Whether you just moved into your first apartment or have been living on your own for years, keeping your space clean can feel like an uphill battle. Between work, school, family obligations, and your social life, finding time for chores isn’t always easy. But putting in just a little effort each day goes a long way when it comes to maintaining a fresh, welcoming home.
In this blog post, we’ll share some of our top apartment cleaning tips to help you stay on top of dirt, grime, and clutter. With a few simple habits and the right tools, you can keep every room looking its best without spending all your free time scrubbing. Let’s get started!
Create a Manageable Cleaning Schedule
One of the biggest obstacles to keeping an apartment clean is feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. When faced with an endless checklist, it’s tempting to just ignore chores altogether. The key is to break cleaning down into quick, manageable tasks that can be done every day.
To start, make a list of common cleaning tasks like washing dishes, wiping counters, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming, and taking out trash. Then break these tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly categories. For example:
Daily
- Make bed
- Wash dishes
- Take out trash
- Tidy living spaces
Weekly
- Sweep and mop floors
- Clean bathroom
- Change sheets
- Dust furniture
Monthly
- Vacuum baseboards and blinds
- Clean windows
- Scrub kitchen floors
- Go through mail and paperwork
Post your schedule somewhere visible like on the fridge. At the end of each day, check off what you accomplished. This helps turn cleaning from a massive undertaking into a series of small, attainable goals. Over time, these little daily habits will add up to a cleaner home.
Set Up Cleaning Stations
Running around collecting supplies wastes time and mental energy when it’s time to clean. Make things easier by setting up “cleaning caddies” throughout your apartment.
Stock a caddy for each room with whatever you need to clean that area. For the kitchen, include all-purpose cleaners, scrubbing pads, dish soap, sponges, trash bags, and anything else you regularly use. In the bathroom, keep extra toilet paper, surface cleaner, towels, and scrub brushes.
Having supplies at your fingertips lets you quickly tidy up any time without having to hunt down what you need. Just grab the nearby caddy and get to work.
Deal With Clutter and Mail Right Away
Paper clutter and junk mail can pile up surprisingly fast. But taking just a minute to deal with it daily stops it from taking over your home.
Get in the habit of sorting through your mail as soon as you bring it inside. Toss out obvious junk right away. File away any bills, statements, or important documents to deal with later. For everything else, give it a quick scan and then either recycle it or place it in a designated spot for shredding sensitive paperwork.
For general clutter like stray kids’ toys, tools, or other items, do a five-minute tidy before bed. Put everything back in its proper place. Getting into this quick daily routine cuts down on time spent decluttering later.
Make Your Bed Every Morning
This may seem trivial, but taking a minute to straighten your sheets and blankets in the morning has a big visual impact on your bedroom. It makes the whole room look cleaner and more put together.
While you’re at it, pick up any dirty clothes or other items that don’t belong and put them away. Starting your day by quickly tidying your bedroom sets the tone for keeping the rest of your home clean.
Focus on High-Traffic Areas
When time is limited, focus your cleaning efforts on spaces that get the most use and show dirt fastest. For most apartments, these high-traffic zones include:
Kitchen
Wipe down appliances, counters, and the sink daily. Wipe cabinets down weekly to control grease buildup. Mop or scrub floors at least once a week to remove spills and grime.
Bathrooms
Disinfect toilets, counters, showers, and bathtubs several times per week. Take a few minutes after each use to tidy up towels, wipe surfaces, and remove any trash.
Living Spaces
Vacuum carpets and area rugs at least once a week to get rid of dirt brought in from outside. Dust and straighten furniture, picking up clutter and debris that accumulate throughout the week.
By focusing on quickly cleaning spots where you spend the most time, you can make daily tidying more effective. Even if the rest of the apartment isn’t spotless, keeping high-traffic zones clean makes the whole place feel fresher.
Enlist Some Robotic Help
When cleaning takes up most of your free time, it helps to enlist some robotic assistance. Robotic vacuums can keep carpets and hard floors debris-free with little effort on your part.
Look for a model that has a slim design to easily reach tight spaces. Units with strong suction pick up more dirt in fewer passes. Smart sensors help robotic vacs automatically navigate under and around furniture.
Set your robotic vacuum to run daily or several times per week. Its regular attention tackles dirt, pet hair, crumbs, and other debris between deeper cleanings. This saves you time vacuuming so you can focus on other cleaning tasks.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Dust, pet dander, and other allergens floating through indoor air quickly make an apartment feel dirty. Proper ventilation and air filters reduce airborne particles for fresher living spaces.
Open windows regularly to let in fresh outdoor air, especially when cooking. Use exhaust fans while showering or doing other humid activities to vent out moisture.
Clean or change HVAC air filters every 1-3 months per manufacturer recommendations. High-quality HEPA air purifiers actively capture allergens, mold spores, bacteria, and other pollutants.
Pay special attention to reducing dust buildup on places like ceiling fans, baseboards, blinds, and bookshelves. This limits particles from stirring back up into the air.
With better air circulation and filtration, your apartment stays cleaner between big cleaning days. Breathing easier also benefits your health and comfort at home.
Disinfect Germ Hot Spots
High-touch surfaces easily collect germs and grime that require thorough disinfecting. Be sure to sanitize these germ hot spots several times per week or whenever visibly dirty:
- Doorknobs and handles
- Light switches
- TV/electronics remotes
- Cabinet and fridge handles
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets
- Toilets, sinks, and tubs
- Counters
- Tables and desks
Disinfecting wipes work well for quick cleanups in between deep scrubs with an all-purpose cleaner. Targeting high-contact areas limits the spread of bacteria for a healthier home.
Final Thoughts
While keeping an apartment clean with a busy schedule can feel daunting, it’s doable with the right approach. Focus on quick daily tidying habits like making your bed, wiping down countertops, and decluttering spaces. Schedule deep cleans for less frequent tasks like scrubbing floors and dusting.
Set up cleaning caddies to have your supplies ready whenever messes pop up. Enlist robotic vacuums to keep floors debris-free with minimal effort. Lastly, don’t forget to disinfect high-touch areas and keep air circulating for a fresher indoor environment.
Making cleaning a regular part of your daily routine prevents dirt, clutter, and grime from taking over your precious living spaces. A few minutes here and there goes far to maintain a clean, welcoming apartment you can feel proud to call home. Which small habit will you tackle first to step up your cleaning game?
