The art of keeping your home “clean enough”
For when you're ready to stop stressing about keeping the perfect home; enjoy ✨
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Note: we do not currently have kids. Keeping a tidy home is probably a little simpler for us, but hopefully this guide is still helpful for larger families. 🤍
When I moved into my first apartment, I found myself completely overwhelmed with how often everything needed to be cleaned. Each piece of furniture accumulated dust on the daily. The sinks, shower, and toilet got gross fast. And dishes and laundry seemingly never end. More than once I wondered how my mother kept our home spic and span while having a full-time job.
Of course, it wasn’t her sole responsibility, but we often joked about how vacuuming was the first thing she did when she got home in the evening. I’m not kidding! Every. Single. Day.
Nowadays, I think it’s quite impressive.
My dad cleaned as well, and us kids had our chores, but it still leaves me questioning how a family can possibly maintain a pristine home. Ultimately, I believe the answer is that few homes are pristine and I have to abandon the perfectionist mentality that has haunted me for the last 10-15 years. The goal, as I’ve discovered, is to have a home that is “clean enough.”
Define “Clean Enough”
But what does that mean exactly? Well, truth be told, it’s up to the individual. Define the things that are important to you and they will guide you throughout this article.
Personally I prefer for things to be in their place, the bathrooms to be cleaned in just about every aspect, and the bed to be made in the morning. My husband on the other hand is particularly focused on having a clean kitchen. For him, wiping down the countertops and having no dishes in the sink is most important.
Take a look around and ask yourself what brings you the most peace when it’s done. That is what “clean enough” is for you.
The Art of Habit Stacking
As an adult, we each have many daily rhythms we keep without even thinking about them. We are creatures of habit, after all. We brush our teeth twice a day, make a caffeinated drink in the morning, and even get sleepy at a certain time each night. Your schedule might look different from mine, but we each have something we do without fail almost every day.
The trick I use to keep my home clean enough is to tack on an action to the task I’m already going to be doing. I’ve gathered a number of suggestions based on my own habit-stacking to inspire your routine:
Make the bed first thing in the morning. I love the sight of my beautiful bed all done up for the day. Then I open the windows for some sunlight and fresh air too. My perfect start to the day!
Wipe the bathroom counter while brushing your teeth. I use an electric toothbrush which requires less movement in the hand holding it, which frees me up to do something productive with my other hand.
Unload the dishwasher while your morning tea brews. In the one minute it takes for my Keurig to heat up my water for loose leaf tea, I’m usually able to unload the dishwasher we ran overnight.
Tackle odd tasks during your lunch break. I write down my list of cleaning tasks I’d like to get done on a dry erase to-do list. Then I use some of my spare lunch time to get something done, and my husband will tackle other tasks throughout the day when he needs a break from work.
Examples include: cleaning our wood cutting boards weekly, cleaning the washing machine or dishwasher, disinfecting door handles and light switches, or vacuuming & mopping the floors.
Do the dishes and wipe the counter tops immediately following dinner. The kitchen is the heart of many homes and it feels so nice to have a clean space by the end of the night. Plus, delaying your dishes is only going to make it even harder to tackle when they’ve built up!
Tidy up before you head off to bed. I love to wake up to a tidy living room in the morning. It brings so much peace and calm into my day, and who doesn’t love to start out that way!? Before I migrate to the room for my bedtime routines, I spend about 2 minutes putting things back where they belong.
Designate one day for laundry. Maybe not habit stacking in this case but we’ve selected Fridays for doing all our laundry. That way, it doesn’t creep up on us and once it’s done, it’s about time for happy hour!
Will this capture everything that needs to get done around your home for all of time? No, probably not. There will be things that come up a few times a year and you’ll groan about not wanting to do it. Life is best lived with a few inconveniences though. Write down the items as they pop into your head and save them for a day you’re feeling especially motivated — don’t fret now, your home is clean enough.
The Art of Delegation
If you live with other people, don’t forget that the responsibility to keep your home clean is a shared one. Even the littles can have age-appropriate chores. Teach noticing skills early (this can include spouses and roommates if it’s not a skill they currently possess). Not only does involving others ease the mental load on you, but for children, it will show them that cleaning is a part of daily life so one day it might feel natural to them. Or perhaps they will be as oblivious as I was and must learn again when they’re in their own place someday.
Chore charts or a centrally located to-do list is also encouraged if “noticing” isn’t doing a whole lot.
The Art of Procrastination
Some things are best left until the last minute. Having people over is an excellent way to kickstart the cleaning frenzy hibernating inside you. We have guests stay with us about once a month, and the day before or morning of is always when we get the most done.
This is the opportunity to convince yourself the baseboards need wiping down or the windows need to be cleaned. Make your home the tidiest, cleanest space they ever walked into and feel the pride radiate from your smiling cheeks as they compliment how lovely your home is. And if you didn’t get around to those nitpicky tasks? They’re not going to notice anyway. Your home is clean enough.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
Many of us have jobs nowadays, and they take up a lot of our time. Add on pets, children, social activities, and other obligations, and we’re working with the bare minimum. We’re doing all we can!
I worried myself for far too long about getting it all done. If you’re anything like me, you need to let go of the perfectionism. Having a rigid cleaning schedule will ensure burnout quick. Cleanliness is important, don’t get me wrong. That’s exactly why I implemented these rhythms into my daily life. But chasing the perfect home will pull you away from what really matters.
So don’t forget to shake it off and allow the dust to accumulate a little bit. Repeat after me: my home is clean enough!
Thanks for reading!