Houseproud Blog
How to clobber clutter in your home
Sunday, May 30, 2010
We all can struggle with clutter and who is guilty of having a few “shove and shut” cupboards and drawers in their home? Before guests arrive, all manner of junk can be quickly shoved in to the nearest room, cupboard or drawer.
Houseproud offer some simple hints and tips to keep the clutter under control, even with kids and a small home.
Find a place for everything and ensure it is returned to its place
The biggest cause of clutter is that we all bring new things home and we don’t find a place for them. It is a good rule to make that if something new is brought home, something old should go. Encourage your kids to give their old toys, clothes and books to help others in need, this is modeling good house cleaning and the spirit of generosity.
Simple storage
Invest in good shelving and storage solutions, but be mindful that more storage equals more stuff. In particular, ensure each kid has enough storage in their bedrooms for their personal possessions, especially their clothes.
For their books and toys remember the rule if it’s new find a new place, and get rid of something old to maintain that tidy clean home!
Finish the job and put it away, straight away
Mothers are experts on multi-tasking. It is important to always finish the job, get into the habit of putting things away as soon as you have finished it otherwise it is so easy to get distracted!
Many hands make light work
Teach your kids that tidying up and home cleaning is a family job. Even very young kids can help with some household chores and cleaning. Make sure your kids participate in the daily de-clutter by putting away their toys etc. Simple tasks like clearing the table, stacking the dish washer, getting their school things ready can make a huge difference to a busy family.
Clobber that Paper
You should only ever handle paperwork once, deal with it as soon as you open it. Mail, bills, catalogues, school newsletters and notes can all pile up so fast. We suggest you maintain a simple filing system to quickly find things and keep some order.
Never leave a room empty-handed
If you have got a spare hand, pick up something that does not belong in that room and put it in its place. You will be surprised how many things get put away if you follow this simple step.
“I didn’t believe you’d be able to keep the standards up - but you did.”
Cassandra - Dee Why