I'm breaking up with these bad housekeeping habits – and cleaning pros are cheering me on with these 7 tips to make new habits stick

I'm generally clean and tidy. I never leave dirty washing in the sink, forget to clean the bathroom, or skip making my bed in the morning.

That being said, I'm still guilty of at least a few bad habits – and I'm breaking up with them.

From trying (and failing) to stick to a schedule, to forgetting about clean ways to clean green, I'm ready to switch things up and make changes that actually stick. Here, I share the habits I'm ditching for good, with cleaning tips from professional cleaners to set me on the path to success.

7 bad housekeeping habits I'm breaking up with this year

1. Trying (and failing) to stick to a strict schedule

I completely understand the importance of creating an achievable cleaning routine, but I've realized the emphasis here is on achievable.

Too often, I find my plans changing, and I end up heading out after work or over the weekend during the time I had set aside for cleaning, which causes me to fall behind on my chores. So, this year, I'm cleaning when it works for me, rather than the other way around.

Alex Varela, general manager of Dallas Maids, agrees with this tactic, saying, 'Failing to stick to a schedule is probably because you're being too much of an overachiever,' or in my case, struggling to get motivated to clean and banish chore procrastination.

He continues, 'You get deflated and frustrated, and you quit instead of modifying your schedule. It's like going to the gym: it's much better to go four times a week and spend 30 minutes, instead of going once a month and spending three hours there. Consistency is key.'

I often find that missing a task here and there means I find it more difficult to clean when feeling overwhelmed, making it even harder to catch up. As an alternative, Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless, recommends switching to task-based cleaning, instead of fixed time blocks.

She suggests, 'Try the different day, different room housekeeping schedule, or group similar jobs, like organizing closets first, then deep-cleaning floors across the house, rather than forcing a weekly schedule,' she suggests.

Recently, I tried the Wheel of Chores method, which helped me overcome my aversion to chores. I highly recommend it to anyone who struggles with procrastination or decision paralysis. Grab your cleaning supplies and give it a go!

All prices correct at time of publication.

2. Falling foul to the 'floordrobe'

With so many clothes and not enough space to put them, I'm a serial 'floordrobe' offender, often leaving entire outfits strewn across the floor. At times, this even extends to my chairs, leaving me without anywhere to sit, so it's definitely time to kick this bad habit for good.

As cleaning expert Karina highlights, 'Once this habit starts, it's surprisingly easy to let the pile grow. Keeping clothes off the floor makes your room feel instantly tidier,' which is exactly why it's one of the things people with clean bedrooms always do.

In a bid to become one of those people, I invested in a clothes rail, which solved my lack of hanging space, similar to the Honey-Can-Do Bamboo & Canvas Garment Rack available at QVC, so all that's left for me to do is remember to actually use it.

According to Karina, the best thing to do is to make putting clothes away part of my closing shift routine, assuring 'it only takes a few minutes!

'But, if it's truly a challenge, you can always add a stylish storage basket, such as the Goodpick Cube Storage Bins available at Amazon, for "worn but not dirty" clothes that aren't quite ready for the wash yet.' Noted!

3. Forgetting about natural ways to clean green

Since working at Homes & Gardens, I've learned so much about cleaning my home without harming the planet, and now thoroughly agree that you don't need harsh cleaning chemicals for almost all cleaning tasks.

Somehow, though, I always seem to forget about green cleaning when it comes to replenishing my supplies or reaching for products, so this year I'm making an effort to try cleaning with vinegar, cleaning with baking soda, and making eco-friendly sustainable cleaning swaps wherever possible.

As cleaning expert Karina says, 'Many conventional cleaning products can get the job done, but they’re often full of harsh chemicals that aren't great for you or the environment. Going green also saves you money at home, since many natural solutions are affordable pantry staples like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.'

She recommends, 'Start small by replacing one product at a time with a natural alternative, like an all-purpose cleaner made with vinegar and essential oils,' such as the Majestic Pure Lemon Essential Oil available at Amazon.

