Keeping newly tidy house tidy.

[TLIMSISNW]

We have a newly spick and span house and a massive declutter and spring clean. How do we keep it like this?

Historically we have been messy people and I really don’t want to slip into old habits.

What are your tips for making sure the house stays clean, clutter-free and tidy?

Don't put it down, put it away!

Oh and how do I keep it smelling fresh and nice? We’ve got a dog and cats and sometimes I feel like it doesn’t smell fresh. Do air purifiers help?

Good tip, thank you!

Aldi diffusers are strong and last awhile. I have them dotted round the house.

I deep clean every week but keep on top of different rooms daily, dust around, wipe bathroom over etc.

Stairs basket, anything brought down goes back up on an evening.

You could allocate a day for each room or something like Declutter every sat morning - leave a carrier bag aside just for items and go to the charity shop once a month.

Windows open is the best freshener. I use lidl fabric refresh on cushions but it's not essential and a lot of people dont like it.

Less stuff.
Every bit of stuff has a home.
If it's done with- get rid.
If it's broken, fix now or get rid.
If someone gives you something as a gift and you will never ever use it, say thanks then pass it on.

Steam mop hard floors with a drop of essential oil in the water. I do this 3/week and my house is fresh and clean.

Wash throws, cushions etc regularly.

Throw open the windows regular and air out the house.

Everything has a place and everything in its place. Keep on top of everything. Deal with things as they happen.

Have a regular cleaning schedule and stick with it.

Wash cushions, throws, regularly, even curtains. Hoover and wash floors and pets bedding regularly too. Open windows

Every day at the end of the day I put things away that have been left out; I’m naturally tidy but DH is not and we’ve got young kids so things get left out. It doesn’t take long when you keep on top of it, it’s when it’s left for a week that it feels like a big job

Make sure you're not doing it all.

Have some good threats to use against people who dump clutter in newly cleared areas, and sometimes carry them out.

Open windows every day, unless the weather is truly foul.

My tips -
Make the beds every day.
Do a load of washing everyday (including putting away!).
Put everything away after use.
Do a 15 min pick up every night (toys, shoes, coats, bags, mail, plump cushions etc).
Dishes done and kitchen tidied every night.
Buy a Roomba and set it off every day.

Then two hours on the weekend to change sheets, clean the bathrooms and mop floors.

Make sure everything you have has a home and everything you introduce into the house is given a home. At the end of every day or first thing in the morning make sure everything in popped back in its place. It takes me 10 minutes max a day to tidy. I am not a naturally tidy person but after reading The Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo I have never looked back.

I think you need to think about why it gets messy. Obviously day to day use creates mess and dirt. But is it that you're busy on an evening or leave it all to do together?
Do you have kids? Do they put stuff away?

Genetic tips only work so well, but thinking about where the triggers are for mess and it getting out of control helps.

TLIMSISNW

Oh and how do I keep it smelling fresh and nice? We’ve got a dog and cats and sometimes I feel like it doesn’t smell fresh. Do air purifiers help?

Air the house out at least twice daily, wash things that animals are on frequently.

I suspect that I have ADHD and am 'blind' to crap piling up, then will randomly snap and clean in a tornado style.

There are 6 things I must do everyday:

1: Make all beds
2: Clean kitchen, dishes, wipe everything down. Especially before bed.

1. Wash 1-2 loads of laundry each day. Follow it right through to putting it all away.
2. Vacuum a part of the house everyday.
3. Tidy front entrance way.
4. Clean toilet and wipe basins and replace hand towel with a fresh one.

A few things off the top of my head...

Make the beds every single day.

The kitchen is entirely clean at the end of every day, no exceptions.

Take 5-10 minutes and put random things in their proper place.

Buy a eufy robot vacuum, especially because you have pets. It's a game changer.