Q: I love the look of your house! And I love how you arrange and decorate your shelves, tables, etc. I would love to do more of that, but I talk myself out of it when I think about all the cleaning and dusting of all those little decor items!! What are your quick cleaning tips to keeping everything tidy and dust free? Is it always as clean as it looks in the pictures?- Kim
A: Good question! And one we definitely get pretty often. We do our best to tidy up before snapping after photos for the blog, but in general we’re pretty orderly people and we’ve found that creating a spot for everything really helps us keep things organized and neat (to see how we sort and store nearly everything in our house, check out this post – and peruse other ideas located under Organization Options on our Projects Page). That way we don’t have to schedule major house straightening sessions since most of our things have a place to call home (and can usually be found there, as opposed to in a pile on the dining room table or on the kitchen counter).
When it comes to actually keeping things spic and span, I like to work as I go (a little each day as opposed to a major cleaning sesh every a week). John does nearly 100% of the cooking (he’s my own personal Top Chef) and also does all of the laundry and lawn mowing, so cleaning seems like the least I can do to hold up my end of the bargain. I’ve also developed a series of shortcuts along the way (shhh, don’t tell John!) so it’s really not a major undertaking to keep our little rancher looking up to snuff on a pretty continual basis.
I like to do some things every day as I’ve found that they go a long way towards making the house feel nice and clean. For example, wiping down the counters in the kitchen and loading any dishes into the dishwasher that have piled up in the sink each night before bed only takes a second but ensures that I’m a little happier when I trudge into the kitchen for some cereal the next morning.
Here’s a list of some of the ten-second things I like to do daily:
- wiping down the kitchen counters
- loading the dishwasher & wiping down the sink
- sorting the mail (paying bills & shredding junk mail immediately so nothing piles up)
- bringing a few pairs of shoes back to the bedroom (they tend to pile up at the back door)
- folding the sofa blanket and putting it back in the basket next to the couch
These tiny efforts literally take about five minutes total, but they really make all the difference in the world.
Then there are a few things I do a couple times a week like:
- running & unloading the dishwasher (it’s cake after years in NYC without a dishwasher)
- wiping down the sinks in the bathrooms
- taking out the garbage & the compost (when they’re full, no sense in wasting bags)
- wiping down the stovetop (we have a glass top that’s pretty easy to keep clean)
Again, these little efforts really don’t take much time but they add up to a feeling of control. I sleep easier knowing there’s a grease-free stovetop and a cabinet full of clean dishes ready to go.
Then there are the weekly cleaning must-dos:
- dusting everything (shelves, mantels, tables, etc)
- vacuuming all area rugs
- wiping down the baseboards (it seems like they’re little shelves for dirt)
- de-dust-bunnying the hardwood floors
- cleaning the toilets (it’s a dirty job… well actually not that dirty- you’ll see)
- scrubbing down the shower/tub
- doing the laundry (hurrah- that’s John’s territory)
- ironing (also John’s thing since my clothes are wash & wear, he does it watching TV)
I never end up doing all these tasks in one day though, I usually putter around while I’m on the phone doing some dusting, then the next day I’ll find some time to vacuum, etc.
Sometimes I’m not in the mood at all (I’m not a total freak) but it’s a lot easier to convince myself to do some isolated cleaning for a minute or two as opposed to tackling all of these projects at once, which would really feel like a much bigger deal than doing them as I go. And now for a few of my “shortcuts” when it comes to the weekly chores above.
As for dusting, I like using Swiffer Dusters (just the pads- they’re meant to be attached to a Swiffer but I use them with my hand to dust surfaces like the open shelves in the den, our coffee table, the fireplace mantels, and even the baseboards, etc). They create this awesome static-y cling that basically makes dust stick to them (no dusting spray necessary) and I just lift things up with one hand and swipe under them with the other and can basically dust the whole house with one or two in less than 20 minutes (I listen to my ipod as I go, so it feels more like dancing and less like cleaning). And that includes wiping down those dusty baseboards too! It really isn’t hard at all, and it’s so nice to see the things we love on display, so dusting them is well worth the effort! I’ve actually been meaning to try out some good quality microfiber cloths instead of the Swiffer pads (which I’ve heard are just as good at attracting dust like a magnet without any dusting spray). The bonus is that they’re washable so they’ll make for less waste, which always appeals to us! Update: Now we use microfiber cloths and love ’em.
