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!

Can you link the Amazon mousse? I’m intrigued! Thanks!

Breathing that in. I do wonder how safe they are.

Sounds like a doctors waiting room!

Lakeland ( online) or find one of their shops and walk around thinking “I can’t keep up with the cleaning tasks I know about, let alone the new ones that Lakeland have invented a gadget for.”

When I moved to this house many years ago it took a while before the washing machine was sorted so I used the local launderette. While I was there one day I overheard two women, one of them said “ I’m all behind, it’s Wednesday and I haven’t washed my skirting boards this week.” I realised there was no way I was going to be able to maintain keeping my house up to local standards of cleanliness so I gave up.

My ex sister in laws house was immaculate, but she had no books, no pets, no real flowers, no personal belongings on show and her house gave out the emotional warmth of an unopened box of tissues.

Vinegar, lemon juice and water solution in a spray bottle with a squeegee.

Buff with screwed up newspaper.

I’m pretty sure she meant pictures

@Custardapples "We have small children who are 80% crumbs held together by something sticky so there’s that." 😂 LOVE this - can't get the image out of my head now! 💜

I can’t relax in homes like that. So soulless.

As my mum says: empty house, empty mind.

A home without books, pictures, plants and items you’ve picked up as you go through life is a red flag for me.

Clutter, no. Interest, yes.

Yes, us too.

Grey grout rather than white - never gets that old grotty look
clean light switches - often have dirty finger marks on, look so much better having had a quick wipe
likewise areas around door handles if your doors are painted, where the door gets pushed open rather than using the handle
magic erasers are a dream for getting marks of paintwork, scuffs off the bath etc

Was all your towels and bedding at 60 degrees. And wash very regularly.

Ooh you sound good. Please come and tackle my house!

Cleaning with fabric conditioner to make it smell nice?
Reminds me of a television programme where they took swabs of how much bacteria was in homes.
One kitchen was a walking mass of bacterial growth, including all around the cooking area. The woman stated she only used baby wipes to clean down!
Why are some so averse to hot water and soap?

Any white paint on skirting boards and windows etc being clean. Wiping down walls to remove hand and finger prints around light switches and door handles.

Definitely airing the house every day.
Washing all soft furnishings regularly helps - cushions, bedding - actual duvets and cushions etc, pet bedding very regularly.

Healthy green house plants also help.

When I come home and floors are clean!

This. And this Method cleaning spray

https://shop.methodproducts.co.uk/products/bathroom-cleaner-eucalyptus-mint/mtubandtile.aspx?productid=mtubandtile

That's great, thank you :) I'll keep an eye on the price

Why are some so averse to hot water and soap?

Because just like tiled splash-backs in kitchens and baths which sit neatly & tightly to the wall, people often ditch the basic ways of keeping a home clean, in favour of something much more quirky. You can't "clean" with fabric softener.

If you rubbed radiators and skirting boards with fabric conditioner, would dust cling to it more or less?

I hoover my skirting once a month and hope for the best.

I would very likely stick, yes, if left wet. You'd really have to buff all that crap off when cleaning...I can't see the point.

Same, we work, have a 3 year old, a dog, family and a small house. I physically cannot clean everything every day.

I've already said it but storage is key, I wipe down the kitchen surfaces after washing up on an evening, I have baskets for this like toys (dog and small kid ones) and they get chucked in there at the end of a day.

I like the "tray" idea from a PP for things like tables and windowsills for stuff that needs to be out but looks like clutter.

And I am in the process of throwing away stuff, because we've started "doing" rooms. Moved in 3 years ago but immediately had a baby so renovation went out the window and we moved from a bigger house to a small bungalow.

A "big vac" weekly too, including getting the tools out and getting into corners. Run it round quickly other days.

Just what I was thinking!

Ooh also, glassware. I’ve got lots of tea light holders, decorative bits, fruit bowls which really benefit from a good rinse every week or 2. Glassy photo frames I wipe with my mirror/window spray too.

Wiping down internal doors/wiping light switches. Wiping all electronics (screens and controllers) with a special spray. Hoovering the sofa and mattresses when you change the beds.

Also know your own hot spots- my TV and unit are the biggest dust magnet in the house. On a bad week/a last min guest is about to arrive, I would always dust my TV and unit over anything else, and the window sills. Tops of bookcases/wardrobes/skirting boards can be pushed to fortnightly (eg if we were all ill/busier week, etc).

Also, there are many ways to make the whole process more efficient. Eg I sprayed my whole bathroom with cleaning product and applied bleach first thing before doing the school run, so it’s busy working hard for longer whilst I do the food shop, then all ready just to wipe off once the shopping in unpacked. Or I’d apply that before dusting and hoovering the other rooms. Or before Saturday swimming lessons. Set your washing machine timer so you can hang things up when suits you. Do bits at times that work for you.

Robot mop/hoover. Life changing for me, the house has never been cleaner.

For your grout issue/black mould in bathrooms, saturate either cotton wool pads or kitchen roll in near bleach last thing at night. If you roll bits, it will stick to the required spots without slipping. Leave overnight, remove, and it will be pure white again, or at least better.