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“Making The Bed Everyday Is Useless:” 45 Cleaning Prerequisites That People Have Sworn By
Everyone has their own standards when it comes to maintaining a clean home. To achieve the desired results, some people adhere to a particular set of rules that they swear by.
Here are some Threads responses to give you a clearer understanding of what we’re referring to. They shared specific ingredients and methods that they have incorporated into their house cleaning routines and are not planning to change anytime soon.
Do you have your go-to non-negotiables? Feel free to share them in the comment boxes below!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy. The operative words being: CLEAN ENOUGH. Martha Stewart does not live in my house. I do.
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#2
Cleaning up while cooking. Not letting the counter top get messy.
Chefette67 7 months ago
Chef rule number one in commercial kitchens! First red flag for a useless chef is a grubby, disorganised work space 🤢🤮
#3
As with most things, the hardest thing about cleaning is starting.
#5
A clean house doesn’t smell bad. If your house smells, you don’t need air fresheners, you need to find the source of the smell and clean it
StrangeOne 7 months ago
Usually it's the trash bin. But it could be smelly shoes from your closet, the dirty clothes in your hamper, musky pillows and couch, musky bed sheets and your fridge might need cleaning. It could also be coming from your drains, too.
#6
Do NOT put wet towels/washcloths or clothes in the hamper. Let them dry first.
#7
Everything has a spot to be. Don’t put it down… put it AWAY. And put it away where it goes, every time.
#8
DO NOT ADD DISHES TO THE SINK WHILE IM WASHING THEM. I HAVE A SYSTEM.
StrangeOne 7 months ago
Do not put knives into the sink, nor just drop glass and ceramics. Someone has to stick their hands into the water to retrieve the object, possibly now broken thing, and will have to pull the plug. Gloves will not protect against sharp objects and now that person may have a hole in their glove, exposing them to allergic reactions, too. Just be smart and put beside the sink.
#9
You should vacuum/sweep before mopping. You can’t mop if you haven’t vacuumed all the crumbs and dust.
Upstaged75 7 months ago
I thought everyone knew that? Unless you're mopping up a spill or something.
#10
If you maintenance clean just a little bit each day you rarely have to do giant deep cleans!
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 7 months ago
For me this is the worst. It's like death by a thousand cuts. I'd rather go hard for a few hours and get it finished than always doing bits and pieces.
#11
Using the dishwasher is more environmentally friendly and is more sanitary than hand washing because of the extreme heat.
Upstaged75 7 months ago (edited)
I don't understand people who are anti-dishwasher. Why waste the time if you don't have to? I have a Bosch with Eco Mode which saves 150 liters per use. And I live alone so I only run it once a week. (The Eco mode just advertises that's what it saves. I would use that much anyway)
#12
Deep clean my house before travelling. Include empty the laundry basket, change the bedshee, mop the floor, clean the fridge and trash out.
Stephanie A Mutti 7 months ago
THe best advice I ever got from my mom was to change the bed linens and make it before you go on a trip. It is so nice to come home to a freshly made bed.
#13
You clean from top to bottom ALWAYS. That way dust/crumbs/etc fall to the floor before you vacuum and mop.
zububonsai 7 months ago
From tip to bottom and from back to front. And I sweep towards the bin.
#14
As an Southeast Asian, it's compulsary that we remove our outdoor shoes and slippers as we enter the house. Keeps our house cleaner so we don't have to overdo cleaning and can get a clean house with minimal cleaning.
Uncle Panda 7 months ago
I live alone and take my shoes off at the door. It dawned on me that almost everything on the floor came in on my shoes, so I park all that mess next to the door.
#15
Not really a cleaning rule but I never go to bed with a dirty kitchen. Nothing starts my day worse than having dishes in the sink or crumbs on the floor. Every day starts with a clean slate because I deserve it
#16
You have to keep moving to get it done. The moment you sit down.. even for a split second.. it’s all over, productivity out the window.
StrangeOne 7 months ago
This is the ADHD mode of loss of motivation in doing what you were going to do just now. Whatever you do, do not pick up your phone. Do not go to your computer. Do not turn on the TV other than to play music. Do not turn on your gaming console.
#17
A place for everything and everything in it's place.