As for vacuuming I’ve heard time and time again that something with a HEPA filter makes for much cleaner air and a healthier home. And until I can afford one of those amazing Dyson thingies, I use a Bissell CleanView Upright Vacuum that we bought on Amazon after scrolling through all the great reviews. I also love that we have hardwood flooring throughout the house so I only have to vacuum a few 5 x 8 and 8 x 10 carpeted squares here and there and I’m done with the vacuum.
But what do we do to keep the wood floors clean? We also love this cordless little Shark vac for smaller touch ups and hardwood stuff, which everyone else in my family also has and loves. It’s my number one shortcut to a clean house. It works best in corners, under tables and cabinets, etc… but that seems to be where the dust bunnies congregate so after I vacuum the area rug and use the Shark around the perimeter of a room and under the chairs, the floor is totally clean and ready for company. We still sometimes use the bigger plug-in vacuum to cover large areas of the hardwood floor, but for “maintenance” between the more major clean ups it’s truly amazing and leaves the whole house looking photoshoot ready (no cord = freeeeeeedom).
Oh and the toilets. I have to say that replacing both of our ancient models from the 70’s with new shiny white ones really started us off with a nice foundation for keeping them clean. The old porcelain ones seemed to get grody a lot more frequently, and the newer ones stay pretty clean week to week so when I spray them and scrub them down with one of those handled brushes (no hand in the toilet for me) they look great on a pretty continual basis. I think it’s another one of those chores that if you do it regularly instead of letting it get out of control it’s a lottttt less work. As for what I spray them with, I’m obsessed with Mrs. Meyer’s Tile & Tub Cleaner (the lemon verbena scent is seriously amazing and it’s eco to boot). Gotta love not even needing to kneel or reach inside the bowl. And I use the same spray in the shower/tub and gently scrub them down with a designated bathroom sponge (which I keep under the vanity with the spray) to fight back any grime before it starts.
When it comes to wiping things down things like the counters and the sink in the kitchen and bathrooms, I love love love Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner (again in their intoxicating lemon verbena scent). It can be diluted a ton for many different tasks so we keep a bottle going forever by just holding it under the faucet and adding a few inches of water from time to time- it never seems to lose its potency. And as for dish soap, we’ve used Seventh Generation Auto Dish Pacs (good for the planet but still gets our dishes gleaming). Oh and even though laundry is John’s territory I’ll divulge that we use Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent without any dryer sheets or fabric softener. We’ve found that our clothes are just as soft as they were before we gave up the fabric softener and we’re saving money and using fewer chemicals which is always a plus for us.
Of course there are still seasonal chores like cleaning the windows (again I use Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner) and giving the floors a real scrub down (I like Method’s washable headed mop, called the oMop, with a bit of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner- and I’m sure to rinse and dry the floors thoroughly since our refinisher said it’s bad to leave wood floors wet) but those tasks are few and far between… and they’re not even that tough to tackle when the rest of the house is on autopilot.
So that’s the little cleaning roundup that works for me. Unless I forgot something. Did I forget anything? What about you guys. Do you have a specific cleaning schedule that you stick to like glue? Any tips and tricks for me that will change my life? Any other miracle cleaning products that fry your bacon? Let’s talk about keeping house.
Note: None of the products mentioned above have solicited these mentions. They’re just truly the things that I rely on to clean up, and I’m very thankful to have found them (and have inserted some affiliate links when applicable).
