Say Goodbye to Clutter: 24 Easy Ways To Maintain An Always-Tidy Home
Maintaining a clean and tidy home is a goal many of us strive for, but with the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can often feel like a daunting task. But with the right strategies and habits in place, you can keep your home organized and spotless. Here are 24 easy ways you can maintain your home so that it can truly feel like a sanctuary and not a source of stress.
Declutter Regularly
A clutter-free home is the cornerstone of maintaining an always-tidy space. Regular decluttering sessions prevent the accumulation of items that can make a house look messy and overwhelming. Set aside a few minutes a week to go through different areas in your home and sort items into categories: keep, donate, sell, or throw away. This habit will keep your home clutter-free and also reduce the time needed to clean because there are fewer objects to dust and move around. Decluttering can also have a positive effect on mental health by creating a more serene environment. Be consistent and make decluttering a routine rather than a once-in-a-blue-moon overhaul. For a systematic approach to decluttering, consider following the KonMari method by Marie Kondo, which emphasizes keeping only those items that “spark joy”.
Make Monthly Donations
In the same vein, Melissa Cavelry of Imagine Maids suggests repurposing an old cardboard box as a donation bin and place it in a spot that’s always accessible in your home. Cavelry says, “Here’s the simple strategy: gather the items cluttering your space and place them in the box. However, refrain from taking the box to a donation center until the end of each month. Throughout the month, if you find yourself missing or needing something you put in the bin, retrieve it. Anything left in the bin by the end of the month gets donated.”
Keeping a tidy home becomes easier with fewer belongings. Establishing a regular schedule to declutter prevents clutter from accumulating. Moreover, it ensures that the items you choose to keep are those you genuinely value.
Follow a Cleaning Schedule
Creating and adhering to a cleaning schedule can make the task of keeping your home tidy much more manageable. Break down cleaning tasks by day, week, and month to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Daily tasks might include wiping down surfaces and sweeping floors, while weekly tasks could be vacuuming and mopping. Monthly tasks might involve cleaning windows or dusting blinds. A cleaning schedule ensures that every part of your home receives regular attention, preventing any area from becoming too dirty or disorganized.
Do Dishes Immediately
One of the simplest yet most effective habits for maintaining a tidy home is to wash dishes immediately after use. This prevents the sink from becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and keeps the kitchen looking clean and inviting. If you have a dishwasher, make it a habit to load it right away and run it when full. Keeping on top of this task also means you’ll always have clean dishes available, and it removes the daunting prospect of facing a mountain of dirty dishes at the end of the day. This proactive approach can be a game-changer in maintaining the overall cleanliness of your home.
Close Down The Kitchen
Everyone who’s worked at a restaurant has learned the ‘close down’ process, a cleaning routine that ensures the kitchen is ready to go the following day. No dirty dishes or unwiped counters are left behind for the next shift. Cavelry recommends “treating your own kitchen as if it were your personal restaurant and apply the same principles. Establish a close-down rule, such as ensuring all dishes are either in the dishwasher, drying rack, or cabinets—not left in the sink.”
Implement the One-Minute Rule
The One-Minute Rule is a simple strategy to keep your home tidy without much effort. The premise is straightforward: if a task can be done in one minute or less, do it immediately. This could include hanging up your coat, wiping down a spill, or putting away shoes. By not delaying these small actions, you prevent them from piling up into a more daunting to-do list. This habit can be incredibly effective for maintaining order and preventing the small messes from becoming bigger ones. It’s a principle that encourages continuous action, which over time leads to a consistently clean home. Gretchen Rubin, the author of “The Happiness Project,” is a proponent of this rule, highlighting its effectiveness in keeping your space organized and your mind clear.
Use Storage Solutions
Incorporating the right storage solutions is key to a tidy home. Baskets, bins, and organizers can help keep items out of sight and neatly arranged. When everything has a designated place, it reduces clutter on surfaces and makes it easier to find what you need when you need it. For instance, use drawer dividers for utensils, baskets for toys, and shelving units for books. The goal is to ensure that items are not just stowed away but organized in a manner that is functional and aesthetically pleasing. Investing in quality storage solutions that fit your space and lifestyle can make a significant difference in maintaining order.
Commit To Making Your Bed Every Morning
Start your day by making the bed as soon as you rise. Not only will you return home later to find one task checked off your list, but you’ll also be greeted by a visually pleasing and organized space within your room. “Making your bed each morning puts you in an organized mindset from the start, influencing the rest of your day,” Cavelry of Imagine Maids says.
