Does it seem like your home looks like a tornado hit it soon after you spend hours cleaning it? Rest assured that you’re in good company. This frustrating experience is actually one of the many reasons people use when searching for excuses not to clean. After all, what’s the point of cleaning today if your home will just look dirty again tomorrow?
Cleaning removes the dust, dander, and dirt, so cleaning is essential for a healthy living environment. However, poor organization is likely the reason why your home seems to fall into a state of chaos soon after cleaning. Let’s look at how easy it is to maintain an organized home after cleaning it.
Why Post-Clean Organization Matters
Cleaning and organization go hand in hand, but they are two very distinctive tasks. Organization is the process of giving everything in your home a place of its own. It creates structure out of chaos, and it eliminates unnecessary and unwanted items.
When your home is organized, you’ll have less to clean. More than that, you’ll have fewer items to move around while you’re cleaning. This means that it’s faster and easier to clean next time.
It also means that there are fewer places for dust and debris to build up. If you want to enjoy the results of a clean home for longer, post-clean organization deserves your full attention.
Turning a Clean Home into a Lasting System
The best way to keep your home looking clean for longer is to create a system that you can easily keep up with.
A lasting organization system is tailored to suit your unique needs and preferences. These are among the top strategies to implement in your organizational system.
Give Everything a “Home”
When an item in your home doesn’t have a dedicated space of its own, it might sit on a counter, dresser, or desk. Some of these items are stacked on top of other items, stuffed in a closet, or tossed into a corner.
You can easily avoid this unfortunately common cause of clutter by giving everything a home. Start by tossing out or donating items that you don’t need or want. This makes more space to organize the items that you actually still have a want or need for.
Everything in your home needs to have a space of its own. Before buying any new items, ensure that you’ll be able to find them a dedicated space. If not, you’ll need to get rid of something before buying something new.
Do a Quick Daily Reset
Even when everything in your home has a dedicated space, belongings have a tendency to find themselves outside of their reserved area.
For example, you might bring a drinking glass and a stack of mail into your bedroom, and those items could remain there until you get around to cleaning the house again.
A better option is to simply dedicate a few minutes of your time each day to put everything back where it belongs. One way to do this is to walk through your home with an empty box or basket before calling it a day. Gather up the clutter and put every item back where it goes.
Follow the “Put It Back Right Away” Habit
Rather than waiting until the end of the day to declutter, you can stay on top of organization as you go about your day. For example, as soon as you’re done with that drinking glass from the kitchen, walk it to the dishwasher.
An alternative is to clear away clutter as you leave each room. If you’re heading to the kitchen, why not grab that empty glass now and save yourself a trip later?
Declutter on a Regular Schedule
If you wait until cleaning day rolls around each week to declutter, you’ll likely have a huge mess on your hands. Everyone has a unique schedule with their own responsibilities, so it’s important to find a decluttering schedule that works best for you.
However, avoid waiting until the last minute to declutter. Instead, consider special strategies to declutter throughout the day.
For example, after you bring in a stack of mail, immediately read and deal with it rather than toss it in a growing stack of envelopes and flyers on the kitchen counter. While you’re cooking dinner at night, recruit the kids to straighten their rooms and toys. When you make it a habit, decluttering is easier to keep up with.
Keep Storage Simple and Accessible
Storage and decluttering are inseparable. This is because storage allows you to optimize space while also giving your items their own dedicated spaces. Storage doesn’t have to be expensive and complicated.
In fact, it shouldn’t be. You’re far more likely to use your storage system when it’s simple and accessible. Consider using under-bed storage bins, hanging shoe racks, drawer organizers, and other similar systems that specifically address your needs.
Getting the clean, organized home that you want can seem like a challenge, but it’s easier to do than you might think. Often, our clients at TidyHere lack the motivation or ability to keep their home as clean and organized as they need it to be, but rest assured that our pros will get the job done. To arrange Boston cleaning services for your home, call TidyHere for your first appointment today.
