8 Cleaning Resolutions to Keep in 2017

The holidays are over, everyone has gone home, and the new year has begun. Your home is a mess from all of the festivities that took place. You think to yourself, “This year, my resolution is to keep my house clean and tidy.” But we all know what happens to our New Years resolutions – we break them.

But not this year! Check out these tips and tricks to help keep your home in tiptop shape for all of 2017.

1. Stay On Schedule
Instead of cleaning the whole house all at once, do a little bit at a time over the course of the week. Use your calendar on your smartphone and assign chores per day, have them repeat every week, and set a reminder so you remember to do them.

As an extra bonus, send out calendar invitations to your whole family so they know what chores need to get done on which days. (Source: https://www.racked.com/2015/1/16/7561973/new-years-resolution-cleaning-tips)

2. Make A List
Looking at a messy home and trying to figure out what needs to get cleaned can be overwhelming. To save some potential grey hairs, make a list of the rooms and places that need to get cleaned. This can help organize your cleaning schedule and keep you focused while tidying up. (Source: https://www.racked.com/2015/1/16/7561973/new-years-resolution-cleaning-tips)

3. Clean As You Go
The worst thing about cooking? Cleaning. To alleviate some of the hassle of cleaning after dinner, wipe up any spills or messes as they happen. Don’t let oils or sauces sit on your counters or your stove, giving them a chance to settle, making them harder to clean. While you eat, soak dirty pots and pans in soapy water to make them easier to clean. (Source: https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/g2287/easy-cleaning-tips/?slide=7)

4. Out With The Old
When taking out the trash, make a habit of looking through your refrigerator for foods that may have gone bad. This will help you avoid having a stinky fridge and will free up space for fresher foods.

While you’re in there, look for foods that are about to spoil and plan to use those in the next day or two before they go bad. (Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/9-small-cleaning-resolutions-that-will-make-a-big-difference/ss-BBoYSiU#image=2)

5. The Always Clean Bathroom Trick
Cleaning the bathroom is anything but pleasant. We tend to put it off until a guest is coming over or when it becomes too gross to use. Instead of waiting until the last minute, clean your bathroom once a week. In thirty minutes you can clean the sink, scrub the tub, clean the toilet, give the floor a quick wipe down, and clean the mirror. This will help cut down on mildew, mold, bacteria, and soap-scum and keep your bathroom looking fresh.

Take it one step further by cleaning the shower after every use. Have your family mist the walls of the shower with a shower spray while they’re still wet and warm to cut down on the amount of soap scum build up. (Sources: https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/small-cleaning-resolutions/cleaning-bathroom-sink-sponge and https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/cleaning_resolutions_new_year.aspx)

6. Nightly Sweep
Before you go to bed, take five to ten minutes to clean up some of the clutter that accrued in your home during the day. Do things like putting shoes away, hanging jackets, putting small dishes in the dishwasher, clearing the kitchen table, and tossing out the junk mail. (Source: https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/cleaning_resolutions_new_year.aspx)

7. Dishwasher Duty
Your dishwasher is designed to clean and keep your dishes clean. However, over time your dishwasher may start to accrue bacteria and other germs. Once a week, take a damp sponge, pour some baking soda on it, and wipe around the edges of the dishwasher to remove stuck-on food and stains. For the inside, run an empty cycle with Dishwasher Magic, a product designed to remove bacteria and E.coli.

During flu season, add a quarter-cup of bleach to your dishwasher cycle to kill any extra bacteria that may be hiding in your dishwasher. This will keep your dishes sanitized in your dishwasher after they cycle is finished. (Source: https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/g2287/easy-cleaning-tips/?slide=3&thumbnails)

8. A Bin in Every Room
To cut down on the amount of trash lying around your house, place a small trash bin in each room. During your nightly sweep of your house, empty all of the bins and start fresh the next day. This is also a great way to teach your kids to throw out their trash instead of leaving it all over the house. (Source: https://mopupyourmess.com/new-year-new-you-7-resolutions-for-a-cleaner-2017/)

With these tips, you will be nothing short of amazing and be able to keep your house clean all year long. Happy New Year!