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 — we get this one a lot. We do tidy before taking photos for the blog, but we’re also fairly orderly people. Creating a place for everything makes a huge difference: when items have a home, they’re less likely to pile up on the dining table or kitchen counter. That steady organization prevents the need for marathon straightening sessions.
My approach to maintaining the house is to work as I go — a few small tasks every day instead of a major cleaning session once a week. John handles most of the cooking, the laundry and the mowing, so cleaning is how I contribute. Over time I picked up some shortcuts that keep our home looking presentable without a lot of effort.
Doing tiny, fast tasks each day makes the biggest difference. Wiping counters and loading the dishwasher before bed only takes a minute, but it’s a comfort to walk into a clean kitchen in the morning.
Ten-second daily tasks I do:
- Wipe down kitchen counters
- Load the dishwasher and wipe the sink
- Sort mail — pay bills and shred junk so it doesn’t pile up
- Return a few pairs of shoes to the bedroom (they like to accumulate by the back door)
- Fold and put the sofa blanket back in its basket
These five minutes of effort each day add up and keep the house feeling cared for.
Tasks I do a few times a week:
- Run and unload the dishwasher
- Wipe bathroom sinks
- Take out garbage and compost
- Wipe the stovetop
These small routines create a sense of control and reduce the chances of chores becoming overwhelming.
Weekly must-dos:
- Dust shelves, mantels and tables
- Vacuum area rugs
- Wipe baseboards
- Quickly remove dust bunnies from hardwood floors
- Clean toilets
- Scrub the shower or tub
- Do laundry
- Iron as needed
I don’t tackle everything in one day; I’ll dust while on the phone one day and vacuum the next. Breaking chores into short, manageable activities stops them from feeling like a huge burden.
Here are a few of my shortcuts for common chores.
For dusting, I like disposable dusting pads that create static cling to pick up dust quickly. I use them by hand to dust open shelves, the coffee table, mantels and baseboards. With one or two pads I can dust the house in under 20 minutes — I often listen to music while I work so it feels effortless. Recently I switched to reusable microfiber cloths; they attract dust just as well, are washable and reduce waste.
For vacuuming, a model with a decent filter improves air quality, but you don’t need the priciest machine to do a good job. We keep most of the floors as hardwood and only have a few area rugs, so vacuuming is quick. For everyday touch-ups and hardwood, a lightweight cordless stick vacuum is my favorite tool. It’s perfect for corners, under chairs and along baseboards and gets the job done fast without the hassle of a cord. For larger areas I’ll use the bigger upright vacuum from time to time.
Replacing very old toilets with newer, more sanitary models made cleaning easier — porcelain that’s in good condition stays cleaner for longer. Regular, brief scrubbing with a long-handled brush and a bathroom cleaner prevents buildup and keeps the job simple. The same spray and a designated sponge work well for the tub and shower when used regularly before grime becomes stubborn.
For everyday surface cleaning like countertops and sinks, an all-purpose cleaner that you enjoy using makes a difference. Diluting multipurpose cleaners extends their life and keeps things smelling fresh. For dishes and laundry, eco-friendly products work well and often eliminate the need for extra fabric softeners.
Seasonal chores, like window washing and a thorough floor scrub, are less frequent and easier to manage when daily and weekly maintenance are in place. Use a mop system with a washable head and a gentle cleaner for wood floors, and always rinse and dry floors thoroughly to protect the finish.
In short: small daily actions, a few weekly tasks and occasional deeper cleanings keep a home looking consistently neat. Giving each item a place, doing fast five-minute tasks daily, and using a few efficient tools (a good duster, a cordless vacuum for touch-ups, and a reliable all-purpose cleaner) makes a clean, inviting house feel achievable without constant heavy lifting.
Note: The products and tools mentioned are ones we’ve found useful in our routine and reflect our personal preferences.