A 10-Minute Kitchen Cleanup Before Bed
Before heading to bed, take 10 minutes to tidy up the kitchen. Unload the dishwasher, sweep and mop the floor if needed—(in my house, it’s always needed). Wipe down the counters and load any remaining dinner dishes into the dishwasher. Of course, this assumes you’ve already tackled the bulk of the dinner dishes. Try to wash them immediately after dinner and let the dishwasher run during the evening.
If your evenings are packed and you simply don’t have time, leave unloading the dishwasher for the morning—but make sure everything else is done.
I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t this just cleaning the kitchen? Not quite! A full kitchen clean goes much deeper. These small daily tasks help you stay on top of things, so when you do have time for a deep clean, you can jump right in. Plus, waking up to a tidy kitchen gives you a sense of cleanliness that makes it easier to tackle the day.
The Magic of a “Put-Away” Basket
Keep a stylish basket in a high-traffic area of your home. Use it as a temporary drop zone for things that need to be put away. Instead of running around all day trying to tidy up, just drop items in the basket.
At the end of the day, carry the basket around as you put things back where they belong. While you’re at it, bring along a clean cloth and a bottle of cleanser to wipe down surfaces that need a quick refresh. But remember—this isn’t deep cleaning. Save the scrubbing for later and just handle small spills, dust, or sticky spots that catch your eye.
Declutter a Small Space in 10 Minutes
Set a timer and tackle that one drawer or cabinet that’s been driving you crazy.
- Pull everything out.
- Wipe down the inside and clean the items you’re keeping.
- Ask yourself: Is this even worth cleaning? If not, toss it! Keep a trash bag or small bin nearby so you can declutter as you go.
- Put back only what you actually need.
And voilà! That nagging little task is done. If the timer goes off and you’re almost finished, power through and complete it. If not, don’t shove everything back inside—place it in a basket or box and set a reminder to finish later.
Bust Cobwebs Before They Take Over
Take a few minutes to walk around your home with a broom or a long-handled duster. Sweep the corners of each room, along the ceiling edges, and over ceiling fan blades. This simple habit prevents cobwebs from building up and keeps your home looking fresh.
A Quick Daily Toilet Touch-Up
Once a day after you use the bathroom, take a moment to wipe down the inside and outside of the toilet. Rotate through all the bathrooms in your home so none get neglected. This small habit keeps things hygienic and makes deep cleaning much easier.
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!
Don’t try to do it all alone. Assign small tasks to family members. Even a toddler can put away their toys—and if a 2-year-old can help, so can your significant other and your teens!
To make things even easier, create a closing checklist for your home. Restaurants have them—why not you? Search for a restaurant closing checklist online and modify it for your
space. Include tasks like restocking the coffee station, sweeping the floor (mop on Sundays),
locking doors & turning off lights, straightening couch cushions, vacuuming the living room
before bed.
Then, divide the list between household members, and have them tackle it in the last 10 minutes before winding down for bed.
Call for Backup When Needed
There’s no shame in hiring help! Check your local grocery store bulletin board, ask around on social media, or Google housekeepers in your area. A clean home is a gift to yourself, and you don’t have to be rich to afford the occasional cleaning service. Many like myself offer flexible pricing and even hourly rates. So just get what fits your budget.
These small, manageable tasks make a huge difference in keeping your home feeling clean and stress-free. Implement just a few of these tips, and you’ll start to notice a difference—without feeling overwhelmed.
