Have you ever spent the entire day cleaning your house, but somehow it still looks cluttered and messy? If yes, then you’re not alone. Many homeowners struggle to maintain a clean and organized house despite their best efforts.
Whether it’s failing to keep up with the cleaning or not knowing where to start, there are several reasons why your house may still look dirty. In this blog post, we will explore the top 11 reasons why your house still doesn’t look clean, and what you can do about it.
Dirty Baseboards and Corners
I want to share a valuable secret that will greatly enhance the cleanliness of your house. Are you ready for it? Get down on your hands and knees! Before you click away, let me explain. I understand that the idea of cleaning on your hands and knees may not sound appealing, but trust me, it’s worth it.
When we clean by vacuuming, sweeping, or mopping, dust and dirt tend to accumulate in the corners and baseboards, unnoticed and undisturbed. By getting down to floor level, you’ll be amazed at the dirt and grime that you otherwise would have missed.
Let me give you a glimpse into my own home. I had neglected deep cleaning my Master Bath for about a month. While I had wiped down the bath, toilet, shower, and sinks, I hadn’t mopped or descaled the glass in four weeks. No particular reason, just a bit lazy. At a quick glance, everything seemed fine.
However, once I got down on my hands and knees for a thorough clean, I was able to see the dirt and grime in the crevices of the tile wall and baseboards. I had to zoom in to show you, but trust me, it’s there. To ensure that I pick up all the dirt, I always make sure to clean the perimeter of the room, baseboards, and corners.
So, don’t underestimate the power of getting down on your hands and knees to clean. It’s a game-changer!
Not Re-Caulking
Caulk is an essential material used to seal the seams of your house, particularly where wood and drywall meet. It plays a crucial role in preventing the entry of bugs, water, and air into your home. While silicone caulk is primarily used to seal around cooktop ranges, sinks, and tubs, it is important to note that over time, the settling and flexing of materials in your house, along with changes in temperature outside, can cause your house to expand and contract.
As a result, you may begin to notice gaps in molding, baseboards, sinks, tubs, showers, and other areas. These gaps, combined with the deterioration or shrinkage of caulk over the years, can contribute to an aged and dirty appearance in your house.
To address this, you can take a closer look at the areas in your bathroom, for example, and apply fresh caulk to the molding. This simple task, which takes approximately five minutes, can significantly rejuvenate the overall look of your walls. Additionally, if you notice any gauges in the wood, you can easily fill them in with a small amount of wood filler, followed by a coat of paint.
By regularly maintaining and updating the caulk in your home, you can ensure a visually appealing and well-sealed environment for years to come.
Clutter
Clutter refers to a collection of disorganized things that are the opposite of cleanliness. It not only creates a chaotic and untidy appearance in your home but also increases the amount of work required to maintain it.
The more belongings you possess, the more effort it takes to keep them organized and put away. If you desire to spend less time tidying up and clearing surfaces, it is crucial to declutter. One key aspect of maintaining a clean house is ensuring that everything has its designated place. When you accumulate too many possessions, you may find yourself lacking sufficient space to accommodate them.
As a result, surfaces, cupboards, and closets become overcrowded, leading to unsightly stacks and piles. Even when it comes to decorating, remember that less is often more. An excess of decorative items can contribute to a messy appearance within your home.
Dirty Walls
Walls tend to accumulate dirt and can get surprisingly dirty. They are prone to scuffs, scratches, splatters, and drips, which can make your house look dirty even when it isn’t. Therefore, including spot cleaning walls in your seasonal deep clean checklist is essential for maintaining a clean home.
Fortunately, cleaning walls is not a difficult task. However, it’s worth noting that flat paint is more challenging to clean compared to satin or eggshell finishes. To clean painted walls, simply mix warm water with mild detergent. If you need extra cleaning power, you can gently scrub using a mixture of baking soda and water.
Finally, keep in mind that paint loses its shine over time. If your walls are noticeably dull, applying a fresh coat of paint can drastically transform the appearance of a room.
Windows
For years, I never realized the impact that windows can have on the atmosphere of a home. It was only when I visited some newly built houses that I finally understood why they felt so bright and airy. The clarity of the windows made the entire space feel clean, fresh, and open. That’s precisely why I made the conscious decision not to have blinds in my own home.
Blinds tend to obstruct natural light, creating a darker and less inviting ambiance. If you look at stunning homes on Pinterest, you’ll notice that none of them have blinds. Of course, I understand that some people require added privacy and blinds serve that purpose. However, it’s important to consider the trade-off.
Additionally, let’s not forget the impact of dirty windows on our mood. When windows, including the window screens, are covered in grime, they create a hazy effect that filters the natural light. It’s truly amazing how much cleaner and brighter a house feels with spotless windows.
I’ve noticed that my first-floor windows tend to be dirtier compared to those on the second story, likely due to their proximity to the ground. I highly recommend cleaning your windows seasonally, or at least every six months.
You can either hire a professional service or use a pole washer. By taking care of your windows, you’ll enhance the overall ambiance and liveliness of your home.
Paper Clutter
Paper clutter can be a significant concern for those who prefer using pen and paper over digital tools. While paper planners and lists provide a sense of organization, it is essential to address the accumulation of paper to maintain a tidy living space.
To mitigate paper clutter, it’s helpful to adopt some straightforward practices. Firstly, promptly dispose of junk mail to prevent it from building up. Set aside a designated time each week to sort through and shred mail that needs to be discarded. It is worth noting that not every drawing or artwork by children needs to be saved; it is perfectly acceptable to let go of some of them.
Creating a folder specifically for unpaid bills can help keep them organized. Once you have dealt with them, consider shredding them to ensure your personal information remains secure.
