The House That Cleans Itself

1. Embrace a New Mindset: From Cleaning Failure to House That Cleans Itself

"Change the house to fit the behavior, not vice versa."

Shift your perspective. The House That Cleans Itself (HTCI) system is a revolutionary approach to housekeeping, especially for those who struggle with traditional cleaning methods. Instead of trying to change your behavior, which often leads to failure and frustration, focus on modifying your home environment to naturally encourage cleanliness.

Recognize your strengths. Understand that housekeeping may not be your natural talent, and that's okay. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. By acknowledging this, you can remove the guilt and shame associated with a messy home and approach the problem more objectively.

Engineer cleanliness. Look for ways to make it easier to keep things clean than to make a mess. For example, if family members consistently drop their backpacks by the front door, install hooks or provide a storage bench in that location instead of expecting them to carry bags to a designated spot further away.

2. Identify Root Causes of Mess Through Detective Work

"Like any good detective, your goal for this step is to gather evidence and then use that evidence to figure out the answers to some important questions."

Become a household detective. Take a systematic approach to understanding the messes in your home. Use tools like a camera, notepad, and stepladder to observe your living spaces from different perspectives. Document what you see, paying attention to recurring patterns of clutter and disorganization.

Ask key questions:

• What are the problem areas in your home?
• What items do your recurring messes generally consist of?
• Why do these particular problems and messes keep happening?

Analyze the evidence. Look for patterns in your observations. For example, if you consistently find piles of mail on the kitchen counter, the root cause might be the lack of a designated mail processing area near the entry point.

3. Change the House to Fit Your Behavior, Not Vice Versa

"Remember: Changes made to a behavior are almost never permanent, but changes made to a house will last forever—or at least for as long as you want them to."

Adapt your environment. Once you've identified the root causes of mess, focus on modifying your living space to accommodate your natural tendencies rather than fighting against them. This approach is more likely to result in lasting change.

Creative problem-solving. Think outside the box when coming up with solutions. For example, if family members consistently leave wet towels on the floor, consider installing hooks on the back of the bathroom door instead of expecting them to use a towel rack that may be inconveniently located.

Implement and refine. Put your solutions into practice and be prepared to make adjustments as needed. The goal is to find arrangements that work effortlessly with your lifestyle, making it easier to maintain a clean and organized home.

4. Create an Instant Impression of Cleanliness

"The instant-cleanliness factor provides a cheery, uplifting sense of order throughout the house, which then leads to naturally neater behaviors and helps reinforces the main principles of the House That Cleans Itself System."

Control sight zones. Focus on the areas immediately visible when entering a room. Arrange furniture and storage solutions to keep potentially messy areas out of direct sight lines.

Corral necessary messes. Create designated spaces for items that tend to create clutter, such as mail or children's toys. Use attractive containers or furniture pieces that can quickly hide these items when needed.

Utilize camouflage. Choose materials and colors that naturally hide dirt and stains. For example, patterned rugs can conceal small messes better than solid-colored ones.

Eliminate inevitable invisibles. Address small imperfections that contribute to an overall feeling of disorder, such as scuff marks on walls or frayed edges on furniture. Fixing these minor issues can significantly improve the overall impression of cleanliness.

5. Implement Hotel-Inspired Cleaning Strategies

"Think of a hotel room and how the beds are almost always arranged: with three sides accessible. Why? To make it as easy as possible to change the linens."

Streamline cleaning processes. Take cues from the hospitality industry to make cleaning more efficient:

• Choose easy-to-clean fixtures and furnishings
• Arrange furniture for easy access during cleaning
• Use the "up and away" principle to reduce horizontal surfaces that collect dust
• Implement self-cleaning options where possible (e.g., self-cleaning glass)

Create cleaning stations. Establish designated areas for cleaning supplies, similar to how hotels organize their housekeeping carts. This makes it easier to grab what you need quickly and encourages more frequent cleaning.

