The Sane Way to Maintain Order at Home

Maintaining order at home can be time-consuming if you let it. And if you have a busy schedule or a family to care for, this can get stressful. But with a few simple changes and a bit of discipline, you can keep your home tidy and organized without sacrificing your sanity.

Here are some tips for sanely maintaining order at home:

1. Create a Daily Cleaning Routine

One of the most effective ways to maintain order at home is to create a daily cleaning routine. This routine should include tasks such as making your bed, doing the dishes, wiping down surfaces, and putting things back where they belong. By doing these tasks every day, you’ll prevent clutter from building up and make it easier to keep your home clean and organized.

2. Have Clutter Solutions

Clutter is the enemy of order, so it’s important to not only get rid of it but minimize how much of it comes into the home. Opt out of junk mail lists--you can get most information online, anyways. Use paperless billing and communication with your doctor and others, and get digital versions of newspapers and magazines. Keep a stool handy so you can make use of top shelves and organize your home strategically. Do a once- or twice-a-year purge where everyone in your household takes part to get rid of and donate the things they're no longer using. Finally, have a place for the things you need access to and routinely bring them there.

3. Invest in Storage Solutions

Investing in storage solutions can also help you maintain order at home. Consider purchasing storage bins, shelves, or hanging organizers to help you keep things in their place. By having designated storage areas for your belongings, you’ll be less likely to leave things lying around and more likely to put them away where they belong.

4. Involve Your Family

Maintaining order at home should be a team effort if you're to sanely maintain order. It’s not only important life skills that you teach kids when you let them help out, most grow to enjoy it, if you do it right so push through until they come around. Assign tasks to each family member, such as taking out the trash or cleaning the bathroom, and make sure everyone knows what’s expected of them. By working together, you’ll be able to keep your home clean and organized without putting all the pressure on one person.

5. Label Everything

Your label maker can become your BFF in your quest for a sane home organization system.

6. Use the One-Touch Method

Many things we take multiple steps to do can be done in one step. For example, when you come home and take off your shoes or coat, don't just throw them over a chair or leave them wherever, immediately bring them to where you store them and be done with it.

7. Clean As You Go

It's easy to give in to our stressed tired feelings and leave the clutter behind after we cook or work on projects. But if you clean as you go, by the time you're done cooking, there will be less to clean up and that final clean-up can be done and over with.

8. Outsource Big Jobs

If you can afford to, hire out projects and big jobs so they don't pile up. In order to have a functional space that helps you keep clutter to a minimum, you first need storage areas, the garage, den, and outdoor spaces in working order. Consider that handyman an investment in your day-to-day sanity and pay to have someone come over and handle jobs you keep putting off or to help you clear out and arrange spaces that will help you use more of your space. You cannot be organized unless your environment is conducive to it.

9. Use Lazy-Susans

These are not just for kitchens anymore. A Lazy Susan can be used to organize your makeup, kids' toys, bathroom supplies, and much more. Use them because, in a smaller space, you can have quick access to more of the things you regularly use.

10. Make It Fun

This will forever be one of my favorite hacks to get hard-to-do things done. Whether it's playing music while you tidy up or getting more hands to help, making chores fun is one way to make the time fly and to keep on top of them.

In conclusion, maintaining order at home doesn’t have to be a chore. By creating a daily cleaning routine, getting rid of clutter, investing in storage solutions, involving your family, and leaning into the above habits, you can keep your home tidy and organized without sacrificing your sanity.