Cleaning and Stain Removal - too much space, too little time

Hi everyone, my problem is way too general for any one specific sub-forum on here, so I chose this forum as the closest I could get, in an if-you-squint-your-eyes-you-might-consider-this-a-flooring-question way.

So anyway, maybe this is a good problem to have, but my dh and I are wondering if there's anything special you have to do to maintain a house that's too big for you.

To back up, we just moved from California, where all we could afford was a small house, to the suburbs of Phoenix, where we've got something that's way too big now that we're seeing it for the first time without the previous occupants' furniture. We'll grow into the house, I'm sure, since we're planning on having kids in the next five years, but for now we're not even using a quarter of the space we own.

So this may sound vague, but is there anything in particular one must do to prevent unused rooms and unused space from getting dingy and gross? We want to maintain the home's value, naturally, but I don't feel like vacuuming carpet that hasn't been touched since the last time I vacuumed, for example.

Anyone else in this situation? Your thoughts?

Unused rooms should be periodically checked to make sure there is nothing amiss, such as a leak or other problem. If rooms are never used, vacuum and do high and low dusting as needed. Clean windows in spring and fall or annually if that is when you clean windows. Clean and replace burned out light bulbs in light fixtures as needed. It is probably not a good idea to close rooms off so that they will continue to get good air circulation. It is not likely that unused rooms will get "dingy and gross."

One thing i would like to add is if you need/see any repairs that are needed in the rooms or upgrades ie:windows, doors..if you can afford it..Do it now while you are not using the rooms. Instead of when you grow into them

I'd say if you don't have time for it yourself, get a Roomba and let that run around every once in a while so the dust doesn't accumulate.

Also, and this might not be a problem in Arizona because it's so dry there, but check the windows for mold that might come creeping around.