#18
Cleaning the stove after cooking. People hate when I do it but I cannot stand crumbs and sticking residue
#19
No shoes in the house. Not quite a cleaning rule, but def keeps your house cleaner than if you do wear them inside.
M O'Connell 7 months ago
I wear shoes in the [my] house and always will. I've stepped in enough things left behind by my cats not to risk it anymore.
#21
Put on music and clean nonstop for one song. It’s amazing how much you can get done!
#22
The less you own, the less you don’t have to clean. People get overwhelmed by the mess, by having so much that they don’t feel like washing the dishes or washing clothes. Then it piles up. I keep 2 of every dish. It’s just me. I don’t need 20 bowls, cups plates, mugs etc.
Jaya 7 months ago
Opposite for me. My life improved a lot when I bought a bunch of extra plates, mugs and bowls. Now I don't have to clean them when I'm already tired and just wanna eat, I can just clean them later when I've rested and have a lot of energy again. Also, it works better with a dishwasher to have a lot. But for handwashing I also find it more efficient to do a whole bunch at once instead of a few pieces very often. But I'm sure there are people who get overwhelmed by a pile of dishes, it might work well for them.
#23
Bathing towels are not to used for wiping spills.
#24
Clean as you go.
Whether dishes, dinner, clutter, etc little tasks throughout the day so that there's not a seemingly insurmountable task at the end of the day.
#25
Dishwashers use hotter water and much less water than hand washing. Dishes are more sanitized in a dishwasher.
#26
You don’t have to clean everything spotless everyday, but you do have to pick up after yourself to maintain the cleanliness.
BookFanatic 7 months ago
I refer to it as "resetting the day." Kind of like a gaming character going back to their last saved point so they can try the level again.
#28
Make the bed first thing every morning. If you do nothing else, that one thing makes your room look neater.
#30
The chairdrobe is allowed, but if you can’t see the back of the chairdrobe, it is time to organise.
#33
Wash your food containers / dishes at the office immediately after use & before you come home!
Joseph Miller 7 months ago
I'm going to clean them as best I can at the office, but I'm not going to clean them twice before I leave!
#34
Cleaning with gloves on changed my life.
I didn’t realize how much I avoided cleaning things because I didn’t want to get my hands in there, or because my hands would smell like the cleaning products afterwards. Gloves change the whole thing. I just get a box of vinyl ones and it lasts me a while.
StrangeOne 7 months ago (edited)
Those long, latex-free ones I always use. As long as water doesn't get inside them, they prevent hives and other allergic reactions, contact dermatitis, chemical burns and skin discoloration. They're the only way I can wash dishes without a hand full of itchy bumps and swelling. I don't know why people get weirded out over cleaning gloves.
#35
Do a 10-minute reset every night—waking up to a clean space makes such a difference! Plus, it keeps the mess from piling up.
StrangeOne 7 months ago
I did this for one night. I don't have the energy to do it every night.
#36
Cleaning the countertops with a solution of 1:10 lemon juice:water, it disinfects your area, smells fresh, does not harm your surface, and you can put your dough right on the counter without any risk of contamination
Huddo's sister 7 months ago
Otherwise, vinegar which has had orange/lemon peel soaking in it, thus using scraps (from other occasions) rather than just the juice.
#37
Wipes. I do largely try to be environmentally friendly, and wipes are not, but as a solo dweller with intense periods of inertia, wipes keep me in control of my space.
Upstaged75 7 months ago
Clorox wipes are my go to. I try not to use a lot of disposable products but the wipes are perfect if you need to clean something quickly without getting out other supplies.
#38
Cordless vacuum cleaner forever!
Jan Rosier 7 months ago
Overrated, overpriced, noisy, and low suction. Plug-in, with a bag, always. Especially with a dog in the house.
#39
Sponges are not used to clean countertops. Never.
nottheactualphoto 7 months ago
To be precise: Don't use the *same* sponge for countertops and dishes.
#41
Do the dishes after every single meal.
BookFanatic 7 months ago
I'm a singleton, so I leave my dishes in the sink until the end of the day and do them all then.
#42
I clean my garbage can and wipe down my dust pan with disinfectant wipes
#45
Learned this from one of my BFFs ... always keep your house "guest ready."
Upstaged75 7 months ago
If only! No need to stress yourself out by trying to have things perfect all the time. I'm guilty of this myself. Sometimes you just have to let it go for your own well being.