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
Kristin says
Hi,
I completely second your opinion on disinfectants. As a biochemist (greetings to your brother, Sherry, I am also doing my PhD) I handle various bacteria every day in the lab, where I also have to disinfect everything properly – but I do not disinfect at home at all. If you follow basic rules of hygiene (wash hands with soap regularly etc – this already disinfects quite effectively because of the detergent), your immune system is completely capable of handling the remaining bacteria. Bacteria are everywhere and we have been able to live together with them ever since.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristin,
Thanks! It’s so good to hear that from another braniac. Maybe we’ll have to throw together a little post about it in hopes of spreading the good word!
xo,
s
elizabeth says
Hey Brandi, I’m super obsessed with disinfecting things too (gotta love OCD), and I found a great environmentally friendly disinfectant that is hydrogen peroxide based. It is called ‘Envirox’ and I bought a case of 4 gallon jugs from a local janitorial supply place. You can call the company to find distributors in your area. There are different dilutions for different uses (light, med, heavy). I use it for disinfecting the sink, toilet, door knobs, etc.
Another option would be to use a vapor steam cleaner to sanitize your hard surfaces without any cleaners…We do that too, but sometimes it’s nice to have a way to clean something small without dragging the steam cleaner out.
Kristin says
Hi,
just let me know if you are interested, I would be happy to provide some information from the point of view of a biochemist. We use biotechnology every day without thinking a lot – think of yoghurt, beer, bread and even your compost bin.
Elizabeth – I personally would not recommend using hydrogen peroxide on a regular basis, but steam cleaning should be very effective.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristin,
We’re definitely interested! Feel free to send any info our way by submitting a comment (we’ll save it and use it in our post instead of publishing it right then and there) or via email! Thanks so much for your brain power.
xo,
s
Jacci says
Doesn’t plain old salt kill bacteria? What about rubbing cutting boards with some of that (for those who don’t trust soap and water)?
Kristin says
Hi again,
I will definitely collect some info I find useful and send you an email.
Laurie, sorry I did not notice your comment on the microfiber towels I use – but I’m afraid I cannot really help you as I am from germany and my microfiber cloths are all from a private brand of a german drugstore chain. At least I would say you do not have to buy any super expensive ones. I have several all-purpose ones and a special glass towel which has a finer texture.
Amber says
Thanks so much for the Kurv tip! I will be picking up one of those PRONTO. Sounds like it is great dealing with dog hair and hardwood floor dust! And I am a super devoted fan of Mrs. Meyers too!
Alina says
I think I’m the only commenter to admit this, but my secret to a clean house is our cleaning person! My husband decided he wanted to use a recent raise to hire a cleaning lady. We stick to a tight budget and I was reluctant to spend money on something I thought we should be able to do by ourselves, but I agreed. And let me tell you, it is great! We both work full time, my job often requires weekend and evening time, and have two dogs. Once the house is squeeky-clean it is much easier to get motivated to keep it that way, even after a long day. It still feels like an incredible luxury, but of all the things we spend money on, this makes me so happy and my life so much easier!
Neena says
I’m obsessed with this site! Sherry, if you haven’t already, I’d recommend checking out the EWG skin deep database when you look for new products to buy. I discovered it when researching sunscreens for my baby and it’s amazing how many toxins are in common household products. I also follow the dirty dozen for avoiding food with the most pesticides. I was really disappointed to find Mrs. Meyers on the list for certain hand soaps that I’m using. I still have a gallon to finish!
Kristin, can you say why using hydrogen peroxide for cleaning is not recommended?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah I loooove the EWG’s Skin Deep database. It really helps when it comes to making confident and informed decisions!
xo,
s
StaCy says
You have inspired me to get down and dirty with my base boards today… and when I say dirty, I mean I have cleaned them once in our 5 months of living in our new home! EWWW I know! But as I was plowing through our house with dusty wipe in hand, I noticed that the majority of grit came from our very hairy wool rug… any suggestions on how to make it stop shedding more than our dog?
katiethelady says
I’m so happy that you are thinking of switching to microfiber cloths – they really are amazing! Those swiffer things are magical, but they’re also pretty bad for the environment. Method makes something similar (I think for their OMop) but they are made out of corn.
