We all have them, the friend who can have people over at a moment’s notice because their house or apartment is always clean. Maybe you’re that person.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, I’m one of them, too. Not because I obsess and fret over deep-cleaning my house every week, but because I’ve incorporated little steps into my daily routine so cleaning is never actually chore.

Want the magic secret? Here are a few habits of how people manage to keep their pad so tidy:

1. They Make Their Bed Everyday

I’ll be honest, the only reason I make my bed everyday is because I toss and turn like an Olympic gymnast in my sleep. And I don’t like getting my ankles wrapped up in the sheets. But now it’s a habit, and it looks nice. So I make it everyday.

These beds make themselves!

2. They Use A Vacuum

If you have pets or kids and you don’t use this trick, you’re wasting a lot of time cleaning. Whenever you get out the vacuum, use the soft attachment to vacuum everything. Yes everything. Nightstands, curtains, lamps, end-tables, mirrors, window sills, the TV, coffee tables — you name it.

Humans and pets leave dander on everything in your home. A vacuum will actually suck it up (instead of moving it around on a dust cloth) and you’ll only have to dust with wood polish once a month.

3. They Empty The Dishwasher In The Morning

I don’t get up any earlier, but somehow manage to find five minutes to empty the dishwasher in the morning. It’s one less thing I have to do when I get home, and makes making dinner a whole lot easier.

4. They Do Laundry On A Specific Day

At my house, it’s just my husband and I. We don’t need to do laundry daily (like a family with multiple kids) but I do set a routine as to when the laundry gets done — every Sunday, sometime between 4 and 10 p.m.

This schedule not only ensures my hubby puts his clothes in the hamper, but gives me a guilt-free excuse to sit on the bed and watch gossip TV while I fold … and he watches football in the living room.

5. They Clean The Fridge Weekly

I’m not talking about a deep scrub here. But before you head off to the grocery store, take a quick peek into the fridge to see what may be missing from your grocery list (see No. 10). While in there, toss anything that isn’t edible, and wipe up any spills or gunked-on food before it starts to grow green hair.

6. They Use Baskets

Baskets are a great way to organize things. We have a basket next to high-traffic doors to catch shoes, as well as one at the bottom of the stairs for things that need to go upstairs and get put away.

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7. They Don’t Procrastinate

Did a package get delivered today? Yeay! Now take the contents out, pop the air-packets, break down the box and throw it away. Lather, rinse, repeat.

8. They Clean The Kitchen As They Cook

This may sounds pretty obvious, but clean people are superior multi-taskers. When cooking chicken in the oven, clean the cutting board, wash the ladle and put away all the ingredients used to season your meal. When the oven timer goes off, the kitchen is already practically clean.

9. They Straighten Up Before Bed

Fold the blanket on the couch, tuck away any stray shoes and put dirty clothes in the hamper before hitting the hay. When you wake up in the morning, the house will already appear cleaner and help you get the day started stress-free.

10. They Plan Ahead

Clean and organized people often keep a shared grocery list on their phones. As items run out in the fridge, they can be easily added by any family member so it’s not forgotten. When you incorporate a little planning into your day, things will tend to go a bit more smoothly.

11. They Pack Their Lunch

Packing lunches before heading to bed is one of the most simple ways to get a head start on the day. And if you make your lunches at night, you’re probably doing No. 8 as well. BOOM.

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12. They Focus On One Room At A Time

Every other week, pick a room (or area if your home is open-concept) to clean and vacuum everything like baseboards, doors and curtains, etc. Also clean windows, organize knick-knacks, etc. Tackling one room at a time and giving it a deeper scrub is less overwhelming, and more productive.



And one other little secret: Clean doesn’t mean spotless, and that’s ok. By incorporating these simple habits into your daily routine, they will help keep everything more a bit more tidy in less time. Your stress level will decrease, and your guests will definitely take notice at how awesome your place looks.

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