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My Minimalist Cleaning Routine
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Fun fact: I live for a clean house, but I don’t love cleaning. Because of these two opposing truths, I’ve found a way of streamlining and simplifying my cleaning routine to make it feel easy-breezy. Read on for my low-lift, high-impact cleaning routine – plus the eco-friendly products I swear by.
Streamline Your Products
This is a biggie. I used to buy ALL of the cleaning products which created a chemical jumble under my sink that was both cumbersome to organize and bad for the environment. When a friend of mine raved about Branch Basics, a fragrance free, non-toxic, baby and pet safe, cleaning concentrate that can be combined with varying amounts of water to create every product you need for your entire home, I gave it a go. Now there’s simply no going back. I currently have TWO cleaning products under my sink (The Concentrate) paired with a set of bottles I use to make dish soap, window cleaner, floor cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and even a laundry solution, just by adding water. I also keep a container of Oxygen Boost on hand for tougher jobs like cleaning carpets, stain removal, burnt pots and pans, and refreshing grout. Goodbye, under-sink clutter.
Enlist Some Help
Our family invests in a wonderful housecleaner who comes every other week and always makes our entire home feel sparkly clean. In between visits I’ll give the house a quick freshen up (wiping down surfaces and mirrors, and using our cordless vacuum to whisk away any pet hair or dust bunnies). This never takes more than fifteen minutes and makes a huge difference for my mental health (even though nobody else in my family cares or notices). In addition, I’m a big fan of the mantra “shared space is shared responsibility,” which I learned as a summer camp counselor. As a result, the girls are responsible for washing, drying, and putting away the dishes each night after dinner and keeping their rooms in a state that doesn’t prompt me to run away screaming.
Practice Better Habits
When it comes to maintaining a clean and organized home, I’ve found that it’s truly the little things that make a big difference. Here are the simple habits that make a big difference for our family:
Daily: Making the beds, bringing in the mail, recycling or shredding anything that doesn’t require attention. Unpacking school bags and lunch boxes right after school. Doing dishes and packing lunches before bed. Putting clothes back in the closet or in the laundry hamper (I don’t believe in half-dirty clothes!) I also keep this all-purpose cleaner handy so I can give the kitchen counters and dining room table a quick spritz each night after dinner.
Weekly: Sundays are my Get-It-Done day, so I knock out my laundry (the girls and Jordan do their own), restock groceries and household essentials, and make sure the house is picked up and looking sharp for the week ahead. I also check and refill our cleaning products, dish soap, and laundry soap as necessary (we use this concentrate mixed with water to make all three!). While I don’t love spending a chunk of my weekend handling chores, I do love waking up on Monday to a clean and organized home.
Own Less Stuff
My number one tip to help minimize your house cleaning routine? Less stuff. Less stuff means less dust, less stuff to clean, and less stress overall. Our family actually spends very little time cleaning, but people often remark on how clean our home looks. The magic of minimalism!
Have you found a way to ease the task of cleaning and maintaining your home? Please share in the comments below!
Disclaimer statement: This post was kindly sponsored by Branch Basics. All opinions are my own and I only recommend products that I love and use in my own home. You can use this link or enter code SHIRAGILL for 15% off your Branch Basics starter set.
Amen to having less stuff! One of our habits is that whoever is cooking, tries to clean/put away throughout the cooking/meal prep process. That way whoever is cleaning up isn’t tasked with such a big job after the meal.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve got two littles (age 2 and 5) and laundry seems like it’s never ending so what I do to save my sanity is designate laundry days. Friday is bedding, Saturday is kids laundry, Sunday is my husbands laundry and Monday is my laundry. We make sure all toys are put away before bed and while the kids are in the bathtub/shower I wipe down surfaces in the bathroom and give it a good clean which takes no time at all. It also ensures our bathroom is always clean.
“even though nobody else in my family cares or notices”- lol.. so I am not the only one..
I thought I had a pretty non clutter home until I read minimalista. I got mine and my husband’s closet, kitchen , pantry and the linen closet sorted so far and donated plenty of stuffs. Your book really gave me another perspective..Many Thanks to you..
An easier for me to have a clean home is to not let things accumulate, especially mails and school works.
A friend of mine says my house always looks clean because I don’t have a ton of stuff! I agree, and think that’s a severely underutilized life hack, as I’m sure you agree 😉 Your book is one of my all-time favorites and I am forever trying to pare it down even more. Your posts are pure inspiration, thank you!
