Between cleanings
How to Keep Your House Clean Between Cleanings
In this article
The right order to clean a room
Clean top to bottom, dry before wet, and finish with the floors. That order keeps you from cleaning the same spot twice.
Dust falls. If you wipe the counter and then dust the shelf above it, the counter needs wiping again. Start high, with shelves, ceiling fans and the tops of frames, and work down to furniture and counters.
Dry work comes before wet work. Dust and sweep first, then spray and wipe. A damp cloth on a dusty surface just pushes the dust around and leaves streaks.
Floors come last, because everything you clean above them drops a little on the way down. Vacuum, then mop, and back out of the room toward the door so you are not walking across the wet floor.
The short version
Top to bottom. Dry before wet. Floors last. Use the same order in every room and it soon becomes habit.
The 20-minute daily reset
Set a timer for 20 minutes once a day and reset the main rooms. When the timer ends, you stop.
1
Clear the kitchen
Load or wash the dishes, put food away and wipe the counters and stove top. A clear kitchen makes the whole house feel tidier.
2
Pick up the main rooms
Walk through the living areas with a basket. Anything that does not belong goes in it, then back to its own room.
3
Wipe the bathroom
Give the sink, faucet and mirror a quick wipe, and hang the towels to dry.
4
Spot the floors
Sweep or vacuum wherever it shows, usually the kitchen and the entry.
The point is not to clean everything. It is to stop the small mess from turning into a big one. Many people like to do it after dinner, so the house is ready for the morning.
The 5-5-5 rule
The 5-5-5 rule is a popular rule for days when 20 minutes feels like too much. People describe it a few ways:
- 5 minutes. Set a timer and tidy until it rings.
- 5 items. Put away five things that are out of place.
- 5 spots. Clear five small areas, like a counter, a table or a chair.
Pick the version that suits you. It works because it is small enough to start, and starting is usually the hardest part.
Kitchen
- Wipe the counters and stove top after you cook, while spills are fresh.
- Run the dishwasher at night and empty it in the morning.
- Dry the sink and faucet so hard water spots do not form.
- Take the trash out before it overflows.
Bathrooms
- Squeegee the shower glass after every shower. It stops most hard water spots before they start.
- Leave the shower door open so the space dries.
- Wipe the sink and faucet dry after use.
- Keep a cloth and a gentle cleaner under the sink for a quick wipe.
Hard water is a big part of bathroom cleaning here. Our guide to hard water in Washington County explains where it builds up and why.
Entry and floors
Red Southern Utah dust comes in on shoes, paws and the wind. Most of it can be stopped at the door.
- Put a good mat outside and another just inside the door.
- Take shoes off at the entry if your household is willing.
- Keep a towel by the door for pets after a walk.
- Sweep or vacuum the entry a few times a week, before the dust spreads.
Where we come in
Daily habits keep a house tidy. They do not reach the baseboards, the shower grout, the tops of the fans or the floors under the furniture. That is the deep work, and it is what recurring house cleaning takes care of.
When the deep work is handled on a schedule, the habits stay small. Twenty minutes a day is enough, because you are keeping a clean house clean instead of catching up.
The same crew comes every visit, our cleaners are background-checked employees, and if something is missed, call us within 24 hours and we will come back and put it right. We are licensed and insured, based in Santa Clara. Call (435) 310-5040 or request a free quote below.
Three habits that do the most
If you only keep three, keep these.
Reset for 20 minutes a day
Squeegee the shower glass
Stop the dust at the door
Want the deep work handled?
Our team cleans on a weekly, biweekly or monthly schedule across Santa Clara and St. George.
Cleaning between visits questions
What is the correct order to clean your house?
Work top to bottom and dry before wet. Dust high shelves and surfaces first, then wipe counters and fixtures, and finish with the floors so you only clean them once. Room by room, it helps to clean the same way every time.
What is the 20 minute rule for cleaning?
It means setting a timer for 20 minutes a day and doing a quick reset: dishes, counters, a pass through the main rooms and anything left out. When the timer ends, you stop. Small daily resets keep the mess from piling up.
What is the 5-5-5 rule for cleaning?
It is a popular rule, and people describe it a few ways: spend 5 minutes, put away 5 items, or tidy 5 spots. The idea is the same. Pick a small, fixed amount, do it, and move on with your day.
How often should a house be professionally cleaned?
Most households book every one, two or four weeks. Weekly or every two weeks suits most busy homes, and monthly suits quiet homes and second homes. Ask Lacy when you book which schedule fits yours.
