15 Game-Changing Organizing and Cleaning Tips for Busy Lifestyles
With a busy life, making time to do enjoyable things is hard, let alone keep your home organized and sparkly clean. Luckily, there are several tricks to make cleaning easy and sometimes even fun.
For those who are passionate about cleaning or aspire to be, there are countless ways to enhance your tidying skills. However, it’s crucial to remember not to overwhelm yourself, especially during those particularly challenging weeks. Striking a balance is key.
Mindfully American reviewed advice from cleaning experts to assemble a list of helpful organization and cleaning tips. We’ll be the first to admit that some of them are obvious, but sometimes having things spelled out is exactly what us busy folks need.
By following these tips, you’ll be ready for unexpected visitors and have more time for more important (ahem, fun) things in life.
1: Don’t Have a Junk Drawer
Junk drawers can lead to unnecessary clutter. And more clutter equals more mess. So, consider getting rid of your junk drawer altogether.
If you can’t part with your junk drawer, commit to sorting it out regularly to maintain organization. If you do this monthly, it won’t become quite as “junky.”
2: Embrace Technology
Robot vacuum cleaners like Roombas can be a great help in keeping your home clean. Your pets may not like them, but using high-tech devices isn’t cheating. Remember, the goal is to work smarter, not harder.
Nowadays, electric spinning scrub brushes, mopping robots, and even self-changing trash cans are available. The future has arrived, and it wants your home to be spotless.
3: Create a Daily Cleaning Plan
Home and hospitality expert Martha Stewart recommends creating three lists for cleaning plans: one for daily tasks, another for weekly tasks, and another for monthly. The daily tasks should be quick and easy, such as doing the dishes, putting away clothes, cleaning counters in all rooms, and quickly sweeping the floors.
These daily, bite-sized chores shouldn’t take too long. If you follow this daily, you’ll avoid being overwhelmed by a big mess.
4: Establish a Weekly Plan
Your weekly plan should include larger chores. These include emptying all trash cans, mopping the floors, cleaning your bathrooms, doing the laundry, cleaning out any appliances, and going through and discarding mail.
Weekly tasks are more time-consuming. Choose a specific day every week for your weekly clean day. Once you get into a routine, it will become second nature.
5: Make a Monthly Plan
The monthly plan is when you really get down and dirty. Monthly tasks include throwing out old food from the freezer, cleaning baseboards, wiping down doors and windows, replacing filters, dusting shelves, scrubbing grout, and cleaning mattress pads and pillow protectors. These tasks are far from fun, but the feeling of accomplishment when you finish is worth it (not to mention you won’t be eating spoiled food).
Again, make sure to mark a day every month as your monthly cleaning day. Making these extra plans ensures that things will remain in good shape.
6: Declutter Your Space
Things look tidier when free of clutter. Reducing clutter can be hard work, but it’ll make your home look much better.
The experts at GLAD recommend making four boxes: one for trash, one for items to put away, one for donating or selling, and one for items to put in storage. GLAD also suggests tackling one room at a time.
7: Delegate
When possible, delegating some of your cleaning tasks is helpful for the busy American. This will free up some time and, if you have young kids or grandkids in the house, help them learn important life skills.
Assign each person in your home a separate task, picking something that works with their strengths. With tasks spread out, things will (hopefully) get done quicker.
8: Tool Time
It’s fun to improvise sometimes. But when it comes to cleaning, having the right tools helps you get the job done more efficiently.
The most helpful cleaning tools to have on hand include sponges, clothes, dish towels, long-handled dusters so you can reach every crevice in your home, a traditional mop, scrub brushes, toilet brushes, a vacuum cleaner, a broom, and a dustpan. Squeegees and Magic Erasers can also be useful.
9: Clean As You Go
Efficiency is key when it comes to cleaning. So, try combining tasks by cleaning while you do other things.
For example, wash dishes while cooking, go through your fridge while waiting for food to cook, or throw in a load of laundry while food is in the oven. You can also clean the shower walls or squeegee the shower door right after showering.
10: Everything Should Have a Place
Keep your home tidy by ensuring that every item has a designated place. Whether it’s with bins, baskets, carts, closets, or drawers, having a proper place for everything makes it easier to keep things neat.
When everyone in the household knows where items belong, they’re more likely to return them to their spot. This shared responsibility not only keeps the home tidy but also fosters a sense of cooperation among household members.
11: Choose the Right Cleaning Product
Choose the right cleaning products for your cleaning tasks at hand, whether they be natural, non-toxic, pet-friendly, or powerful chemical cleaners. Otherwise, the well-being of your appliances and belongings could be at stake.
Using the right products is essential to avoid damaging surfaces. For instance, when it comes to cleaning wood products, you need to use products specifically made for that.
12: Forgettable Places
Don’t overlook hidden areas when cleaning. As annoying as it is, to keep your house clean, you’ll need to move furniture and may even need to climb a ladder to reach everything.
Look under and behind furniture and appliances, and check high surfaces such as shelves and ceiling fans. Dust and clean these areas regularly.
13: Gamify Cleaning
Here’s a truth many of us have experienced: There are days when you won’t be motivated to tidy up. During those times, make cleaning a fun challenge.
Set a timer for 20 minutes and see how much you can accomplish, or turn cleaning into a friendly competition with family members. You can also explore apps like Habitica, Clutterfree, and Dirtfree to make tidying up more enjoyable.
14: Stop Dirt in Its Tracks
Prevent dirt from entering your home by wiping pets’ paws before they come inside, having a no-shoes rule indoors, and regularly cleaning vents to keep the air clean.
Also, remember to empty your vacuum cleaner outside and brush your pets often to reduce shedding.
15: Hire a Professional
If you have the financial means, consider hiring a cleaning professional; there’s no shame in seeking outside help for chores.
A professional can save you time and reduce stress by ensuring your home is spotless according to your preferences and schedule. Whether for a few days a week, once a week, or monthly, their help can save you serious time.
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