How to Tackle Cleaning a Messy House: A Step-by-Step Guide for Busy People

Does your house looking like a tornado hit? You’re not alone.

If you’re wondering how to tackle cleaning a messy house when you’re already juggling work deadlines and side hustles – and maybe trying to remember if you fed the cat today – you’re in the right place.

The truth? Every home gets messy – continually.

Yes, even those perfect Instagram homes you see. I guarantee there’s a pile of dirty laundry shoved just out of frame.

But when you’re working from home, that mess can feel even more overwhelming because you never escape it.

It’s right there, silently judging you during Zoom calls.

So today, we’re going to break down a practical, step-by-step approach to get your space clean and functional again without losing your mind.

No Pinterest-perfect standards here! Just real solutions for real people who have better things to do than spend their weekend scrubbing baseboards.

Understanding the Mess: Dirty vs. Messy

First things first – let’s clear up the difference between a dirty home and a messy home. Because they each require a different approach.

A messy house is disorganized – stuff isn’t where it belongs. Papers spread across the table, clothes draped over chairs, random coffee mugs forgotten on every flat surface.

It’s chaos, sure. But not necessarily unsanitary.

A dirty home, on the other hand, needs actual cleaning to get it clean. Dust, grime, sticky fingerprints, bathroom funk, and kitchen science experiments.

Most overwhelmed homes are a combo platter of both problems. The good news? Tackling the mess first, makes cleaning the dirty part way easier and faster.

It’s like trying to vacuum when there’s stuff all over the floor – pointless until you deal with the clutter.

And face it – when the house is always messy, it doesn’t just look bad, it actually messes with your head.

Studies show that visual clutter competes for your attention and drains your mental energy! It’s overstimulating and a nagging guilt trip all in one.

Translation: that disaster zone is literally making you worse at your job. No wonder I feel so productive on those days when my house is clean!!

Not feeling the motivation to clean AGAIN? This article might help: Why Keeping Your House Clean Matters: The Best Advice I Ever Got.

Preparation: Get Ready to Clean Your House

Before you just dive in and start cleaning a random surface – only to get distracted by another mess – take 10 minutes to prepare. Trust me on this one.

Grab a basket or box for collecting things that belong in other rooms.

You’ll also need basic cleaning supplies:

• All-purpose cleaning products
• Glass cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Vacuum
• Mop
• Microfiber cloths (I swear by Norwex), and
• Trash bags

My personal “hallelujah” was investing in this rechargeable cordless vacuum (affiliate). It sucks lake sand and cat hair right up, without the whole plug-and-drag hassle. We bought it around 2018, and it’s still going strong.

Now for the mental prep: be realistic about your time and energy. Cleaning your entire house in one go is usually a pipe dream, unless you’ve got a whole day free (and want to spend it cleaning).

Instead, create a cleaning checklist and break tasks into manageable chunks. I keep mine handy so I can check things off – small victories, people!

Before you start the cleaning process, do a decluttering sweep. The less stuff you have to clean around, the faster everything goes.

Before you start the cleaning process, do a decluttering sweep. The less stuff you have to clean around, the faster everything goes.

Keep a trash bag handy for obvious garbage and a donation box for things you don’t need. I recently timed myself clearing off my kitchen counters with and without decluttering first – the difference was almost 10 minutes!

And if you don’t feel like cleaning? Make the process less painful:

• Queue up a podcast,
• blast some 80s dance music (no judgment here),
• or promise yourself a reward when everything’s clean and tidy.

My friend Karen cleans to true crime podcasts. Hey – nothing motivates you to scrub a toilet like hearing people dispose of evidence there.

How to Tackle Cleaning a Messy House Room by Room

When it’s time to clean, how do you get started without getting overwhelmed? I’ve found it works best to:

• Work by cleaning one room at a time
• Continue cleaning room to room till you’ve hit them all.

This gives you concrete starting and stopping points. Plus the satisfaction of completely finishing spaces keeps your cleaning motivation from fizzling out.

Let’s break it down by room:

Kitchen (Your Command Center)

The kitchen usually needs attention first, because it’s both a high-traffic area and one where cleanliness actually matters for health reasons.

Quick Clean (30 minutes):

1. Empty the dishwasher and put clean dishes away – this gives you a place to put dirty ones
2. Go around the house and gather all dirty dishes, then load & start the dishwasher
3. Clear and wipe counters
4. Sweep floor
5. Take out trash and recycling

Deep Clean (90 minutes): Add these steps after the quick clean:

1. Clean inside microwave (PRO TIP: microwave a bowl of water with lemon for 3 minutes first; the steam makes wiping it down much easier)
2. Wipe down appliance exteriors
3. Clean stovetop
4. Mop floor
5. Disinfect sink and dispose of food scraps
6. Wipe cabinet fronts that show fingerprints or food splatters

I’ve found that using a good degreaser (affiliate) makes kitchen cleaning about 50% faster, especially around the stove where cooking splatter builds up. Honestly, with Zep products, you can pretty much clean anything. I’ve been using Zep for decades and haven’t found anything better.

Bathroom (The Quickest Win)

Bathrooms are usually small, which means you can knock ’em out them fast and get that satisfying “at least one room is clean” feeling.

