Spend much time on Pinterest, or even on my blog, and you might get the impression that everyone else in the world is a better housekeeper than you. Don’t let the headlines fool you: they’re written to catch your attention. (I confess to using that ploy myself.)
So let me put your mind at rest by sharing with you seven signs you are a tidy person, even if you don’t know it. Or, if you want to look at it another way, you could also think of this as seven things you should be doing if you want to become a tidy person.
7 Signs You Are A Tidy Person
1. You have a cleaning routine.
While I swear by my daily cleaning routine, it’s not for everyone. As long as you’re in the habit of giving the kitchen and bathrooms a thorough weekly cleaning, and hitting the other rooms in your home on a regular basis, you’re ahead of the game!
Also see: Printable cleaning routines
2. You clean as you cook.
In many homes, including my own, the rule is “whoever cooks doesn’t do dishes.” Tidy people don’t take that as a license to leave an enormous mess when they’re done. They rinse utensils and dishes as they cook and load them into the dishwasher. They wipe up spills and splatters, too.
3. Guests look for and use your coasters.
If a guest feels like you take pride in your home, they’re going to show it respect, too. Rather than plunking down their glass just anywhere, they’ll look for a coaster to protect the coffee table you’ve so carefully dusted and kept clutter-free. (Another sure sign: if guests slip off their shoes when entering your home without being asked to.)
4. You know where your cleaning tools are.
Tidy people use their cleaning tools often, so they always know where they can be found. Some may keep a set in every bathroom and another under the kitchen sink, while others stash their cleaning tools in a closet or cupboard. The one thing they all have in common is that their cleaning equipment and products are readily available and never run out.
Also see: 10 Cleaning Tools Everyone Should Own5. You never leave a room empty-handed.
Tidy people don’t think of decluttering as a once a week (or month or year) thing. They manage household clutter by putting things away promptly after use, purging junk when they see it, and collecting trash wherever it’s found. Leaving their bedroom, they’ll take their water glass to the kitchen (and load it into the dishwasher). Leaving their living room, they’ll take the magazine they just finished reading to the recycling bin. Their homes look picked up because they’re always picking things up and putting them where they belong.
6. Your bed is made.
Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom. Leaving it unmade makes the entire room look a mess, even when it’s not. Tidy people enjoy making their home look attractive, and they know the three minutes it takes to make their bed in the morning is a commitment to keeping the rest of their home tidy throughout the day.
Also see: Making Your Bed Can Change Your Life7. You don’t try to do it all yourself.
Tidy people know they are not solely responsible for cleaning everyone’s messes. A family home is a community of its own, and every family member is part of it. Tidy people understand that giving kids chores to do teaches them to be part of this most important community and prepares them to one day be responsible, productive members of the larger community beyond the home. Chores also teach kids the life-skills they’ll need to become tidy people when they grow up.
Also see: Chores That Kids Can Do (Printable List)
If you’re doing all or even most of these seven things, give yourself a pat on the back for being a tidy person! Find a few you’re slipping on? Try working them into your life and see what a pleasant impact they make on your home!
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More from this blog:
• 9 Things To Stop Keeping In Your Bedroom
• How To Declutter ANY Room
• 5 Clutter Hot Spots To Tame
I passed this with flying colours, but then again, I’m 50 so I should!
On the other hand, my father’s 52yr old wife doesn’t. My poor Dad of 70 not only has to do all the work on their small farm, but she also expects him to do the housework too while she is at her part-time job!
I love Housewives How To’s. I’m a cleaning nut and a bit OCD, but whenever I need a cleaning tip or recipe, this is where I come too.
Bought the book too! And it is better than most I have read.
Keep up the good work Katie! We need you.
From the UK, many thanks!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying my site and book, Ann Marie! I do try to address common household challenges both in my blog and my books, so it’s wonderful to know they’re proving to be a good resource for people. Have you subscribed to my weekly newsletter, too?
My sympathies about your father’s wife. I can’t imagine how odd it must be to have a step-mother only two years older!