Keep Your Apartment Clean – 10 Realistic Rules for People Who Don't Love Cleaning

Not everyone loves tidiness. And not everyone has the time or energy to constantly clean. Especially in Switzerland, where many people work long hours, commute, or juggle family and career, housework often gets neglected.

The good news: A clean apartment doesn't necessarily require perfection – just a few simple principles. Here are 10 everyday rules that even laid-back people can use to keep their apartment tidy – without constant effort.

1. Less Stuff = Less Chaos

The more possessions, the more dust, the more work. That's not philosophy – it's physics. Many apartments look restless simply because too much stuff is lying around.

A realistic approach:

• Question everything you haven't used in a year
• Sort out duplicates
• Don't stuff closets to the brim

Especially in Swiss apartments, where storage space is often limited, reduction makes an enormous difference.

2. Clear Surfaces Are Half the Battle

Work surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom determine whether an apartment looks quickly clean – or immediately chaotic.

Rule of thumb:

• Only keep items used daily on surfaces
• Everything else belongs in drawers or cabinets

Empty surfaces are faster to clean, look calmer, and collect less dirt. Anyone who regularly does maintenance cleaning knows: the less on the surfaces, the faster everything is spotless again.

3. Use Waiting Time Wisely

The coffee is brewing. The kettle needs another minute. The microwave is counting down. These are perfect mini-moments for tidying:

• Put dishes away immediately
• Return things to their place
• Quickly wipe down the counter

These small actions add up – without feeling like you've "cleaned."

4. The 3-Minute Rule

Not everything needs a cleaning schedule. Simply ask yourself: Does it take less than three minutes? If yes – do it immediately:

• Wipe up a stain
• Replace the toilet paper roll
• Line up shoes properly

The longer you wait, the bigger the hurdle becomes.

5. Never Leave a Room Empty-Handed

A simple principle with big impact: When you leave a room, take something that belongs elsewhere.

Examples:

• Glass from living room → Kitchen
• Sweater from bathroom → Bedroom
• Bag from hallway → Wardrobe

This way, tidiness spreads almost automatically throughout the day.

6. Visual Order Beats Perfection

Not everything has to be perfect – it just needs to look tidy.

Helpful tools:

• Baskets
• Boxes
• Bedspreads
• Closed cabinets

Even just a bedspread can make an entire room look calmer instantly – even if everything underneath isn't perfect.

7. Keep Laundry Piles Small

Laundry is one of the most common clutter culprits.

What helps:

• Do smaller loads more often rather than huge piles
• Sort out clothes you no longer wear
• Keep only favorite pieces in the closet

Less clothing means less chaos – and less decision stress in the morning.

8. Use Storage Space Logically

Order doesn't come from folding, but from systems.

Proven methods:

• Store complete bedding sets in one pillowcase
• Keep underwear and socks in boxes
• Store seasonal clothes separately

This way you find things faster – and are more likely to put them away again.

9. Short Routines Instead of Deep Cleaning

Nobody wants to clean for hours. But 10 minutes a day is realistic.

An example:

• Quick walk through the living room every evening
• Reset the kitchen to zero before bed
• Wipe down the bathroom every other day

Small routines prevent chaos from building up. When you do need something more thorough, a professional deep cleaning helps – and keeping clean becomes easier again afterward.

10. Asking for Help Isn't Failure

Many households in Switzerland occasionally use support – whether through a cleaner or an occasional thorough cleaning.

The advantage:

• The apartment regularly starts from a clean baseline
• Maintaining order is much easier afterward
• You maintain cleanliness instead of constantly catching up

For many, this is less luxury than relief. Whether regular maintenance cleaning or a one-time deep cleaning – professional help can make the difference.

Conclusion: Living Clean Without Stress Is Possible

A tidy apartment doesn't require military-level discipline. It needs simple rules, realistic expectations, and a system that fits your everyday life.

Those who focus on the essentials save time, energy – and nerves. And end up with more space for what really matters.