Deep cleaning can feel like an overwhelming task, especially when it seems like the whole house needs attention all at once. But what if you could stay ahead of the clutter and grime with small, daily habits? That’s where habit stacking comes in—a method of attaching small, manageable cleaning tasks to routines you already do. By incorporating these habits into your day, you can avoid the dreaded deep clean altogether.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to habit stack for different areas of your home, including the bathroom, wardrobe, linen cupboard, utensils drawer, kitchen cupboards, pantry, and fridge.
What is Habit Stacking?
Habit stacking is a technique where you build new habits by linking them to existing ones. Instead of trying to add a completely new task to your day, you attach it to something you’re already doing. Over time, these small actions become second nature, helping you maintain a clean and organized home effortlessly.
Here’s how you can apply habit stacking to avoid deep cleaning in key areas of your home:
1. Bathroom
The bathroom is one of those areas that can quickly feel dirty or cluttered if not maintained regularly. By habit stacking, you can keep it fresh without spending hours scrubbing on the weekends.
- Morning routine: After brushing your teeth, take a few seconds to wipe down the sink and counter with a microfiber cloth or disinfectant wipe. Doing this daily will prevent grime and toothpaste buildup, making your bathroom sparkle without extra effort.
- Shower routine: After your shower, spend an extra minute wiping the shower walls or door with a squeegee or cloth. This small habit helps prevent soap scum and water stains from forming, keeping your shower clean with minimal effort.
- Night routine: Before you head to bed, do a quick sweep of the bathroom floor or wipe down the mirror if necessary. This ensures that no mess builds up overnight, and you wake up to a tidy bathroom each morning.
By attaching these small tasks to your existing morning and evening routines, you’ll never have to dedicate a large chunk of time to deep cleaning the bathroom.
2. Wardrobe
Closet clutter can pile up quickly, making it harder to find the clothes you want and leaving you feeling frustrated. Here’s how habit stacking can help keep your wardrobe neat and organized:
- Dressing: Whenever you take an item out of the closet and decide not to wear it, hang it back neatly or fold it immediately. It’s tempting to toss clothes onto a chair or the bed, but this small habit prevents clutter from accumulating.
- End of the day: Before changing into your nightwear, take a moment to put away any clothes left out during the day. Use this time to assess whether any items need laundering or mending.
- Laundry day: When you’re putting freshly washed clothes away, take a quick look through your wardrobe and remove any items you no longer wear. Whether it’s clothing that doesn’t fit or that you simply don’t love anymore, this regular decluttering habit will keep your wardrobe streamlined.
By consistently tidying your wardrobe as part of your daily and laundry routines, you’ll avoid the need for a full closet overhaul.
3. Linen Cupboard
A disorganized linen cupboard can lead to frustration, especially when you’re hunting for the right sheets or towels. Habit stacking can help keep this area neat and easy to access.
- Change bed linens: Every time you change your bed sheets, take an extra minute to refold and straighten any items in the linen cupboard. This small habit keeps everything in order and prevents messy piles from forming.
- Laundry folding: When putting clean towels and sheets away, check the cupboard for anything that’s out of place. Taking a few seconds to rearrange will help you avoid a cluttered linen cupboard in the future.
By incorporating these habits into your routine, you’ll always have an organized and easy-to-navigate linen cupboard.
4. Utensils Drawer
Utensils can easily become disorganized, especially if you’re cooking frequently. A few small habits can help you keep your utensils drawer tidy and prevent clutter from taking over.
- Dishwashing routine: After putting away clean utensils, take a quick 30 seconds to tidy and rearrange the drawer. If there are items you no longer use or that don’t belong, remove them or put them in their correct place.
- Meal prep: While waiting for food to cook or water to boil, use that downtime to quickly sort through the utensils drawer. You can remove anything broken or redundant, ensuring that the drawer stays neat and organized.
These simple habits will save you from having to deep clean and reorganize your utensil drawer later on.
5. Kitchen Cupboards
Kitchen cupboards can become disorganized over time, especially if you’re busy cooking and cleaning up regularly. Here’s how you can habit stack to keep your cupboards in order:
- Dish unloading: When you unload the dishwasher or put away clean dishes, take a moment to tidy up one section of your kitchen cupboard. Rearrange anything that’s out of place, and check for items you no longer need.
- Weekly meal planning: As you plan meals for the week, take a few extra seconds to glance inside the cupboards. Make sure everything is organized and check for expired or unnecessary items. Doing this weekly will prevent buildup and clutter over time.
These small habits will help you maintain a clean and organized kitchen without the need for a massive cupboard overhaul.
6. Pantry
A cluttered pantry can make meal prep stressful, but habit stacking can help you keep it tidy and functional.
- Grocery shopping: Before adding new groceries to your pantry, spend a minute tidying up the shelves. Remove any expired items and organize what’s already there.
- Prepping meals: As you pull out ingredients for meals, take a quick look at the pantry and make sure everything is in its correct spot. This small habit ensures that your pantry stays neat and easy to navigate.
By maintaining these simple habits, you can avoid the need for a deep pantry clean-out.
7. Fridge
A messy fridge can lead to food waste and frustration, but habit stacking can help you stay on top of fridge organization without a lot of effort.
- Before grocery shopping: As part of your grocery list routine, take 5 minutes to check for leftovers or expired items in the fridge. Wipe down a shelf or two as you go. This keeps your fridge clean and makes room for new groceries.
- Food prep: When you pull out ingredients to cook, quickly wipe up any spills or stains you notice. This will prevent messes from building up over time.
By consistently maintaining these small habits, your fridge will stay clean and organized without the need for a full deep clean.
Conclusion
Habit stacking is a game-changer when it comes to avoiding deep cleaning. By attaching small cleaning tasks to routines you already do, you can maintain a clean, organized home without feeling overwhelmed. Start with one or two areas of your home, like the bathroom or wardrobe, and build from there. With time, these habits will become second nature, and deep cleaning will be a thing of the past
