Putter and De-clutter
This is the best first step for an everyday cleaner house. Once you have everything put away it makes the “big” tasks less intimidating. Walk around your house, get the kids involved too, and just pick up and return things to where they belong. Dirty socks in the hamper, toys in their bins, dishes in the sink, etc. Putter around till every thing is at least in the right room.
One Area at a time…One cupboard at a time
Just start somewhere, pick a room, any room. Start with a desk drawer, dump the whole thing out give it a good wipe and then put back only what you use and need, toss or donate what you don’t. It only takes a few minutes to organize one shelf, drawer or cupboard at a time. When you have eliminated the junk from one room start over in the next.
Touch It Once
When you’re de-cluttering, cleaning, or just walking into the house with arms full of junk mail, touch it once. Pick it up and put it where it goes to avoid piles on your counters, stacks on your table tops and shoes littering the halls. It can be a difficult habit to form but if the whole family makes an effort you can keep the heaps from taking over.
One Month Box Challenge
I love doing this at least once a year. Its kinda like, “when in doubt throw it out” but with out the doubt. Try it in the kitchen first, empty a whole drawer of utensils into a box. Over the next few weeks when you need something from the box, use it then put it back in the drawer. At the end of the month donate whatever is left in the box because you obviously don’t use it enough! This is such a great way to figure out what you really need and what is just taking up space.
