Life can be busy and stressful. Often the last thing you want to do is more housework. It may sound like a dream come true, but it is possible to simplify your house cleaning routine with a few easy changes. Just imagine, a quick clean and tidy and your house is visitor ready. Even if you have young children it is still possible to keep your house in tip top shape without burning yourself out. Lets look at how…
Firstly I want to make this clear. I love cleaning! I am actually one of those weird people who enjoys the process of cleaning. It’s like therapy for me. I feel the stress melt away while scrubbing the shower and I feel satisfied at the end result of a meticulously clean home.
There is one exception here and that is not having time to clean and yet knowing you need to. That is where cleaning can be stressful. Rushing around the house trying to get it all done is what makes cleaning an unpleasant experience. It becomes a major chore that we all want to avoid. (Even an avid cleaner like me.)
This is where simplifying your home comes in. The difference between a cluttered home and uncluttered home, is the difference between spending hours upon hours trying to keep up with housekeeping compared to a couple of short sessions a day. Yes simplifying your home will reduce your housework but where to start?
1. Turn off the tap at the source, (so to speak)
Stop the flow of stuff coming into the home to give yourself a chance to get on top of what you already have. This could mean only buying the absolute essentials for awhile. Really evaluate if you need to buy anything and don’t just accept freebies if they are not needed. Ask family or those living with you to take care of their own belongings and have set spaces for eachother’s things.
2. Start a donations box
If you haven’t got a decluttering plan you could start with a donations box. Every time you have a spare 10 minutes, do a quick declutter of a drawer or cupboard and put unwanted items in a box ready to donate. When the box is full put it in the car ready for drop-off. I have one in the laundry at all times. I pop items in there as soon as I come across something I no longer use.
5. Be ruthless with your stuff
Whatever method you choose to declutter, be ruthless! If you keep your end goal in mind of what you want your home to be, then you will be much more willing to get rid of un-needed stuff now. Don’t keep items ‘just in case’. They will only prevent you reaching your goals and make your housework complicated.
6. Keep all surfaces clear
Remove as much as possible from all surfaces. Only keep what you really need or want on them. This makes cleaning much more efficient.
7. Declutter nic-nacs
Having too many small items makes dusting and cleaning hard. Only keep the bare minimum on display.
8. Consider removing your shoes before entering
Not a simplifying tip as such but not wearing shoes indoors means a lot less dirt is tracked in and so floors stay alot cleaner.
9. Make your bed in the morning
Make your bed as soon as you get up and keep bedding to a minimum. Remove excess pillows, throws and blankets to simplify the process. It will set the mood for the day.
10. Re-wear clothing
It’s okay to repeat outfits that are still clean and don’t smell. Teach your children to do the same. Often we create more washing unnecessarily.
11. Keep a small wardrobe
Keep simplified wardrobes so that putting away clothing is quick and easy.
12. Fold clothing immediately
If you fold clothing immediately after hanging it to dry then you will have less ironing to do.
13. Remove excess furniture
Remove unnecessary furniture from the home. Less furniture means less to dust. Your home will also appear bigger.
14. Don’t keep any clutter in the bathrooms or toilet
Keep the essentials only. Makes cleaning in these highly used areas easier.
15. A team effort
This may be one of the most important tips for a tidier home and that is that everyone is responsible for their own stuff. It has become a habit in our home that once you are finished with something you put it away.
Simplifying and making these small changes has made a huge difference to my housekeeping routine. I hope it will make a difference to yours:)
For more housekeeping ideas check out this post on Housekeeping the old fashioned way