Let’s be honest. Cleaning can feel like a full-time job you never signed up for. The mess piles up and before you know it, your home feels more chaotic than calm. I get it. I truly do.
There was a time in my life when my apartment was a direct reflection of my inner state. I was stuck in a cycle of binge eating, endless gaming, and just pure laziness. Dirty dishes filled the sink, clothes covered the floor, and everything felt heavy. The physical clutter just amplified the mental and spiritual clutter I was wrestling with. It felt like one more giant problem I couldn’t solve.
But just like I didn’t lose over 110 pounds overnight, I didn’t get a perfectly clean house in one day. It started with small, almost laughably simple actions. It was about taking back control one tiny piece at a time. If you feel overwhelmed by the mess, I want you to know you’re not alone and you’re not lazy. You just need a better system. These are the simple hacks that helped me turn my space from a source of stress into a place of peace.
My 15 Go-To Hacks for Quick Cleaning
Forget spending your entire weekend scrubbing. The key is to work smarter, not harder. It’s about integrating small habits into your daily life so the mess never gets a chance to take over. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress.
- The 10-Minute Tidy. This is my number one rule. Set a timer for just 10 minutes every evening before you wind down. In those 10 minutes, you fly around the main living area putting things back where they belong. You’d be shocked at what you can accomplish. It prevents the daily buildup from becoming a weekly disaster.
- The One-Touch Rule. Try to touch things only once. Instead of dropping the mail on the counter to sort later, sort it immediately over the recycling bin. Instead of throwing your coat on a chair, hang it up right away. It takes two extra seconds but saves you from having to handle the same item multiple times.
- Clean As You Cook. This changed my relationship with my kitchen. While waiting for water to boil, wipe down the counters. While something is simmering, wash the prep dishes. By the time dinner is ready, most of the cleanup is already done. No more facing a mountain of dishes after a good meal.
- Focus on High-Impact Surfaces. If you have only five minutes before guests arrive, don’t try to clean the whole house. Just focus on what makes the biggest difference. Wipe down the kitchen counters, clear the coffee table, and give the bathroom sink a quick scrub. A clean kitchen sink can make the whole room feel cleaner.
- Create a Cleaning Caddy. Get a small bucket or caddy and stock it with your essential cleaning supplies: an all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, a few microfiber cloths, and a scrub brush. Now you can carry everything you need from room to room instead of wasting time walking back and forth to the supply closet.
- The Nightly Sink Ritual. No matter how tired I am, I make sure the kitchen sink is empty and clean before I go to bed. Waking up to a clean sink sets a positive tone for the entire day. It’s a small win that makes you feel like you’re already ahead.
- Squeegee the Shower. Keep a cheap squeegee in your shower. After you’re done, take 30 seconds to wipe down the glass and tiles. It drastically reduces soap scum buildup and means you have to deep clean the shower far less often.
- Use a Lint Roller for Dusting. This is a great hack for things that are tricky to dust, like fabric lampshades, throw pillows, or even your speakers. A quick roll with a lint roller picks up dust and pet hair in seconds.
- Put on Music or a Podcast. Cleaning feels less like a chore when you have a good distraction. I put on some uplifting music or an interesting podcast. The time flies by, and it almost feels like you’re not even cleaning.
- The One-Room-a-Day Method. Don’t try to clean your entire home at once. Assign one room to each day of the week. Monday is the bathroom, Tuesday is the kitchen, and so on. This breaks the work into manageable 15–20 minute chunks.
- Keep Wipes Under the Sink. I keep a container of cleaning wipes under my bathroom and kitchen sinks. This makes it incredibly easy to wipe up toothpaste splatters, spilled coffee, or smudges on the faucet the moment you see them.
- Start at the Top. When you do clean a room, always start high and work your way down. Dust the ceiling fans and shelves first, then wipe down furniture, and finally, vacuum the floor. This way, you’re not knocking dust onto surfaces you’ve already cleaned.
- Use Your Dishwasher for More Than Dishes. You can safely wash things like plastic toys, sink strainers, soap dishes, and even vent covers in the top rack of your dishwasher.
- One In, One Out. To keep clutter from building up, try a simple rule. Every time you bring something new into your home (like a new shirt), try to get rid of one old thing. This keeps your closets and drawers from overflowing.
- Declutter One Small Spot. Feeling totally overwhelmed? Don’t look at the whole room. Just pick one small spot—a single drawer, one shelf on a bookcase, or the top of your nightstand. Spend five minutes clearing it out. This small victory can give you the motivation you need to keep going.
It’s More Than Just a Clean House
Learning to manage my home was about more than just having a nice space. It was a practical skill that supported my bigger life changes. When I was fighting to overcome my unhealthy habits, having a clean, orderly environment was crucial. It’s hard to build a disciplined life in a chaotic space. My messy apartment was an excuse to stay lazy. A clean one became a foundation for building a better routine.
For me, caring for my home is also an act of stewardship. It’s about being grateful for what God has provided and treating it with respect. A clean and ordered home creates a space of peace where I can think more clearly, pray without distraction, and rest more deeply. It’s not about legalism or being perfect. It’s about creating an external environment that reflects the internal order I’m striving for through my faith.
The same principle of “small wins” that helps me keep my house clean is the one that helped me lose weight and build a productive work routine. You don’t make massive, sweeping changes. You just make one good choice. Then another. You wipe down the counter. You go for a walk. You pray for five minutes. Each small action builds on the last, creating powerful momentum over time.
So don’t look at the whole mess. Just look at the next right thing.
What’s one 10-minute task you can tackle today to bring a little more order and peace into your space?
