Though there’s nothing like coming back to a home organized well and cleanly, it can often feel like the time and work it takes to clean and organize is overwhelming. It won’t feel as daunting with the proper guidance and a good plan. Here are some tips to keep your house organized.
Make a Laundry Plan
Most people know that laundry is one of the tasks that never seems to end, especially if you have children. Make a point to do one load of laundry every day, and have the family help put everything away right away, rather than letting the clean laundry piles pile up. Routines are the key to staying organized!
Sort the laundry in a defined space and have your family do the same. Pop it into the machine each morning before you start any chores or organizing that need to be done. Getting into this habit will prevent laundry from accumulating over the week, and ensure you always have fresh, clean clothes in your closet. Make sure that you are constantly monitoring how much detergent you still have so that you can keep on top of ordering your products of choice from places like The Laundress, or nip out to the store to buy some if you need it slightly more urgently.
Keep Your Drains Running Smoothly
Once a month, put 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup table salt down the drain in your kitchen and bathrooms. Then, pour 1 cup of hot vinegar down the drain and watch it foam and bubble. Cover the drain with a stopper or duct tape to keep the mixture from escaping. Allow for 15 minutes of resting time. Finally, run hot tap water or pour boiling water down the drain for 30 to 60 seconds. If you regularly use this approach once a month, your drain will stay clean and clear, however larger issues might require professional drain cleaning.
Make a Massive Decluttering Effort
This task will take some time, so be prepared. Decluttering could take a few days, weeks, or even months, but it will help you understand what you have in your home, and ensure everything has a reason to be there.
Take four boxes and label them with the words “throw away,” “give away,” “keep,” and “relocate.” Moving through your home one room at a time, place each item in one of the boxes.
Be sure not to miss anything, no matter how minor you think it is. If this task is too overwhelming, start with one cluttered drawer or your closet. If you need professional help, view website.
Cleaning Responsibilities Should be Shared
To make home organization more manageable, assign each person a designated room to keep tidy, rather than relying on one person to keep everything in order.
Sharing your cleaning and purging experience with the people who share your space can not only speed up the process but can also make you feel like you’re not overwhelmed when everything falls to you.
Everything Should Be Filed, Not Stacked
When you stack items, you have to fight the stack to get to the item you want (and it never seems to be the one at the top!)
Make a habit to file your objects rather than stack them, whether you’re organizing your jeans drawer or putting away your pot lids. Why? Filing items allows you to quickly view each one and easily find the one you’re looking for.
Items Should Be Kept Close To Where You Use Them
Consider the activities you perform in each room or each portion of each room, and gather the necessary tools in that area. Here are some examples of items that should be kept close to where they are utilized.
- Glasses and dishes should be kept near the sink or dishwasher
- Pots and cooking utensils should be kept near the stove
- Children’s plates and cups should be kept low, for easy access
- Bats, balls and sporting equipment should be kept in the garage or front entrance
Create a Cleaning Schedule
Here are some of the items that should be on your daily, weekly and monthly cleaning schedules:
Daily – Dishes, sweep the floors and wipe down the counters, wash, fold and put away one load of laundry.
Weekly – Wash the floors and wipe the mirrors, swish toilets and wipe down bathroom surfaces, vacuum stairs, clean inside trash cans, dust.
Monthly or Yearly – Wash carpets, deep clean couches, clean out kitchen cabinets, sanitize and reorganize pantry shelves as needed, clean the shelves of the refrigerator and reorder as needed.
Your home should be well organized and kept in order if you follow the tips here. This will give you more time to enjoy life, rather than spending an entire day trying to catch up.