There are a set of things that I do everyday to make the clutter and chaos at my household manageable (remember, I have an almost 3-year-old running around). I would love to have a house that could remain clean at all times, but who has that? And, sometimes, a little clutter is inviting, I think. It shows people that you are not going to lose it if they get mud on your floor or accidentally sit a glass on the table without a coaster. But, overall, I like to have an almost tidy house!
These are the things that I do on a daily basis that help keep things organized and in place...
#1 - Always make up the beds in the morning!
If I had a golden organization rule in my household, this would be it! My mother was a huge stickler on making up the beds in the morning and not getting back in them until bedtime. So, I guess she passed down that rule to me. I feel that if my bed is a wreck, then so is the rest of the room. If the entire room is organized and put together, but the bed isn't made, then it still looks like a mess to me.
#2 - Always take something with you to put away when you leave a room!
I think this is something I have done for awhile, but I never really realized it until recently. Anytime I leave one room to go to another, I take something with me. It could be as small as a piece of paper that needs to be thrown away, but I do it. You would be shocked at how much stuff would be put away by the end of the day if you tried this method. I like to take this approach because it takes little effort and doesn't take up half of your day. If you are going to a certain place anyways, then you are saving tons of time.
#3 - The kitchen counter must be clear of mess and piles of papers!
Not acceptable!!!
Much better!
I have told y'all that my counter tends to be the catch-all place in my household. We walk straight in the door and lay down our keys, books, bags, mail, cups, etc. If I don't watch out, this stuff will continuously pile up until it is overflowing into the floor. Then, we have a HUGE problem. So, in January, I told myself that this wasn't going to happen anymore. Everything has a place and if it doesn't have a place, it has to go... in the garbage! Anytime I walk by the kitchen counter, I grab something to put up or throw away. So far, it has been working very well and I don't have nearly as much mess piling up!
#4 - The toys must be picked up and put away before bedtime!
Every morning, my daughter's playroom starts out looking like the picture above. Everything is put in its place and there isn't anything on the floor. But, when she gets in there after daycare, it is a different story. She doesn't like her books to be on the shelf, so she will pull them all into the floor. That doesn't mean she is going to play with them, but they MUST be on the floor (she thinks). Next, the kitchen food and dolls come out and she keeps going and going and going. So, before we go to bed at night, we all three get in there and straighten it up. She can't go to bed unless her playroom is in order. It may be a little harsh, but I think she needs to learn about cleaning and organizing early on.
#5 - Before leaving for work in the mornings, the bathroom counters must be clear!
My daughter's bathroom.
My bathroom.
When I get dressed in the morning, I pull out a lot of stuff. I have to use a blow dryer, straightener, brush, makeup, contact solution, a heater (if it is cold) or a fan (if it is hot), and the list goes on and on. So, before I leave for work, I force myself to clean up this area. If I get something out, then I can put it back up. We must do as we teach, right?!?!
#6 - The "5-Minute Cleanup"
If there is one thing that is a must in my household, it is this! At the end of the day, after everyone has had their bath and we are about to go to bed, we have a five-minute cleanup. All three of us will take 5 minutes to put away anything we see in arms reach. My daughter even gets a kick out of singing, "Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere... Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share." So, of course, mommy and daddy have to chime in too. If everyone tried this at the end of their day, their clutter and mess would be cut by half at least.
What things do you do on a daily basis to keep your house in order? I bet there are certain things that you do that you aren't even aware of.
Happy Organizing,
There are a set of things that I do everyday to make the clutter and chaos at my household manageable (remember, I have an almost 3-year-old running around). I would love to have a house that could remain clean at all times, but who has that? And, sometimes, a little clutter is inviting, I think. It shows people that you are not going to lose it if they get mud on your floor or accidentally sit a glass on the table without a coaster. But, overall, I like to have an almost tidy house!
These are the things that I do on a daily basis that help keep things organized and in place...
#1 - Always make up the beds in the morning!
