When it comes to household chores, most things fall under one of two categories. You’re either cleaning or you’re tidying.

I know I’m not alone when I say it feels like I’m constantly spinning a million plates at once. Between my work, my husband’s schedule,  and my two kids’ busy lives, everyone’s on the move at all times—and the daily upkeep of our home is the first thing to suffer.

But here’s what I’ve realized. Even at our busiest times, our home is never dirty. It just quickly becomes cluttered. That’s because, for us, cleaning always takes priority, while tidying is the thing that doesn’t quite get done during the week.

And yes, there’s a big different between the two.

Cleaning vs. Tidying

Most people will agree that cleaning is the deeper process of the two. It calls for products and tools, and for it to be truly effective, you should tackle a few key spots regularly, and aim to do a bigger, deeper clean as often as required. For our family, this is weekly.

Tidying, on the other hand, is more surface-level. This is about putting things away, finding homes for new items, and decluttering items that collect in your pain points—such as on the counter, in the entryway, and around your home office.

In both cases, if you live in a shared home—whether it’s with your family or roommates—both categories need to be everyone’s responsibility somehow.

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How to Be Clean

If you’re struggling to keep your home clean on a regular basis, make a list. For most homes, these are the major areas that require regular, constant attention—both for aesthetic purposes, and for the health and well-being of everyone in your household.

• Wipe down sinks: Dried toothpaste in and around the sink is both unsightly and unhygienic. If you can’t seem to rinse it out correctly, keep a rag and spray on hand for a quick clean on a regular basis—either after every brush, or once a day. Do this for the kitchen, too.
• Disinfect the toilet: Using toilet cleaner and a brush, tackle your toilet on a weekly basis to keep bacteria at bay and clear out any build-up. Letting anything fester will only create a bigger headache down the line.
• Spray or squeegee the shower after use: Simply keep a spray on hand in the shower, along with a squeegee if needed, and give it a quick clean before you get out.
• Always do the dishes: I cannot deal with a sink full of dirty dishes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a pain. Pop on a podcast or a playlist and hop to it—ideally after every meal, but definitely at the end of every day.
• Sweep up the crumbs: Keeping your countertops, kitchen table, and surrounding floor space crumb-free on the daily is another absolute must. Use a broom or a vacuum and do a quick clean after every meal, or at the end of each day.
• Wash your bedding and towels: It’s a regular debate on how often you should wash your bedding and towels, and it really does come down to personal preference. But get yourself on a schedule. Towels should, ideally, be swapped out or washed weekly, and the same goes for bedding—or at least your pillowcases.

How to Be Tidy

Staying tidy requires a different approach, and it really comes down to creating processes that make sense for you and your household. In our family, I’m a big proponent that your day starts the night before, so we do a lot of tidying and decluttering at bedtime as we prep our bags and items for the following day.

• Make the bed: Every single morning, before you leave your room, make your bed.Starting your day with a clean room is great, but it’s your future self who will be most grateful.
• Dedicate space to shoes and coats: Whether you have a full coat closet or a specific drop-off spot, shoes and coats should always have a home—and ideally everything gets put there the moment you walk in the door.
• Keep your counters clear: Countertops and kitchen tables are a major clutter magnet, so consider setting up a dedicated drop spot for the main suspects. Get baskets for mail, file folders for school assignments, and a landing spot near the door for miscellaneous items.
• Reset the sofa: If you’re a daily TV watcher, don’t go to bed without resetting the sofa. Quickly roll or fold any blankets and toss them in their home, plump the pillows, and put everything back where it belongs.
• Put away laundry: It might be tempting to just leave your clean laundry in a basket and pull things out as you need them, but it’s so much better to just put things away. Take the few minutes required to hang everything back up and make your room feel like a sanctuary again.
• Clear off your desktop: At the end of the day, whether you work at home or in an office, clear off your desk. Then, do a quick sweep before you close up shop so that your next day can start fresh.