Additionally, a well-made bed serves as a practical surface for any tidying endeavors throughout the day, such as folding laundry or sorting belongings.
Set a Place for Everything
A well-organized home is one where everything has its own place. When each item has a designated spot, it’s easier to locate things when you need them and to return them after use. This practice not only keeps your home looking tidy but also saves time and reduces stress. To implement this, start by ensuring that commonly used items are easily accessible and that storage areas are intuitive. Labeling shelves, drawers, and bins can also help everyone in the household know where things belong. Regularly reevaluate the designated places to ensure they still make sense for your current lifestyle and adjust as necessary. This habit is about creating a logical system that everyone can follow, which is key to maintaining an organized living space.
Keep A Cleaning Bin In Every Room
You might currently store all your cleaning supplies together, perhaps under the sink in the kitchen or bathroom. However, Imagine Maids suggests that it could be more beneficial to separate them. Keep bathroom cleaning supplies exclusively in the bathroom and kitchen cleaning supplies solely in the kitchen, and designate a specific spot, like a part of the wardrobe or a storage bin under the bed, for dusters, window cleaners, and other bedroom essentials.
This setup encourages frequent cleaning since you won’t have to leave the room to fetch supplies, especially for minor messes. It serves as a visual cue to tidy up and minimizes the chance of getting sidetracked while retrieving supplies, ultimately avoiding forgetting to clean altogether.
Involve the Whole Family
Maintaining an always-tidy home is much easier when the whole family is involved. Assign age-appropriate chores to each family member so that everyone can contribute to the upkeep of the home. This helps lighten the load for the primary caregiver but also instills a sense of responsibility and teamwork in all family members. Creating a chore chart or schedule can help keep everyone on track and accountable for their tasks. Make the process fun and rewarding to encourage ongoing participation.
Keep Countertops Clear
Clear countertops provide a clean visual aesthetic but also create more functional space for cooking and other activities. To achieve this, limit the number of items permanently stored on counters and ensure that each item has a home inside a cabinet or drawer. For small kitchen appliances that are not used daily, store them away to keep surfaces clear. At the end of each day, take a few minutes to remove any items that don’t belong and wipe down the countertops. This habit can dramatically improve the look and feel of your kitchen and other areas with counters, like bathrooms.
Opt for Easy-to-Clean Materials
Surfaces and fabrics that are easy to clean and maintain is key in keeping a tidy home. If you’re able, consider materials like laminate, tile, or hardwood for flooring, which can be quickly swept or mopped. For countertops, materials such as quartz or granite can be more resistant to stains and easier to wipe down than other options. In high-traffic areas, choose rugs and carpets that are durable and easy to vacuum. When selecting furniture, consider pieces with removable and washable covers. By choosing materials that require less effort to clean, you’ll be more likely to keep up with the cleaning, and your home will stay looking tidy with less work.
Use Door Mats
Door mats serve as the first line of defense against dirt and debris entering your home. Place high-quality mats on both the outside and inside of each exterior door to encourage people to wipe their feet before entering, significantly reducing the amount of dirt tracked in. Choose door mats with a rough texture to effectively clean shoes and a non-slip backing to ensure safety. Encourage family members and guests to take a moment to scrape off their shoes upon arrival.
Stack Your Chores
When it comes to taking care of yourself and your home, you can multitask effectively. Cavelry suggests a technique called chore stacking. While you’re doing laundry or running the dishwasher, you can utilize the time to keep your tidying momentum going.
“Consider the timer on appliances like the dishwasher or washing machine as your amount of time to tackle other chores,” advises Cavelry. “Use this time to accomplish additional tasks around the house, like dusting or decluttering surfaces.”
Handle Mail Promptly
A pile of unsorted mail can quickly lead to clutter, especially in key areas like the kitchen counter or entryway table. To keep your home tidy, handle mail promptly by sorting it as soon as it comes in. Discard junk mail immediately, file important documents where they belong, and place bills in a designated area for payment. Consider going paperless whenever possible to reduce the amount of mail you receive. By dealing with mail on a daily basis, you avoid the buildup of paper clutter and keep your surfaces clear.
Embrace Minimalism
Adopting a minimalist approach to your home can greatly contribute to maintaining a tidy space. By reducing the number of possessions in your home, you lessen the time required for cleaning, organizing, and maintaining those items. Start by decluttering and removing duplicates or rarely used items. Aim for a clean, open space with plenty of room for movement and relaxation. Minimalism doesn’t mean your home has to be stark or devoid of personality—it’s about choosing to surround yourself with items that bring joy and serve a purpose.
