A Kitchn Editor’s Strategy for a Clean House That Lasts

Usually, when someone hears I work at Apartment Therapy, the very next words out of their mouth is, “I have a post idea for you!” And nine times out of ten it’s about chicken coops (I can’t explain it, I guess people love chickens. Note to self, CHICKENS). So when Kitchn editor Ariel said those exact words to me today, I was trepidatiously interested, then, when I heard it, floored. This lady’s been sitting next to me for years and she just decided to tell me this great housecleaning tip today! Well, I only waited ten minutes to tell you. Here it is.

Ariel tells me that, in her quest to keep a clean house, she’s learned a thing or two about herself. Namely, if she comes home from work and sits down on the sofa, that’s it, her motivation immediately wanes. But if she comes home and does a ten-minute cleaning blast, she can really enjoy the rest of the evening in a tidy space (and doing it every day means there’s no buildup to address over the weekend).

Frequent cleaning whirlwind, less to do all at once. Sounds good to me. I’m in. I’m not much of a morning person, but if you are, I can see this working first thing as well. Then you get to come home to a clean house.

Well, would you do this?