and it really shows

Kitchen counters empty except kettle.

Put away all toiletries , cleaning products , nothing above kitchen cupboards, top of wardrobe clear.
Put all food shopping away in cupboards and not piled up on the counter.
Beds made.
Not too many cushions / throws on sofas.
Clothes away in wardrobe , towels in airing cupboard , no dressing gowns on backs of doors.
No shoes by the door, no ornaments.
Tidy front garden/ door step and tidy back garden.
Always tidy before bed , so house looks nice in the morning .

@Custardapples, your post just made me realize something. There isn't a forum for homemaking or cleaning, is there?

I have a new build home and I am obsessed with cleaning . This is due to me spending a period of time homeless last year and whilst I was in my hotel room I yearned to do some cleaning and promised myself once I get a home I would never grumble again.
I have quite a few useful cleaning tips …

get one of those sponge on a stick and either put Zoflora in or fabric conditioner and water and wipe down all your skirting boards , doors and radiators with it . The dust will come off and not only that but will make your home smell lovely

For a clean fresh sink use a dishwasher tablet and hot water

To clean dirty seals in the window frames get a paintbrush and hot soapy water

To get rid of marks on a shower door use a sponge on a stick and put in white vinegar then dry with a dry cloth

To quicken your ironing time put foil over the hot part of the iron . This ensures both sides are ironed at the same time

For a fresh smelling sofa use a wash tablet in hot water in a bowl . Get a cloth and wrap it around a saucepan lid and use the lid to wipe the sofa . Sofa will be clean and smell amazing

Amazon do the best window cleaning mousse all you need to do is spray the moose and wipe with kitchen roll or blue roll for amazing clean shiny windows

Cook fish, bacon and fried food outside to stop smells.

Tidy surfaces( I use baskets to give the impression I'm tidy)
If surfaces are cluttered it's a pita to clean.
i shower my Westie with baby shampoo every month, no more as he has sensitive skin so no doggy odours
wash throws, dog beds regularly
My top tip... Coverless duvet. I throw the whole thing in the machine weekly, much more hygienic than a grimy duvet
Windows opened daily, even when it's freezing for a quick blast of air.

Is your electric mop a steam mop? If not could you please tell me what it's called? I'd like a nice mop but I don't think my floors can cope with steam mops. Thanks

Soft lighting - over head lights are too harsh.

Jug of warm water with washing up liquid, pour down backs of radiators to flush out dust, put an old towel underneath the radiator to catch the dirty water.

Loving these tips. I am very untidy. I do a lot of voluntary hours helping disdvantaged kids and so my home is not often tidy or as clean as it should be. I need to work on prioritising myself more, as it is getting me down.

I have a day off tomorrow so will be implementing a lot of these.

I am adding in - washing curtains helps.

Lazy as sin here, this is no effort:

robovac daily

industrial cleaning products from diy shop= deeper, faster clean

poundland disinfectant sofa spray clears the farts, smells not inexpensive

builders’ hoover (karcher £60), vicious greedy bitch

windows open a crack 24/7 every room

blinds, not curtains that smell

lino or wood, not carpets that smell

matt, not shiny, surfaces, no fingerprints

wet dust with microfibre cloth, no polish

Finally, yes to the cheapest flowers in the shop, no to a kitchen bin. (Everything goes into a bin bag and straight to rubbish when done.)

Finale - pets and children:

Pets are people, and any guest who
objects to their gift of lovely fur on the trousers is a dismal freak.

Children & their explosive body fluids can honk, and while parents like (love) it others do watery-eyed mouth breathing. Open the poor little sod’s window before your guests dive through it.

If you pick up and clean every day it really doesn’t take long.

Main thing is plenty of fresh air and regularly dust. Scented candles.

If you can’t replace the carpets, then hiring a carpet cleaner may help freshen them. And buying big rugs can work wonders. You can get them secondhand on marketplace etc. Have to do it in rentals.

For kitchens and bathrooms (and even in a kids room with a big rug over) there’s some fantastic vinyl flooring now, which works out a lot cheaper than tiles. You’re right about grouting. You can replace that fairly easily. Dark grouting on white/light tiles can look good and is practical too.

You’re right about soft furnishings, like new cushions and pillows. Larger surfaces and soft furnishings (carpets, curtains, blinds and bedding) tend to look cleaner and more calming if they’re plain rather than patterned. You can add pattern in smaller items. If you have unsightly radiators, then cover kits can look cleaner, if you paint and fit yourself.

Kitchen surfaces and tables free of mess.

Muted shades tend to look fresher and calmer than too much bright colour, unless you’re going for a full-on maximalist, Frida Kahlo house vibe.

Open windows, clean toilets, clean kitchen sides, clean skirting boards

No clutter, clean bathroom

We have lived here for 10 years and nt had a window cleaner 🤦‍♀️

• Get rid of limescale in kitchen and bathrooms
• Wash kitchen cabinets, handles and kick-boards
• Clean oven and microwave
• Clean ceiling light fittings and lamps
• Wash skirting boards
• Clean windowsills and frames

A clean front door abd threshold x