We all want a clean, tidy home—but sometimes, without meaning to, we sabotage our own cleaning efforts. It’s not that we’re lazy or messy on purpose; it’s just that a few everyday habits can quietly pile on the work and make cleaning way more difficult than it needs to be. Today, we’ll look at 10 things we do that make cleaning harder than it has to be.
If you are new to the blog, welcome! I blog and make videos about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. You can find my free printables to help you get organized in the drop down menu under the Printables category at the top of this page. Also, check out this post on 10 things people with clean homes do every day.
You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Cleaning Checklists here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize.
It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Also, check out this post on 7 Cleaning Tasks That Are a Waste of Your Time. Check out my post on how to clean your entire house in 1 hour. You can also check out this post on 8 Easy Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Cleaner.
10 Things We Do That Make Cleaning Harder
Here are 10 common things we do that make cleaning harder—and what to do instead:
- Leaving Dirty Dishes in the Sink
We’ve all done it—dumping a dirty plate in the sink and walking away. But when food dries and hardens, it turns a quick rinse into a scrubbing session.
What to do instead: Rinse off food right away or at least soak the dishes in water. Future You will be grateful.
2. Not Cleaning as You Cook
Cooking a meal and leaving the aftermath until after you eat? That just turns “doing dishes” into “deep cleaning the kitchen.”
What to do instead: Wipe spills and toss scraps as you go. A quick tidy while waiting for something to simmer makes post-meal cleanup way easier.
3. Letting Clutter Pile Up
A stack of mail here, some laundry there… suddenly every surface is covered. Clutter not only looks messy—it makes it harder to actually clean.
What to do instead: Try the “one-minute rule”—if it takes less than a minute to put something away, do it right then.
4. Skipping the Doormat
Tracking dirt inside with shoes means more sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming later.
What to do instead: Use a doormat at each entrance and get into the habit of removing shoes indoors.
5. Ignoring Spills Until Later
That splatter on the stove? The mystery drip on the floor? They’re easy to wipe when fresh but can become sticky, crusty, or even stain over time.
What to do instead: Wipe spills as soon as you notice them. A 10-second clean now beats a 10-minute scrub later.
6. Using Too Much Cleaning Product
More cleaner = cleaner surfaces, right? Nope. Too much soap or spray can leave residue that attracts dust and dirt.
What to do instead: Follow the label instructions. A little goes a long way!
7. Not Emptying the Vacuum or Cleaning Tools
A full vacuum or a grimy mop just spreads mess around instead of cleaning it up.
What to do instead: Clean your tools after you clean. Empty, wash, and prep them for next time.
8. Letting Laundry Pile Up
When laundry gets out of hand, so does everything else—clothes on chairs, floors, and beds.
What to do instead: Try smaller, more frequent loads. Folding and putting away becomes much less daunting.
9. Postponing Cleaning “Until the Weekend”
Procrastinating small tasks creates a mountain of chores that eats up your entire day off.
What to do instead: Sprinkle 10–15 minutes of cleaning into your weekday routine. You’ll avoid the weekend cleaning marathon.
10. Not Having a Place for Everything
If you don’t know where something goes, it’ll float from one surface to another… forever.
What to do instead: Take a bit of time to create homes for your most-used items. When everything has a place, tidying becomes automatic.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be a big, exhausting event. Often, it’s the little things we overlook that create the most extra work. By changing just a few habits, you can cut down your cleaning time and effort in a big way—and enjoy a tidier space every day.
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