If I had a golden organization rule in my household, this would be it! My mother was a huge stickler on making up the beds in the morning and not getting back in them until bedtime. So, I guess she passed down that rule to me. I feel that if my bed is a wreck, then so is the rest of the room. If the entire room is organized and put together, but the bed isn't made, then it still looks like a mess to me.
#2 - Always take something with you to put away when you leave a room!
I think this is something I have done for awhile, but I never really realized it until recently. Anytime I leave one room to go to another, I take something with me. It could be as small as a piece of paper that needs to be thrown away, but I do it. You would be shocked at how much stuff would be put away by the end of the day if you tried this method. I like to take this approach because it takes little effort and doesn't take up half of your day. If you are going to a certain place anyways, then you are saving tons of time.
#3 - The kitchen counter must be clear of mess and piles of papers!
Not acceptable!!!
Much better!
I have told y'all that my counter tends to be the catch-all place in my household. We walk straight in the door and lay down our keys, books, bags, mail, cups, etc. If I don't watch out, this stuff will continuously pile up until it is overflowing into the floor. Then, we have a HUGE problem. So, in January, I told myself that this wasn't going to happen anymore. Everything has a place and if it doesn't have a place, it has to go... in the garbage! Anytime I walk by the kitchen counter, I grab something to put up or throw away. So far, it has been working very well and I don't have nearly as much mess piling up!
#4 - The toys must be picked up and put away before bedtime!
Every morning, my daughter's playroom starts out looking like the picture above. Everything is put in its place and there isn't anything on the floor. But, when she gets in there after daycare, it is a different story. She doesn't like her books to be on the shelf, so she will pull them all into the floor. That doesn't mean she is going to play with them, but they MUST be on the floor (she thinks). Next, the kitchen food and dolls come out and she keeps going and going and going. So, before we go to bed at night, we all three get in there and straighten it up. She can't go to bed unless her playroom is in order. It may be a little harsh, but I think she needs to learn about cleaning and organizing early on.
#5 - Before leaving for work in the mornings, the bathroom counters must be clear!
My daughter's bathroom.
My bathroom.
When I get dressed in the morning, I pull out a lot of stuff. I have to use a blow dryer, straightener, brush, makeup, contact solution, a heater (if it is cold) or a fan (if it is hot), and the list goes on and on. So, before I leave for work, I force myself to clean up this area. If I get something out, then I can put it back up. We must do as we teach, right?!?!
#6 - The "5-Minute Cleanup"
If there is one thing that is a must in my household, it is this! At the end of the day, after everyone has had their bath and we are about to go to bed, we have a five-minute cleanup. All three of us will take 5 minutes to put away anything we see in arms reach. My daughter even gets a kick out of singing, "Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere... Clean up, clean up, everybody do your share." So, of course, mommy and daddy have to chime in too. If everyone tried this at the end of their day, their clutter and mess would be cut by half at least.
What things do you do on a daily basis to keep your house in order? I bet there are certain things that you do that you aren't even aware of.
Happy Organizing,
Those are really great, functional and doable tips!!! Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteThese are seriously what I need. Especially the bathroom one. I tend to "display" all my products...but really it's just clutter. Thanks for the tips! Implenting today!
ReplyDeletegreat, simple, and effective tips....now...if i can just start doing this, hopefully the rest of the family will follow suit
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! Take it one step at a time. ;) And, I am sure it will become the norm with your family too.
Deletexoxo,
Kristin
I have a really silly question. After looking at your bathroom countertop, I wondered - where do you keep your toothbrush? I hate having toothbrushes on top of the counter, I feel like they're so exposed to germs in the air. Do you "hide" your toothbrushes somewhere?
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! That bathroom that is pictured is my daughter's. I am not sure if you can see it or not, but she has an owl/tree toothbrush holder that is sitting to the left of the sink. Sometimes, she uses it, but most of the time she brushes her teeth in my bathroom and keeps hers with mine. In my bathroom, I keep my toothbrush in a cup underneath the sink. There is something about my toothbrush sitting out for everyone to cough and sneeze on that just doesn't appeal to me. ;)
Deletexoxo,
Kristin