Does your home feel perpetually messy even though you are always cleaning? Maybe you have a clutter problem.
Clutter is all that stuff that is lying around like toys that were played with but not put away or a stack of books and magazines that fill up the coffee table or even the pile of school work, envelopes and bills strewn over your counter tops.
It can definitely feel chaotic and messy when these piles of clutter begin to get out of control.
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Here are 6 simple ways to embrace your inner neat-freak and take control of the clutter before it gets too far out of hand!
6 Steps To A More Organized Home
Spend time really looking for the areas in your home where the clutter accumulates. Identify areas where there are problems and write it down. It is best to do this room by room so you don't overwhelm yourself. Take good notes so when you get to work fixing the problem areas you have a solid plan to help you start.
When you are finished studying your clutter step back and think about why this mess is always there. Do you have a habit of leaving your purse and coat on the kitchen chair after you get home? Do blankets get left in piles on the couch? Do your kids play with their toys at a certain time but never pick up?
Bad habits are a top contributor to creating clutter. If some of your clutter problems are due to bad habits it is time to break those annoying habits.
It was once believed that it takes 21 days to break a bad habit but recent studies have shown that the average time to break a habit is 66 days which means some people need more days and some fewer.
The clutter problems due to bad habits will take some hard work and consistency before change is noticed. Stick with it - it will be worth it!
Practice Daily Organization
If you are a procrastinator who leaves cleaning up clutter for the weekend you're really just creating a bigger problem for yourself. By Saturday the clutter monster will be so big and overwhelming you might be tempted to turn and run!
Instead force yourself to spend 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon and 10 minutes before bedtime organizing those problem areas of clutter. Not only will your space feel less chaotic but it will give you a sense of accomplishment. Ten minutes, three times a day is much more manageable than waiting for the weekend to organize!
Use Your Wall Space
If bad habits aren't the problem maybe you don't have enough storage space for your stuff. Look over the plan you created when studying each room.
Maybe a few more book shelves or floating shelves could become a new home for that stack of Harry Potter novels and magazines that are always taking over the coffee table. Consider investing in some sturdy fabric bins to hang from a hook on a wall where you can store toys or stuffed animals. How about a blanket ladder propped up against a corner wall in the living room to store your blankets?
FIFO (no, not the name of a new pet!)
FIFO is an inventory term that means first in, first out. When you bring something new into the home, no matter what it is, find something you don't need anymore to get rid of.
We all have those "things" we've kept forever because we've convinced ourselves that someday we might need it, but we've never use them - now is a good time to get rid of those "things".
Manage your "inventory" so that clutter is kept at bay.
Keep A Donation Bin
Tote your donation bin around with you as you spend 10 minutes organizing. Toss items in the bin that you no longer use or need and once it is full bring it to your local charity to give as donations. Remember, one man's trash is another man's treasure!
Use Caddy's and Containers
If you find it hard to get rid of some stuff consider instead using a small caddy or container to store your items. This way everything looks nice and organized rather than strewn all over the top of a counter or table. Keep one in each bedroom, kitchen and living room. Don't let the caddy get too full though, you don't want it overflowing onto a table or the floor!
Follow these six tips on a regular basis and your space will feel much more organized and clean! You and your family will feel more relaxed and not so overwhelmed by all the clutter.
More cleaning hacks...
Spring is just around the corner! Do you get the "itch" to do some spring cleaning each year? I certainly do! Check out these great Spring cleaning tools and tips to help you get your house in tip top shape this year:
Looking for a great tool to help you plan our your cleaning schedule? Sunny Day Family has the perfect tool to help you create a do-able cleaning routine.
Save Your Saturday! Use this Cleaning Planner to help you get the job done.
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What are your top organizing and cleaning struggles? Leave your comments below.
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