5 Quick & Easy Outdoor Cleaning Tips

Originally Published on July 7, 2016. Last Updated on November 21, 2023.

The best part of summer is enjoying more opportunities to get outside. Baseball games, running through the sprinkler, grilling on the patio with family, and sipping on some wine while relaxing in a POLYWOOD Adirondack.

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But, more time outside means tracking extra messes into our homes, and if you don’t stay on top of cleaning, dirt can easily be transferred to every corner of the house.

We recently asked our friends at The Tidy Maids for some helpful tips to help combat the mess and maintain a clean home this summer.


1: Make it a point to de-clutter

Extra items around your home only serve to crowd your rooms and make it harder to keep the dust bunnies at bay! Take the time to sort out your items and donate anything you don’t need or use to your local thrift shop. Once you do away with things you don’t need in your home, you’ll reduce hiding places for germs, dust, and allergens. 

2: Keep your cleaning supplies organized and handy

With kids and pets around, you’re at a higher risk of experiencing accidental spills or pet messes. Most stains stick firmer if left unattended for long, so keep your cleaning supplies in one handy spot so you can easily tackle any mess as soon as it occurs.

Some of the essentials you may consider investing in include disinfectant wipes, cloths or paper towels, an all-purpose cleaner (try our homemade cleaner), and a supply caddy to keep them organized in one spot.

A lightweight, handheld vacuum cleaner is an excellent item to have on hand too. It’s perfect for spot cleaning your couch, baseboards, and other awkward spots. 

3: Get the family involved

It’s not a secret, but if you want your housecleaning exercise to feel lighter, get everyone in the house involved.

Those with kids can attest that getting your children (or grandchildren) excited about picking up is easier said than done. But, if everyone in the house can get in the habit of putting the cereal back in the pantry, placing their dirty clothes in the hamper, and picking up their toys before moving onto the next, the house will remain picked up and quick cleans will be much more attainable.

4: The 10-minute clean-up

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Illustration Credit: Michael Robertson

You can even try the 10-minute clean-up. Set the timer for 10 minutes each day and have everyone in your household pick up/clean as much as they can in that allotted time.

This is a great opportunity to focus on refilling the soap dispensers, dusting off your dresser, loading the dishwasher, taking out the trash, sorting the dirty laundry, etc. Once your time is up, you can pick up where you left off tomorrow. By the weekend, your list of chores won’t be as long and you can get right into a deep clean, as needed.

5: Find a convenient way to organize items

Everyone is more motivated to help when they understand where each item is supposed to be. Designating an easily accessible spot to store papers, bills, menus, and other paperwork is a great way to keep excess clutter and mail sorted, yet off your kitchen counters. Even an organized “junk” drawer is an excellent place to keep batteries, pens, and loose change close at hand.

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What tips/tricks do you use when cleaning? We’d love to hear if you have a favorite cleaning item or homemade cleaning recipe!

Big thanks to Beverly Jenkins from The Tidy Maids for the tips in this post. Beverly is proud of her staff at The Tidy Maids house cleaning service in Raleigh, NC, and has 24 years of experience in house cleaning, customer service, and business operations. She knows all the tips and tricks and do-it-yourself hacks when it comes to cleaning–her clients’ homes are the best proof for that.

28 thoughts on “5 Quick & Easy Outdoor Cleaning Tips

  1. Great article! here a tip that you can use to clean every surface, like kitchen counters and inside the refrigerator. You need 4 tablespoons of baking soda and one quart of warm water. And just use a sponge to clean with ease. Hope this tip was helpful for anyone.

  2. Thanks for sharing this tips. Another tip is to solve smelly sneakers. Freshen up after your Zumba class by sprinkling some baking soda inside your shoes (and your gym bag while you’re at it). Just tap it out before you wear them again.

  3. I am happy to found your article. I was seeking to know about home clean tips and I found your blog post where you told 6 Quick & Easy Home Cleaning Tips. I got some valuable information that really didn’t know. I appreciate and thank to provide this informative post with us. Keep on leading the good work, Dannielle Goodrich!

  4. When I was cleaning my office or house I was really annoyed of the messy stop so I set a timer every 15 minutes I move to one place to another, Its really is amazing how much you can do in 15 minutes! But now I don’t have much time to all of this stuff so I hire some one to do the chores at home or even in the office. Thanks for sharing your tips, Great blog!

  5. I read your blog and i get the useful tips for house cleaning. I agree with this tips. Thanks you share the useful tips.

  6. Hi Dannielle!
    Great post, quick tips for maintaining tidiness in home is something I needed! The tip number 3 reminded me to buy a doormat. Since I didn’t like our old one I didn’t have any in front of our door, but that is something I definitely need to get. I think it will make a big difference, when all the dirt will be kept out of the house. Thank you!

  7. Hey,
    I have for a long time considered making a special room for all the cleaning supplies to keep our family more cleaning motivated. I could see that would help us keeping our cleaning routines in check alot better. One tip to make the cleaning more efficent is to always start from top (countertops etc.) to bottom (the floor). This way the same dust particles wont be flying around twice.
    -Thanks for the quick read!

  8. What wonderful, practical ideas for keeping the house clean! I needed some encouragement and help in this area. I look forward to implementing your strategies! Thanks so much for sharing!

  9. Excellent blog on six quick home cleaning tips. I really found excellent and Useful. Please keep sgharing.

  10. Thanks for the tips to stock up on disinfectant wipes and use a doormat to decrease the amount of dirt that comes into your home. My in-laws are coming into town for Easter this year, so I need to get the house ready for them. I work full-time, so it might be easiest if I could find a house cleaning service in Tampa, FL to help.

  11. Excellent tips! Especially the 10-minute family clean up, what an efficient and fun way to maintain the house! It also helps to clean the house in sections, such as focusing on specific rooms or floors, this has helped me not bounce around so much. Thanks a ton for the great advice!

  12. This cleaning tips will be very helpful to homeowners who wants to take care of their priced investment.

  13. Thank you for reminding me that I should sort out my unused stuff and see if there’s something I can donate. We have a lot of things stored in our basement and we’re thinking of scheduling a general cleaning session this weekend to finally get rid of our waste. It might also be a good idea to hire power washing services for our house’s exterior for a cleaner look.

  14. Thank you for sharing this information about essential businesses in the state of Nevada. It was useful and interesting. You indeed have written it in a layman way so that anyone can understand and work accordingly. You have done a great job… Great post!!

  15. What a fantastic blog post! The way you’ve highlighted the importance of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in both home and office environments through sanitization services is truly commendable. Your insights into the benefits of these services for health and overall well-being are incredibly enlightening. I’m especially impressed by how you’ve addressed the concerns and challenges that people often face when trying to keep their spaces clean. Your practical tips and suggestions provide readers with actionable steps to ensure a safe and sanitized environment. The real value of this blog lies in its ability to educate and empower readers to make informed decisions about the cleanliness of their surroundings. Whether it’s about promoting a healthier lifestyle at home or creating a more productive workspace, your expertise shines through. I’m definitely going to implement some of these suggestions in my own surroundings, and I’m sure many others will too. Keep up the excellent work in spreading awareness about the importance of sanitization services! Your insights are making a positive impact on how we approach cleanliness.

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