Moreover, setting goals at the start of each season to review file cabinets can help identify documents that are no longer needed and can be disposed of or shredded. Lastly, storing coupons in a designated folder or envelope can help prevent them from cluttering your living space.
By implementing these practices, you can effectively manage paper clutter while still enjoying the benefits of using pen and paper to organize your life.
Unmade Beds
Making the bed may seem pointless since we’ll sleep in it again soon, but it actually serves a greater purpose. When you make the bed, it instantly elevates the overall cleanliness of your bedroom.
Think of your bedroom as your private sanctuary, a tranquil retreat from the chaos of everyday life. Keeping it neat and organized creates a calming environment and promotes a sense of order. Moreover, slipping into a freshly made bed with crisp linens at the end of a tiring day brings immense satisfaction and comfort.
Consider it a treat for yourself, a small act of self-care to reward your tired self later. It only takes five minutes, but the impact it has on your well-being and the overall ambiance of your bedroom is priceless.
Dirty Dishes
One of the household chores that I find particularly challenging is doing the dishes. It can be very tempting to delay this task, but the more dishes pile up, the more overwhelming it becomes. Even if the rest of your kitchen is spotless, a sink filled with dirty dishes instantly gives the impression of an untidy kitchen.
Additionally, it can even make your kitchen smell unpleasant, ruining the clean and fresh ambiance you previously had. Personally, I believe that a dirty stove is also detrimental to the overall state of the kitchen, as it brings down the entire aesthetic. It seems to me that when the kitchen is dirty, the entire house feels dirty, perhaps because the kitchen is considered the heart of the home.
Having dealt with this issue countless times, I have found that the most effective way to keep up with the dishes is to clean up after every meal. As a stay-at-home mom, I have developed a routine of washing dishes three times a day! I must admit it can be a hassle, but if left unattended, the dishes quickly accumulate, making the task much more difficult.
Food particles tend to get stuck on the dishes, requiring soaking before they can be properly washed. Therefore, I always make sure to remove all food remnants from dirty dishes before placing them in the sink.
I thoroughly scrape off the food and rinse the dishes, ensuring they are as clean as possible. Of course, you may choose to wash dishes once a day if that suits you better. The key to maintaining a clean house is to stay on top of chores and prevent them from piling up.
Unstyled Shelves
Shelves are incredibly versatile and practical for organizing small objects, books, and various items in one centralized location. However, it is important to maintain order and prevent them from becoming an eyesore.
If shelves are not properly organized, they can contribute to a cluttered appearance. Ensuring a visually appealing and well-organized shelf arrangement involves a few key strategies.
Firstly, consider using baskets or boxes to conceal small or unsightly objects. This helps to maintain a clean and cohesive look. Additionally, grouping books into small stacks and utilizing bookends to keep them upright adds a touch of neatness and organization.
Books can be placed both vertically and horizontally, but it is crucial to ensure that they are neatly stacked. Leaving sufficient space between objects is also crucial in order to prevent overcrowding.
Furthermore, larger sculpture pieces or objects d’art should be given their own designated space to emphasize their significance. For smaller items, displaying them in pairs or threes can create an aesthetically pleasing arrangement.
To add visual interest, leaning artwork against the back wall of the shelf can create depth. Lastly, maintaining balance and symmetry throughout the shelf arrangement is key to achieving a harmonious and visually appealing display.
Mounds of Laundry
One of my biggest pet peeves is dealing with piles of laundry. Whether it’s dirty clothes scattered on the floor or a stack of unfolded clothes waiting to be put away, I really can’t stand the sight of it. Having laundry strewn about can make your home look messy and unkempt, which is definitely not what you want.
Laundry can be an endless chore, especially if you have a family. From linens and towels to everyday clothes, there’s always laundry that needs to be washed, folded, ironed, or put away. With so much laundry, it’s easy for it to pile up and create a mess.
To keep the laundry situation under control, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure you have a hamper in rooms where clothes tend to accumulate. This will help prevent clothes from being left on the floor. It’s also important to hang and fold clothes immediately after drying. Not only does this reduce wrinkles, but it also prevents piles of unfolded clean clothes from building up.
To stay on top of the laundry, consider setting a timer to remind yourself to fold and put away clothes every day. Another helpful tip is to keep a stain stick in your hamper for quick stain treatments. This way, you can treat stains right away and avoid the need to lay out clothes for stain removal in the washroom.
Additionally, having a laundry schedule can make the process more organized. For example, you could designate Saturdays for washing all the bedding, Sundays for towels, and assign specific laundry days for each member of the household. Finally, investing in a laundry sorter can make the washing process easier and more efficient.
A few years ago, I discovered the benefits of storing clothing vertically in drawers. Not only does this allow you to fit more items into a drawer, but it also helps ensure that you don’t forget about clothes you own. Seeing your clothes vertically displayed in the drawer encourages you to incorporate more of them into your regular rotation.
Unused Products
One habit that I must confess to is letting unused products accumulate in my pantry, including toiletries and cosmetics. This issue often stems from impulsive shopping or the belief that I might need certain items.
Unfortunately, these items end up taking valuable space and cluttering my house. It’s important to be honest with ourselves about whether we will actually use these products.
Although it can be difficult to throw away unused items that we’ve spent money on, it’s worth considering donating or giving them to someone else. This not only frees up space but also helps someone in need.
Conclusion
Keeping your home clean and tidy is not an easy task, and even when it looks clean, it may not feel clean. However, understanding the reasons why your house might still seem dirty can help you to find solutions to make it look better.
By tackling clutter, dust, pet hair, and other messes, you can have a clean and inviting home. Remember to pay attention to the forgotten spaces, always keep your home smelling fresh, and make use of good lighting. By following these tips, your home will always look clean and welcoming.