Keeping your home tidy and organised isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone. In fact, for many of us, it can be a real challenge from time to time. But with the right kind of organisation and routine, it doesn’t have to be that way. Keeping your home tidy is easier than you think once you put your mind to it. With the right steps in place, you’ll soon find that keeping things tidy becomes second nature rather than a struggle. Whether you live in a small apartment or own a large house with plenty of nooks and crannies to hide messes in, these simple tips will help keep things ship-shape at home.
Create space
If your home is too disorganised to even begin putting things away, you won’t make much progress. Make sure you have enough space to store your belongings so you can keep things organised as you go. If you’re short on storage space, think about whether you really need to own certain items, or whether they can be replaced by something more compact. For example, if you have a large number of books and magazines that you don’t have time to read, consider swapping them for e-books or audiobooks that take up less space. If you have a large home, you may need to plan your storage space carefully to avoid having things get in the way and make cleaning difficult.
Establish a routine
Keeping your home tidy is as much about what you do on a daily basis as it is about getting rid of clutter. Establish a daily or weekly routine for chores and maintenance tasks and stick to it to help keep things tidy. Keep a cleaning schedule that covers all areas of your home, from the kitchen and bathrooms to the bedrooms and living rooms. Keep an eye out for maintenance and repair jobs that need doing too. Whether it’s changing the batteries in the smoke alarm or cleaning out the gutters, these tasks should also be added to your calendar. Keep your home tidy by organising your belongings in each room as well. This will make it easier to put away things as you go, and will also stop things from getting out of control.
Lay out your key organising tools
If your cleaning tools are scattered all over the place, you’re likely to leave a mess behind whenever you use them. Get your cleaning tools and supplies organised so you can use them effectively and leave the house tidy behind you. If you’ve got a cluttered broom closet, reorganise it so everything has its place. If you don’t have a broom closet, you can organise your cleaning tools on a shelf or in a cabinet. Keep your mops and dustpans together. Put your cleaning supplies in a bucket or a large box, so they’re easy to access when you’re doing the cleaning. Organising your cleaning tools and supplies will also make it easier for you to clean your home properly, removing dust and germs from your floors and surfaces.
Don’t forget the small stuff
Big or small, everything counts when it comes to keeping your home tidy. The small stuff can often go overlooked, but you should aim to put it all away as you go, rather than leaving it for later. If you keep small items such as buttons, loose change and paperclips in a jar or a tray on your desk, you’ll be less likely to leave them lying around.
Make sure you put away the following items as you go:
Keys and loose change
Put these in a tray on a table near the door.
Clothes
Keep your bedroom tidy by putting away clothes as soon as you take them off.
Keys and loose change
Put these in a tray on a table near the door.
Clothes
Keep your bedroom tidy by putting away clothes as soon as you take them off.
Books, magazines, and newspapers
If you have a bookshelf, put these items away too.
Grocery bags
If you have a lot of grocery bags, keep them in a bag holder, so they don’t clutter up your kitchen.
Commit to keeping things tidy
Keeping your home tidy requires a commitment on your part. If you’re not willing to put in the effort, you’re unlikely to see any real results. Make it a habit to tidy up as you go and put things away as soon as you’ve finished using them. Tackle one room of your home each day. This will give you enough time to do a thorough job, but won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed. Keep your family involved in the tidy-up effort too. Children can be great at keeping their bedrooms tidy, as well as helping put away everyday items around the home. You can also make cleaning a family affair by arranging a cleaning day, where you tackle one room each and everyone pitches in to get the job done.
Keeping your home tidy doesn’t have to be a daily struggle. With the right tips and techniques in place, you’ll be able to keep things in order with ease. Remember to create space, establish a routine, lay out your key organising tools, and don’t forget the small stuff. Keep your home tidy by committing to keeping things tidy, and making sure you tackle one room of your home each day.