Cleaning pros say these 11 small habits can delay deep cleaning

Sharing a one-bedroom apartment with a dog and another person means my home can feel messy quickly if I'm not careful. But even as someone who loves a tidy space, I don't want to spend hours cleaning. I've found the best small cleaning habits that help delay deep cleaning include simple tasks like rinsing the kitchen sink and vacuuming high-traffic areas daily. Spending 15 to 20 minutes a day cleaning and tidying my space means that things like clutter, grime, dust, and pet fur never accumulate too much. These tiny habits keep my space feeling much more manageable and prevent me from having to devote an entire Sunday to deep cleaning.

I find that if I'm feeling overwhelmed by a messy space, starting with just one or two of these tasks can get the ball rolling. Some of them, like wiping down the bathroom counters or making the bed, only take about 30 seconds but make a huge difference in how my space feels.

Below, you'll find my step-by-step guide to these easy cleaning tasks that allow me to delay deep cleaning, including details on the methods and cleaning products I use.

Make the bed (after it airs out)

Did you know that you're not supposed to make your bed right away? I like to pull down the covers a bit, fluff the pillows, and let everything air out for an hour or so. I even crack the window if the weather allows for it. This tiny habit helps me stretch a few more days out of my bedding.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter

From doing my hair and makeup to washing my hands, the bathroom sink and countertop get dirty real quick. Once a day, I quickly wipe down the counter, sink, and faucet with a microfiber towel—or, often I just use my wash cloth or hand towel before putting them into the laundry.

I don't always use cleaning products, but I do keep a bottle of all-purpose cleaner on the bathroom floor, so I can quickly reach for it a few times a week.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Wash down shower walls

If you have a handheld shower, cleaning your shower walls will add approximately 30 seconds to your shower routine. Just rinse down the walls, shower curtain, and faucet with warm water before turning off the shower. Added bonus if you use a squeegee to quickly dry the walls (this is extra important for glass shower doors).

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Disinfect my phone and laptop

I ride the New York City subway, so cleaning my phone every day is a must. I do it right away to keep outside germs out of the house. I typically use a Lysol wipe to quickly clean my phone and laptop keyboard, then the iRoller is great for screens. Sometimes, I wipe down my backpack, purse, and light switches while I'm at it.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Spend a few minutes tidying up

This seems obvious, but it's so important. Spend a few minutes (set a timer for 3–5 minutes if you need encouragement) to put away shoes, empty bags, clear counters, toss junk mail, put dishes into the dishwasher, etc. Ideally, I like to clean for a few seconds throughout the day so nothing accumulates—but it happens.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Wipe the kitchen counter

Clean the kitchen counters as you cook, then give them a more thorough wipe down after dinner. I typically use a Swedish dishcloth with all-purpose cleaner, but mild dish soap and water works for most counters. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect every time—some days I move everything out of the way, others I quickly move around big items.

PSA: Not all cleaners are safe for natural stone.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Rinse the kitchen sink

After you load the dishwasher, use the kitchen sprayer to quickly rinse out the sink. I have a designated sponge for scrubbing the sink with dish soap, and I try to do it every day—but every few days is fine.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen

As a dog owner, a cordless vacuum has been the biggest game-changer. I vacuum every day for only a few minutes, focusing on high-traffic areas first, like the kitchen and entryway, then moving into the bedroom and living room if I have more time.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Clean the stovetop

I know after-dinner cleanup already feels long and taxing, but hear me out: Two minutes every day will save you a half hour of scrubbing in the future. With a microfiber towel, I quickly wipe lose food and splatters from the stove, and because it stays clean every day, I rarely do more.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals)

Take 30 seconds to wipe down your kitchen table after meal-time. I also wipe down my coffee table every day, because I tend to eat meals on the couch. If you clean consistently, you don't have to stress over cleaning products as much—a moist Swedish dishcloth is my go-to.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

Check inside the fridge

A smelly fridge is my pet peeve. Take a minute or so to look inside your fridge and scan for (almost) expired items or spoiled foods. Toss anything you won't eat. Wipe down shelves if you notice anything sticky.

Make the bed (after it airs out), Wipe down the bathroom sink and counter, Wash down shower walls, Disinfect my phone and laptop, Spend a few minutes tidying up, Wipe the kitchen counter, Rinse the kitchen sink, Do a quick vacuum—starting in the kitchen, Clean the stovetop, Wipe kitchen table (or wherever you eat meals), Check inside the fridge

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