4. Neglecting to adopt the dry/damp cleaning rule

I'm a sentimental maximalist at heart, which means my bedroom is filled with trinkets, souvenirs and piles of books I've collected along the way. While I love the way this looks, it makes removing dust a nightmare, which is why I want to improve at adopting the dry/damp cleaning rule, which I keep forgetting.

Cleaning expert Karina advises, 'Dry cleaning, like dusting and sweeping, should always come first, to remove loose debris, while damp cleaning, like mopping and wiping, gets rid of stuck on grime. Skipping this rule can leave you spreading dirt instead of actually cleaning it up.'

So, Karina directs, always start with a dry microfiber cloth, such as the Great Value Multipurpose Microfiber Household Cleaning Cloth available at Walmart, before following up with a damp one.

She adds, 'For floors, vacuum or sweep first, then follow up with a mop.'

5. Not wearing gloves while I clean

Recently, while cleaning my bathroom, I accidentally bleached my top with the cleaning supplies I was using. This opened my eyes to the strength of the chemicals I was using, and while annoying, it also made me realize something – I should be wearing gloves. This got me thinking that my haphazard, unprotected cleaning might be the reason I’m constantly reaching for hand cream.

Cleaning expert Karina certainly thinks so, warning, 'Cleaning without gloves can dry out your skin, expose you to harsh chemicals, and even lead to allergic reactions. Wearing gloves can feel unnecessary until you try them, and realize they're a must for hand protection and handling tougher cleaning tasks.'

To break up with this bad habit, cleaning pro Alex suggests keeping a pair of gloves in each room, to make it easier, and more accessible, so I'm never without them.

Karina adds, 'Make sure to opt for comfortable, reusable gloves that fit well,' such as the Mr. Clean Reusable Latex Gloves available at Amazon. 'If they feel good, you're more likely to use them!'

6. Hoarding without decluttering

I certainly don't put decluttering methods to use nearly as much as I should, and my home and routine are paying the price for it.

To turn things around and break up with this bad habit, cleaning pro Alex suggests applying the 'one-in, one-out' rule, explaining, 'For each item that comes into your house, another item comes out. This works really well with clothing, for example.'

And, as cleaning expert Karina highlights, this will also make cleaning much easier, banishing the arising unnecessary stress that occurs when I can't find the things I need.

'Repurpose, gift, donate, or sell decluttered items,' she continues. 'It also helps to schedule a seasonal decluttering session to keep things under control.'

7. Throwing random items in drawers

Is there anything more annoying than attempting to conquer the dreaded junk drawer? This is a situation I find myself in all too often, as I'm completely guilty of throwing random items, like photographs, electrical wires, and sentimental cards into my bedroom drawers.

Cleaning expert Karina warns, 'Junk drawers always start out innocent enough, just a spot for odds and ends, but they often quickly become a black hole for random clutter.

'A well-organized space makes everything easier to find, and reduces the stress of digging through clutter every time you need a few batteries or to find your spare keys.'

To break up with this bad habit, start by removing the things to get rid of in your junk drawer. Then, Karina advises, use small containers or dividers, such as the SpaceAid Bamboo Drawer Dividers with Inserts and Labels available at Amazon, to categorize items, and don't forget to regularly declutter the drawer by tossing out what you no longer need.'

Meet the experts

Karina Toner

With numerous contributions in Homes & Gardens, Real Homes, The Spruce, and many more, Karina has extensive knowledge of both commercial and residential cleaning, and knows better than anyone how to break bad housekeeping habits for good.

Alex Varela

Running a hugely successful cleaning business, Alex knows all about what it takes to shift bad habits, and believes that creating a clean and healthy home environment makes people and families happier.

Another thing I want to implement this year is a move towards all things non-toxic, from cleaning to home fragrance. I'm starting by introducing non-toxic ways to make a home smell nice, and ditching my harmful candles for good.