Shea says
I went out and bought some Mrs. Meyers all purpose cleaner in the lemon scent and I LOVE it. I also feel better knowing it’s eco-friendly. I will be trying more of their products in the future. (Found it at Whole Foods)
Also, if you ever need to clean stainless steel try baby oil. It’s the best stuff I’ve found so far and it’s way better than those chemical smelling sprays or wipes! I apply it with a paper towel and wipe of excess with a microfiber cloth.
Gretchen says
When you mentioned your oMop, and that you use it with the Mrs. Meyer’s cleaner, I had to make a pitch for Method’s Wood for Good Floor Cleaner. I use the Meyer’s lemon verbena for most other things, but I almost look forward to mopping because the Wood For Good smells so good! You just squirt a little on the floor and mop the with the OMop.
Amy says
Having gone from married to mommy in the last year, I’d like to suggest one hidden secret to a tidy house: not having kids! Neat-freak or not, it’s extremely hard to keep up!
candi Rodgers says
Hey John
Question about the laundry…do you have a certain schedule? How do you handle all the clothes? Do you fold them too? It is just my husband and me but our laundry piles up a lot. Also where do you stash your laundry baskets?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! I do laundry once a week after our bedroom hamper fills up. It only takes one load of lights and one of darks which is nice. Then I fold stuff on the counter above our front loaders and use the laundry basket that we store on the counter of the laundry room to bring stuff back to the bedroom. Hope it helps!
-John
krstn says
i use q-tips to clean the dirt and gunk that builds up around bathroom sink fixtures.
and oh goodness, reading this was like reliving my life today b/c I steamcleaned the house and cleaned today. My poor hands!
Lisa says
What a great post, and I really appreciate the tips and tricks! I am fairly new to your blog – and you may have told us – but where did you find the beautiful shell bowl on your kitchen counter?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lisa,
That’s an old favorite from zgallerie.com. I think they still sell it! If not you can definitely try ebay. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Gail says
My husband does the laundry in our family. My friend’s hubby does the laundry for their family of six.
And I have a feeling a lot of husbands are in trouble tonight after reading Sherry’s post. Ha ha!
Great tips–thanks!
Brandi says
Sherry..
Thanks.. I know, I’m soo OCD and I cannot help it. The sad thing is, I’m getting my PhD too!!! (but in medical physiology, but I know my fear is irrational and I’m making my own personal bacteria more resistant :) ).. either way, I tried to swap to some ‘green’ stuff, and I’ve broken away to method so far and I’m using it regularly for the windows and floors and most other stuff, except in the kitchen and toilet ‘area’.. I just cannot break it. Maybe it’s because it smells too good?? For some reason I feel like the toilet and kitchen needs to have a strong smell to be clean maybe?? I don’t know. For a while I was using the natural stuff and would only ‘break out’ the Lysol after I cooked dinner, but then I my addiction pulled me back and I couldn’t stop. I really do think it’s that strong smell (and I use balsamic vinegar alot when cooking, so to me, that smells like food!!)
Maybe I’ll try to add some of your tips to try to get me over this.. I know how horrible these cleaning products are, on us, the environment and my wallet!! Any suggestions to make the kitchen cleaner smell ‘stronger’?? Maybe I’ll feel better..or if anyone reading this has the same OCD issue?
Brandi
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Brandi,
Deffffinitely try the Mrs. Meyer’s stuff we recommend above for wiping down the stove/counters and even pouring a bit down the sink and running the disposal. That last tip is actually our number one trick for a super strong “clean smell” (it’s like lemons) without the harsh chemicals. You really can have it all! Hope it helps.
xo,
s
LauraSO says
Wow! Lots of comments. Here’s my $0.02 worth-
I try to wash a load of laundry a day. My DH and I both work out 5-6 times a week, so even though it’s just two of us, we make a lot of sweaty, dirty clothes. But I usually toss a load in to wash while I cook dinner and throw it in the dryer after we eat. I TRY to fold the clothes and put them away before we go to bed, which doesn’t always happen, but at least I’ve got one load done! I don’t always have enough clothes to wash a load a day, but usually do 5-6 times a week.
