The Clean-As-You-Go method is exactly what it claims to be: the act of cleaning up as you go.
However, while this easy-to-follow cleaning tip may seem elementary, I've been using it for the past six months and attribute it as the sole cause of keeping every room in my home under control and in a relatively clean and tidy state come the end of the week.
To find out why, how to do it, and who the Clean-As-You-Go cleaning method works best for, stick right here. I spoke to professional cleaners who shared their insights, as well as their favorite products to help you commit to this method and finish tasks with ease.
What is the Clean-As-You-Go cleaning method?
'The Clean-As-You-Go is a method of cleaning that is both practical and readily adaptable to a busy lifestyle,' explains Scott Schrader, cleaning expert at CottageCare.
'Essentially, you clean and tidy as you go about your day, which not only minimizes the accumulation of mess, but also helps make the prospect of a deep clean less daunting,' the expert adds.
Pros and cons
Cleaning up after yourself a little each day can help you limit stress.
Like many, at the start of this year, I made a few new pledges or resolutions to achieve and stick to. One of them was to try and clean up as I go, in a bid to keep my home looking tidy without the need to clean my house and fast every time someone announced they'd be over in five.
So, after committing to this method for the past six months, I can honestly say with my hand on my heart it's one of the best tips I've learned from professional cleaners, as it's been key in helping me keep mess at bay.
Therefore, I believe the Clean-As-You-Go method has multiple benefits. This includes:
- It's easy to do: There's no frills or fuss with this cleaning hack. You simply do what it says on the tin: Cleaning up after yourself, instead of leaving the mess until later.
- It can be applied in every room: Dropped water on the floor in your bathroom? Grab a mop, like this best-selling O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop and clean it up. Spilt crumbs over your kitchen countertop whilst making breakfast? Rip off a piece of paper towel and scoop them up. Just got out of bed? Before getting ready for the day, make your bed. The list goes on!
- Anyone can do it: In fact, the more people in your household who are abiding by this method, the cleaner and tidier your home will be.
- It takes seconds instead of minutes: It's is one of the reasons why I love this viral cleaning hack so much.
- It makes bigger cleaning tasks easier: 'The Clean-As-You-Go method is a smart and effective way to maintain a tidy home,' Marla Mock, cleaning expert and president at Molly Maid USA says. 'Taking care of small tasks as they come up, like wiping spills right away or putting items back in their place, helps prevent messes from piling up. It keeps your home looking its best every day and makes larger cleanings a lot easier down the line.'
- It becomes a habit: The longer you practice what you preach, the quicker these daily habits will become ingrained into your everyday tasks.
Over the past six months, I've only found two cons from sticking to the Clean-Up-As-You-Go method. That being:
- It can be inconvenient: Whether you're just about to jump on a video call, you've got a piece of work to file or you're heading out the door – you won't always have the time to clean up after yourself and this method doesn't account for that.
- It may not be suitable if you have mobility issues: 'Frequent bending, lifting, or moving can be tough for those managing mobility or health concerns,' explains Marla. You can instead use adaptive pacing for cleaning to avoid health flares.
How to do it
Cleaning and tidying little and often can help you feel on top of your chores and less overwhelmed come the end of the week.
As I touched on, the good news is that learning how to do the method is easy. According to Scott, all you have to do is:
- Wipe up spills/clean surfaces straight away (i.e., blank kitchen counter tops, sinks in bathrooms, etc.)
- Return items to their place when you have finished using them.
- Keep a cloth, like this four-pack of labeled microfiber cleaning cloths from Target and a multipurpose spray nearby for easy access in common areas. Method's plant-based all-purpose spray from Walmart is handy and gentle.
- Take care of small jobs while waiting, such as wiping down counters while food is cooking, or rinsing dishes during commercial breaks.
- Five-minute end-of-day reset: Walk through each room to collect or dispose of things out of place.
Who is it good for?
The Clean-As-You-Go Method can help the masses keep a stress-free and clean home.
It's probably easier to list the people who this method won't work for, because in a nutshell, this cleaning hack can be used far and wide, and by most people.
In Scott's eyes, 'Busy professionals or parents who struggle to find time to deep clean their homes' would benefit. The same goes for those in homes or apartments with a smaller footprint where clutter can accumulate quickly.
While Marla says parents with young kids could benefit from this method. 'It can help ease tasks for busy parents, teaching children to clean up after themselves, making it easier to keep shared spaces in order,' she says.
The Clean-As-You-Go method could also be a game-changing cleaning essential for pet owners. 'Cleaning up fur, tracked-in dirt, and everyday pet messes as they happen helps maintain a fresh and healthy environment,' Marla explains.
And lastly, anyone who prefers a low-stress, achievable cleaning routine might fall in love with this habit. 'Doing a little bit at a time can make home care feel much less overwhelming,' Marla adds.
My verdict
My house feels like a nicer, more cleaner place to be having tried this method out for the past six months.
After trying out this cleaning hack for the past six months, let's just say I am a very different person from the person I was in 2024.
2025-me wipes down the kitchen counter as dinner cooks, she grabs a dust pan and brush to pick up crumbs off the floor as soon as they've landed, and she also quickly wipes down the bath and shower screen with a cloth after every use.
Doing these daily cleaning habits has meant my home looks pretty tidy and clean, no matter the time of day. It's also cut down my overall cleaning time because the longer you leave a mess, the harder it is to get rid of.
For example, removing a coffee cup stain proves more stubborn and difficult the longer you leave it. The same goes for dropped toothpaste on your bathroom sink.
While I'm not precious about my space looking like a showhome (I'm only human, after all!), as someone who works from home, I find that the tidier my four walls are, the more productive I can be.
Of course, the Clean-As-You-Go method won't be right for every home. And sometimes, it doesn't feel like it's the perfect fit for mine – especially when it's the weekend and the last thing I want to spend my free time doing is picking up after myself.
Overall, this clever method won't replace a deep clean, as you'll still need to clean your bedroom, clean your kitchen and clean your bathroom. Nor will it replace my 'Friday 30' speed clean, which is the key to starting off the weekend right.
But during the day-to-day, it does help me keep my home looking and feeling more respectably clean and tidy than ever before. It's a massive tick from me!
My verdict: 8/10.
Cleaning essentials
Microfiber cloths are a cult cleaning tool for multiple reasons. Able to be used on multiple surfaces and remove dust in just one sweep, these handy colorful essentials can be reused hundreds of times. Color code cleaning to stop the risk of cross-contamination.
We're big fans of Method, and so is cleaning expert Scott, who says, 'It's plant-based, can be used on multiple surface areas and smells great.' And although this surface cleaning might be kinder to the planet, it's still tough on grease and grime.
'This is great for tubs, sinks, and random hard-to-move stains,' Scott says. So you can restore well-used cooking utensils, like pots and pans, back to their best in no time.
Meet the experts
Scott is the Chief Marketing Officer at CottageCare, which is a leading home cleaning company with more than 41 locations nationwide. Scott joined the family business in 2006 and is an expert in all things cleaning as well as overseeing customer experience, brand growth and digital strategy.
Having performed 1.7 million cleaning services last year, 90 percent of which were for repeat customers, Molly Maid is hailed as the nation’s leading residential and commercial cleaning brand and Marla has more than 20 years of experience in the home services category, which spans across cleaning services.
If you’re keen on learning about even more quick daily cleaning habits that can help you achieve a tidier home, we've rounded up a bucketload of tips to try out.
Or, if you're someone who often feels swamped with cleaning tasks so you don't end up doing them, learn how to clean without feeling overwhelmed.
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