Holidays & Entertaining New Year's New Year's Traditions 5 Home-Cleaning Resolutions for a Cleaner House All Year Keep your home mess-free with these New Year's resolutions for creating better home cleaning habits. By Linley Sanders Linley Sanders Twitter Linley Sanders is a journalist who graduated from Drake University's School of Journalism & Mass Communication in 2016 and Columbia Journalism School's program for data journalism in 2018. She has previously written for ProPublica, Newsweek, The Associated Press, MTV News, and Teen Vogue.Linley is a researcher with a focus on news, public opinion, and data journalism. Her work has been featured across a wide range of lifestyle and news publications. She covered both the 2016 Democratic and Republican National Conventions and written 100+ articles for Teen Vogue. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on September 3, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Resolution 1: Personalize Your Cleaning Schedule Just as no two homes are the same, your cleaning routines shouldn't be, either. Take the time to personalize your cleaning schedule based on your home's needs and what you realistically have time to complete each week. Evaluate which rooms need the most regular attention (skipping the places that aren't normally seen, like the guest room), and map out which cleaning tasks can be completed on a weekly or monthly basis. It's important to keep your routine simple and attainable so it stays consistent throughout the year. Get our Whole-House Cleaning Schedule The Simpliest New Cleaning Habits (Start Today!) Get our Weekly Family Chore Chart Resolution 2: Clear Your Home of Dangerous Toxins Indoor air quality scientists say that the air you breathe inside your home can be more polluted than outdoors, especially if affected by cleaning products, air fresheners, potpourri, and perfumes. Commit to using homemade cleaners to keep your home dirt-free and safe. To banish household odors, create natural room scents, carpet powders, reed diffusers, and plug-in refills. 8 Natural Ways to Make Your Home Smell Amazing Cleaning with Vinegar 8 Amazing Homemade Cleaners Resolution 3: Finally Get Houseplants to Thrive Regularly cleaning your houseplants helps keep dust and insects from settling into your home. Wash small or medium-size houseplants with lukewarm water, and wipe the leaves of large plants with a damp cotton cloth. Regularly remove dead or yellowing leaves to keep plants healthy. How to Clean Your Houseplants 24 of the Easiest Houseplants You Can Grow 11 Plants That Will Grow Better in Your Bathroom Featured Cleaning Tips and Tricks Resolution 4: Make Mattress Cleaning a Habit We've all heard that you should rotate your mattress with the season to make it last longer, but what about cleaning the place where you sleep? Resolve to vacuum your mattress every month or, if you suffer from allergies, vacuum it every time you change the sheets. Slowly running a vacuum over the mattress gives it time to suck up dust and dust mites. Our Guide: How to Clean a Mattress How to Care for Bedsheets How to Wash and Dry Down-Filled Items Resolution 5: Shrink Your Bills (and Go Green!) Who wants to save money this year? Start by lowering your utility bill. Simple home adaptations, like boosting energy conservation or installing a smart showerhead, can slash your energy bill. Some of the smartest home appliances (and newest trends in home design) can help you save money, time, and energy. 24 Tips for Energy-Efficient Homes 10 Easy Ways to Go Green 15 Ways to Stay Cool and Save in Summer Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit