Cleaning chores are never-ending, but does quantity win over quality? That’s where the new so-called 'transparent cleaning' trend really comes into its own.
Experts say it’s not for the easily distracted, but even if you’re short on time, working in some of the method's practices will bring enormous benefits to the cleanliness of your home over the longer term.
I gave it a go, and as a homes editor who spends my week writing, testing, and talking to the pros about cleaning tips that really work, I can say with confidence this one is worth that little bit of extra effort as the change it brings about in your home is palpable.
What is transparent cleaning?
Professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless, Karina Toner explains, ‘Transparent cleaning is a mindfulness-based approach to housekeeping that emphasizes visibility and awareness throughout the cleaning process.
‘Instead of tidying up in a rush or only dealing with surface mess, transparent cleaning encourages you to methodically clean in a way that reveals everything. That means no drawers skipped, no closet left untouched, no dust bunny ignored.
‘It’s about being honest with the current state of your space and making decisions with full visibility, not selective attention.’
As a person living with chronic pain and limited mobility, deeply cleaning my home, even with adaptive pacing, can go to the wall during my very frequent pain flares, but working in some of these tasks into my shorter bursts has proven to be a great middle ground that works for my household, and it can easily be of benefit to yours.
Benefits include eliminating long-ignored dirt and clutter, breaking the habit of hiding mess behind closed doors, and reducing anxiety caused by hidden mess as everything is visible and intentional.
How to use transparent cleaning in your home
Karina advises starting the process by ‘literally making things more transparent.’
Open cupboards, pull furniture away from walls, remove drawer contents, and then clean every surface or item you can see.
She recommends using a SimpleHouseware Heavy Duty Rolling Utility Cart from Amazon during the process, as it’s ‘perfect for moving supplies or sorting through items as clean zone by zone. It keeps everything in sight and remains mobile for efficiency.’
When using the transparent cleaning method, think of it ‘as turning on every light in the house and pulling back the curtain, figuratively and literally,’ Karina says. ‘You go through spaces with a “no blind spots” mindset.’
The expert cleaner shares her top tips for embracing transparent cleaning:
- Use clear storage bins so nothing is hidden and clutter doesn't accumulate unseen. It's a great way to banish mess.
- Clean in daylight to better see grime and overlooked buildup.
- Work one area at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed while cleaning, as focus breeds clarity.
- Create accountability zones: Finish one drawer or one shelf completely before moving on.
Karina says these bins are ‘great for keeping everything visible and organized so you stay honest about what you’re keeping.’
Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa adds that it’s important to ‘work top-to-bottom, so you don’t forget high-up spots like the tops of doors and move in a clockwise motion around the room, which, together, will help keep you from missing areas.’
He also advises uses a microfiber cloth, which we are big fans of at Homes & Gardens, especially the Mr Siga stacks available at Amazon, to wipe down switches, doorknobs, and handles.
Ryan adds, ‘Rotate these tasks into your cleaning routine. Even if you can’t do them every week, hitting them monthly makes a huge difference, but when you’re busy, getting to these even every six months is better than 90% of homes.’
Who is transparent cleaning method best suited for?
Karina says, ‘Transparent cleaning works incredibly well for those who enjoy order, appreciate visual clarity, and are looking to declutter with intention.’
It's ideal for:
- Minimalists
- People moving house
- Those working on downsizing or simplifying
- Individuals who like a deep, satisfying clean that sticks
- Allergy sufferers — hidden dust builds up fast
- Parents with small kids who touch everything
- Pet owners, as it's hard to keep a house clean with pets
- Anyone who wants a truly deep clean, beyond just the visible surfaces. It feels nice to live in a clean space.
This method may not be a great fit for those, however, who:
- Are prone to distraction or overwhelm when cleaning
- Prefer quick home micro resets or surface-level tidying
- Don’t have the time to commit to a full-room or full-zone cleaning session.
How to use transparent cleaning room by room
Ryan Knoll says, ‘When I clean for myself, or professionally for others, I spot a number of areas that can easily get missed. In fact, we’ve made our deep-cleaning checklist around these hidden areas.
The areas that usually get skipped, Ryan shares, include:
Bathrooms
- Shine faucet spouts and handles
- Counter tops (use special products for marble and stone, such as Weiman Quartz and Stone Cleaner from Amazon)
- The space where the sink meets the wall
- Shower heads
- Behind the toilet.
Kitchens
- Wipe down towel racks
- Wipe outside of cabinets (all sides)
- Behind appliances
Other areas:
- Window panes
- Window tracks
- High touch surfaces such as door handles and light switches
- The tops of door frames
- Air vents and ceiling fan blades
Ryan adds that these transparent cleaning focus areas do get a lot of dust, but they don’t need to be cleaned any more than every 3-6 months.’
You'll find using a Damp Duster, available at Walmart, will be a game changer for easy dust-busting.
What are the challenges of the transparent cleaning method?
As Ryan simply puts it, ‘Time is the big one. These areas take extra effort because you have to move things around or reach higher.
'The best solution is to break them up and tackle one transparent zone a week and schedule a professional deep clean quarterly to keep them under control.’
What to shop
Cleaning pro Ryan recommends using a telescopic duster when working from top to bottom during your transparent cleaning sessions. The static cling microfiber has means dust particles will be gripped well and not accidentally dropped in process.
This plant-based formula us gentle but effective, and safe for most surfaces. It's plant-powered, lessening the impact on the environment when it makes its way back to water systems.
I cannot live without my stack of microfiber cloths. They soak up so much liquid, clear dust without spreading it, can help you scrub stubborn stains off without damaging the surfaces you're cleaning, and are reusable, making them a brilliant way to be more sustainable at home.
So there you have it: The transparent cleaning method broken down into manageable tasks that will help keep your house spotless, banish deep grime and hidden dirt without making you lose the will to clean in the process.
For more cleaning methods, visit our cleaning library. We’ve tried and tested them all.
