Do you feel a sense of accomplishment looking at your sparkling kitchen counter at the end of the day? How about when your floors reflect the light that streams through the windows? A clean home pleases a dedicated homeowner’s aesthetics and offers many health benefits too. No tripping over toys, no slipping on wet floors, and no allergies.
While regular mopping and dusting are necessary, organizing your home goes beyond the mundane. So, to help you out, here are some of the top tips to organize your home and keep it clean:
1. Get Rid of Unnecessary Items:
We all have a hoarder inside us. We like to keep things, thinking we might need them in the future. Whether it’s the antique clock you bought from a flea market, the extra kitchenware you got as gifts, or the clothes you purchased impulsively, getting rid of these items can do wonders for your home. Start by sorting out the things you need and don’t need, and donate or sell what you don’t use. It’ll free up space so you can use it for better purposes. And the effects a clutter-free house has on mental health are unmatched.
That being said, some items hold sentimental value. Maybe your grandmother passed down her quilt to you. Or perhaps your child’s first toy is a prized possession. If that’s the case, you can rent a self storage unit near you and store those items there.
2. Designate a Home for Everything:
In your newly organized home, nothing should be without its own home. It means you should designate a place for everything, from toys to kitchen supplies and tools. If something doesn’t have a fixed place in your home, it’s more likely to be scattered everywhere. To avoid this mess, figure out where items can be stored safely and conveniently. You can invest in multipurpose furniture like an ottoman with storage or a bookshelf with extra cabinet space.
3. Create a Maintenance Schedule:
Organizing your home is only half of the battle. To keep it clean and clutter-free, you must consistently clean up small messes as soon as they happen. You can make a weekly or monthly maintenance schedule and assign specific daily tasks.
For instance, Mondays can be for laundry, while on Tuesdays, you can make it a point to fold and organize the clothes. On Wednesdays, you can take a few minutes to clear the entryway and check that the house is tidy. Of course, you don’t have to stick to a strict schedule. You can switch things up and assign tasks depending on your time availability.
4. Organize your Refrigerator:
Do you have leftover pizza from Sunday night? Does your fridge contain a mix of expired and unexpired items? If so, you’re soon running out of room to keep your kale, celery, and other healthy items.
To use your fridge space effectively, you can organize it into different ‘zones.’ This way, you can use the area for different items like drinks, food, leftovers, and other perishables. You can also use airtight containers to keep things fresh and label them with dates to help you rotate food.
5. Set Up a Cleaning Station:
To keep your home tidy, you don’t have to be a neat freak or a Martha Stewart-level homemaker. All you need is an efficient cleaning station with everything you need to pick up messes quickly. Put together all your cleaning supplies and store them in a designated spot, like under the kitchen sink.
It includes all-purpose cleaners, sponges, rags, and paper towels. That way, you don’t need to search for those items whenever you clean up a mess. It’s also essential to keep your cleaning station organized. So, use jars to store your laundry pods, detergents, and the like.
6. Always Have an Empty Sink:
Ask any homeowner, and they’ll tell you their dishes breed faster than rabbits, especially if they have kids. Sinks always loaded with ketchup-stained plates and half-eaten cereal bowls can make your kitchen look messy, even if it’s clean.
To avoid the sink from overflowing with dishes, make it a rule to always keep an empty sink at the end of the day. You can make it a family task to clean up after meals and put away all the dishes rather than leaving them in the sink.
You can also use a dish rack to dry dishes and keep them organized. That way, your kitchen will look tidier and more inviting.
7. Color-Code Your Bookshelf:
Are you a reader who loves collecting books? Do you want to make your bookshelves look organized and stylish? Then, color coding is the way to go. Organizing books by color will give your shelves an aesthetically pleasing look. Start by sorting the books in a rainbow pattern, from red to violet, or mix and match the cover colors to create a unique pattern.
You can also use binder clips to mark the different sections, so it’s easier to find the books you need. If you’re feeling crafty, you can make custom bookends to add personality and character to your shelves.
8. Invest in Hanging Shoe Racks:
After all, who doesn’t love a good pair of shoes? But, when storing them, many people find themselves in a quandary. Shoes are tricky to store, and keeping them organized often feels like an uphill battle. It is why most entryways look more like a jumble of shoes. But investing in hanging shoe racks will help you keep them organized and make your entryway look neat.
Conclusion:
Organizing your home can be overwhelming. So, please don’t put too much pressure on yourself to do it all at once. Start small and tackle one room at a time. It will also help if you assess your space when planning for organization and storage. It’ll be a primer to determine how much storage you need and how best to use the available space.
Finally, don’t forget to factor in maintenance when organizing your home. Otherwise, all your efforts will go in vain. Regular cleaning and tidying tasks can be a chore, but it’s the only way to keep your home neat and clutter-free.
