Easy Ways To Get More Done Around The House
"Housekeeping is like being caught in a revolving door." Marcelene Cox
Staying on top of keeping your home clean and organized is not always easy. Sometimes life gets in the way, and we get behind in our housekeeping duties. But we can succeed with some planning and some productive routines. And we don't have to spend hours at a time cleaning.
Make your bed first thing in the morning. Making your bed sets the tone for your day. You have accomplished something first thing in the morning. It feels good.
Avoid distractions. Put your phone out of reach, and you will be less likely to check for text messages or Twitter posts. Social media can drain our productivity out of us rather quickly.
Don't let paper clutter pile up. Sort the mail as soon as it comes in. Shred or file immediately.
Start your day with a walk of the house, noting the priorities for the day.
Forget perfection. Why can't good be enough?
If it's not dirty, don't clean it.
"The only thing I hate more than having a dirty house is cleaning." – Unknown
5 minutes of decluttering. Check your home's hotspots and put away the misplaced items. Gather up any trash that may have accumulated.
Make a list of your top priorities of the day. If you accomplish your three or four top priorities, you will have had a pretty successful day.
Make use of rugs. Rugs or mats in the entryways or high traffic areas keep the dirt from being tracked throughout the house.
Create a cleaning schedule. Nothing detailed. Maybe certain days for certain chores. Make Monday laundry day, or Wednesday might be the day to do the vacuuming. You get the idea.
Have the necessary cleaning supplies handy and ready for use in the kitchen and bathrooms.
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Be organized, so you don't have to waste time looking for things. A place for everything and everything in its place is a good motto to keep in mind.
Put things away. We never stop to think that if we just put things away where they belonged when we finished with them, our house would stay much neater. Hang that coat up, rinse that tub, and put the toothpaste away. All those little things add to the cluttered look of our home. And it just takes seconds to put them away.
Follow the clean as you go when cooking rule. Save yourself from facing the utter disaster of piles of dirty dishes and cluttered counters. Stay on top of things as you cook.
Vacuum often. That is especially important if you have pets that shed. Make use of a swifter or dust mop for your wood floors, making sure to get under the furniture.
Make cleaning a little more fun by turning up the music. Listen to some upbeat music and get moving.
Try cleaning as you go. After you wash your face and brush your teeth, wipe up the sink and mirror. Try doing a little cleaning each time you are in the bathroom. Clean the mirror. Swish and swipe the toilet. These things only take a minute or two.
If you pass through the kitchen, wash any dishes in the sink or empty the dishwasher or drainer. Remember these little chores only take minutes, and keeping up with them will save you time in the long run.
Don't forget to look up. Check your corners and ceilings for cobwebs. They tend to sneak up on you.
Some days you may need a little bribery to get you going. That's okay. Enjoy your favorite chocolate and a good book. Or enjoy a short nap. Whatever works for you. You have earned a bit of a reward.
It's up to us to determine how clean is clean enough for us. We have to be realistic. Do we think we must have our homes so clean we could eat off the floors? It has never entered my mind to have a goal of eating off the floors in my house.
I guess for me, as long as we are comfortable in the home and not embarrassed to have visitors in, and the Board Of Health is not pounding on our door, I am good. Some days are pick up and maintain, and some are spent washing floors and dusting for cobwebs. Sooner or later, it all comes together. Cleaning does not have to be an all-or-nothing issue.
And of course, if you feel you need to do a major cleaning, host a dinner, or get-to-gather at your home. The urge to clean will suddenly appear.
"Nothing inspires cleanliness more than an unexpected guest."
