Definitely don't have *the* secret, but we've just invested in a robot vacuum cleaner, and while we've only had it a week, I'm pretty confident it may be the secret to staying on top of the floors at least!

For everything else, if I need a serious butt kicking, I ask my mother to come and visit and it lights such a fire under my butt that the place ends up hospital grade clean! Motivation through terror. Works a charm!