Habits Of People With Spotless And Clean Homes To Try Yourself

While some may not find joy in cleaning, many people actually do enjoy it. Either way, nothing beats the feeling of stepping into a clean and put-together home. Some of the tidiest people incorporate little things here and there to make cleaning feel like less of a chore. Recently, HGTV put together a list of the habits people with spotless houses have.

Most of us have been to a house that is always clean and HGTV wanted to find out exactly how the cleanest-of-cleanest do it. They asked people with "spotless homes" to share their best tips and tricks for tidying up. They found that the key to a consistently clean home is staying on top of chores a little bit at a time, rather than attempting to clean the entire house all at once.

HGTV kicked off its clean-house habits list with the task of keeping high-touch surfaces germ-free. They suggest disinfecting surfaces like light switches, remote controls, and doorknobs with a wet wipe once a week. Health Digest reported that frequently touched items like your remote, doorknobs, or phone screens, are some of the dirtiest things around us.

Many of us find ourselves guilty of this habit: cleaning while we cook. The home network said by cleaning up while you cook, you’ll break down food particles more easily and minimize mess.

Another habit people with clean houses have is that they organize their refrigerators. HGTV pointed out that it's best to do this before grocery day. This gives you a chance to toss old and expired items, and deep clean your refrigerator drawers and shelves.

A habit that won’t hurt picking up is cleaning your kitchen counters before bed. This can be loading the dishwasher, scrubbing down the sink, or wiping down countertops. It’s better to do this than wake up to a mess in the kitchen.

See the full list of habits people with clean homes have here.

As we step into the New Year, it's a great time to clean up our homes and get a fresh start. A survey by Cinch Home Services found that many people have been on a cleaning spree. According to the survey by the home warranty provider, 70.3% of respondents have engaged in a cleaning spree since the start of last year, with 62.6% expressing a "very or extremely" committed attitude toward maintaining cleanliness. Despite these efforts, 45.9% still admit feeling embarrassed about the current state of their living spaces.

In light of these findings, it's worth considering the impact of physical clutter on our cognitive processes. Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other brain-mapping tools, discovered that an abundance of objects in our visual fields hinders information processing. Essentially, the presence of too much stuff limits our ability to focus on the task at hand.

Additionally, a sleep study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine revealed that people sleeping in cluttered rooms are more prone to developing sleep problems and are at a higher risk of developing hoarding disorders.

Recognizing the challenge of finding motivation for decluttering, The Spruce, a home and lifestyle website, provides helpful tips. They recommend using a decluttering checklist to simplify the process, making decisions about what to clear out more manageable. Additionally, using such a checklist allows you to track your progress by checking items off as you work through it. It’s a simple yet motivating and empowering act.

The Spruce recommends focusing on little victories instead of trying to tackle everything at once. This makes the whole process less overwhelming.

For more help, The Spruce breaks down which rooms to clean first and what items to get rid of in each room.  You can find their complete guide here.

Check out some of the top items below.

Expired items take the lead on their bathroom decluttering agenda. This includes makeup that has expired or is no longer used, along with medicines and prescriptions that have reached their expiration date or are no longer necessary. Additionally, items like dried-out nail polish, skincare products, and makeup samples are on their bathroom declutter list.

Paper clutter tops the list for decluttering the bedroom, followed by books that won't be revisited and old magazines. It's perfectly fine to part ways with these items, especially if they've been sitting around gathering dust. You can even opt for something digital instead of having paper as your go-to.

A common decluttering challenge we all face is the overflowing closet. According to The Spruce, the first step is to address clothes that no longer fit. They also advise getting rid of items that haven't been worn in over nine months.

When it comes to your kitchen, duplicate kitchen tools take precedence on their decluttering list. This includes items like extra vegetable peelers, bottle openers, and garlic presses. They also recommend getting rid of appliances that you use only once a year or less. Yes, even if it's that toaster oven collecting dust on your counter.