Also have you guys tried making your own cleaning supplies? I just started with laundry soap and all-purpose cleaner. The ones I have tried so far have been awesome and really inexpensive. Plus I know exactly what’s in them! Definitely worth a try if you haven’t already. Recipes are easy to find online.
Thanks for another great blog post!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Laura,
We have used things like vinegar and warm water with definite success. I’m just a “use everything up before buying/making more” girl, so maybe once we run out of Mrs. Meyers we’ll go the natural route. It’s definitely cheap and DIY- two things we love!
xo,
s
Erica says
Hi Sherry and John…
I must say, its neat to see in your picture above how your living room looks viewed from your kitchen. I’m used to just seeing the pictures you post of each room by itself in the house tour photos so its neat to see how the rooms connect.
I hate to seem greedy (esp since you’re so kind to invite us all in to peek around your home!), but I thought a new post suggestion for you would be to show us your hallways…I know I’m interested! What color are your hallways? Sand white? Water chestnut? Do you have things hanging on your walls? (I’m envisioning white-framed photo clusters like you have in your other rooms)Or are your walls bare?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erica,
Good question! We actually have a floor plan post coming up where we’ll show you a diagram of our house’s footprint (which will reveal that we only have one tiny hallway). That tiny hallway, but the way, is painted Wishes by Glidden (the same soft cream color that’s in the den and laundry nook)- and it’s very small so we don’t currently have anything on the walls at all. We do have big plan for doing a mini built-in idea at the end of the hallway someday though, so stay tuned for that…
xo,
s
Carrie says
One of my favorite cleaning tricks is that I use a Swiffer, but instead of buying the Swiffer cloths, I use a microfiber cloth. I fold it into thirds, use it once, shake it out, refold, and use another side. I can use it up to six times before I wash it. It picks up twice as much as the Swiffer cloths!
Mrs. Ricky says
Love Mrs. Meyers! I use Mrs. Meyer’s hand-pump soaps at all three bathroom sinks and the kitchen sink. And I use the countertop spray after I do the sinks and toilets just for the smell! My other favorite is plain white vinegar (with lavender oil added) for windows and mirrors.
As for the kitchen – don’t take chances! Use two cutting boards; when finished using, especially with chicken, cover with bleach right from the bottle and let sit for about 5 minutes – kills everything in sight. I also zap the one sponge I use for two minutes; I change it every two weeks or so. I do use dish cloths on a regular basis and swap them out every 4-5 days. But I do use plain white Bounty paper towels for clean-up, i.e., raw chicken, something on the floor, etc. Also, Bounty is acid-free so you can pack with it too – like china or old ornaments.
Love Swiffers, too. We have an old house with the original heartpine floors and they do a great job. I’m also investing in a steam cleaner when the price goes down a bit – great investment in a clean house and fewer allergens.
But my real cleaning tip is: hire a housekeeper! Used to have one but now that I no longer work, can’t afford it. I’m serious here – if you both work long hours (like we did) it is so worth it! No fights about who does what, etc., and less fight material. I always did (and still do) the food shopping and cooked because I love to but that housekeeper saved my marriage!
Amy says
I received my Anthropologie Cucina set in the mail today…and the base is BROKEN!!!
I’ve called the store, they are crediting me back my purchase, but they are sold out at the warehouse, where they’d have to ship it from, but they have them in the stores, but the nearest to me would be 3 hours away! So, they told me to “dispose” of the broken base and the soap/lotion….but I think I might be able to salvage the base with some good glue.
I was so excited to order it and get it so fast, only to be disappointed. But, at least I can try to save it and use it.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no that’s so sad! I hope you’re able to salvage it with glue!
xo,
s
Amy says
Anyone have any glue suggestions for ceramic??