Clean as You Go
One of the most efficient ways to keep your home tidy is to clean as you go. This habit means taking care of messes and spills as they happen, rather than letting them accumulate. For example, if you spill something while cooking, wipe it up right away. After meal prep, take a few moments to wash the utensils and cutting boards you used. This approach can be applied to every room in the house: clear out the bathroom sink after getting ready in the morning, pick up toys after playtime, and tidy the living room at the end of the evening. By integrating cleaning into your daily activities, it becomes second nature rather than a daunting chore. This ongoing maintenance makes deep cleaning sessions less frequent and less laborious.
Have a No-Shoes Policy
Implementing a no-shoes policy in your home can significantly reduce the amount of dirt and bacteria brought in from outside. It keep floors and carpets cleaner, reducing the need to constantly vacuum. Place a shoe rack near the entryway for family and guests to leave their shoes. Offer indoor slippers for guests to wear. This practice is not only hygienic but also extends the life of your flooring by preventing scratches and wear from outdoor shoes.
Regularly Vacuum and Dust
Regular vacuuming and dusting are key to keeping your home clean and allergen-free. Dust can accumulate quickly on surfaces and in carpets. Make it a habit to vacuum at least once a week, paying special attention to high-traffic areas and under furniture. Dusting should also be done weekly, using a microfiber cloth to effectively capture dust particles. Remember to dust from top to bottom, starting with higher surfaces and working your way down to prevent resettling of dust. Regular vacuuming and dusting not only improve the cleanliness of your home but also enhance the indoor air quality.
Organize Your Entryway
The entryway is the first space you and your guests see when entering your home, so keeping it organized can have a big impact on the overall perception of tidiness. Use hooks for hanging coats, hats, and bags, and a shoe rack to organize footwear. If space allows, include a small table or shelf for keys, mail, and sunglasses. Baskets can be used for storing items like umbrellas and scarves. An organized entryway sets the tone for the rest of the house and can help prevent clutter from spreading into other areas. It also makes leaving the house easier since everything you need is in one designated spot.
Tidy Up Before Bed
Taking a few minutes to tidy up before bed can make a significant difference. Put away toys, fold throw blankets, fluff up pillows, and return items to their proper place. By doing so, you’ll wake up to a neat space, which will set a positive tone for the day. It also means that you won’t be faced with yesterday’s mess, which can be an unmotivating way to start the day. This nightly routine doesn’t need to be time-consuming; even 10 to 15 minutes can be enough to make a noticeable difference.
Use Baskets for Quick Clean-ups
Baskets are an excellent tool for quick clean-ups and instant organization. They can be strategically placed in rooms where clutter tends to accumulate, such as living rooms, kids’ rooms, and home offices. When you need to tidy up fast, you can simply gather loose items and place them in the baskets. This not only clears surfaces but also keeps items contained until you can sort and put them away properly. Choose baskets that complement your decor so they add to the aesthetics of your home while serving a practical purpose.
Perform a Monthly Deep Clean
In addition to regular tidying and cleaning, a monthly deep clean can help maintain the overall cleanliness and upkeep of your home. This involves more thorough tasks that aren’t typically done on a weekly basis, such as cleaning under and behind furniture, washing windows, scrubbing grout, and cleaning appliances inside and out. It’s also a good time to declutter and reorganize any areas that have become messy over the month. Create a checklist for your monthly deep clean so you can ensure that you don’t overlook any areas that need cleaning.
16 Old-School Cleaning Tricks That Actually Works
Don’t want to resort to all the toxic chemicals available in the market to clean your house? Here are some traditional cleaning hacks that actually works. Many of these cleaning hacks have been passed down from generation to generation, and utilize simple household items to use for day-to-day cleaning and maintenance. These tried-and-true methods not only work wonders but also favor a more natural and eco-friendly approach to keeping our homes spotless.
16 Old-School Cleaning Tricks That Actually Works
Is Your Home Starting To Look Like A Pigsty? Try These Tips To Keep Your House Clean With Children
Keeping a clean house can be challenging with children, as they often create messes and clutter. However, with some careful planning and organization, it is possible to maintain a tidy and clean home. Here are some ways to keep your house clean with children.
Is Your Home Starting To Look Like A Pigsty? Try These Tips To Keep Your House Clean With Children
