Monday, May 4, 2009

Create a Clutter Free Home

Anyone else have this problem?

Clutter all over the place?My dining area is the worst and almost every night it looks like this.I finally had enough of it so I gathered a few tips to help me get organized.I can't tell you how important it is to not let it get as bad as I did;because then you lose very important things like your friend's wedding invitation and the pretty little card that you were supposed to send back before April 25th to let her know you will be attending her wedding!


So,to make sure this never happens again when my other friend(you know who you are)gets engaged to her millionaire this year and she sends me the wedding invitation,I've looked for a few tips that can help me stay organized from now on.
There are several websites that have great tips to keep your home clutter free but this plan seems like it will work best for me.

1)Clear Flat Surfaces Daily.
Flat surfaces such as countertops, tabletops and sideboards act as magnets for clutter. Newsletters, books, magazines, coffee mugs, newspapers and various other items are absentmindedly put down and never retrieved or put away.
At the end of every day, check known clutter zones such as the entry table, kitchen countertops and coffee table for items that can be quickly put away. While this may take a little time initially, once the daily check habit is established this should become a task that takes less than 15 minutes to complete.


2)Leave the Kitchen Tidy
Stack the dishwasher and wipe down countertops at the end of each day.If there is no dishwasher and no time to wash the dishes, make sure that everything is stacked neatly ready to be cleaned the next morning. Wipe out the sink and wipe down countertops so that the kitchen is ready for the breakfast rush the following morning.


3)Establish a Cleaning Routine
Homes often become cluttered because there is no established cleaning routine. Many tasks take significantly less time if completed regularly.
Draw up a checklist for routine household chores and keep the list taped to the inside of the pantry or pinned to a notice board as a reminder. Set aside time each day to check the list and make sure that nothing has been overlooked.

4)Involve the Whole Family
Even toddlers can put away toys into a box or basket when they have finished with them. Older children can be responsible for stacking and unstacking the dishwasher, setting the table, changing towels and handtowels and helping to care for pets in addition to keeping their own belongings tidy.
Involving children in household chores helps them to establish their own good cleaning habits. Younger children may need some encouragement to become involved and there are a variety of ways to motivate them to take part including using reward charts or special treats occasionally if they take care of their responsibilities without complaining.

5)Sort and Discard
Clutter often results when a household simply has more items than it can easily store. If storage space is overburdened, consider sorting through clothing, children’s toys, kitchenware or other groups of items to clear out anything that is no longer useful. Garage/yard sales and websites such as eBay are a great way of turning these items into cash. Alternatively, donate useful clothing and household items to a local charity.

By making an effort to perform small tasks regularly, it is possible to reduce the amount of household clutter and create a more welcoming and organized home.

I've already started using some of these tips and I can't tell you how good it feels to finally get more organized.
I hope this post will be useful to you and if it is,remember to donate your things for our community block party this Saturday!
Oh and Neda if you read this YES I will be attending you wedding.Mark us down for four! :)
Hope everyone has a great Monday!
Sis Monica

5 comments:

  1. What great tips! That truly is my problem, too. Well..actually my husband contributes. Sis. Monica, think you could print these out and give him these tips for his office? JK! Everyday we seem to have more and more clutter on the kitchen counters. Great blog!

    Oh, and Sis. Neda....sent in my card....11 more days.

    Love to all,
    Sis. D.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I will definetly be printing this blog and using these tips.

    Love Ya,
    Sis. Kim

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for these tips. Anthony says they really worked and made cleaning easier for him today.

    ReplyDelete
  4. great tips...now it is just I have to not be lazy to do the tips...I am good at gathering the how-to's just need the want-to's to follow! lol!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great tips..some I will use when I marry my millionaire....:) yeah, right. like that's gonna happen..:)

    ReplyDelete