Beauty as motivation. Recognize that aesthetically pleasing spaces are more likely to be kept clean. Invest in attractive decor and organize
ation solutions to inspire better housekeeping habits.

6. Simplify and Declutter: Less Stuff Equals Less Mess

"Every possession you have, from the tiniest button to the biggest piece of furniture, consumes a piece of your time."

Adopt a new perspective on possessions. Recognize that every item you own requires time and energy to maintain, clean, and store. Use this insight to motivate decluttering efforts.

Ask key questions when decluttering:

• Is this item worth my time?
• Does what I get from this item provide a fair trade-off considering the time I'll spend cleaning and storing it?
• Do I want to spend another second in the future dealing with it?

Implement decluttering strategies:

• Create a donation system for easy removal of unwanted items
• Use the "Maybe System" for items you're unsure about
• Focus on specific types of decluttering, such as lifestyle releases or technology releases

Simplify choices. When acquiring new items, prioritize simplicity in design and materials. This makes future cleaning and maintenance easier.

7. Address Psychological Factors Behind Clutter and Disorganization

"There are reasons you may have trouble keeping your house clean—such as an "all or nothing" tendency toward cleaning or an "out of sight, out of mind" issue—and often simply by understanding these reasons, you can find clever ways to work around them and keep your home clean regardless."

Recognize common psychological factors:

• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Hoarding tendencies
• Perfectionism
• All-or-nothing thinking

Seek professional help. If you suspect underlying psychological issues are contributing to your housekeeping struggles, consult with a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Develop coping strategies. Once you understand your personal challenges, create systems that work with your tendencies rather than against them. For example, if you have an "out of sight, out of mind" issue, use clear storage containers to keep items visible.

8. Make Cleaning a Team Effort with Family Members

"Unless you live alone, it's important to learn how to involve the whole family in implementing and maintaining the HTCI System in your home."

Communicate effectively. Have open, non-judgmental conversations with family members about household cleanliness and organization. Present the HTCI system as a solution that benefits everyone.

Assign responsibilities:

• Use the "room ownership" method for families
• Implement a "day division" system for smaller households
• Try "room-to-room sequencing" for families with older children

Address conflicts constructively. Use the HTCI Rules of Fair Play to resolve disagreements about the placement or accumulation of possessions. Focus on finding solutions that work for everyone rather than assigning blame.

9. Put God at the Center of Your Housekeeping Journey

"As you begin to implement the HTCI System in your home, it's important to place this transition in God's hands and keep Him at the center of the process."

Prayer walk your home. Take time to pray over each room in your house, asking for God's guidance and blessings in your housekeeping efforts.

Create a devotional area. Establish a dedicated space for daily time with God, including Bible reading and prayer. This practice can help maintain spiritual focus and motivation throughout your housekeeping journey.

Seek balance. Remember that while a clean home is important, it should not overshadow your relationships or spiritual growth. Strive to create a home that honors God and serves your family's needs.

10. Establish Effective Cleaning Stations and Routines

"In a House That Cleans Itself, cleaning is an activity that must be integrated into your everyday life, just like brushing your teeth or taking your medicine."

Create three types of cleaning stations:

1. Quick clean station: Easy-access supplies for small, frequent cleanups
2. Intermediate clean station: Larger tools for more substantial messes
3. Deep clean station: Comprehensive supplies for thorough cleaning sessions

Develop a quick-cleaning mindset. Train yourself to use small pockets of time throughout the day for brief cleaning tasks. Create a Quick Clean Guide listing common tasks and their approximate completion times.

Implement effective deep-cleaning methods:

• Room ownership: Assign responsibility for specific areas to family members
• Day division: Spread cleaning tasks throughout the week
• Room-to-room sequencing: Coordinate family members to clean in a systematic order

Maintain consistency. Regular use of these stations and routines will help keep your home consistently clean with less effort over time.

Last updated: August 23, 2024