After more than two decades scrubbing Britain's homes, a professional cleaner has unveiled a surprisingly simple secret to making any house appear instantly cleaner and more organised. The key, she insists, is to banish a popular interior design feature.
The Open Shelving Problem
Faith Horsman, who has spent over 23 years professionally cleaning houses, took to TikTok to share her hard-earned wisdom. In a video that quickly went viral, she explained that many homes she visits are technically clean and organised, yet still appear messy. The culprit, she states unequivocally, is open shelving.
"No matter the [size], I see a lot in homes that are clean, organised and put together when I come, but they don't look it," Horsman explained. "Hands down it's the open shelving. If you have open shelving, get rid of it now. Throw it to the curb."
The cleaning expert, who co-owns Knight and Day Cleaning Corp., made an exception for bookshelves but was scathing about the trend of displaying kitchen gadgets, coffee mugs, or other items on open units. She specifically called out metal shelving units in kitchens and "weird coffee bar shelves."
Why Clutter Creates Chaos
Horsman elaborated that items with lots of colour, texture, or visual "busyness" on display will inevitably make a space look cluttered and, by extension, less clean. She argued that homes which appear "nice and neat" aren't necessarily spotless; instead, their owners are simply adept at concealing their belongings.
"I know you don't want to hear that because you don't want to open cabinets all day long and you want your stuff out," she conceded. "But if you want your home to look nice in between your cleanings, that is one thing I highly recommend."
In a follow-up discussion with the Today show, Horsman clarified that the principle extends beyond just shelving. Any clutter left on surfaces—from bathroom counters laden with medicines and beauty products to shoes piled by the front door—contributes to a messy appearance.
Practical Solutions for a Pristine Look
Her advice is to focus on keeping "big hot spots" clear. These are areas where items accumulate rapidly, such as bathroom counters, entryways, or the table beside a favourite chair. She also cautioned against overdoing decorative knickknacks.
"It’s not that their knickknacks look bad, it’s just when you add knickknacks and daily life that gets very busy, very fast," Horsman noted. Her suggestion is to practice curation: "Don’t have all 50 of your favourite ones. Put two of your favourite ones out [at a time]."
For those not ready to replace furniture, she proposed a clever compromise: use matching wicker baskets or bins on open shelves to hide items away, creating a cohesive and tidy aesthetic. Above all, her golden rule is consistent decluttering.
"I pick up so much that when people come over, cleaning is actually easy because I don’t have any picking up to do," she shared, emphasising that a little daily effort prevents overwhelming mess and makes maintaining a tidy home far simpler.
