Keeping your home neat and tidy can seem like an insurmountable task. This is particularly true if there are multiple people in your household. However, a few regular maintenance tasks each day can keep the clutter at bay, giving you a sense of peace and serenity. Give these five tips for maintaining an organized home a try. Soon, you’ll find you’re spending less time and effort during your time off on chores and upkeep.
1. Clean as You Go
It may seem obvious, but cleaning things up right away will save you a lot of time later. It can be tempting to throw the dishes in the sink instead of putting them right into the dishwasher, to toss your laundry on the bed straight out of the dryer, or convince yourself that you can reorganize things another time. Unfortunately, these small piles tend to add up to big messes that take a lot of time and effort to take care of later. Cleaning as you go will require minutes as opposed to hours. You’ll appreciate taking care of these manageable jobs right away and having more leisure time later.
2. Make the Beds
Ask the best realtor wherever you live, and they’ll tell you one of the best things you can do each day to maintain an orderly-looking home is to make the bed. This simple step makes a huge impact on the overall look of your bedroom, and it will likely motivate you to take some time to declutter the rest of the space each morning. To make this step even easier, keep your bedding to a minimum and avoid adding a pile of throw pillows to the mix. In just a few minutes, you’ll start off your day on a high note and can use that momentum to continue checking items off of your to-do list as you go.
3. Do One Load of Laundry Daily
Laundry is a chore that can really add up before you know it. Why spend hours of your weekend time tending to a mountain of dirty clothes when you can more easily do just one load a day? Some trial and error will help you to find a rhythm that works based on your schedule. Perhaps you can put the clothes in the washer before leaving for work, then turn it on when you return home. Take it out after dinner, then fold and put it away while watching TV in the evening. Before you know it, this once-dreaded task will become a simple part of your routine.
4. Have a Place for Everything
One of the best ways to make your home more organized is to have a place for everything and put it there immediately after using it. Set up a place for shoes to go immediately upon entering your home. Keep baskets in the living room or at the bottom of the stairs for corralling toys when the kids are done playing with them. Have a mail sorting station where you can file important documents, keep bills that need to be paid and recycle junk mail. Hang hooks for keys and other items that are easily lost. Soon enough, you’ll have routines in place to help ensure surfaces stay clutter-free and your home feels like a calming oasis.
5. Get Everyone On Board
The key to ensuring your new organizing systems work is to get everyone on board. Make sure everyone in your household is on the same page so that they understand where things belong and what your daily maintenance routine looks like. Let them know it’s important for every household member to pitch in in order to keep things looking nice. Even small children can do their part by helping to clean up their toys. Assign tasks based on age and time availability. Hold everyone accountable. By delegating the responsibilities, you’ll make keeping up with organizational chores a breeze.
Maintaining an organized home doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you break things down and have a system in place. While it can be a challenge to find habits that work for your household, good communication and experimentation will have things up and running smoothly in no time. You’ll soon be enjoying your clean and organized home while having more time to do the fun things you enjoy.
Bio: Tracie Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn State University. She is passionate about writing, reading, and living a healthy lifestyle. She feels happiest when around a campfire surrounded by friends, family, and her Dachshund named Rufus.