Cleaning expert shares 9 daily rules you need to follow for 'easier 2026'
A cleaning expert has shared some 'simple cleaning routines' you need to follow if you want an easier time with your household chores in 2026.
Keeping your house clean can feel like an impossible task. Many of us don't have much time to keep on top of our household chores when we also have a full-time job, and if you have kids who love to leave toys everywhere, it can feel even more like a Herculean task to keep things clean and tidy.
However, if you're looking to make keeping your house clean one of your top priorities for 2026, then one expert has come up with a list of 9 tips you should follow. The steps are designed to be done either once a day or once a week, and while that might seem overwhelming, it should help you stick to a decent schedule.
Lynsey Crombie shared a video on TikTok in which she highlighted her nine cleaning habits that will make 2026 "easier".
She said: "These simple cleaning routines will make everyday life so much easier and future you will thank you for it. You don't need perfection, just consistency."
1. Air and make your bed daily
The first thing Lynsey recommends is a simple one - make your bed every morning. Airing your bed specifically by pulling back the covers can help to remove trapped moisture, sweat, and body heat from the sheets, which can reduce dust mites and bacteria. This helps keep your bedding hygienic and prevents musty odours.
2. Daily laundry load
If leaving your laundry until the weekend leaves you with an overflowing laundry basket, Lynsey recommends doing smaller loads of laundry every day. Shoving your clothes in the washing machine after work and then hanging them to dry will take a matter of minutes compared to hours of work doing multiple loads on one day.
But if you live by yourself and don't have much laundry, this may not need to be a daily task, however doing laundry multiple times a week instead of leaving it to pile up can make your home feel cleaner with minimal extra effort.
3. Tidy up as you go
Lynsey also recommends tidying up as you go. This practice basically means removing the mess from a room once you're finished with whatever you're doing.
If you've just sewn up a hole in your child's school jumper, put the sewing kit away immediately instead of leaving it on the coffee table. Or if you've been flicking through recipe books for dinner inspiration, put them back on your bookshelf. Doing this takes no time at all in the moment and saves you from a bigger clean-up job a few days down the line.
4. Put your kitchen to bed
Similar to tidying up as you go, the idea of "putting your kitchen to bed" each night essentially means making sure your kitchen is tidy once dinner is finished. Wash the dishes or load the dishwasher, wipe down any surfaces, and ensure any leftovers are stored away so that your kitchen is clean and tidy at the end of every day.
5. Follow the 'one in, one out' rule
The "one in, one out" rule is all about not having a cluttered house. It can apply to almost anything in your home, and it simply means that you can only buy a new item if you're getting rid of an old one.
For example, you can buy yourself a new mug if you accidentally break one you already own. Or you can buy some new jumpers if the ones you have no longer fit you. This can help keep your wardrobe from overflowing and your cupboards from becoming too cluttered, which can make your home feel cleaner in the long run.
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6. Keep surfaces clean and clear
Lynsey also recommends keeping all surfaces clean and clear. Much like packing away your kitchen for the night, you should also make sure there isn't random clutter on your other surfaces. It's easy for things like opened letters, receipts, and other loose bits of paper to pile up on your coffee table, but putting them away or binning them as soon as you're done with them can go a long way to keeping your house looking tidy.
7. Weekly 10-minute declutter
The cleaning expert suggests everyone should have a quick 10-minute declutter session once a week. Each week should focus on a different area of your home, such as your wardrobe, your freezer, or any storage drawers you have.
The purpose of decluttering is to clear out anything you no longer need by either throwing it away or donating it, where possible. It allows you to cut down on items in your house that you don't use, and will make your space feel cleaner.
8. Leave shoes at the door
Every home has different rules about shoes, but Lynsey claims it can make your home feel cleaner to start implementing a rule that all shoes are left by the front door. Not only does this stop muddy footprints from being tracked into your home, but you'll no longer have to deal with bad odours that come from people's smelly shoes.
9. Follow a schedule
Finally, Lynsey strongly recommends you follow a cleaning schedule. This can take whichever form is easiest for you, but having a list of chores that need doing, as well as how frequently they should be done, can be game-changing when it comes to keeping on top of things.
Knowing you need to vacuum the floors once a week and physically ticking it off once it's done can be particularly useful for neurodivergent people, such as those with ADHD or autism, who can sometimes struggle with routine and remembering what needs to be done around the house.
