You’re not alone if you feel like your home is constantly a mess. Between work, kids, and life, it can be hard to keep things tidy, and maintaining a tidy home can feel like a never-ending task.
It seems like something else always needs to be done as soon as you finish cleaning. And if you have kids, it can feel like an impossible feat! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Whether you’re living in a big mansion, small apartment, or anything in between, there are plenty of ways to keep your home organized without losing your sanity.
Start with a Clean Slate
Start by decluttering each room and removing anything you don’t need. This will make it easier to keep things tidy and organized. Then, focus on cleaning each room from top to bottom. Dust, vacuum, and scrub until everything is sparkling clean!
Once you’ve done that, you’ll better see what needs to be put away and where things should go. The whole process will be much easier because you won’t have to move around a bunch of stuff to clean.
After that, you can start scheduling some time each week to deep clean your home, which will help you stay on top of the mess and make it easier to maintain daily.
Make Your Bed Every Morning
This one is a no-brainer! One simplest but most effective way to clean your home is to make your bed every morning. This sets the tone for the rest of the day and gives you a sense of accomplishment early on.
It only takes a few minutes to make your bed, but it dramatically affects your bedroom’s overall look and feels. Plus, it’s much more enjoyable to crawl into a made bed at night than an unmade one!
Create a System that Works for You
So many people struggle with keeping their homes clean because they don’t have a system. They have no idea where to start or what needs to be done first.
Creating a system is key to keeping things organized and tidy. Whether using a planner to keep track of chores or setting aside time each day to tidy up, find a system that helps you stay organized and stick to it.
If you’re unsure where to start, tons of online resources can help you figure out what will work best for you and your family. You can also hire a professional organizer to help you set up (if you can afford it).
Put It in Writing
Make a list of things that need to be done each week, and check them off as you go. This will help ensure that nothing gets forgotten and that you’re making progress.
You can also break things down into daily or monthly tasks to make them more manageable. Let’s say you might have a weekly cleaning schedule that includes vacuuming, dusting, and mopping, but you can break those down into smaller tasks each day (for example, Monday: vacuum; Tuesday: dust; Wednesday: mop, etc.).
Delegate Tasks
If everyone in the family pitches in, it will lighten your load and help teach kids responsibility. Make sure everyone knows their tasks and when they’re expected to complete them.
If you have older kids and would love to encourage them to start helping around the house but aren’t sure how, try this:
- Start by assigning them one task each day (for example, Monday: take out the trash; Tuesday: vacuum the living room; Wednesday: dust the furniture, etc.).
- As they complete their tasks, have them check them off the list or put a sticker on the calendar. This will help them remember what needs to be done and give them a sense of accomplishment as they see their progress.
- For younger kids, you can make it into a game by setting a timer and seeing how fast they can clean up their toys. Or, you can race to see who can put away the most items in a certain amount of time. Making it fun will help them want to do it, and they’ll be likelier to pitch in without being asked.
- For older kids, you can give them an allowance or reward them with extra screen time if they complete their tasks.
Don’t Be Afraid to Purge
Sometimes, the best way to organize your space is to get rid of stuff you don’t need or use anymore. Hold a yard sale, donate items to charity, or toss things in the trash — whatever works best for you and your family.
The key is to be ruthless and not keep things “just in case.” If you haven’t used it in the past year, you won’t use it again. So get rid of it! There sure will be a lot less to clean when your home is filled with only things you love and use regularly.
Label Everything
Another no-brainer here, but labeling cabinets, closets, and drawers can save you a lot of time (and frustration) in the long run. Imagine not having to search through every cabinet in the kitchen to find the one thing you’re looking for — priceless!
Staying on Top of Laundry
Doing laundry can feel like a never-ending task, but there are ways to stay on top, so it doesn’t take over your life. One way is to do laundry every second day instead of letting it pile up.
You can also try implementing a one-in-one-out rule for laundry; for every item of dirty laundry that goes into the hamper, one item must come out (i.e., be laundered). This helps prevent laundry from overtaking your home. Finally, be sure to put away clean laundry as soon as possible, so it doesn’t become another source of clutter in your home.
Conclusion
A clean home is important for your physical and mental well-being, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours each day cleaning. With a little organization and effort, you can keep your home clean and tidy without feeling like it’s taking over your life.
What are your best tips for keeping a clean house? Please share with us in the comments below!
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