10 Habits to Keep Your Home Clean Between Professional Cleanings

A professional cleaning resets your home. What you do in the days after decides how long it stays that way. You do not need a strict schedule or an hour a day. These ten small habits make the biggest difference, and each takes only a couple of minutes.

1. Shoes off at the door

Most of the dirt in a home comes in on shoes, and in western Washington that includes rain, mud and moss. A mat outside, a mat inside and a shoe rack by the door cut floor cleaning dramatically.

2. Wipe as you go

A quick wipe of the counter and stovetop after each meal takes 60 seconds. Dried grease takes ten times as long.

3. Do not let dishes stay overnight

An empty sink changes how the whole kitchen looks and smells. Run the dishwasher every night.

4. Make the bed

It takes under two minutes and makes the whole bedroom look tidy, even if the rest is not.

5. Squeegee the shower

Thirty seconds after every shower prevents soap scum and mildew, which is a bigger problem in damp climates. See our guide on bathroom soap scum and mold.

6. Keep a basket for clutter

Give stray items a landing place. Empty the basket once a day or once a week and put things back where they belong.

7. Vacuum high-traffic areas twice a week

Entryway, kitchen and living room get the most dirt. Pet owners should vacuum more often. A cordless vacuum makes this a five-minute job.

8. Wash bedding and towels on a schedule

Sheets weekly or every two weeks, towels every few uses. Fresh linens make a home feel cleaner than almost anything else.

9. Take out the trash before it is full

Especially food waste. It avoids odors and pests.

10. Do a 10-minute reset before bed

Put things back, wipe the counters, and start the dishwasher. You wake up to a home that already feels under control.

What habits cannot replace

Habits handle the surface. They do not remove grease from the oven, scale from the shower, or dust from baseboards and vents. That is why most homes do best with a professional visit every one or two weeks, plus a deep cleaning now and then. Learn how to choose a schedule in our recurring cleaning guide.

Need a hand?

Nomad Cleaning offers recurring, deep and move-out cleaning in Auburn, Kent, Seattle, Tacoma and the rest of King and Pierce County. Call or text (425) 738-2823 or see our services.