Q: I love the look of your home and the way you arrange and style shelves, tables, and corners. I’d like to do more of that, but I often talk myself out of it because of the cleaning and dusting involved. What are your quick cleaning tips to keep everything tidy and dust-free? Is it really as clean as it looks in the photos? — Kim
A: Great question — we get this one a lot. We do tidy and style before taking photos for the blog, but we’re also naturally orderly people and have built routines that make maintaining the house manageable. One of the best habits we’ve adopted is to create a designated spot for everything. When things have a home, they don’t pile up on tables and counters, which eliminates a lot of clutter (for an in-depth look at how we sort and store items, see our Organization Options on our Projects Page).
Rather than reserving all cleaning for marathon sessions, I prefer to work as I go: small, daily actions add up. John handles most of the cooking, laundry, and lawn care, so cleaning the house is my contribution. Over the years I’ve developed a handful of quick shortcuts that keep our bungalow ready for everyday life and occasional photoshoots without a huge time investment.
There are a few ten‑second tasks I do every day because they make the house feel instantly neater. Wiping counters and loading the dishwasher each night, for example, takes almost no time and makes mornings more pleasant.
Daily ten‑second tasks that make a big difference:
- Wiping down kitchen counters
- Loading the dishwasher and wiping the sink
- Sorting mail right away (pay bills, shred junk)
- Returning shoes to the bedroom instead of leaving them at the back door
- Folding the sofa throw and putting it back in its basket
These small actions usually take five minutes total but they greatly reduce the feeling that the house is out of control.
Tasks I do a couple of times each week:
- Run and unload the dishwasher
- Wipe down bathroom sinks
- Take out garbage and compost
- Wipe down the stovetop
These short, regular efforts keep the home functioning smoothly and prevent small tasks from becoming overwhelming.
Weekly must-dos:
- Dust shelves, mantels, and tables
- Vacuum area rugs
- Wipe baseboards
- Remove dust bunnies from hardwood floors
- Clean toilets
- Scrub the shower/tub
- Do laundry
- Iron as needed
I rarely tackle every item in one day. Instead I spread chores across the week — dust while I’m on the phone, vacuum another day, and so on. Breaking it up makes it feel much less daunting.
Here are a few practical shortcuts I use for weekly chores:
For dusting I prefer Swiffer Duster pads used by hand — they create static cling that traps dust without spray. I can lift decorative items with one hand and swipe under them with the other, finishing most rooms in under 20 minutes while listening to music. Lately we’ve switched to washable microfiber cloths, which attract dust just as well and reduce waste.
For vacuuming, a HEPA filter can improve air quality, but a reliable, well-reviewed upright vacuum works fine for routine cleaning. Because we have hardwood floors throughout most of the house, I only need to vacuum a few rugs. For quick touch-ups and hardwood edges I rely on a cordless handheld vacuum — it’s fast, convenient, and perfect for corners and under furniture where dust accumulates.
To keep toilets from becoming a mess, start with a good, modern fixture and clean it weekly. I use a spray cleaner and a toilet brush with a handle — scrubbing regularly keeps the job fast and simple. The same spray, a designated bathroom sponge, and a quick wipe make showers and tubs easy to maintain.
For everyday surfaces — counters, sinks, and other wipe‑downs — we like a mild all‑purpose cleaner that can be diluted and used in many rooms. For dishes and laundry we use concentrated, eco‑friendly products that perform well without excess chemicals or fabric softener.
Seasonal tasks like washing windows and giving floors a deeper scrub are necessary but infrequent. I use a washable‑head mop and a diluted all‑purpose cleaner, being careful not to leave hardwood floors wet for long.
Summary: Small, consistent habits—daily ten‑second tasks, a few weekly chores, and occasional seasonal maintenance—keep our home looking neat without a lot of stress. Creating storage homes for belongings, using effective tools (microfiber cloths, cordless vacuums, and the right cleaners), and spreading chores over the week are the keys to a photo‑ready house that’s also livable.
Note: The cleaning products mentioned are ones we’ve used and liked; none solicited these mentions.