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, Liquid Nails is pretty good on almost every material as is Krazy Glue. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Megan says
I have to give a shout-out to Bar Keeper’s Friend. It has done wonders for keeping our stainless steel cookware looking pretty much brand new. You can also use it everywhere else in the house…does great in the bathroom on porceline or tile surfaces, and our glass cooktop. It’s just abrasive enough to cut through the grime, but not so much to where it scratches. Hubby-to-be (19 days to go!) also does a good bit of the cleaning since his job is more flexible.
Marine Corps Bride says
I didn’t want to search through all of posts, but I have a couple of tid bits to share. We live in a building built in 1912 that has no ventilation so we have to be careful about mold and mildew buildup. I’ve started using Method’s Daily Shower cleaner. It’s working great and I love the ylang ylang smell. We also use their bathroom cleaner, the best part is that I don’t have to use gloves to protect my skin!!!
Bon ami is a great choice for cleaning in the kitchen and bath and it isn’t bad for the environment.
Lastly, if you live in an area with hard water and your toilets are stained (from the water, not usage!), you can erase the stains with a pumice stone–the kind you use on your feet! While I wouldn’t recommend it for colored toilets, it worked on our white porcelain throne in Eastern North Carolina where the water turns everything a lovely shade of rust!
Lindsay says
For anybody considering purchasing a Dyson – you can actually find factory refurbished ones for half the price on the Dyson website. I highly recommend it! The hubs and I got a Refurb-ed Dyson a couple of months ago from W00T.com (another must-visit) where they have a deal-a-day! We managed to get a $500 vacuum, refurbished, for under $200! Total steal, totally worth it!
Happy Cleaning!
megan says
Love the ideas…I am SO exhausted every day when I get home from work that I just want to eat dinner and veg, so unfortunately, I fall behind on daily maintenance and have to play catch-up on the weekend.
We too have hardwood floors in the majority of the house (bedrooms included), and we got a great washable microfiber mop thing for the wood floors (can be used wet or dry), but we get TONS of dust bunnies under our bed on the wood floors from down feathers combined with dust…any solutions? It’s not like our comforter is grossly leaking, but why is there SO MUCH under our bed? The mattress is only a year old and we’re not dirty people…help!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Megan,
Well, we’ve heard that dust is dead skin cells (ick, I know!) so it makes sense that a lot of it collects near a spot that you spend a lot of time (your bed). You might also have heating or cooling vents that blow it around so it somehow collects under your bed. Hope that helps you feel a lot more normal! We have the same issue so every once in a while I just use a vacuum extension to get under there and give it a good cleaning. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Do you ever hang your clothes out on a line? It makes your clothes last longer and it’s more energy efficient! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Stephanie,
Good question! Good point! We actually have an energy star rated high-efficiency washer that spins our clothes so swiftly that that they’re practically dry when they come out of the washer. Plus our dryer has a sensor to stop as soon as it “senses” that the clothes are dry, so often times it’s just 7-10 minutes and everything is warm, fluffy, and completely dry. Our electricity bills have actually been noticeably lower since getting them. That being said, we would definitely be open to going even greener with a clothesline, although we would hate for our new front-loading dryer to go to “waste.” We already lay out things like duvets, comforters, pillows, sweatshirts and jeans to air dry without ever tossing them into the dryer, but maybe we’ll start thinking about an actual clothesline. We certainly enjoy composting and collecting free water in our rain barrel so it could be something that we end up loving. We can defintely see how line drying leads to fresh, lovely, and free clothes drying. Thanks so much for the suggestion!
xo,
s
Samantha says
I really love the steam mop I got for Christmas! We have hardwood floors over our entire house, but cleaning with steam seems to work really well. The floors dry so fast that I don’t have time to wipe them up, and I love that I don’t need to use any cleaning products whatsoever to keep our wood floors clean.
Sabrina says
Reading through the entire archives this weekend/now week….I second the steam mop for hardwoods so easy, and is just steam. I love that it is cleaning product free so it’s safe and cheap!, and it would save rinsing and drying (it literally dries in seconds). Just an idea for the future needs. I have an 18 month old and between sippy cup leaks and general drool my hardwoods need it daily almost. :)
Cara says
Hey Sherry! Just curious… did you ever make the switch to washable rags for dusting? If so, what do you think and can you tell me the brand you chose? Thanks a ton!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes! Here’s that post: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/10/easy-upgrade-leave-em-in-the-dust/
xo,
s
Rayna says
What wonderful tips! I find that if I do a little bit everyday it’s much easier to manage, especially with a 6 year old.