Quick Clean (20 minutes):

1. Clear counters and put away personal items
2. Spray shower/tub and toilet with cleaner (let it sit while you do other tasks)
3. Wipe down counters and sink
4. Clean toilet
5. Wipe down shower/tub
6. Spot clean floor around toilet
7. Empty trash

Deep Clean (45 minutes): Add these steps:

1. Clean mirror
2. Scrub shower tiles and grout
3. Clean shower door/curtain
4. Mop floor completely
5. Wipe down cabinet fronts
6. Clean inside drawers and cabinets

For bathrooms, I love our combination trash can/toilet brush holder (affiliate). It’s so streamlined that it’s perfect for small bathrooms (RV and cabin owners, listen up!) PLUS it keeps the toilet brush handy but discreetly hidden. Win-win!

Also, here’s how to make shower cleaning a million times easier: keep a squeegee in there and spend 30 seconds whisking off walls after showering.

Living Room/Family Room (The Visible Zones)

This is usually the largest area and the one visitors see first, so it makes a huge impact when clean.

Quick Clean (20 minutes):

1. Gather and return items that belong elsewhere (use that basket!)
2. Straighten pillows and throw blankets
3. Clear off and wipe down coffee table and end tables
4. Quick vacuum of just the middle of the room (the visible parts)

Deep Clean (60 minutes): Add these steps:

1. Dust all surfaces including TV, shelves, and decorative items
2. Vacuum thoroughly, including under furniture edges
3. Spot clean any stains on upholstery
4. Wash throw blankets and pillow covers if needed
5. Wipe down windows and mirrors

In our house, the living room is “clutter central” because it’s where we actually live. I keep a large, pretty basket for random items to help keep a clean space between “proper” cleanings.

When we’re expecting company, I can just scoop miscellaneous stuff into it and deal with it later.

(BTW, this is called the “brown bag method,” as it also works with a brown paper shopping bag. Just don’t forget about it after company’s gone!)

Bedroom (Your Sanctuary)

A clean bedroom actually improves your sleep, which improves everything else. It’s science, folks.

Quick Clean (15 minutes):

1. Make the bed (this instantly makes the room look 80% better)
2. Pick up and put away dirty clothes
3. Clear off nightstands
4. Quick vacuum or sweep

Deep Clean (45 minutes): Add these steps:

1. Change sheets
2. Dust surfaces
3. Organize dresser tops and inside drawers
4. Clean under the bed
5. Wash pillows and comforters if needed

The biggest help for keeping our bedroom clean is using the “either/or rule” for clothes: Instead of creating the dreaded “chair pile,” clothes either go back in drawers/closet or into the hamper. No in-between staging area.

Guests will love your clean home! Here’s an article you might like: 11 Guest Room Essentials for the Ultimate Hospitality.

Home Office (Productivity Central)

When your office is messy, your brain feels messy too. At least mine does. Maintain a clean and organized office, and see what a difference it makes!

Quick Clean (15 minutes):

1. Clear desk surface of non-essentials
2. File or store loose papers
3. Wipe down desk surface
4. Organize computer cables
5. Empty trash

Deep Clean (30 minutes): Add these steps:

1. Clean computer screen, keyboard and phone
2. Dust shelves and electronics
3. Vacuum floor including under desk
4. Organize drawers
5. Disinfect high-touch items like mouse and desk phone

I’ve noticed a direct connection between office cleanliness and productivity. On days when my desk is clear, I get about 30% more done and feel less scattered.

That alone is worth the 15 minutes it takes to reset this space.

Download a Free Printable Cleaning Checklist!

If you don’t already have a cleaning checklist, let us share ours!

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Maintain Your Hard Work

Alright, you’ve worked your way through the mess and now you have a clean house. Fantastic job!

Now comes the million-dollar question: How do you keep your home clean for more than 48 hours? Do you need to clean every day?

First, accept that maintaining is different than deep cleaning. You don’t need to do everything, every day. Instead, commit to certain daily non-negotiables:

• Make beds
• Run the robot vacuum if you have one
• Do one load of laundry start to finish (no clean clothes mountain!)
• Tidy the kitchen after dinner
• 10-minute pickup before bed

Create a realistic cleaning schedule that acknowledges you’re a busy human. Instead of designating entire days for cleaning (which never happens), try shorter, more frequent sessions.

I set a timer for 15 minutes each day and focus on just one area. Then I dedicate another 15 minutes to tidy the house in general.

It’s amazing what you’re able to clean in 15 focused minutes.

Also, the “one touch” rule has been life-changing around my house. The idea is simple: handle things once instead of just moving them around. Mail either gets filed, acted on, or tossed – not set in a pile to deal with “later” (which we all know means “never”).

If you share your home with others, get them to help clean! Randy and I have specific jobs we handle. This stops the “I thought you were going to do that” arguments.

And you can even get the kids to clean! My granddaughters think cleaning windows with spray bottles is the most exciting game ever invented.

Enjoy Your Tidy Home

A clean home makes everything else in life feel more manageable.

And you don’t need a sparkling clean showplace – just an inviting, functional space that feels good instead of draining you.

Set a time each day to tidy a messy room or just put things away. Start small and slowly build a daily cleaning routine.

Just a 15-minute session to clean and maintain your progress above!

Your future self will thank you, when you wake up to clean countertops or sit down to work at a clear desk.

What’s your biggest cleaning challenge? Do you have any clever shortcuts for keeping your house clean, while juggling work-from-home life? Share in the comments!