I've always struggled to keep the house clean and tidy. So I've done some research and put together a plan of action and some guidelines to keep front of mind to help keep the house neat and tidy forever more. I thought I might share them with you. Do you have any other good tips to share? if so, comment in the comment below.
The first step to decluttering your home is putting things back in their rightful place. This includes everything from clothes and shoes to books, dishes, and remote controls. Once you get into the habit of returning items to their proper place, your home will naturally stay neater and tidier. Of course, this means you have to have already identified the rightful place to begin with. So even before this tip can even be helpful you might want to organise yourself, so you know where certain things go. This means deciding where things belong up front. Once you do that, keep the moto "don't put it down, put it away" in your head. Every time you put something down, say to yourself "don't put it down, put it away". After a while, it will become second nature.
The one in, one out rule is a great way to keep your home from becoming cluttered. Whenever you bring something new into your home, you need to eliminate something else. For example, if you buy a new shirt, you should donate an old one you don't wear anymore. This way, your belongings are always kept manageable, and you're less likely to have things lying around that you never use.
Trying to declutter your entire house in one go can be overwhelming, and chances are you won't stick to it. A much better approach is to set aside a little bit of time each day to tidy up. This is like the Agile approach to cleaning (sorry I'm a software developer at heart). Whether it's spending 15 minutes picking up before bedtime or setting the timer for a quick decluttering session after lunch, doing a bit each day will make a big difference over time.
If you don't have enough storage space, your home will always feel cluttered. Make an effort to invest in some good storage solutions, like baskets, bins, and shelves. This way you can tuck away all the items that tend to make your place look messy. Not only will this help your home appear neater, but it will also be easier to keep things organised since everything will have its own designated spot. We installed a storage room in our roof space a few years ago and it's done wonders for decluttering our home. We also built some shelves in the kids toy room so they would have enough room for all their toys.
One of the biggest reasons homes become cluttered is because people are afraid to get rid of things. If you're holding onto something just because you think you might need it someday, chances are, you never will. So don't be afraid to purge your belongings every now and again. You can always donate items that are still in good condition or sell them online if you think you might be able to get some money for them. The goal is to surround yourself only with the things you love and use regularly.
If you want your home to stay decluttered, it's important to get everyone on board. This means teaching your kids the importance of putting things away and having regular decluttering sessions as a family. You can make it into a game or turn it into quality bonding time. Either way, getting everyone involved will make it much easier to keep your home neat and tidy.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your house clean is to develop and stick to a regular cleaning schedule. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours cleaning every day. Even just 15-20 minutes of daily cleaning can make a big difference. The key is to be consistent. Schedule some time each day (or each week) for cleaning, and make sure you stick to it.
It’s easy to focus on the significant areas of your home when trying to keep it clean, but don’t forget about the little things. Wiping down doorknobs, light switches, and countertops, sweeping floors; taking out the trash; and making the bed are all important tasks that should not be neglected. These small tasks can often make a big difference in the overall appearance of your home.
Let’s face it, cleaning is not always the most fun thing to do. But there are ways to make it more bearable. One way is to outsource some mundane tasks, like scrubbing bathrooms or washing the floors. This will free up some time to focus on other areas of your home that need attention. You can also hire a professional cleaner to come in once in a while to help with the deep cleaning. This way, you won’t have to spend your valuable free time doing chores you hate.
Do you have any other good tips to share? If so, comment in the comments below! I'm always looking for new ways to keep my house clean and tidy. 🙂 Thanks for reading! I hope these tips help you as much as they've helped me.
Have a great day! 🙂
