To some, a messy house is a result of their kids, making memories and unleashing their creativity. But whether you live alone, a spouse with a regular day job, or have kids, that should not make you complacent.
A clean house can help you prevent the spread of diseases, allows you to have peace of mind, lets you focus on your task at hand, and many more.
So, if you want to reap these benefits, here are some tips on how you can keep your house clean and organized every day:
Follow a Cleaning Schedule
According to Amy of Organization Boutique, the easiest way to keep your home clean and organized is to clean every day.
However, you do not need to do it wall-to-wall and from floor to ceiling. For one, that will be unrealistic. Second, you are less likely to finish it.
On the other hand, cleaning whenever you feel like it will lead to inconsistent results. What you can do instead is to have a realistic cleaning schedule.
There is stuff in your house that needs to be cleaned on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. If you want to build a cleaning schedule depending on what you have at home, you can check out this list of infographics from Chasing Foxes.
Make Your Bed Every Day
In his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, US Naval Admiral William McRaven said that ?If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.?
Here?s why: Making your bed every morning is your first task of the day. If you are able to achieve it, then you will be encouraged to take on and finish the next task.
And just like what we have pointed out previously, the best way to keep your house clean and organized is when you start small.
Making your bed every morning is such a small task. But it matters because it sets the tone of your entire day.
Clean and Wipe Your Counters
Another simple, but important, task you can do is to clean and wipe your kitchen counters after every meal.
At Cleaning Exec Cleaning Services NYC, we emphasize the importance of a clean kitchen. That?s because it is not just pleasing to look at, but it comes with other benefits for your health and the environment.
On the other hand, a dirty kitchen is an unsafe kitchen. It can result in the spread of bacteria and germs, which can lead to illnesses and diseases. A dirty kitchen is also an invitation for pests like cockroaches and mice.
Last but not least, it is difficult to work and navigate through a dirty kitchen.
Wash the Dishes and Clean Your Sink
The same with your kitchen counters, it is also important to wash the dishes after every meal. No to mention that you should also keep your kitchen sink clean.
For one, you would not want to serve good food on a dirty dish. That?s just gross! Next, dirty dishes and dirty kitchen sink also invites disease-carrying pests and vermin. Not to mention the foul smell of leftover food that you neglect throwing to the trash bin or compost bin.
So, once you are done eating, make sure to clean the dishes. And then finish the task by scrubbing the kitchen sink clean.
Designate a Space for Every Item
Let?s face it. It is not easy to keep your house clean and organized all the time. This may require you to declutter and minimize your possession, build daily routines, as well as invest in storage.
Storage allows you to designate a space for your items. That way, it will be easier for you to look for a particular item when you need it. Plus, having a storage system can encourage you to store your stuff properly.
Some would invest in IKEA boxes and shelves to get started with decluttering. However, you can make use of what you have, such as unused cardboard boxes. Just do not forget to label it so you would know what is inside the box.
Don?t Put it Down, Put it Away
Speaking of storage, it is best to know the difference between ?putting things down? and ?putting things away.?
When you put things down, you are just leaving your stuff on the floor. This could pile up and cause clutter, as well as you are making the area accident-prone. Imagine living a ball on the stairs, and someone unknowingly stepped on it.
On the other hand, putting things away is simply putting things back to their designated space or storage box. That ball that you left on the stairs? It is best to pick it up and put it in a toy box.
Use the 15-Minute Rule
The 15-minute is basically setting a timer for 15 minutes and then clean as much as you can during that period.
Furthermore, Sarah Aguirre points out that ?A 15-minute cleanup is a brief step-by-step guide to cleaning a room in 15 minutes or less. While the room may not be white-glove clean, it will be presentable to guests.?
This quick tactic works because you only need to spend 15 minutes to clean a single room in your house. Not to mention that you only need to recognize three things:
- Trash
- Things that do not belong in the room
- Misplaced things that belong in the room
Ask for Help
Cleaning does not have to be one-man?s job. So, it is okay to ask for help from members of your family. You can also consider hiring a professional home cleaner to lessen your load.
Keep in mind that a cluttered and messy home is not good for our mental and physical health. So do whatever can help you streamline your cleaning process
Create New Habits
In case you have not noticed, we mentioned over and over that, keeping your house clean and organized starts with developing a habit. One example is making it a habit to make your bed when you wake up.
That said, create new habits that will lead to making your house clutter-free.
For example, make it a habit to clean the stove as soon as you are done with cooking. That way, stains will be less likely to build-up on your stovetop. Not to mention that you will only need to deal with the dishes, kitchen sink, and counters later.
A clean and organized house does not mean spotless and sparkling. It is nothing like what you see in magazines either. Nonetheless, developing the habit of cleaning after yourself is a great start to a spic-and-span home. So, how are you keeping your house clean and organized? Let us know in the comments!