Empty the Kitchen Sink
My parenting had a rule growing up… never leave anything in the sink. I was annoyed by it as a kid but as an adult I totally get it now.
You can make this rule too. It’s really simple. When you have a dirty dish, it goes straight to the dishwasher If the dishwasher is full… empty it! But if you don’t have time to empty a whole dishwasher, hand wash your dish and put it away. Nothing should ever be left in the sink!
Put things away as you go
When I cook, I use an ingredient and put it away. I don’t wait until the end to clean everything up. It makes it so much easier. Use this theory in your daily life. When you open mail, throw the junk away and have a place for the rest. Put dirty clothes in the hamper as soon as you take them off.
Everything has a place
Super clean and organized people make sure everything has a place. Your mail and keys have a spot so they are not all over the counter. Toys have their own bins and baskets. Dog toys have their own spot too.
This not only helps you stay more organized, but makes easier for kids to help clean up too. No more excuses on “I don’t know where to put it!”
Have a laundry system
People with clean houses have a really goo system for their laundry. First and foremost, they dont let it pile up! They typically use seperate hampers for their clothing (lights, darks, towels, etc) so that when its laundry time, you dont waste time sorting things out.
If you want to stay on top of the laundry, designate different days for different loads. Darks on Tuesdays and lights on Thursdays, Towels, and sheets on Fridays. Wash delicates on Saturday so they have time to dry before the weekend is over.
Clean Kitchen counters before bed
Just like a nicely made bed, a clean kitchen counter works wonders for making your entire kitchen seem clean and organized even when the rest of it is not. Don’t make it to complicated, just clear off the clutter (everything in its place!) and wipe the counters down.
Have a cleaning plan
People who keep their homes clean on a daily basis don’t just wing it. They have an exact plan for how and when things get cleaned and block out their time in increments and assign tasks. They take tasks and assign them to different days so they always know when things will get done.
Use a vacuum on everything
While most people think vacuums are only for carpet, people who keep their homes clean use vacuums everywhere. They vacuum their hardwood and tile (so much more gets picked up this way). And they spend time vacuuming their furniture. Try vacuuming your couch and be amazed at how fresh and clean it is… and how long it stays that way!
Clean as you go
Clothes, dishes, toys… once it’s not being used, clean it up! Everything you do, clean up after yourself as you go. So at the end of the week when you finally have some time off, you don’t have a mountain of items that need to be put away.
Keep your closet organized
I don’t think we realize how many items are stored in our closets and how often we use them. By keeping this area cleaned and organized, it makes our lives less stressful. Use clever baskets and storage bins to make everything as organized as possible
Make Your Bed Every day
I started doing this a few years ago and I cannot even begin to tell you what a difference it makes. It’s not even about the bed itself. But for some reason, you can have a mess around your room and just by making the bed, the whole room appears cleaner.
Not to mention, when you come into your room at night ready to go to sleep, seeing a nicely made bed will make you feel organized. Feeling unorganized gives me anxiety and crawling into a clean bed every night helps drastically reduce that feeling.