Have you found you’ve needed to make any adjustments now that you are parents? What are some helpful tips you have for parents? I remember how it all changed for me once I had my daughter.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rayna,
We both have just learned that it’s even more important for us to do little things as we go instead of letting things pile up and get overwhelming. So from quickly running the toilet brush around the toilet bowl every few days (instead of waiting for it to get all gross over a month’s time) to sorting and filing receipts and mail as soon as they come in the door, it’s all about staying on top of things!
xo,
s
Holly Marcuse says
What do you use when wiping down counters in your kitchen? I find myself using papertowels, but feel it is so wasteful. Also don’t want a mound of laundry from using a new rag every day when I do my daily routine. What works for you?? (ps-Love the blog!)
YoungHouseLove says
We like using white dishtowels (which can be washed and reused) with Mrs. Meyer’s All Purpose cleaner (which is great for our marble counters). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Corey says
Such a lovely place! I’d like to be your guest! everything looks so tidy and tranquil! Thanks for this article!
Gretchen says
Do you all “dust” your floors? I have gotten away from using wet swiffers and use the oMop with Mrs. Meyer’s instead (thanks for this idea!) But I’m still using dry swiffers before mopping. What do you do?
YoungHouseLove says
We do a quick pass around the corners with our Kurv (since all the dust tends to collect in the perimeter of the room). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lara Rassette says
I have really hard water out in rural Kansas. We also have clear glass shower doors. I feel like I’ve tried everything to keep them clean, do you have any ideas?
YoungHouseLove says
Sadly we haven’t tackled that personally. Does anyone have ideas for Lara? Maybe you can try googling “hard water shower doors” to see what comes up?
xo,
s
Lana says
I feel like I should be the last one commenting on a cleaning blog! However, I talked w/ a neighbor the other day who had spots on her shower doors from the hard water and she was raving about Norwex cleaning prodcts that took off those spots that had been there since they moved there years ago! All the cleaners are environmentally safe. You can google them.
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve heard great things about Norwex!
xo,
s
Jenna says
Hi! I LOVE your house! I saw you were talking about cleaning your hardwood floors and I HAVE to tell you about the “roomba.” We have all hardwood floors in our house, with 2 little boys, who love dirt. I would sweep 3 times a day and still feel like I was walking on sand. I bought the roomba at Bed Bath and Beyond for $250 (with my 20% off coupon) and I LOVE it. I turn it on when I leave for work and when I come home I have beautiful floors.. You still need to touch up once in awhile but it’s well worth it. Even my husband was impressed and that’s difficult to do.
YoungHouseLove says
Good to hear! We always wondered if they get stuck in a corner somewhere all day. Haha.
xo,
s
Amber says
We have an old (read: dustydustydusty)home and a long-haired dog whose favorite past time is shedding. I LURV my Swiffer Vac – it’s like a mini-vacuum with an electro-static cloth attached at the bottom. The suction gets the bigger stuff, and the cloth gets the dust. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing the armies of dust bunnies assembling under our bed. It is cordless, really light, and easy to empty/clean.
For quick mopping, I put a rag on an old swiffer sweeper and use a spray bottle to spritz Swiffer Wet-Jet solution on the offending spot (it smells great). This works a lot better and is better than using the Swiffer mop which makes you buy their expensive disposable cloths.
I’m also pretty attached to my Dirt Devil 083400 Swift Stick Vacuum Cleaner which is good for getting in corners, windowsills, etc. Very light (and cheap) but effective.
Amber says
…oh, and I just read your “Make An Easy Dusting Upgrade” post, and have decided to try your suggestion for using microfiber cloths instead of disposable swiffer pads. Thanks for the great eco tip!