#46
A mixture of Dawn, vinegar, and water will clean and disinfect anything.
#47
A rule I learned from a mother figure in my life is sweep once a week per person living in the household: so 3 ppl means 3 times a week should be sufficient.
#48
I scrub the food off my dishes before loading the dishwasher. Everyone says this is a waste nowadays, but my Grandma always told me to do it. Plus, when we moved into our house, the previous homeowners were clearly not scrubbers and the dishwasher was disgusting. I found crab cartilage stuck in the sprayers.
Upstaged75 7 months ago
I don't "scrub" but I do rinse any solid food off them before they go in the washer. Otherwise you're going to clog up the drain.
#49
Microfiber towels on the swiffer mop, floor solution in spray bottles spray the floor in sections and mop in S-motions.
StrangeOne 7 months ago
You don't really need that much water to wash your floor. A damp towel, like this idea, will do.
#50
Cleaning on Thursdays no matter how busy or exhausted I am. My weekends are for fun and relaxing. Cleaning doesn't call into either category.
Laura Spring 7 months ago
I vacuum/sweep every 3 days. Three cats. I'm always amazed how much the vacuum picks up, I dump the canister every time. Also dust much more often in the winter because we have a wood burning stove for heat and it produces a lot of dust.
#52
If you’re letting your pets on your countertops/tables, your house is never actually clean.
Upstaged75 7 months ago
If someone can come up with a magic way to keep my kittens off the counters and tables please let me know! I've tried everything - spray deterrents (that they seem to like the smell of), double sided tape, etc. They don't care if I yell at them either. :) So before I go to bed every night I use a Clorox wet wipe on all the surfaces they walk on throughout the day. Maybe when they get older I'll be able to train them. (I did with my last cats) But it wasn't worth the frustration to keep chasing them off things.
#54
Dawn dish liquid can clean everything. I clean my tub and shower with it.
#55
Washing my hands prior to emptying the dishwasher or taking clothes out of the dryer. If it’s clean, it’s going to stay clean!
StrangeOne 7 months ago
There is such thing as overwashing your hands. After using the toilet, before eating, and when they are soiled is good enough. This is bordering on a deeper issue.
#56
My cleaning lady is awesome and I love her. She makes my life better. She comes every other Thursday, and our house never gets out of control
#58
MAKE YOUR SPACE PRETTY AND PERSONAL. It makes you feel more motivated to keep it nice because YOU did it, it’s yours.
#59
Need separate sponges for cleaning the sink, super dirty pans, and not as dirty items. I cannot cross contaminate. No sponges on counters
#61
The dish towel is for clean dish drying only. It is NOT for drying hands or wiping the water spots off the counter!
#63
Single use clorox toilet scrubbies. I know it’s bad for the environment but I am so grossed out at the thought of the icky brush just sitting there being reused for months.
#64
Shower towels must be washed hot (60-90)
Rachel Pelz 7 months ago
Depends on climate and other factors. If they dry on the line in the sun, they are fine. Plus, 90 degrees is hardly ever needed.
#65
Wood cutting boards should be cleaned then sprinkle baking soda and lemon juice
#66
I will never use “safe non-toxic” ingredients to clean my restroom.
My restroom will ALWAYS get BLEACH cleaned. I don’t care how toxic it seems lmao
Child of the Stars 7 months ago
Bleach isn't a cleanser, it's a disinfectant. They're not the same thing.
#68
Don’t put it down, put it away.
#69
Mr. Clean. MAGIC. ERASERS. For anything. Especially if you have kids.
StrangeOne 7 months ago
I find this particularly wasteful. they don't last very long and actually scour off the paint on walls. Landlords complain over tenants with small kids using these on the walls. They can see the mark from the erasers when the light hits certain areas.
#70
Employ a cleaner. It's unrealistic to be a full time working single mum and be expected to keep on top of housekeeping
#72
Deep clean ALWAYS. It’s more important to actually be clean than to look clean. Top to bottom left to right
#75
I have to wash my floors with dish detergent & bleach at least 3 times a week. Water & fabuloso does nothing for me. I want to be able to EAT off my floors.
#76
Toilets and sink get cleaned every day!
#77
Socks and underwear should not be washed with any other laundry and must be washed and dried on hot.
#78
Never use a mop to clean the floor. Always on your hands and knees and rinse the cloth frequently.
