With plenty of clever tools designed to make your life easier, from custom stubby holders to multipurpose organisers, you would think that keeping your home under control and clutter-free is easy. Far from it, however. With kids and/or pets running around, chaos could be a regular occurrence instead of the calm and peace you need and want. The good news is that there are ways to stay in control and sane despite all the challenges of homemaking. 

Minimalist living room with chair, potted plant, and modern decor.

Take Note of All Trouble Spots 

Not all corners of your home are a battleground. Some areas see more clutter and chaos than others.

  • List down the places where most people in your household converge and mingle, as they’re likely to be the scene of the “crime”. The living room, for example, can get cluttered in seconds once everyone gets together.
  • Identify spots where management is required but lacks a manager. The pantry, for example, can become messy, even with the perfect pantry organiser bins, if no one handles the inventory, organisation, and decluttering. 
  • Know where household members tend to drop and accumulate a lot of things. It could be the living room, laundry room, kitchen, or home office. 

Once you know where the clutter spots are, find ways for every member of the family to develop habits and routines that will help keep your home organised. Everyone should play a role in taking care of their home, not just you. 

Set a Schedule to Declutter 

Cleaning the home is one of the least favourite chores of almost everyone. This is especially true with young children who would rather go outside and play instead of clean up after themselves. 

  • Make it a daily habit and practice that everyone picks up after themselves. A simple as ensuring everyone tosses their dirty clothes in the laundry is a good start.
  • Instead of a weekly or monthly decluttering session, set an hour or two every day to do so. You can easily get bored just organising stuff for half or a full day. When done daily, however, fewer and fewer things need to be put away.
  • Instil in everyone the importance of a tidy area. If they fix their bed and declutter first thing in the morning, they will come home to a clean bedroom where they can unwind right away. 

Make Sure Everyone’s Aligned and Accountable 

You can’t plan a decluttering session without everyone’s agreement. How else will they cooperate? 

  • Make sure everyone’s on the same page and fully aware of what the plan is. They must agree to the cleaning and decluttering schedule and a list of all their chores.
  • Give everyone a clear outline of the organisational blueprint. Everyone should know where everything is supposed to be, so they can do their tasks efficiently. Whether they’re searching or storing something, they should know where to go and what to do. 
  • Take the guesswork out of the organisation process by labelling everything and providing diagrams and maps. 

Taking care of your home should be a family affair. Every household member must share in the responsibility of ensuring your home stays organised and clutter-free. When they do, you’ll have a reason to celebrate. Get everyone their own custom koozie as a memento.