The first thing people usually say upon entering my apartment is "Wow, everything is so white," followed closely by "how does it stay that way?" An airy, white space may be easy on the eyes, but it's not quite as easy to keep clean. As someone who loves decorating with white pieces, that's the price I have to pay for choosing aesthetics over practicality. But on the bright side of things (pun fully intended), my place always looks pristine as a result.
After living in my apartment for four years now, I've developed some habits for keeping things fresh and tidy — and no, not all of it involves whipping out the cleaning supplies. Keep reading for all my simple maintenance methods. After all, nice things are worth working for!
I Don't Wear Shoes in the House
I consider this the number one and easiest rule for keeping my house clean (and my white rugs white): leave all shoes at the door. This helps control the amount of dirt that gets tracked inside and significantly cuts down how often I need to vacuum the floor as a result. In fact, the one area of the house I need to vacuum the most often is the entryway where I put on and take off my shoes. I also use a doormat inside and outside the entrance.
I Maintain My Space
It's important to me that my home still remains livable — the last thing I want is a place I'm scared to let loose in. So if I want to eat dinner on the sofa, drink coffee in bed, or apply glitter eye shadow over the sink, I'll do it, even if that means I have to maintain my space more often as a result.
Since a majority of the surfaces in my home are white or light colored, they show wear and tear more easily. To avoid discoloration and effectively remove stains, dirt, and grease, I spray Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner + Bleach [1] on any nonporous surfaces, wait 30 seconds, then wipe clean. A sparkling bathroom is also important, so I use Clorox® Regular Bleach With CLOROMAX® [2] for an immaculate white sink and tub. Finally, I also vacuum rugs often, so they retain that plush look, as well as the sofa for crumbs.
I Keep Cords Organized and Out of Sight
In my opinion, nothing ruins the look of a space more than tangled electrical cords, visibly hanging out by an outlet. I know this is inevitable, but when possible, I try to keep them corralled using binder clips or twist ties and tucked out of sight behind a large piece of furniture. Additionally, since I have white walls, I try to look for pieces that come with the option of a white electrical cord as opposed to a black one for a more seamless look. Details matter!
I Layer White Textures
Keeping your place fresh doesn't all have to do with cleaning! Some of it can be the result of how you approach decorating in the first place. I've learned over the years that layering texture on texture and tone on tone helps create a more multidimensional and interesting space and keeps it from falling flat. For instance, I like bringing in curtains, upholstery, rugs, and decorative accents in varying types of fabrics and shades of white.
In addition, I used to love the stark combination of white with metal materials like chrome or brass, but these days, I prefer wood accents since they bring a warmth that feels fresh and natural. Plus, wood adds a layer of contrast that somehow makes whites appear even brighter.
I Keep Extra Paint on Hand
Since my walls are painted a specific shade of white, I like to keep an extra half can of the same paint handy for touch-ups in the event I scratch up a wall. In the past year, I've reached for it a couple of times after moving furniture around, installing new pieces to the walls and removing others.