What do you think ?
Pencil 7 months ago
Everyone can settle down and make or not make their beds as they please. If you have serious allergies to dust mites or their by-products, airing your bedding may make a small difference. But there will still be tens of thousands of them in your bed. Every day. To really reduce their numbers, you have to lower the humidity in your entire bedroom. And for people without serious allergies, they won't notice any difference at all as dust-mites are otherwise harmless and there are millions of them in our homes. Here's the only study done on reducing them by airing bed linens: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10493-006-9003-8 It's not that serious, folks. Just a thing some "lifestyle" magazines tweaked from the research to sell us more stuff. Stay tuned for loads of ads for de-humidifiers, moisture-wicking linens, a new anti-dust-mite mattress cover that you absolutely *must* have according to everyone with monetized links on TikTok.
PenguinEmp 7 months ago
Now I like that there are pages because that means I only see 20 items and not 80 or 90. Shorter! Thanks bp! Seriously if you didn't spread it over pages id probably hang for about 40 items. So thanks for making it easy.
CartoonCasey 7 months ago
I have really reduced my cleaning habits over the years. I was really psycho about it. Today, I have only a single point of entry with an organized 40 point checklist. Once in, a 1000psi system of sprayers disinfect you. I've combined the disinfectant with a super strong acid that will melt any bacteria, virus, clothing that was foolishly brought in with you. You will never forget to take your shoes off again because it forces you to remove all your clothing, quickly - or else. After that is another 1000psi shower with a mild base to counteract the acid before it melts your skin and all your hair. A blast of ultra violet light dries you off without the need for towels. I haven't quite figured out how to bring objects in with me without destroying them, but worth it in the spirit of simplicity.
Rosie 7 months ago
Keep your closets tidy! I've seen so many people hide their messes in their closets & cupboards. It doesn't make them or their homes any less messy, only adds another set of places to clean, disinfect & especially deodorize. Above all, lso easy to forget! Except for some dust that sneaks in, my closed spaces can be in a home manazine. Outside is as messy as I tolerate it.
Jo Firth 7 months ago
My wardrobe is organised in colour order. Makes it easy to mix/match of a morning.
Load More Replies... Pencil 7 months ago
Everyone can settle down and make or not make their beds as they please. If you have serious allergies to dust mites or their by-products, airing your bedding may make a small difference. But there will still be tens of thousands of them in your bed. Every day. To really reduce their numbers, you have to lower the humidity in your entire bedroom. And for people without serious allergies, they won't notice any difference at all as dust-mites are otherwise harmless and there are millions of them in our homes. Here's the only study done on reducing them by airing bed linens: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10493-006-9003-8 It's not that serious, folks. Just a thing some "lifestyle" magazines tweaked from the research to sell us more stuff. Stay tuned for loads of ads for de-humidifiers, moisture-wicking linens, a new anti-dust-mite mattress cover that you absolutely *must* have according to everyone with monetized links on TikTok.
PenguinEmp 7 months ago
Now I like that there are pages because that means I only see 20 items and not 80 or 90. Shorter! Thanks bp! Seriously if you didn't spread it over pages id probably hang for about 40 items. So thanks for making it easy.
CartoonCasey 7 months ago
I have really reduced my cleaning habits over the years. I was really psycho about it. Today, I have only a single point of entry with an organized 40 point checklist. Once in, a 1000psi system of sprayers disinfect you. I've combined the disinfectant with a super strong acid that will melt any bacteria, virus, clothing that was foolishly brought in with you. You will never forget to take your shoes off again because it forces you to remove all your clothing, quickly - or else. After that is another 1000psi shower with a mild base to counteract the acid before it melts your skin and all your hair. A blast of ultra violet light dries you off without the need for towels. I haven't quite figured out how to bring objects in with me without destroying them, but worth it in the spirit of simplicity.
Rosie 7 months ago
Keep your closets tidy! I've seen so many people hide their messes in their closets & cupboards. It doesn't make them or their homes any less messy, only adds another set of places to clean, disinfect & especially deodorize. Above all, lso easy to forget! Except for some dust that sneaks in, my closed spaces can be in a home manazine. Outside is as messy as I tolerate it.
Jo Firth 7 months ago
My wardrobe is organised in colour order. Makes it easy to mix/match of a morning.
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