If you have children especially younger ones, the one thing constant in your house is mess. Mess made by your kids! There are drawing on the walls and clothes strewn over the entire house after a playful adventure. This is a very normal scenario! I myself have two kids below the age of five and sometimes all that you can see on the floor are toys. But I cannot stop them from playing and making a little mess as it will help them learn and explore. Yet you long for a home that is neat and well organized – a clutter-free home!
In this article, I am not going to talk about cleaning endless times to keep your house spotless. Or how to scrub, mop, and sweep! I just want to share a few tips so that you can make your life easier and get rid of junk which makes your house look messier than it is.
While the word “clutter” might read the same as messy or dirty to most of us, it’s actually a little different. What we mean by clutter is the stuff lying around in your house without any use. Or the piles of mails sitting in your counter! They just need a proper place and a few organizational skills. It’s okay to let your kids be kids and the house be messy! But you also want a clutter-free house to bring in more Zen and positivity!
Proper Storage is the Key
Storage bins and baskets are always a lifesaver. You can label them which will help you put everything in its place and get rid of junk. I try to use baskets and bins for my papers, toys, books, and toiletries along with other smaller stuff that would otherwise lie around the house. If you have a proper place for everything, immediately your house will look de-cluttered. Instead of filling up your tabletops or your countertops, you can put them inside baskets and bins which helps in organized living.
Remove the Excess
Our busy lives might prevent us from getting rid of clutter on a daily basis but if you are mindful you can easily remove the excess things in your house. For example, when your mail comes in you can throw away the unnecessary ones instead of piling them up on a table. And keep the important ones in a bin used for that purpose only. In the same way, recycle toys and books on a regular basis. Children don’t play with the same toy for a very long time so you can sell, pass on, or donate before bringing in new ones. For books also you can do the same!
Be Mindful of Hoarding
I myself am guilty of hoarding when I was a student. I had the tendency to collect cards, boxes, and plastic bags because I thought I might use them later. And I filled up an entire closet with that! But I was made to realize that they do not add any value to my life other than just creating junk. Clutter-free life not only provides a clean environment but also creates more space in your house inviting a sense of peace. Just throw out any stuff that is broken or no longer in use. Clutter invites more clutter and in no time you will find your piles going up higher. Just being a little mindful will help you in maintaining a clutter-free house.
Taking Care of Problem Areas
Desks and closets are common places that get cluttered easily. For desks, you can use small storage caddies to store stationary or electronic accessories. You can also put up shelves above the desk areas to maximize your space. Also, adding drawers under your desk will also provide a lot of storage space which will help to keep the desk area clean.
Closets can become a major haven for clutter and it is a good idea to keep on cleaning them from time to time. We all are guilty of accumulating stuff we no longer need. Going through your stuff regularly and giving away unnecessary items can help you get rid of junk. Using boxes and bins as well as hangers for all the different items in your closet can open up a lot of space. Also, the closet door can be used by installing hooks and hanging your jewelry and scarves.
Clear Bathroom Countertops
Bathrooms have smaller space and the more items you have strewn over the counters, the more cluttered it will look. You can use trays to store your toiletries and can also mount holders on the wall. Adding shelves to the walls helps you keep all of your bathroom stuff out of sight.
You may also want to read:
- 8 Useful Tips for Moms to Organize Their Seasonal Wardrobe
- 3 Basic Tips on How to Organize Your House Quickly
Keeping Kitchen Counters Clutter-Free
There are a few appliances such as a coffee maker, toaster, dish rack, or microwave which will find their place in the kitchen countertops. Items that are not of everyday use should be kept out of sight. Also, don’t bring in any items that do not belong to the kitchen such as paperwork or toys. Keeping the cabinets and drawers organized can also help you save a lot of time. If you have a particular place for every item in your kitchen it will facilitate organized living. Wall-mounted racks, hooks, and shelves are very useful to utilize space to the maximum.
Include your Kids
Inculcating the habit of cleaning after oneself from a young age creates responsible kids. Ask your kids to help you put their toys, books, and clothes in place when younger. Once that habit sets in they will know to keep their toys away and put their clothes in the proper place as they grow older. Not only does it make your life easy as a mother it also gives them a sense of responsibility and helps them have a clutter-free life.
Hope the above tips and tricks provided you with some beneficial information on how to have a clutter-free home! Let us know in the comments how you try to keep your house organized while also taking care of your kids.
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