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!

Buffing water marks off any taps was one that stuck with me from my gran

Clutter free countertops. Appliances in cupboards. Shoes and coats put away.

Stairs and landing Hoovered regularly
air fresheners
candle
no clutter
mopped hard flooring you have hard flooring
clean sparkling kitchen sink
no pets/- we used to have 2 dogs and makes a difference, no dog beds and and dogs toys and bones now. No scuff marks up the walls or mud marks from them shaking when they’ve been in the rain:
i loved them dogs but we won’t be getting anymore that’s for sure

I find since painting everything white and putting white framed pictures up makes my home look lovely. My friend came round the other day and said how clean my house is. Then again I'm recently retired so I have time to make it look nice. But when I was working all hours of the day the house was clean but not very tidy.
Also my garden is nearly how I want it, it looks like a country cottage garden at the moment, but before I never had the time or inclination to do it.

Several people have suggested air freshener/scented candles etc but for me, they are cloying and make me suspect some horrible smell is being hidden. I prefer that the windows have been opened and there's been some fresh air through the place.

People generally put away their pots and pans after each use. No different really from putting away one kitchen equipment to the next piece of kitchen equipment really.

I agree about scented products but I've recently discovered soy wax melts and they smell really fresh and clean, and are non-toxic.

I agree

I also think neutral colours make a home feel open and airy and clean. I know this whole idea of genx neutral grey is a bit overdone but a dark kitchen really does feel far less clean that a crisp neutral kitchen with a lot of light.

@MsAmerica there is an mn housekeeping board on all things to do with cleaning and DIY! Click on the menu - talk - talk topics - home and garden

Repainting the window frames made an incredible difference in my bedroom.

Also recommend removing old silicone beading in the bathroom and kitchen and redoing it.

When the kids move out will make a huge difference to how clean and tidy my house is! 😂

Organised cupboards and drawers
Regularly washed curtains and voiles
Clean grout, especially in bathrooms
No dust on lightbulbs/lamps
Clean fridge

I have a checklist for this kinda shit that occupies way too much brain and physical time.

Easy for them to look clean but usually riddled with cheap cut corners causing other problems.

I do not have a new build (and never have) but I find I feel like my house is clean when there's less stuff visible. So good storage is the thing for me. And using it (DH & I are both terrible for not putting things back).

Also makes it easier to then keep the surfaces etc clean because it's just a quick flick round with a cloth most of the time.

Depends how often you use them to be fair. If you're using the kettle every hour for a cuppa, getting it in and out is going to become irritating.

I also have one of the big air fryers and we use it almost daily. With the fact we have much less cupboard space in the kitchen than we should (kitchen needs doing but wasn't first priority when we bought the house), it wouldn't be easy to move it around.

A lot of people are giving the obvious ones. Some big non-obvious ones IMO are doors and doorframes - especially when you have kids, they can get very mucky and discoloured in certain patches where they are always being touched. Cleaning them makes a bigger difference than you'd imagine.

Likewise with light switches, they can get very grubby without you even realising.

Windows clean on the outside and in.

The patch of floor and wall behind the toilet and bathroom sink.

@justasking111
I'd go one step further and donate the smallest sizes to the charity shop first. There's no way he's going to slim down to small if he's a plus size now. He needs to be realistic but I think some therapy would help unpick his underlying reasons for hoarding.

A flash sponge to wipe all the paintwork (gently) and the gloss where the childen leave their paw prints. I swear my sons swing from door to door like chimpanzees.

i agree with the comment about new builds looking cleaner. Our older house just has little corners and areas that never ever look properly finished and clean. The spindles of the bannister etc- impossible to reach

Tidiness.

Not too much clutter
Clean windows
Daily ventilation. Opening windows to let fresh air in.

For tidying, even if minimalism is beyond reach, you can have a place for everything. A big tub by the door for shoes, another for school bags, if you can get coats in a cupboard rather hanging on the wall then do it. And rationalize coats and shoes every week/month making people put rarely used ones in their room. A tray for keys or change. A pretty filing box or in tray set up for mail. A big toy trunk if young kids have toys downstairs. Clean out little used stuff from cupboards or draws and put them in the loft/garage/shed to make way for stuff you do need to have more available. If you have hoarders in the household this won’t work (you need to tackle that asap too but there’s no quick fix) but you can still designate a space all that stuff gets pushed into. Ideally something you close!

for cleanliness, sand down woodwork repaint carefully so it is smooth and easy to clean. Wipe down weekly with cif. Clean windows, makes a big difference to the light that comes in. Vac furniture and curtains regularly. Get rid of slatted blinds or commit a lot of time to cleaning them. Get a carpet cleaner and use on stains asap and all over every 3 months. Dust light fittings, curtain rods, radiators, ceilings and walls regularly and wipe down from time to time. (Always vac a short time after dusting to capture the dust so you don’t just kick it back up into the air). Wipe light switches and doors.

The smoother your paint work etc. the easier it will be clean and the less dust will get trapped. Ditto with making sure stuff is “hidden” in cupboards, drawers, boxes, etc. it isn’t just about minimizing the visual clutter, it stops it trapping dirt and looking grubby.

For me it's the bits that are often overlooked that makes a difference.

Wipe down the internal doors, handles and all light switches.

Clean the windows every 2 weeks (Just with soapy water then a dry microfibre cloth)

Re-do any bathroom sealant that is grubby or has mold marks as it's not pricey to replace it.

I'd also either seal the grout in the kitchen tiles or scrape half of it out and put dark grey grout in (again, not pricey, but it is time consuming)

One thing I hate is having shower screens with built on scum.

They are so easy to maintain if at the end of the shower when you are still in it, the glass screen is given a quick sponge and rinse. It takes less than a minute and always look perfect.

Oooh cif that’s a good idea! All mine look a bit grubby even when I’ve wiped them.

Taking the recycling out everyday, everything in dishwasher so nothing on kitchen surfaces. Steam mop my floors every day. One load of washing every day, washed, dried, put away. Sounds mad but I find it you do a bit at a time you never are faced with a huge task. I read a book about being tidy and follow the suggestions 🙂

Every time I scrub off scuff marks from the walls / touch up the paint / fix a wall ding I feel quite accomished and like I'm in a new home. 🤷‍♀️☺️