27 Smart Deep Cleaning Tips To Stop Entryway Clutter Fast

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Imagine for a second:

  • Less chaos by the front door because shoes, bags, and mail all have a clear place
  • More control over dirt coming inside when rugs, corners, and vents are cleaned on purpose
  • Less waste from rebuying umbrellas, gloves, or keys that were just buried in a pile

Here’s how you can get there…

1. Empty The Shoe Basket And Keep Only Daily Pairs

Shoe baskets fill up with sandals, boots, and random pairs that no one is wearing right now.

Do It Like This: Dump the basket out on the floor and put back only the shoes used this week.

It will be so convenient if you use a stackable shoe rack to keep pairs upright and easy to grab.

2. Shake Out And Wash The Front Door Mat

Door mats trap dirt, sand, and grass every time someone walks in.

Try This Way: Take the mat outside and shake it hard before washing or spraying it down.

This gets easier if you use a stiff bristle scrub brush to loosen stuck-on dirt fast.

3. Wipe Down The Inside Of The Front Door

The inside of the front door collects handprints and scuff marks over time.

Consider This: Wipe the full door from top to bottom before guests arrive.

You can make this faster if you use multi surface cleaning spray to remove smudges in one pass.

4. Vacuum The Corners Where Dirt Collects

Dirt slides into the corners near the baseboards and stays there until it builds up.

Start This Way: Vacuum the corners first before cleaning the center of the floor.

It will be way faster if you use a vacuum crevice tool attachment to reach tight spots.

5. Clear The Top Of The Entryway Console Table

Console tables turn into drop zones for mail, keys, and random stuff.

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Here’s What To Do: Remove everything from the top and wipe the surface before putting back only daily items.

6. Wipe Fingerprints Off The Light Switch Near The Door

Light switches near the door show fingerprints easily in daylight.

Begin With This: Wipe the switch and the wall around it before heading to bed.

This is less annoying when you use disinfecting cleaning wipes to clean small areas quickly.

7. Clean The Baseboards Along The Entryway Wall

Baseboards collect dust and dirt kicked up from shoes.

Use This Simple Trick: Wipe the baseboards before mopping so dirt does not smear across the floor.

8. Toss Old Receipts And Mail From The Drop Spot

Mail piles up fast and makes the entryway look cluttered even when the floor is clean.

Give This A Try: Sort through the stack and toss anything not needed right away.

9. Wipe Down The Door Handle And Lock Area

Door handles and lock plates collect germs and grime from daily use.

Start Small With This: Wipe the handle and lock area every evening for one week.

It will feel less stressful if you try a small pack of disinfecting wipes to keep that spot clean in seconds.

10. Wash The Coat Hooks That Hold Dirty Jackets

Coat hooks gather dust and dirt from jackets and backpacks.

Here’s A Quick Way: Remove the jackets and wipe each hook before hanging anything back up.

11. Sort Through Hats And Gloves And Remove Extra Pairs

Extra hats and gloves pile up and crowd small bins near the door.

One Thing That Helps Is: Keep only one pair per person in the main basket.

12. Clean The Mirror Above The Console Table

Mirrors near the entry show smudges from quick checks on the way out.

Here’s A Low-Stress Way: Spray the mirror lightly and wipe in straight lines from top to bottom.

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This gets faster if you use a window cleaning tool with a squeegee to avoid streaks.

13. Vacuum Under The Bench Or Shoe Rack

Dirt slides under benches and racks and stays hidden.

The Less Stressful Way Is: Move the bench forward and vacuum the full space underneath.

It will take less time if you use a cordless stick vacuum to reach under without moving everything far.

14. Wipe Down The Storage Bins On The Floor

Storage bins collect dust along the sides and bottom edges.

If You Want To Keep It Easy: Wipe each bin before putting it back against the wall.

15. Remove Sand And Gravel From The Entryway Rug

Small rocks and sand wear down rugs and scratch floors.

Start By Doing This Instead: Flip the rug over and vacuum both sides before laying it flat again.

You could get it done faster if you try a handheld vacuum to clean the edges quickly.

16. Clean The Inside Of The Small Drawer For Keys

Key drawers fill up with loose coins, pens, and random paper.

Instead, Try This: Empty the drawer fully and wipe it before putting back only keys and one pen.

17. Clear Out Old Bags Hanging On The Hooks

Extra tote bags and backpacks crowd the hooks and make the wall look messy.

The Easy First Step Is: Remove any bag not used in the last 2 weeks.

18. Wipe Down The Wall Near The Shoe Area

Walls near shoes get scuffed and marked over time.

If You’re Not Sure Where To Start: Wipe the lower half of the wall first where marks show most.

This feels easier if you use magic eraser sponges to remove dark scuffs fast.

19. Sweep Behind The Entryway Bench

Dust and dirt collect behind the bench where no one sees them.

Here’s The Shortcut Version: Pull the bench out once and sweep the full area before putting it back.

20. Clean The Air Vent Near The Floor

Air vents near the entry collect lint and dust that spread into the house.

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To Make This Feel More Doable: Unscrew the vent cover and rinse it before drying and reinstalling.

This gets easier if you use all purpose cleaning spray to break up stuck dust quickly.

21. Toss Broken Umbrellas From The Basket

Broken umbrellas stay in the basket long after they stop working.

The Easier Approach Is: Check each umbrella and remove any that no longer open or close properly.

22. Wipe Down The Top Of The Shoe Rack

The top of the shoe rack collects dust from shoes below.

To Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed: Wipe that flat surface first before cleaning the lower shelves.

23. Clear Out Seasonal Decor From The Entry Table

Old seasonal decor makes the table feel crowded.

Here’s A Gentle Way To Start: Remove last season’s items before adding anything new.

24. Vacuum The Bottom Of The Closet By The Door

Closets by the door collect dirt from coats and shoes.

The Most Doable Way Is: Vacuum the closet floor before rearranging coats.

This takes less time if you use a vacuum crevice tool attachment to reach into tight corners.

25. Clean The Window Glass Near The Entry

Entry windows collect fingerprints and water spots quickly.

Here’s A Small Step That Helps: Wipe the glass before guests arrive so light comes through clearly.

26. Reset The Key Bowl And Remove Extra Keys

Key bowls fill with old keys that no longer fit any lock.

Here’s A Simpler First Move: Keep only the keys used weekly in the bowl and move the rest elsewhere.

27. Leave Only What Is Used Daily On The Entry Table

Crowded entry tables make the whole space feel busier than it is.

The Easy Starting Point Is: Leave only the key bowl and one small tray on the table and store the rest away.


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Lily Thompson

Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: making life easier and sharing what works. I created ''Like Mom Said'' after one too many moments of realizing: "My mom was right about this." Turns out, a lot of that old-school wisdom still holds up... it just needs a modern spin. Think of me as your friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand.)