The lazy days of summer are upon us, which means it’s easier than ever for your home to get cluttered. With visitors coming into town, kids home from school, and vacation packing and unpacking — staying on top of clutter can be hard.
The number one reason to declutter is to prevent stress. Worrying about organizing and the colossal task of keeping your home tidy can add unnecessary stress to your daily routine.
Here are a few of our favorite hacks for a clutter-free home.
Know Your Problem Areas & Stay on Top of Them
We all have areas of our home that become the site of abandoned items. It might be the chair in your bedroom overflowing with clothes that never made it to the hamper or the kitchen counter you toss things on when you get in the house.
Whatever it is, be honest with yourself about your problem areas. Once you know what they are, set rules for yourself.
Don’t allow items to sit there for longer than 24 hours. Or, once there are more than three items, make it a point to put them all away.
Whatever rules you set, stick to them.
Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need
You don’t have to completely Marie Kondo your home, but it’s important to get rid of things that no longer serve you.
Some people adhere to the one item in, one item out rule. If you buy something new, you need to get rid of something old.
This rule keeps you from accumulating too many things. It also keeps you from doing large clean outs several times a year.
Whatever method you take, remind yourself how good it feels to free up space.
Do the Dishes and Put Them Away
Getting into the habit of doing your dishes, and putting them away when they’re dry, is a simple decluttering hack.
“In order to keep my kitchen tidy and ready for the day, each night I make sure the sink is clear of the evening’s dishes,” feng shui consultant Maureen K. Calamia told MindBodyGreen. “The first thing, every morning, I empty the dishwasher and replace all the items from the sink rack to their rightful place in the cabinet. Now the day can begin to unfold with clarity.”
Have Space For Everything
You should know exactly where an item in your home belongs. The place is up to you, but items should have a designated spot where they rest when they’re not in use. If you’re throwing it into a drawer or tossing it into the garage with other abandoned items, that may be a sign you don’t need it.
Make sure everything has its place. And keep it there.
A clutter free home gives you the freedom to use your space in a way that is stress-free and comfortable. These simple hacks are the first steps to keeping your home open, organized, and clutter-free.
