How I Keep My Houseboat Clean When I’m Only There 2 Days a Week

Keeping a space clean when you aren’t there very often takes a little strategy.

We’ve been doing this houseboat life for a while now, and over time I’ve developed a routine that really works for me.

Now… do I always follow it perfectly?

Absolutely not. Sometimes I’m lazy. LOL!

But when I do stick to my plan, it works!

My strategy is actually pretty simple: I clean before we leave to go home.

I know that may sound like the last thing you want to do when your weekend is coming to an end, but I would much rather spend a little time cleaning before we leave than come back the following weekend and have to start my time at my Happy Place cleaning.

Here’s what I usually do before we leave.

My Before-We-Leave Cleaning Routine

1. Wash and put away all the dishes.
   I don’t like leaving dirty dishes behind, even if it’s just for a few days.

2. Clean the sink and dry it completely.
   I don’t want to invite any unwanted little guests because there are crumbs, food, or water left sitting in the sink.

3. Wipe down the countertops.
   I usually use my Clorox cleaner and make sure all the kitchen surfaces are clean.

4. Go through the refrigerator.
   I toss anything we aren’t taking home, food that won’t keep, and those half-open sodas that nobody is going to drink next weekend anyway!

5. Clean the other hard surfaces.
   That includes the dining table, coffee table, side tables, and anything else that needs a quick wipe-down.

6. Get rid of fingerprints and food on the dining table.
   Somehow fingerprints seem to show up everywhere!

7. Clean the entry patio door.
   This is a big one for me. I don’t want to arrive at my Happy Place and the first thing I see is fingerprints all over the glass door.

8. Make sure the bedrooms are tidy.
   Beds made, clothes put away, and no clutter lying around.

   

9. Put away any laundry.
   If I wash clothes before we leave, I fold them and put them away. I don’t want to come back to a pile of clean clothes sitting there waiting on me.

10. Empty every trash can.
    Because nobody wants to come back to a stinky boat!

11. Wipe down the bathrooms and toilets.
    I like to leave the bathrooms fresh and clean before we go.

    

12. Check the outdoor refrigerator.
    I make sure there isn’t anything in there that needs to be thrown away before we leave.

13. Clear and sweep the front and back porch.
    No trash, no random items, and no clutter left behind.

    

14. Cover the sofas upstairs.
    This helps keep them clean while we’re away.

    

15. Do one final upstairs check.
    I empty any trash and make sure everything is where it belongs.

It Sounds Like a Lot… But It Really Isn’t

Looking at this list, you may be thinking, Girl, that is a lot of cleaning!

LOL!

But honestly, it really doesn’t take that long because I don’t wait until the very last minute to do everything.

I clean and organize throughout the day before we leave.

If I see something that needs to be put away, I put it away. If the kitchen is done for the day, I start cleaning it. If there’s laundry, I take care of it.

Little by little, everything gets done.

Then when it’s time to leave, I’m not running around trying to clean the entire boat at once.

And When We Come Back…

This is the best part.

When we come back the following Friday night or Saturday morning, I’m not walking into a mess.

I may wipe down the countertops and sink, give the bathroom a quick wipe-down, straighten up a few things…

…and that’s about it.

Then it’s time to rest, relax, and enjoy my Happy Place.

Because when I only have a couple of days at the boat, I don’t want to spend half of that time cleaning.

I want to enjoy the water, cook something good, sit outside, relax, and just enjoy being there.

That little bit of cleaning before we leave makes a huge difference when we come back.

What about you?

What do you do to keep your boat, lake house, camper, vacation home, or Happy Place clean when you aren’t there all the time?

I’d love to hear your routine!