Picture this: shoes and runners scattered in the hall,  junk mail on the kitchen counter, dishes in the sink, toothpaste all over your bathroom sink, empty toilet roll holders, overflowing laundry baskets… we’ve all been there solider!

Help is at hand and the solution can be easier thank you think. This list is all that stands between you and a relaxing glass of wine on a Friday or Saturday night!

We spoke to a few ‘Monica’s’ we know and if you want to turn your clean fantasies into a realities, then keep reading. They’ve given us their habits- but please note the word "habits." What we learned is that it takes more than a few deep cleanings to achieve this status of Cleaning Tidy Gods. It takes a little each day to keep your house in check.

Make Your Bed
Before you leave the bedroom in the morning, make your bed. And teach your kids to make their beds too. This simple act creates a sense of order in your bedrooms and sets the day off on a productive start.

Hang Up and Fold your Towels After You Bathe or Shower
There's a huge difference between a bathroom with folded towels or hanging on racks and one with towels all over the floor. Also damp towel crumpled on the floor all day don’t smell too nice. Give that linen a whiff. Yuck!
 
Clean Your Shower While You Shower
Quickly rinsing the walls and door after each use helps avoid soap scum buildup and it avoids deep cleaning often.

Empty the Dishwasher in the Morning
Get the dishwasher emptied so it’s available to load through the day. By doing this first thing it makes for an easier clean up after meals and snacks and prevents the dishes from stacking up in the sink or counters throughout the day.

Do Some Laundry Every Day
Washing clothes on a daily basis keeps the dirty pile from becoming overwhelming and keeps everyone in clean underpants!

‘You Own It’ Basket
Everyone gets an ‘own it’ basket. If you see or collect anyone’s stuff throughout the house, it goes in that person’s basket. And then they’re responsible for putting it back into their rooms. It also helps with teaching kids responsibility for their belongings and gives the parents a little break.

Put Your Clothes Away From the Day
As tempting as it is to drop your clothes on the floor after a long day before slipping into your jammies, take two to fold, hang, or place them away. Do this, and your clothes and floor will both look better for it.

Clean as You Cook
You can dramatically cut down on the dinner clean up if you clean and clear as you cook. If you rinse the chopping board while the potatoes are boiling or start loading the dishwasher while the lasagne is baking, the majority of the work will be done by the time you sit down for dinner.

Never Go to Bed with a Dirty Kitchen
Fight the urge to go to bed with the remains of dinner in the kitchen or on the table. Take care of it that night and wipe down your counter tops. If not the mess harden and be smellier the next day and you’re adding stress to your busy morning instead of getting a head start on the day ahead.

It’s such a simple principle but it will guarantee it will take you less time to put that one thing away than it will to put all the things away at the end of the day. As hard as it will be, try introducing this to your kids at an early age so it grows with them throughout their childhood (and good luck!)
 
Sort Through The Post and Kids Art on a Daily Basis
Bin any flyers or unnecessary mail that comes through the door, open and file any bills that need to be paid, and keep the special artwork and papers that your kids bring home.

2 Minute Bathroom Clean
Put the toothpaste tube away and put the toiletries back where they belong.  Give the counters and sink a quick wipe and top up the toilet roll.