Mendy says
Sherry, I have a question for ya…..Where do you all store your toilet cleaning brush? Do you have one of those decorative brush stands by the toilet? I have one but it just seems so yucky to me. And do you have two separate brushes for each toilet in the house? Please help, I’m trying to simplify my toilet cleaning routine!!
YoungHouseLove says
We have one of those white wands that sits in a white cup and it’s pretty small so I tuck it around the hidden side of the toilet (the far side next to the wall) so it’s out of sight unless you’re really looking for it. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kim says
Hi Guys,
I have a question about your hardwood cleaning process. What exactly does the “rinse” step involve? My husband is super paranoid about any moisture on the hardwoods and I worry that they are not truly getting clean with the omop and method’s wood floor cleaner.
Any details on that step would be much appreciated!
YoungHouseLove says
Most of the time these days we honestly just use a moist (not dripping wet!) rag with a bit of watered down Mrs Meyers soap on it to wipe everything down. It’s so mild that it doesn’t leave any film or anything and it dries clean since it’s so watered down. But you can also do a “rinse” step by wiping everything down again with a moist rag without any soap on the second pass. Our tip for hardwoods would just be not to get them sopping wet. Oh and you can use the omop instead of a rag if you want to save your knees!
xo,
s
Kim says
I just came back to this post to use as a reference because my boyfriend and I are sitting down tonight to make a “chores list”. Fun right? It was actually his idea, I think he knows I’m about to lose it trying to keep up with everything myself lol. Any advice on assigning “chores” and sticking to them without seeming to childish?
YoungHouseLove says
John just has certain ones that he prefers and I do too. So once we decided that he was happier doing x and I was happier doing z, we were all set! Good luck with everything!
xo,
s
Bonny says
I’ve done alot of research in the last few months into cleaning systems, and different types of cleaners.
Swiffers are actually worse for the environment, although they are so convienient that it is hard to turn away from them. The chemicals that cause the static effect in the cloths have been found to cause asthma, and harm children and small animals. As soon as I found this out, I stopped using my swiffer stuff (as I have a cat, and am expecting). Since stopping using commercial products, both my bubby and I have noticed a difference in our health.
My go to cleaning supplies are a couple Norwex cloths, a shark steam mop, and the central vacuum that came with the house. Oh and the Santra Toilet system from Norwex. I use a “green” dishsoap, dishwasher detergent. The Laundry is done using Norwex laundry detergent, which I find VERY effective. (I mean it took baked in machine oils out of the hubbies work jeans!)
Dara says
Hi. I’ve just started reading your blog today. Love it! I saw that you have a little girl. Is she walking/crawling yet? I love your decor but I get nervous just thinking about having kids in there. There’s so many breakable things. Did/do you remove it now that your daughter is older or how do you manage that?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, she’s now walking so we have all of our breakables up on the built-in shelving in the dining room that she can’t reach. Everything else is ok for her to touch (soft ottoman in the living room, nothing on the TV cabinet, baskets of toys everywhere, etc). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kara P says
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read this post when I need a little pick-me-up in the motivation department. Have you ever thought about updating this info with your new routine since having your precious little girl? I’m sure it is quite different!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s a really good idea! It’s officially on the (admittedly very long) to do list! Haha.
xo,
s
Kate says
I have a horrible problem with Laundry…I know I need to get rid of some clothes, but as far as putting clean laudry away..I hate it. Do you have any fun and easy tricks for putting away laundry? Especially when it seems there is no place to put it?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, our only trick is just to only have/wear/wash what we need so we have space to put everything away (in general always having a place to put things is key when it comes to easier housekeeping). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Mary Margaret says
Hi S!
Quick goofy question … where/how do you store/keep your toilet brush? Do ya keep it under the sink or have one of those “usually” hideous holders that some store by the toilet?
Blessings!
mm
YoungHouseLove says
We have one of those hideous holders. Haha. It’s small and white and tucks behind the far side of the toilet so it’s out of view – but it’s very ugly to look at indeed (if you peek around and stare at it). Haha.
xo,
s
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