See How I Used the “Drip Drop” Cleaning System (It Works Anywhere!)

I’ve been taking care of my own home for nearly 20 years, but my love of cleaning mottos extends well into my childhood. When I was growing up, my mom repeated well-known phrases like “only handle it once,” aka the OHIO method),” and made up some of her own, such as “just do a postage stamp.” Over the years, these phrases became a kind of operating manual that played in my head whenever I was tempted to put something down instead of away or I needed to do a quick vacuuming session. 

Since I’ve become a cleaning writer (and therefore a student of ways to clean efficiently), I’ve come to value these types of catchy phrases that help remind me what to do and how to do it more than ever — and I’ve added many to my arsenal. I’m always on the lookout for more, so when I came across Cindy Hendler’s ”drip drop” system, it caught my attention. 

Hendler’s “drip drop” system is really a phrase born from the acronym DRIP and DROP. DRIP means “daily rotation is peace” and refers to consistently doing daily chores like a load of laundry or taking out the trash. DROP stands for “Done? Return object promptly.” Combining these leads to a home that stays pretty clean most of the time. “This is how I keep a clean home without being overwhelmed. Not by doing everything. But by doing the right things — on repeat,” the caption reads.

Of course, I had to try this wonderful method out myself since it’s exactly the kind of mindset that helps me keep up with habits that support a clean home. My family and I have been at my sister’s house for the last few weeks visiting family, but that hasn’t meant I don’t have daily tasks that need to be done to keep our space in order. (In fact, with 13 people total in my sister’s house, maintaining order has been crucial!)

Here are some ways I’ve been putting this system into practice: 

DRIP (daily tasks) 

• Making beds
• Keeping toiletries in order
• Wiping down bathroom countertops
• Washing dishes, clearing the counters, and running the dishes every night 

DROP (putting things away right away)

• Returning clothes to suitcases
• Putting folded clothes back in suitcases
• Putting personal items in designated spots in the house

Even through just the few days I’ve been “drip dropping,” I’ve discovered the power of committing to daily chores and not letting myself put things down rather than away. The combination has allowed us to keep the house in order without having to do big overhauls of our space (and has given us a peaceful home to enjoy with family).

Of course, the concept of doing a little bit at a time all the time isn’t anything new to me when it comes to housekeeping methods. But having a new way to remind myself to actually do it in the form of the phrase “Drip Drop” has been such an effective way to put the concept into practice. I can’t wait to apply the method in our regular life at home because I know it’ll be just as powerful there.