As you go through your day, clean up little messes as you make them. Wipe up spills right away. Put the junk mail directly into the recycle bin. Rinse your dishes and immediately put them in the dishwasher as soon as you’re finished with them, instead of leaving them to pile up in the sink. Place your dirty clothes in the hamper as soon as you’ve taken them off of your body (or hang them up if you plan to wear them again).

By taking care of little messes without delay, you’ll keep them from becoming big messes that take more time to clean. Also, this way they won’t weigh on you as something you need to do in the future, and your home will be neater throughout the day.