There are five rules of order that can help you become a domestic goddess and maintain a tidy, well kept home. Learn how to use these 5 rules to be a modern homemaker.
These rules of order help you develop new habits in order to prevent clutter buildup. I found these tips helpful because like I’ve said many times before, this cleaning thing doesn’t come naturally for me.
You don’t have to be a mom to feel like you’re pulled in every direction! Not only do I help myself in posting this info and hopefully you will find it helpful too.
Establish a routine.
For example, when you enter your home, put you pocketbook in a designated place, your coat, your keys, the dog leash, etc. Remind yourself until it becomes second nature.
I know for me this is hard for everyone in our family, and if you have to take it to elementary level and write it on poster board and post it near the door…then do that. That’s what we’ll be doing since we have a kindergartner in the house!
Reset.
Every time you use something, put it back in its home. Sounds easy enough right. Think of this as “resetting”, so it’s ready the next time you want it.
If this habit takes longer to set in, think of taking 10-15 minutes every evening to put things back in their place.
See tasks through.
Unfinished chores are a major factor in a disorganized home. (ok can we take the spotlight off of me please! lol) Laundry isn’t done until the clothes are folded, hung up and put away. ( ok really, the bright lights are too much! haha)
Dishes aren’t done until they’ve been dried and placed back in the cupboard. The same is true for home-improvement projects.
Don’t start a job unless you have the time and motivation to finish it. <—- that last line is key! Gotta have the time and motivation.
Cycle items in and out.
If you bring something new into your home, something else can likely be thrown out or given away. This is a big issue in my house with toys. But I’m working on it! I know what I tell my daughter is that there are a lot of children who don’t have toys. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan is a prime example. That helps the process. Also when birthdays and Christmas come around, that’s a great time to get rid of some neglected toys.
Work one room at a time.
Don’t organize by going back and forth between areas of your home. It will sap your energy and often result in half-finished projects. Focus on one room, one space at a time.
Secrets to keeping a clean house.
Cleanliness is not something most people are born with. It’s just not. It is a learned behavior and just like learning multiplication tables in school, or how to do your job at work, the more you do it the better you become. It takes self discipline and probably most importantly…the desire to keep things clean.
Let’s keep it real for a minute…the real secret to keeping a clean house is thinking about it like this…
It’s always easier to wash the dishes before your sink is overflowing.
It’s always easier to tackle a load of laundry before it becomes weeks worth of laundry.
It’s always easier to clean the bathtub before rings form.
It’s always easier to tackle that stack of clutter before it becomes mounds of clutter.
When I look at it that way, it makes it so much easier for me to keep a cleaner house. Again, I’m no Susie Homemaker as much as I wish that I was. But I’m better than I used to be.
And admittedly, different seasons of life brings different challenges. If you have babies or toddlers in the home, keeping a clean house is a lot more difficult than if you have middle schoolers or teenagers. But the older kids bring on their own challenges too. It’s really all about adapting to each age and stage.
Sticking to these 5 rules for a clean house will not only reduce overwhelm and guilt, but they’ll help you to take pride in your home. When you take pride you show your home respect. And you keep it clean.
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