How to Be a Good Housekeeper

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: January 26, 2024 Approved

Cleaning up the house will give you a much happier place to live, and you won't be afraid to invite friends over, which is a plus! Don't fret: getting the house from chaos to clean can be a big task, but keeping it clean thereafter will not be.

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Start by walking around the main areas- the entryways, living room, dining room and kitchen - first and picking up all the trash. Take dirty dishes to the sink to be washed later. Make sure to look under the tables and under the edges of other furniture to make sure no trash is left.^{[1]
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places where paper and clutter seems to just pile up. An attractive basket is one way to organize these until you have time to file. But be sure to take a few minutes each day to deal with your 'hotspots'!^{[2]
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tidy up the 'hotspots', fluff the pillows, put away or recycle the magazines and newspapers. You'll come back later to do the floor!^{[3]
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Start with the counters.^{[4]
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(See: How to Clean an Oven and How to Clean the Stove Top).^{[5]
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Next on the list is the refrigerator. This can be an extra step and can be saved for another time. However, most people don't clean their refrigerators regularly. This can result in stuck on food bits that are hard to clean, crumbs in the back of the fridge and under the drawers, and if left unkempt for too long, will attract bugs. Clean old food out of the fridge, check expiry dates, clean off the shelves with the magic eraser, pull out the drawers and clean the bits out from under them. You will notice a big difference each time you open your fridge. (See:How to clean a refrigerator).^{[6]
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- Take everything out of your fridge before you start cleaning it. This way, you can get into every nook and cranny.
Put most of it away in a convenient place until really needed, put the rest back on the shiny counters, and put a nice tablecloth on the table, with maybe even a decorative bowl of fruit or a plant if you have one.^{[7]
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Do the fronts of the cabinets some other time but if they're looking grungy around the handles or knobs, at least give those a swipe now.^{[8]
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We're not looking for perfection here!^{[9]
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This is also good for disinfecting kitchen and bathroom counters. You don't need to buy the expensive premade stuff in the spray bottles at the grocery store. For 1/20th the cost you can make it yourself!
A clean bathroom makes people feel much more comfortable in your home, while a dirty one has a huge 'ICK!' factor. First clean off the bathroom counters. Put things away that you do not constantly use. Find a way to attractively display those that you do. Bathrooms are so small, even a little bit of clutter is unattractive. A rag or paper towel with some glass cleaner will clean the mirror, other surfaces and fixtures as well. This makes a nice impression with guests. Finally, fluff and refold the towels and wipe up the floor with the rag, and toss it in the laundry basket. See also How to Clean a toilet and How to Clean a Bathtub.
Dust off any tables, shelves and items on them. This gives people a better impression of your home and helps prevent allergies. If the items are washable (such as glass decorations) set aside some time later to wash them and allow them to dry completely before replacing them. If you're expecting company in the next few days and there's time, polishing the wood and glass is a nice touch (but never use the same kind of polish for glass and wood! Lemon oil is best for wood, glass cleaners, such as Sparkle, for glass. If the smell of store-bought cleaners is bothersome, you can inexpensively make your own. There are many kinds of products that are also non-toxic and quite effective such as Mrs. Meyer's).
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How do I become a housekeeper?

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Find a job with a hotel or resort. If desired, you could look for jobs taking care of families as their housekeeper. The easiest way would probably be to find a job at a hotel. When you are just starting, don't expect a job at the Ritz-Carlton as the head housekeeper. You will start at the bottom and can work your way up to more prestigious hotels from there.

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Tips

Check hotspots daily to see that they're not getting out of hand. Devise a workable file system - a binder perhaps, or set of them, or a file box - for your paperwork: one for things to keep permanently, such as birth certificates (unless you choose to keep those in a safety deposit box at a bank), and one for things to be filed every month, such as paid bills and business paperwork.

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Every week try to devote a few a day to a new area of your home - a closet, a cupboard or cabinet. Little by little does the trick!

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Keep a trash receptacle in an area you can tell accumulates a lot of trash. Besides the one in the kitchen, you might want one by the coffee table (for old newspapers, used tissue or food wrappers), computer room, or bedroom.

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Warnings

Some chemicals can be hazardous to humans and animals. Always read the instructions and warnings on your products and use only as directed.

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Always use the Mr. Clean Magic Erasers as directed on the package they came in. These are VERY abrasive sponges and they can and WILL take paint off of surfaces and leave a "matte" type finish. Always read the instructions and use rubber gloves.

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If you need to use a ladder to complete any task, make sure it is on a stable, flat surface and always use caution. Get help to steady the ladder if necessary.

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Things You'll Need

Rubber gloves
A few old washrags
Paper towels
Glass cleaner
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers®
A trash bag or trashcan
A broom and dustpan
A mop
A duster
And a vacuum if you have carpet.
Reserve at least 1 hour of your time to complete the tasks. Of course, time will vary depending on the size of your home and how dirty it is.