The Joy of Tiny Home Cleaning

There are multiple benefits to tiny home living, from low-cost living to living more simply and sustainable, closer to nature.  One, sometimes overlooked plus of tiny home living is that less space means less cleaning!  The average size of a tiny home is approximately 20sqm for a one-bedroom home, and 25sqm to 30sqm for two and three bedroomed homes respectively.  A substantial saving on areas to keep clean compared to traditional houses.   

Less total area to clean means less time spent keeping on top of the dirt and grime.  More time to devote to the things you love in life!  Yet, it’s also possible to find a sense of joy in cleaning and keeping your tiny home dust and clutter-free.  The satisfaction of a job well done, and the warm glow of knowing you’ve used eco principles to keep your home and space hygienic and clean is worth the (not so much) time you’ll invest in tiny home cleaning.  In this blog, with the help of BetterCleans we look at some principles and tips to help you find the joy of tiny home cleaning.   

Declutter and use of smart storage options 

Once you’ve begun to consider tiny home living, it’s likely you will already have thought about the importance of both decluttering and storage.  One of the attractions of tiny home living is that it requires a mindset shift away from consumerism and towards simplicity.  That means taking a long hard look at what you do and do not really need for a life well-lived.  For many people embarking on their tiny home adventure, there are plenty of things to give away to others or to repurpose to a good home.   

Storage solutions go hand in hand with decluttering for clean and serene tiny home living.  Custom designed tiny houses allow you to stipulate what storage options work for you and your lifestyle.  There’s a range of inventive and innovative space saving storage designs that make for a highly functional and user-friendly space.  From underfloor storage drawers, pull-down racks and sliding hooks, drawers within stairs and even pull-down ceiling cupboards, a custom, tailored made design can include options that allow for clutter free living.   That old adage of “a place for everything, and everything in its place” will soon become your mantra for a fuss-free clean and tidy tiny home.  If you have the two basics of decluttering and smart storage sorted, then cleaning and keeping things organized will be a joy.  

Design with quick clean in mind 

Whilst off-the-shelf tiny houses offer an economical way to enjoy tiny home living, it can be a wise investment to consider custom design modifications that will help you to keep your space clean.  Smart choice of materials for fixtures and fittings can reduce clean up times and make it a doddle to keep on top of the mess.   

Flooring Options 

Consider flooring.  As tiny home living usually includes plenty of time in the great outdoors, flooring can get muddy and littered with remnants from nature.  Easy to wipe flooring that requires little more than a damp microfiber cloth will allow you to keep dirty footprints at bay, and flooring choices with fewer grooves mean less nooks and crannies to clean.  Eco-friendly vinyl options, laminates and ceramic non-slip tiles are all options.   

Walls 

Think of the finish of your walls.  In a large home, you are less likely to be touching walls.  In a tiny home, it is inevitable that you and your walls will be in closer proximity.  Walls should be easy to clean, especially if you have small children or even pets in your tiny home.  Consider a finish with scrubbable paint.   

Soft Furnishings 

In terms of soft furnishings, again, you are looking for simple to wipe down options that can be cleaned with a damp cloth to remove debris and dust.  Leather is an easy to clean option and good quality leather can last for years. Faux leather is available for anyone concerned about animal welfare.  You may like to finish your interior design with easy to wash throws and slip covers which will make it simple to remove and launder coverings that protect soft seating.   

Wheely Good Furniture 

For easy to clean space, castors are a clever addition to furniture items.  They allow pieces to be easily moved to clean accumulated dust and grime by mopping underneath.   Castors should have a locking mechanism that allows you to secure items in place as needed.  Suddenly, cleaning to grot and grime from kitchen and dining spaces becomes joyous, when you can wheel the table out of the way to get better access.   

Living the green clean dream 

Eco-principles are important for many people considering or opting for a tiny-home lifestyle.  Cleaning can be a way that you care for the planet whilst also maintaining your tiny home.  You are looking for simple and effective cleaning options that do not require a range of different equipment, and do not utilize polluting harsh chemicals.   

Microfiber cloths are your friend for all things cleaning.  Made with a different structure to classical woven cloths, they contain a larger surface area per fiber that can collect microscopic biological debris. The fibers are statically charged and can reach into invisible crevices, attracting dust to them.  They are designed to be used without the need for detergent and chemicals and can be washed and reused multiple times.  So long as you can get onto your hands and knees, microfiber cloths are great for cleaning floors, bathrooms, kitchens – indeed, any areas of your tiny home.  You may want to keep different colored clothes set aside for using in toilet areas.   

And don’t forget to make use of simple home-made cleaning products as needed for other jobs.  You can make a whole host of different cleaning solutions from everyday kitchen ingredients.  Bicarbonate of soda acts as a natural deodorizer and white vinegar and lemon juice both cut through grease and mineral deposit build up.  No need for expensive and space wasting multiple shop bought cleaners when you can make your own as needed.   

So – with some thought at the planning and design stage of your tiny home, a positive approach to decluttering and considering fixtures and fittings and cleaning methods, you too can find the joy of tiny home cleaning.