Housekeeping experts have shared their tips for maintaining an orderly home, emphasising the importance of regular routines and specific practices for different areas.
Matt Church, known as Mr Housekeeping, from Maldon in Essex, states that a well-run home encompasses four key elements: being clean, tidy, decluttered, and organised. He notes that his role as a housekeeper extends beyond just cleaning to include tidying, emptying bins, making beds, putting away laundry, and organising cupboards.
Lisa Williams, head of housekeeping at The Grand hotel in York and chair of the UK Housekeepers Association, advises that having a consistent cleaning routine at home helps prevent a constant struggle against dirt. She also highlights the importance of making your bed daily, suggesting it can significantly improve the perceived tidiness of a bedroom. Church recommends changing bed sheets weekly, or more frequently in hot weather, while Sam Hodges of Hectic Housekeepers suggests twice a week if pets sleep in the bed.
Other advice includes promptly washing dishes to maintain an ordered kitchen, ensuring the home smells pleasant using diffusers or fabric conditioner sprays, and prioritising a spotless bathroom. Church suggests daily toilet cleaning, while Hodges recommends eco-friendly alternatives for limescale and allowing cleaning products to sit to work effectively. For fridges, Church advises cleaning obvious stains immediately to prevent them from setting and performing regular cleans to find forgotten items.
Regarding laundry, Church recommends removing items from the washing machine promptly and hanging them straight away to reduce the need for ironing. Georgie Cutbill, who runs The Bruton Housekeeper, suggests strategically placed laundry baskets and timely folding and putting away of clothes as key to laundry management.