If I had to choose between cooking or cleaning for the rest of my life, I would gladly choose the former, no questions asked. I don’t know if it’s because all my chores growing up consisted of something like that, but I just don’t like cleaning. However, what I do like is having a clean house. Nothing stresses me out more than a messy, cluttered space, which is why I’ve had to master a few organization tips to keep my home clean with as little effort as humanly possible.
Let me introduce you to the organizing tips I swear by. Whether you’re pressed for time, in the middle of a particularly busy week, or just not a fan of cleanliness, these simple hacks can help you stay on top of everything and keep your home spotless with minimal work. Keep scrolling to make your life easier.
1. Keep fashion items within easy reach
We all know what it feels like to pull out every article of clothing we own from our drawers and closets while desperately searching for something to wear. This just creates a massive and unnecessary clutter, which is why I now keep my fashion clothes within easy reach. All of my favorites are stored on top of other clothes in their respective drawers for easy access, and in my closet, everything is lined up from most worn to least worn. Having a few hand-picked pieces makes it easy for me to put together outfits without a hassle. The system works so well that the days of making a mess of my bedroom while trying to figure out where in the world my favorite white T-shirt is are long gone.
Source: @brittanymakes
2. Keep it a little every day
“The messiest spaces are an accumulation of carelessness to clean over time. So once your space is fully organized, focus on maintaining it, little by little, every day,” Maggie Antalek, a New York-based mural artist known for optimizing small spaces, told me recently. Antalek’s advice has changed my life. Before, she would throw things wherever she went and she would tell me that she would pick them up later (which never happened). Now, I put away everything I take once I walk through the door, I take the dishes to the sink every time I finish eating, I hang the discarded clothes instead of throwing them on the sofa, I treat the bathroom every day, etc. in. These little practices help keep clutter at bay and minimize the amount of cleanup I need to do, which is a win-win.
3. Have a designated place for everything
Having to stop and think about where to put something takes precious time out of your day and makes cleaning on the go that much more difficult. This is where having a designated place for everything comes in handy. Keeping a clean home and staying organized aren’t insurmountable tasks when you know exactly where everything goes. Plus, with this storage system in place, you’ll never have to search for anything again.
Source: @theheartandhaven
4. Prioritize cleaning in the morning
Most nights, I eat dinner between 8:00 and 10:00 pm, and then I like to watch TV and relax for a bit before getting ready for bed. It’s a system that works well for me, and tossing out the chore of doing the dishes or cleaning the kitchen would only work against me. Cleaning late at night wakes me up, so instead, I do the dishes first thing in the morning. There is nothing more gratifying than being able to take out a freshly washed plate at mealtime. The same goes for clothes, too. Eliminating these small, important tasks early in the day allows me to focus on whatever else I’m doing, and gives me the space to kick back and unwind after work and unwind for the rest of the night.
5. Clean while you cook
Cooking is tricky, but tidying up while you cook, while the sauce is simmering or the main course is in the oven, will help prevent clutter from accumulating and keep kitchen counters free of clutter (nothing is worse than messy kitchen counters). Also, this will prevent you from accidentally leaving things out of the fridge or freezer for too long. Then you can sit back and fully enjoy your meal because you won’t have to worry about doing a big cleanup once you’re done.
6. Make a cleaning schedule
Although tidying up the house a bit every day is a great help, there are times when a good deep cleaning is necessary. However, instead of spending an entire day dusting, cleaning the fridge, and polishing the floors, create a cleaning schedule to break up these larger tasks and tackle them one at a time. Clean out your fridge every Sunday before you prepare food. Give your bathroom a good clean on Friday nights after work to prepare yourself well for the weekend. Or spend the first Saturday morning of every season going through your clothes and taking out or putting away what you no longer need. Having a schedule that doles out tasks like this will make keeping your home spotless less overwhelming and stressful.
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Source: news.google.com