• Keeping a house tidy requires regular effort.house image by hans slegers from Fotolia.com
  
  Keeping a house tidy requires some time and effort. It is usually less overwhelming to spend regular short amounts of time cleaning than to let the house get messy and clean it all at once. A few tips help keep the house tidy at all times without having to exert tons of effort cleaning.
  
  

Minimize

• Become a minimalist and get rid of unnecessary stuff around the house. Less stuff means less clutter. Get rid of old or unflattering clothes. Having a ton of clothing makes it tempting to put off doing laundry for as long as possible, but unsightly piles build up and doing several loads at once can seem overwhelming. People who are not chefs probably do not need several of the same size cooking pots, so get rid of extras to avoid the temptation of procrastinating dishes. Get rid of unnecessary duplicate items, leaving fewer items to make messes with.
  
  

Vacuum

• Vacuuming rugs should obviously be a part of regular housecleaning, but Martha Stewart points out that vacuums can be an efficient way to clean almost any surface. Do not be shy about vacuuming hard floors instead of sweeping. Use a small vacuum attachment to quickly clean dust off of shelves, pet hair off of furniture and cobwebs off of walls.
  
  

Dishes

• Get a plastic tub to soak dishes in or fill up half the sink with hot soapy water in sinks with two basins. Martha Stewart points out that a dish tub saves water and energy. It also makes dishwashing quicker because the dishes have a chance to soak and get soapy all at once.
  
  

Mold

• Clean any mold problems immediately because mold spores spread quickly through the air and water. A small patch of mold on the bathroom wall today could be several patches of mold in different places around the house next week. The Environmental Protection Agency also warns that mold causes health problems, like asthma and allergies. Use a cleaner specifically designed to kill mold spores, and make sure to ventilate the area and wear protective gloves and eyewear while cleaning.
  
  

Organize Supplies

• Many cleaning tasks use the same supplies; for example, a glass cleaner, an all-purpose cleaner, a sponge, an abrasive brush, some towels and some rubber gloves can handle most messes. Instead of running all over the house in between tasks to grab more cleaning supplies, put the most-used cleaning supplies in a bucket and carry it from room to room, as suggested by Martha Stewart. Alternatively, carry cleaning supplies in apron pockets or in a cute basket.