Getting Organized: There’s No Magic Bullet

When it comes to keeping your household clean and organized a lot of people are constantly looking for some easy answer… some “magic bullet” that will eliminate the effort. Eventually just about everyone learns that housework is always going to involve work and that much of this work is going to have to be done day after day. A lot of it is drudge work that actually gets your hands dirty and often isn’t pleasant. But it still has to be done. Some people think purging is the answer, on the principle that if something isn’t there they won’t have to clean it. And while that is true, purging beyond sensible decluttering is a little like having all your teeth pulled so you will never have to brush them again. Sure, an empty, spartan house is easier to clean, but it does still has to be cleaned, and it’s not much fun to live in.

The only solution that will ever work long term is to find your own method of taking care of household chores efficiently, quickly and with as little stress as possible… and then to do these chores day after day. Here are a few ideas to get you started, based on what works for me:

• Every morning, make your bed first thing and expect any family members old enough to do the same. Few things look messier than a room with an unmade bed. Look around the room. Do a quick pick up… Hang up clean clothes and put dirty clothes in the hamper.
• Clean up little messes as soon as they happen to prevent them from becoming big messes. For example, spilled juice takes just a few minutes to clean up when it’s fresh, but is just one more sticky, discouraging mess to tackle if left for later. Keep the floors cleaned… if you have kids, invest in a little broom and dust pan and let the kids sweep up the crumbs after a meal.
• Get in the habit of putting things back where they belong when you’re finished with them. This one simple step can make an amazing difference in how your house looks. Teach the kids to pick up their own toys before nap or bed time.
• Wash dishes right away before food has a chance to become dried on. Or soak them in hot soapy water so they can wash themselves. And then put them away. Using this method, the entire dish washing process is taken care of quickly and eliminates the problem of a counter full of dirty dishes making the whole kitchen look unkempt.
• Make laundry easier and eliminate wrinkles by removing wet clothes from the washer as soon as the cycle stops. If you’re drying outside, shake each item hard before hanging on the line. If you’re using a dryer, fold the clothes while they are still warm…. and then put them away immediately.
• Every time someone takes a bath or a shower, have them give the shower walls and tub a quick wipe down… nothing major, just wipe down the surfaces to avoid build-up. Keep a towel handy just for this purpose.

To be continued…

Filed Under Organization