I’ve been working on minimizing the items in our home. The two major stressors for us were laundry and kids toys. We now have two small kids toy baskets to share between our 3 small children and love it. They play more now than they ever have before. It also makes it so easy to say yes to them when they want to go to the park! We can leave the house at a moments notice and come home to a clean and peaceful home. Second change that made a world of a difference was decreasing the laundry everyone has and only having ONE dirty laundry basket for our entire house. Once it’s full I sort it between darks and lights and throw a load in. That way I am never more than 1 load of laundry away from keeping the laundry done. I also decreased the amount of linens we have which has made a big difference too.
I am with you on keeping it simple. I have a few hacks of my own. The biggest one i have used for years is the Norwex glass clothes. No products necessary. Just wipe down with the wet one and dry with the drying towel. This keeps dust from accumulating on your mirrors and windows. Which happens when you use any products on them. Note: outside windows 2 times a year need a good bucket of soap and water first then rinse with hose and back to wipe with one dry with other Norwex cloths. All their cloths and products are great as well. But might try yours as it keeps it simple.. Can’t give up my cloths though for mirrors and windows and any faucets ect.
LOVE THIS!!!
I’m a cleaning fanatic, bought the Branch Basics, now my teeny laundry room looks tidier. Kitchen under-sink is next to get the pared-down. House spotless. Thanks Shira 🙂
Enlist Some Help
Own Less Stuff
Amen to having less stuff! One of our habits is that whoever is cooking, tries to clean/put away throughout the cooking/meal prep process. That way whoever is cleaning up isn’t tasked with such a big job after the meal.
Thanks for sharing this! I’ve got two littles (age 2 and 5) and laundry seems like it’s never ending so what I do to save my sanity is designate laundry days. Friday is bedding, Saturday is kids laundry, Sunday is my husbands laundry and Monday is my laundry. We make sure all toys are put away before bed and while the kids are in the bathtub/shower I wipe down surfaces in the bathroom and give it a good clean which takes no time at all. It also ensures our bathroom is always clean.
thank you .
What cordless vac do you use? I’ve been searching for one that can handle dog hair
Have and love our lightweight cordless Dyson! Xx
Thank you for this Shira. Just want to say you are so on target with your posts. Always inspiring!
So good to hear. Thanks for reading! Xx
“even though nobody else in my family cares or notices”- lol.. so I am not the only one..
I thought I had a pretty non clutter home until I read minimalista. I got mine and my husband’s closet, kitchen , pantry and the linen closet sorted so far and donated plenty of stuffs. Your book really gave me another perspective..Many Thanks to you..
An easier for me to have a clean home is to not let things accumulate, especially mails and school works.
So glad to hear you enjoyed the book and I hear you on the mail and schoolwork! Xx
A friend of mine says my house always looks clean because I don’t have a ton of stuff! I agree, and think that’s a severely underutilized life hack, as I’m sure you agree 😉 Your book is one of my all-time favorites and I am forever trying to pare it down even more. Your posts are pure inspiration, thank you!
Yes, the life hack of less is such a win! So happy you loved the book, yay. Xx
I’ve been working on minimizing the items in our home. The two major stressors for us were laundry and kids toys. We now have two small kids toy baskets to share between our 3 small children and love it. They play more now than they ever have before. It also makes it so easy to say yes to them when they want to go to the park! We can leave the house at a moments notice and come home to a clean and peaceful home. Second change that made a world of a difference was decreasing the laundry everyone has and only having ONE dirty laundry basket for our entire house. Once it’s full I sort it between darks and lights and throw a load in. That way I am never more than 1 load of laundry away from keeping the laundry done. I also decreased the amount of linens we have which has made a big difference too.
I LOVE this! Xx
I am with you on keeping it simple. I have a few hacks of my own. The biggest one i have used for years is the Norwex glass clothes. No products necessary. Just wipe down with the wet one and dry with the drying towel. This keeps dust from accumulating on your mirrors and windows. Which happens when you use any products on them. Note: outside windows 2 times a year need a good bucket of soap and water first then rinse with hose and back to wipe with one dry with other Norwex cloths. All their cloths and products are great as well. But might try yours as it keeps it simple.. Can’t give up my cloths though for mirrors and windows and any faucets ect.
Thanks so much for sharing! Xx
LOVE THIS!!!
I’m a cleaning fanatic, bought the Branch Basics, now my teeny laundry room looks tidier. Kitchen under-sink is next to get the pared-down. House spotless. Thanks Shira 🙂
Ooh that makes me so happy! Xx