Those ranch-style homes built in Ankeny during the 1990s and 2000s boom weren't designed with massive closets or storage, which means clutter accumulates fast—especially in mudrooms during Iowa's messy spring thaw season. Add in the fine dust that seems to coat every surface thanks to our agricultural surroundings and the humidity swings between summer and winter, and you've got a recipe for grime hiding behind stacks of mail, kids' sports equipment, and seasonal décor. When that layer of prairie dust settles on top of clutter, it becomes nearly impossible to actually clean the surfaces underneath. You end up moving piles around rather than getting your home genuinely clean, and all that displaced dust just aggravates allergies.
That's exactly why decluttering before a deep clean isn't just helpful—it's essential. When you clear surfaces, floors, and countertops first, you're giving yourself (or your cleaning team) actual access to the spaces that need attention. You'll catch the baseboards that haven't seen a cloth in months, the window sills harboring dust buildup, and those corners where pet hair congregates. The process doesn't have to be overwhelming either. Starting with one room and working methodically through your home, removing items that don't belong and finding proper homes for what stays, transforms an impossible cleaning job into a manageable one that actually delivers results.
Declutter First: The 40% Rule
Professional cleaners consistently report that homes with clear surfaces take 35–45% less time to clean thoroughly. That means a better result — or the same time spent going deeper on what matters.
Where to Start in a Ankeny Home
The Kitchen Counter Problem
Ankeny kitchens accumulate countertop appliances quickly: air fryers, Instant Pots, coffee systems, smoothie makers. The rule: if you don't use it at least weekly, it goes in a cabinet or out of the house. Goal: one clear strip of counter behind the sink and at least half of all counter space unoccupied.
The Bathroom Surface Audit
The average American bathroom has 17 items on the counter. Ideal is 3–5. Everything else goes in a drawer, medicine cabinet, or under-sink storage. This transforms a 15-minute bathroom clean into a 7-minute one.
Bedroom Floor Rules
Anything on a bedroom floor that isn't furniture is clutter. Under-bed storage with a flat lid surface is the best Ankeny solution for extra storage without floor clutter.
The Flat Surface Principle
Every flat surface — dressers, nightstands, coffee tables, bookshelves — should have at most 3 objects on it. Everything else creates visual noise and collects dust.
Room-by-Room Declutter Plan
Kitchen (2–4 Hours)
- Pull everything out of one cabinet at a time
- Group: keep, donate, toss, relocate
- Apply the "last used" test: if unused in 12 months, it goes
- Tackle the junk drawer last
- Clear all countertops; return only daily-use items
Closets (1–2 Hours Each)
- Remove everything entirely
- Clean the empty closet
- Evaluate each item: does it fit, do you love it, have you used it in the last year?
- Return only what passes; bag the rest for donation
Living Areas (1–2 Hours)
- Remove all items not permanently belonging to that room
- Reduce decorative items to "gallery-worthy" only
- Cable management — loose cords are clutter and dust magnets
The Donation Schedule
In Ankeny, these organizations accept household goods and furniture:
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore — large items and furniture
- Goodwill Industries — general donations
- Vietnam Veterans of America — furniture pickup by appointment in many markets
Maintaining It
The one-in-one-out rule: every time something new enters your home, something equivalent leaves. Applied consistently, this maintains your decluttered space without periodic purges.
Once you've decluttered, TotalCare Cleaning can give your Ankeny home the deep clean it deserves. Call (888) 378-7451 to schedule.