The 15 Minute Tidy really works! The concept of the 15 minutes is to keep your home looking neat so that it’s easier to do your cleaning. It’s also nice knowing that you don’t have to worry when unexpected guests come calling.
I love a tidy home! I love how I feel when it’s neat and everything is in its place, but I refuse to spend my life being a slave to my home. The key to keeping a tidy home and not becoming a slave, it’s to first establish a cleaning routine. Once that routine is in place then keeping it tidy is a breeze. In just 15 minutes per per day your home will look like you have a maid on staff.
How to Tidy Up in 15 Minutes
The first step is to establish a cleaning routine, if you don’t know where to start, try our organization challenge. The organization challenge will help you set up a cleaning routine that is designed specifically around your home and schedule.
Another thing that you will want to consider doing is decluttering. Clutter is one of the biggest hurdles in keeping a tidy home. If you spend just 20 minutes a day going through a drawer, a closet or a cabinet, you’ll have a clutter free home in no time.
Once you’ve established a cleaning routine and removed all of the clutter in your home you can begin implementing the 15 Minute Tidy.
Print/Download 15 Minute Tidy Schedule
Daily Tasks
Make Beds – This should be done daily, it only takes a minute or two and you’ll reap so many benefits. Other than making your bedroom look better, it promotes better sleep which makes you perform better, more sleep builds muscle, better health builds self-esteem and outer order leads to inner calm. Who thought making a bed could do so much.
Laundry – You should wash a load of clothes daily, it only takes about 5 minutes of hands on time. The benefits of doing a load of laundry daily is that your dirty clothes won’t pile up, you’ll have more time to spot clean stains and your utility bills will be lower.
Bathroom – Bathrooms are a breeding ground for germs so they should be quick cleaned daily. All you need to do is give the toilet a quick swish with a toilet brush, do a quick wipe down the toilet and sink with a disinfectant spray or wipe and then sweep the floor. This should only take a few minutes since you are doing it daily.
Kitchen – A clean kitchen not only makes the heart of your home look good, it also makes cooking a lot easier. To keep your kitchen looking presentable, you should spend a few minutes everyday loading/unloading the dishwasher, wiping down the counter, cleaning the sink and sweeping the floors.
Quick Pick Up – Items that are not in there place can make your home look disheveled. Take a few minutes everyday walking through your home picking up misplaced items and putting them into the rightful places.
Monday Tasks
Trash – Remove all of the trash that has collected throughout the week.
Microwave – Clean out the inside of the microwave by heating up a cup of water mixed with 1/4 cup of vinegar for 3 minutes. Keep the door of the microwave shut for 5 minutes, then wipe out the inside with a clean damp rag.
Tuesday Tasks
Dust and vacuum/sweep the living room and dining.
Wednesday Tasks
Kitchen – Once you’ve finished your daily kitchen tasks, wipe down the kitchen cabinets, polish the appliances and mop the floor. If you do this on a weekly basis this will take very little time.
Thursday Tasks
Bathrooms – Clean the tubs/showers and the toilets. Honestly this may take you longer than 15 minutes even if you are doing it on a weekly basis.
Friday Tasks
Bathrooms – Finish up the bathrooms by cleaning the sinks and mirrors and then mopping the floors. Unlike yesterday’s tasks, this won’t take much time at all.
Saturday Tasks
Bedrooms – Change the bed sheets on all of the beds and then dust and vacuum all of the bedrooms.
How long do you spend on daily cleaning tasks?
More Cleaning Tips
4 Tips for Washing and Caring for Your Pillows
Cleaning Your Bathroom with Vinegar
The Amazing Cleaning Power of Peroxide
Clever Ways to Clean with Club Soda
How to Clean Your Lampshades Like a Pro
How to Stop Being Lazy & Clean Your House
About the Author 
Robin
A mother to three amazing boys, wife to an incredible husband, and a former finance manager who traded in her spreadsheets for cookie sheets. I blog about things that make life a little more fun, a bit more manageable, slightly prettier, a great deal tastier, and considerably cheaper.
Yes, I totally need this. Thank you for sharing the tips at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.
I am definitely going to figure out a cleaning routine that works for me like yours works for you. When I clean, it never ends and it is every day. Having a cleaning schedule will help me know when I have finished all the tasks for the day and help me move on to something else besides cleaning!
Have a simple tidying schedule surprisingly makes a huge difference in your home and your free time.
I totally get the little and often approach. I think maybe I am a bit of a faffer though as I’m sure this would take me more than 15 minutes each day. I suspect I spend a little too long admiring my handy work when I’ve polished the mirrors for example , instead of just cracking on with the next job!! I can only try to do better and be more motivated going forward, this printable could help keep me on track!
Some days do take me a little longer than 15 minutes. However, by doing it everyday you don’t have to put as much elbow grease into it, so it goes faster.