7 Small Messes That Make Your Home Feel Dirtier Than It Is—and Why You Should Tackle Them Before They Pile Up

Key Points

• Despite regular cleaning, small messes can make your home appear dirtier than it actually is.

• Address issues like dirty dishes and clothing piles as often as possible to cut down on messiness.

• Setting aside designated spots for things like toys and entryway items can reduce clutter.

There's nothing worse than down after a round of cleaning and getting the feeling that something still isn't quite right. Even after completing your weekly household chores, clutter and disorganization can make things feel off.

To help you avoid this, we've rounded up seven common small messes that can make your home feel way dirtier than it is, and tip for how to fix them.

An Disorganized Entryway

Your entryway is the first thing guests see upon entering your home. Suffice it to say, if it's filled with dirty shoes, unsorted mail, and empty packages, your space won't come across as tidy.

It can help to set aside designated spots for your outdoor gear and mail to go, leaving less opportunity for clutter.

Clothing Piles

No matter how well-vacuumed, dusted and mopped your bedroom is, piles of dirty clothing and fresh laundry alike will quickly make the space look messy.

Try creating a designated holding zone for items that aren't quite ready to go in the laundry. Moving forward, try eliminating visual clutter by investing in additional storage solutions like hooks and dresser drawer organizers.

Dirty Dishes

Apart from making your kitchen look disorganized, letting dishes pile up can lead to food debris and grime dirtying your sink and attracting pests.

Wash your dishes or put them in your dishwasher immediately after every meal. Even if you're too busy to do so each time, make sure to do as much cleaning as you can before bed.

Dirty Mirrors and Windows

Smudged, streaky mirrors and windows signal that your home cleaning has been neglected, even when you've been on top of other chores.

To avoid this, wipe the cleaner off your mirrors and windows in a zigzag or circular motion, using paper towels to collect leftover lint. To avoid water spots and streaks, buff the mirror with a dry section of your cloth.

Dusty Surfaces

Even the most dedicated cleaners' homes can get dusty fast, courtesy of issues like pet shedding and dirty HVAC filters. Wipe down high-contact surfaces at least once a week. Replace air filters every three months and regularly vacuum pet dander to cut down on dust accumulation long-term.

Toys Everywhere

If you have children, some toy clutter comes with the territory. Still, there's a line between normal kid messiness and a completely disorganized home with toys left on the ground to collect dust and grime.

If you feel like your home is turning into the latter, now might be the time to consider investing in extra storage and donating underused toys.

Visible Cords and Wires

Phone and computer chargers, plug strips, and power cords are necessary in the modern world. Unfortunately, clumps of them are also massive eyesores.

You can conceal them behind well-placed furniture such as a desk or couch, then use a zip tie to attach cords to the back of furniture legs. Alternatively, consider purchasing a cable management organizer to pack multiple wires into a bundle or store them in a basket.

Read the original article on The Spruce