There’s nothing better than a clean, neat house. The sight of crusty dishes, wrinkled laundry, and clutter have a way of stealing the tranquility and peace that we need from our homes.
It’s not easy though. Whether you have a messy spouse, a passel of kids, or rambunctious pets, keeping your home clean and decluttered is a challenge. And if you’re the problem? Well, the good news is, it’s always easier to change ourselves than others.
But change is the only way that you’ll be able to take a messy house and turn it into a sanctuary. A place that is relaxing, comfortable, and renewing. The only way to do that is change the way you do things.
If you can get everyone on board, then you’re halfway there already. But if you can’t (the pets, probably, don’t care too much about torn up newspaper on the floor), then here are some tricks to help make it easier for your family to keep your home neat.
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- Place a trash can in every room. If you’ve ever run around picking up discarded string cheese wrappers, and then had to walk two rooms over to put them in the garbage can, you know you need a better system. Putting a trash can in every room makes it easier for garbage to make it in there from the start. These work great in tight spaces.
- Put things away right away. This might be hard to sell to your crew, but one way to influence them is by keeping piles from forming. As soon as one thing is left on the table, more will follow, like clutter magnets seeking true north. So keep surfaces clear and your family will be reluctant to leave the first thing.
- Clean up throughout the day. Especially when you have kids, periodic clean ups throughout the day can keep things from getting out of control. A two-minute lightening round of straightening up, maybe set to music, can make the task easy and fun for everyone — and avoid the meltdown that comes with having to clean up a disaster area.
- Have some well-placed laundry baskets. When it comes to dirty clothes, some people are just lazy. I know, I live with a few of them. So placing laundry baskets where they are most likely to undress does a lot toward keeping the floor clear of used socks. I suggest bathrooms, closets, and bedrooms. These are good for visible areas, and these fit under the sink.
- Load the dishwasher right away. Don’t leave dishes in the sink for later. When you are done with something, give it a rinse and put it in the dishwasher. Clean pots and pans that are too big right away, dry them, and put them away. Don’t let them build up. If you don’t have a dishwasher (as in, you are the dishwasher), then wash things as they come so a full sink isn’t staring at you when you’re exhausted and ready for bed.
- Put up hooks for coats and make a place for shoes. We’ve all seen it, when the kids come through the door. Coats are thrown, backpacks dropped, shoes shucked. Everything is in a jumble at the door. So having an easy place for things to go can encourage everyone to put their things away. I put up these hooks and they can hold multiple jackets and backpacks.
- Create a cleaning schedule. Having set times and days to clean can make it easier for everyone to know what is expected of them. My kids know I do laundry on Sundays so they know that if they want it washed, it had better be in the basket by Saturday night. Having a cleaning schedule lets everyone know what they need to do and by when. Removing the mystery also eliminates the excuses.
- Clearly label toy bins. If your kids are really young, attaching pictures to toy bins, along with a description, can make it easier for things to be put away right the first time. It also avoids the I-don’t-know-where-this-goes-so-I’ll-just-put-it-here mess. This is the toy organizer we use.
- Have a nightly clean-up ritual. If you have ever woken to a messy house (haven’t we all?), you know how much it can put a damper on your day. Doing a quick clean up before bed allows you to start the next day fresh, without having to clean up yesterday’s messes.
- Make your bed, every day. I love walking into my room and seeing a nicely made bed. It looks inviting and sets the tone for the rest of the room. We’re less likely to leave our rooms messy when we make our beds. And that one act leads to others, setting the stage for a productive day. Navy SEALs think so, too.
I hope that these tips and tricks help you make the changes you need to keep your home neat. We all deserve a restful place to come home to at the end of the day, or at least enjoy once the rugrats are tucked in. So good luck and enjoy your sanctuary.
What tricks do you use to keep your home neat? Let me know in the comments, I’m always looking for help!
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