It isn’t always easy to keep a tidy house. Unless you employ a daily housekeeper, chances are you will need to take matters into your own hands. Sadly, a house isn’t going to keep itself clean!

The truth is, with busy life schedules, work, kids, and other priorities, a house can get out of sorts quickly and seem overwhelming if you try to tackle it all at once.

By picking up these seven simple daily habits, you can keep your house tidy and clean – and guest ready – with minimal stress.

 

If this list seems overwhelming to take on all at once, consider choosing just one habit to include in your every day routine, then add the others through time. A little bit of effort can go a long way in keeping a house organized and running smoothly.

 

MAKE THE BEDS

If one of the first things you do in the morning is make your bed, your day will be set up for productivity. The small win of checking off one item from the daily to-do list can make a huge difference in your perception of being able to take on the remaining items.

The great news is that making your bed is quick and easy. It should not take more than a few minutes to accomplish. A bed is typically one of the largest visible surface areas in a bedroom. Because of this, it can have a big impact. A made bed will give the illusion that the rest of the room is pretty tidy as well.

Take some time to teach your children to make their beds. Even if not done perfectly, the routine task will give them pride of ownership and a feeling of accomplishment.

 

 

KEEP COUNTER SURFACES CLEAR

Visual clutter can immediately add stress to your day. Just as the bed is a large surface area in the bedroom, tables and counter space represent a large area in other rooms. The kitchen, for example. If they become dumping grounds for papers, clothing, and knick knacks, they lose the functionality they were designed for.

Of course, most counters will never be 100 percent clear all of the time. That is unrealistic. The goal is to work to keep the surface as clear as possible. If you use the counter to prepare dinner, for example, clear it up afterwards. After the meal has been eaten, remove the dishes from the table.

 

SORT THE MAIL

One of the biggest counter-clutter culprits is the daily mail. Consider installing a file sorter, or placing a small basket near the entry door. Then, as soon as you enter your home, sort through the mail you bring in. Important papers can be placed in the sorter to be tackled later, and junk mail moved directly to the recycle bin.

Further this technique for other papers as well – receipts, work papers, even school art projects. Sort them straight away and you won’t find yourself with a massive pile to dig through later.

 

LEAVE SHOES AT THE DOOR

Consider all of the surfaces your shoes touch in a given day. Grass, pavement, gravel… even public restroom floors. It goes without saying that the potential for germs and debris on their soles is high. The last thing you want to do is spread that throughout your home. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happens if you leave your shoes on.

Make it a habit to remove your shoes at the door, and encourage the same of your guests. In doing so, you won’t need to clean your floors and carpets as often, and you will always know where they are. No searching for a missing shoe when you are running late!

 

 

IF YOU TAKE OUT, PUT IT BACK

Each item in your home should have a place to rest – whether that is in a basket, bin, closet or cabinet. Once that ‘home base’ is established, be mindful that if it is taken out to be used it will be put back after.

Books will be read and placed back on the shelf, blankets in the basket near the fireplace.

Clothing should follow the same rule. When you change into your pjs in the evening, determine if the outfit you were wearing during the day is clean enough to be stored in the closet again. If not, it should make it’s way into the laundry bin No clothes should end up on the floor or the back of the chair.

This technique not only helps to keep the home tidy, but makes it easier to find items when they are needed. It helps if your children see you practicing this behavior. With enough modeling, they will learn to pick up and put away their toys after each use – meaning less work for you in the long run.

 

CLEAN THE KITCHEN EVERY NIGHT

You don’t need a two hour deep clean session each day. Something as simple as making sure the dishes are washed and put away (or stored in the dishwasher) can have a big impact. The kitchen is likely to be one of the first rooms you encounter upon waking in the morning. Seeing it tidy acts like a breath of fresh air and can give you peace at the start of each day.

A clean kitchen has the added benefit of making you want to use it. Many people admit that they feel the urge to cook more often when their kitchen is organized with everything in it’s place.

 

BE GENEROUS

Chances are if you were to take inventory of all the items you own and store in your home, you would realize that you use only a portion of them on a regular basis. Keep a donation bin handy, and toss those rarely used clothes, books, toys, and other miscellaneous items in it. Donate regularly to a local thrift store, or hold a garage sale.

The truth is: The less you have, the less you need to maintain. Less maintaining means less cleaning and more time for other things.

 

Your house is your haven, and when kept clean it offers a sense of peace to all inhabitants and visitors. Adopting these seven habits will start you on your journey to a tidy house.  To further your knowledge of how to simplify your home, consider reading these books:

 

Enough: Finding More By Living With Less

The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

 

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