My friends like to joke that I’m a little OCD about
cleaning. I don’t think I am at all, but I’ll take the compliment.
I think it’s funny in a way as when they say this, my house
is semi-clean because well, I’ve been expecting company so I did clean. I’m sure if they just popped
on over on a Thursday morning when I said I was staying in and doing nothing
they would think differently.
And if you think my house is clean… you should see my
Mother-in-law’s house. Her house is so clean that I have never even found a
speck of dust in it. And I’ve even tried just out of sheer curiosity. I have no
idea how it is so damn clean, but it puts anyone else’s house to shame. It may
very well be in a bubble where mess just does not exist. I think she might be
magic when it comes to cleanliness and organization. Oh, and where to find good
deals on clothes and shoes. Pure magic!
But I digress… While my house is certainly not perfect, I do
have some tips I have been using since having our second child that I have
found to be a big help.
11.) Find a cleaning calendar/chart or some kind
of VISUAL system to help you stay organized and know what you’re going to
clean and when. The best one I have found for how my mind works is this one:
This one works well for me and keeps me on
track. And sometimes it just is a decoration on my fridge that tricks people
into thinking I really clean that much. Whatever works, right?
22.) Get rid of the clutter. We all have
stuff we don’t need or use. Heck, we probably have things we don’t even want
but are holding onto for a myriad of reasons. One of the reasons this house is
far more organized than my past homes is because we moved into it a year ago
and I had the movers put EVERYTHING in the garage (except for furniture) and I
brought it in ONE BOX AT A TIME. It was time consuming and not the most
productive way to do things, but for my sanity it was nice to be able to clean
things and find a home for them right away. I wouldn’t bring another box into
the house until the previous box’s contents had a home.
Now, I realize this isn’t something you can
do unless you’re moving, but modify this technique and start by going through
every room in your home, one at a time. Go through everything and get rid of
what you don’t want or need. And then
clean that same room. Get every room how you want it and you’ll feel much
better. Sell some of those things and make some money or donate it to a
charity. You’ll feel so much better. Trust me. And trust science: http://www.houselogic.com/blog/home-improvement/clutter-depression/
33.) Have a permanent donation box in your
garage or someplace handy where you can immediately place unwanted items
instead of stuffing them in a closet or drawer where they just become clutter.
Once that box is full, donate it and repeat. A great organization that even
picks up in some areas is this one: http://www.purpleheart.org
44.) Get a dog. No, I’m not joking. You
should see the before and after pictures of when my son just gets done eating.
My husband takes him upstairs to get a bath and I let the dog in to have his
second dinner. He licks up every last crumb (as long as it’s safe for dogs) and
then all I have to do is remember to steam mop the floor (if I get to it). Our
dog seriously saves us about 10 minutes of cleanup time after meals and he
saves my sanity in general by ensuring I don’t find the crackers or breakfast
bar my son ground into the carpet. Not to mention a home with endless surprise
treats and two children that will love and play with you is exactly what a dog
wants! Well, most dogs that is. Find the right fit for you, ensure everyone is
onboard, and say, “let’s do it” to give a deserving dog a forever home. There
are many great shelters and agencies to find a dog through, but if you’re in my
area I would HIGHLY recommend this one: http://www.twyla.org
Oh, and because dog’s like to shed, you’ll find
yourself vacuuming a lot more. It’s annoying at first and I’m probably not
helping you get on board with this whole “get a dog” thing if you’re on the
fence, but you’ll realize how nice your carpet always looks from the constant
vacuuming. Or as my British friend says, “You hoover every day!” Yup. I do.
Because if I didn’t my house would smell like dog (more so than it does now)
and you could knit a sweater from the dog hair that would stick to you.
So there you have it. I’ll stop at those four tips because
let’s be honest, this entry is getting a bit long and you’re probably at the
point where you’re starting to wonder when it ends. If you haven’t stopped
reading already, that is.
Although, typical of my rambling self, I do have one more
tip for you and that is… DON’T BE SO
HARD ON YOURSELF. I’m a mother of two children under 5. I have a dog and a
tiny beta fish and they are both pretty low maintenance, but I still have to
keep them alive. I am married to a wonderful man. I have play dates, preschool,
friends of my own, grocery shopping, and much much much more to do. Sometimes my house is clean and sometimes it
gets completely out of control. And that’s ok. As long as you’re not living in
filth and everyone is happy and healthy, who cares. Your friends won’t care.
And if they thought less of you because you left dishes in the sink or decided
to let that pile of Cheerios in the corner sit a bit longer before vacuuming
(or letting your dog in), then they are not the kind of friends you want.
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