Always start with the sink. A sparkling sink becomes your kitchen's benchmark for hygiene and tidiness, inspiring you to load the dishwasher immediately and keep counters, refrigerator doors, and the stove top spick-and-span, too.

Make cleaning the basin as routine as washing your hands. But don't stop there. Get the most out of your premoistened wipe by using it to clean around the edges of the tub and then the toilet before tossing it.

Make your bed right before or after your morning shower. A neat bed will inspire you to deal with other messes immediately.

Start with the sofa -- as long as it's in disarray, your living room will never look tidy.