If you feel stressed, you may want to take a look at how your home looks. Studies have shown that clutter can negatively impact your mood, causing distraction and affecting your ability to focus and anxiety levels.Â
For some people, cleaning may be enjoyable, but since you’re reading this, that’s probably not the case for you. You may feel like keeping up with the house cleaning is a drag – especially if you have a busy life- but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be as time-consuming as you think. In this blog, we’ve gathered some simple habits you can implement to keep your home tidy and stress-free, so keep reading!
Start by making your bed every morning
Yes, it really is that simple! Some people consider making the bed a waste of their time, but the truth is that it can really make a difference in keeping your home tidy. And the bonus is that it only takes you a few minutes. Even if a few things in the bedroom are out of place, a tidy bed will immediately make the space look neater. Also, did you know that making your bed can have a motivating effect on you? That’s right because you’ve already completed a task successfully, which puts you in the mindset to also complete others.Â
To make things easier, start by simplifying your bedding – for instance, you can cut out the top sheets and instead opt for a duvet and washable cover. That’s just an idea, but if you don’t want to give up on your top sheets, don’t worry! You can also approach this by reducing the number of pillows on your bed or using a duvet or oversized comforter that doesn’t require to be tucked in the sheets.Â
Do one load of laundry every day
Now, this may vary depending on how many loads you do weekly, but if it works for you, go for seven loads of laundry every week by putting in one load of laundry in the morning after completing your routine. If you find it challenging to keep your laundry in order, consider investing in the right washing basket to make sorting easier and ensure your home doesn’t look cluttered.
Suppose you work at the office and won’t get the chance to dry the laundry before you leave. A good way to approach this is to put the washing machine on delay so you can place the laundry in the dryer when you arrive home. Consider buying a rotary washing line to have peace of mind, knowing that your dryer is stable and secure (this is particularly important if you want to let the clothes dry in the garden or balcony). Another idea is to put the load in the washing machine in the morning and turn it on as soon as you get home – but be sure not to just leave it there and commit to the task instead.
Learn to prioritise
Here’s the thing: it may not be possible to do all the cleaning at once, and that’s fine – all you have to do is distinguish between what needs to be done right away and what can be postponed for a day or two. Consider how many hours you can dedicate to cleaning and write down two or three realistic goals instead of attempting to do everything. This will help you focus on one task at a time, improving efficiency and making cleaning feel less tiring.
Also, it’s better to spend around 10 minutes every day on small cleaning tasks such as sweeping or washing dishes instead of not doing anything at all, because this will not only prevent cleaning from becoming overwhelming but will also avoid the accumulation of dirt and dust.
Do a 15 minute clean up in the evening
Get into the habit of spending 15 minutes every evening to do a cleanup. It’s a good idea to involve your family in the task; if you do so, you’ll notice that it will no longer feel so overwhelming! Set a timer and stick with the most important priorities – for example, while kids clean their rooms, you can clean the kitchen or put away laundry.
It’s a good idea, to begin with the things in the home that create the most clutter or anything that you believe must be done before going to bed (for instance, you may run a vacuum during the evening, particularly in high-traffic areas).
Put things away as you go
While this may seem like an obvious thing to do, we often overlook it. Cleaning as you go doesn’t take a lot of time but will have a huge impact on the cleanliness of the space at the end of the day. Here’s how you can approach this:
- Take the clothes off by the closet and put them in the laundry or hang them back up;
- Put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of just leaving them on the counter;
- Put your coat and shoes away right when you get into the home;
- Ask the entire family to contribute to cleaning the kitchen after dinner so that it won’t be messy when you have to go to bed.
These are all little things that go a long way, and although you may not always stick to these habits, it will still make a difference if you do them whenever you can – trust us, you will save yourself a lot of effort and time to do the cleaning!
Keep a donation box for the things you don’t need anymore
Suppose you have a hall closet; placing your donation box there is a good idea. However, if you have a tight space, you can get creative by hanging a bag inside a close door’s hook. Label the box as one for donations and be sure to put the things you no longer need into it as you go. Once the box is full, visit a donation centre and donate all the items.Â
This is also a good idea if you have children because once they grow out of a particular item, you can put it right into the donation box instead of keeping it until it makes the home cluttered. Besides, getting into the habit of putting things in a box regularly will keep the storage areas and closets neat, ensuring that you don’t have to sort through things one or two times throughout the year.
The bottom line
Hopefully, after reading all these tips, you no longer feel stressed about cleaning your home! As you can see, all it takes is a few simple habits to ensure that your living space looks neat and supports your family’s health and well-being.
