10 Things You Should Move So Cleaning Doesn’t Take Twice As Long

If cleaning your house feels like it takes forever, it’s probably not the actual cleaning—it’s the stuff in the way. When certain things are always blocking access or needing to be moved twice, you end up wasting time every week.

Shifting them once, or relocating them for good, can speed everything up and make the process way less frustrating.

Floor Baskets in Narrow Walkways

Baskets are great for storage, but when they’re lined up along narrow hallways or tight entry spots, they become trip hazards and dust collectors. Every time you vacuum or mop, you have to move them. Shifting them to shelves or cubbies clears your path and speeds things up.

Barstools That Never Get Used

If you’re constantly dragging barstools out to sweep under them—and no one actually uses them—consider moving them out altogether. Even if they look nice, they’re adding to your cleaning list. Store them in the garage or only bring them out when needed.

Decorative Rugs That Slide Around

Thin rugs or runners that shift constantly make vacuuming harder and can trap dirt underneath. If they’re not serving a purpose, roll them up. If you want to keep them, add a rug pad to keep them stable so you’re not fighting with them every time you clean.

Trash Cans Without Clearance

A trash can shoved against a wall or cabinet corner gets grime around the base, and that grime is hard to reach unless you pull the whole thing out. Giving it a few inches of space makes sweeping and mopping faster and actually gets it clean.

Step Stools or Folding Chairs Left Out

It’s easy to leave a folding chair or step stool propped in the corner after using it—but then it becomes one more thing to clean around. If it doesn’t stay in use, tuck it into a closet so it’s not blocking your flow or collecting dust.

Shoes All Over the Floor

Shoes scattered across the entry or mudroom floor slow down sweeping and mopping. A bench with a cubby or a low-profile shoe rack makes cleaning the floor way faster. You’re not stepping over piles or picking up every pair one by one.

Floor-Length Curtains Behind Furniture

If you’ve got long curtains that fall behind a dresser or cabinet, they’re collecting dust and pet hair in a spot that’s nearly impossible to clean. Shorten the curtains or shift the furniture a few inches forward so you can access the floor underneath without wrestling fabric.

Decorative Plant Stands in High-Traffic Areas

Plant stands look nice but often block corners or crowd walkways. They’re awkward to move and easy to bump. If they’re making vacuuming harder or collecting cobwebs behind them, consider wall shelves or relocating them to a less trafficked spot.

Rolling Storage Units That Don’t Roll

Those wheeled drawers or carts sound helpful until the wheels get jammed or fall off. Then they’re just heavy, awkward things you have to move every week. If they’re not rolling smoothly, either fix the wheels or swap them for storage that’s easier to clean around.

Laundry Baskets That Live in the Hall

A hallway laundry basket becomes a magnet for clutter, and you end up cleaning around it constantly. Move it into a bedroom or laundry room instead. Hallways are hard enough to clean without random items in the way.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.