Refresh your whole home using this guide whether you have only a few minutes or plenty of time.
The changing of seasons from summer to fall can mean spending more time indoors after spending a lot of time outside or away. This of course means seeing more of your indoor space. While it can be good to return to more regular routines, it can also mean that your house has gotten a bit out of control only because you haven't wanted to be in it so much.
Here is a guide to help your whole house feel more peaceful in a short time.
While cleaning is not necessarily organizing, the two are linked. By doing the one, you do the other. Sometimes, overall organization can come from a good cleaning.
Below, I list each major space found in a standard home. For each one, I start with my "Quick Tidy" tips that are my favorites. If you are in a rush, do these for a quick win.
If you have more time, "More Cleaning" tasks will provide a deeper clean.
You don't have to do these all at once, or indeed on any schedule at all.
Take it room by room and see how your house changes.
Top Tip #1: Always work top to bottom, left to right around any given space. If you're feeling overwhelmed just focus on that. Top to bottom; left to right.
Entryway and Hallway Tidy
The entryway is the first space you see when you enter the home and can set the tone for the rest of the home. The hallways are pass-throughs to other areas and tend to collect the detritus of life.
Both deserve a little attention.
Top Tip #2: A great way to keep the whole house cleaner is to establish a no-shoes-on-in-the-house rule.
Quick Tidy for the Entryway and Hallways
Take things where they belong. These spaces are notorious drop zones, collecting the tidbits that are en route elsewhere. Take those dropped things where they belong now, or put them in a container to distribute later.
Corral the shoes and coats/jackets. Set a house rule of no more than 2 jackets and 2 pairs of shoes per person allowed in the front hall. Keep footwear on a boot tray, bin, or rack and keep the rest in bedrooms or closets.
Sort paperwork. Process any mail. Recycle any junk mail, open envelopes, set aside bills to be paid, etc.
Wipe down the baseboards.
Shake out rugs.
Sweep the floor.
More Cleaning for the Entryway and Hallways
Kitchen Tidy
The kitchen is the heart of the home. This is where guests inevitably gather, but more importantly it is where you and your family spend time every single day.
Top Tip #3: Do the Quick Tidy tasks for the Kitchen every day to help your whole house feel more fresh.
Quick Tidy for the Kitchen
Empty the dish rack and/or dishwasher. Reload the dishwasher and wash any hand dishes.
Wipe down the counters with a spray and a microfiber cloth.
Sweep the floor with a broom or a vacuum.
Set out fresh towels and put the dirties in the laundry.
Take out the trash and empty the recycling when needed.
Clear the countertops of clutter. Take things to where they belong in the house, and throw away junk.
Once a week, clean the stove top (and wipe up spills as they happen!)
More Cleaning for the Kitchen
Family (or Living) Room Tidy
Here is a space where you'll spend a lot of time with your family. Give it some love.
Quick Tidy for the Family Room
Fold blankets and fluff pillows.
Take dishes to the kitchen.
Clear off the coffee table and side tables.
More Cleaning for the Family Room
Top Tip #4: Do the Quick Tidy tasks for the family room frequently. Not necessarily every day, but having this space uncluttered makes the house feel larger and more clear.
Dining Room Tidy
The dining room table can be a drop zone. The things you don't know what to do with get dropped here to deal with later.
But it is also a great place to gather with friends and extended family, so if left untidy frequently stops you from inviting others over.
Try to give it a weekly quick tidy to get ahead of it so you can use it more easily.
Quick Tidy for the Dining Room
Put away the stuff. Distribute things that don't belong to where they belong.
Take any dishes to the kitchen.
Replace the tablecloth or placemats if you use them, and place an attractive centerpiece in the center of the table.
Run a vacuum or broom over the floor.
More Cleaning for the Dining Room
Bedroom Tidy
Your bedroom is a private space that guests will rarely see. But you have to see it every day, and if it is cluttered and unpleasant it can affect your sleep and overall mood.
It is worth it to keep this space tidy.
Quick Tidy for the Bedrooms
Make your bed. Every day, at least pull the blanket or sheet up and fluff the pillows.
Gather dirty laundry in a basket.
Run a cloth over surfaces to remove dust. And don't put back down anything that doesn't belong in the room.
Take things where they belong.
Run the vacuum or sweep the floor.
More Cleaning for the Bedrooms
Top Tip #5: Make your bed every day right when you get out of it. This really sets your day off right.
Bathroom Tidy
The bathroom is definitely private. But it is also a space guests will have to use at some point and while they are in there, you don't want them to find things you'd rather they not see.
It is also a space you use every single day, and you deserve a clean and tidy space for your private time.
So give it a few minutes.
Quick Tidy for the Bathroom
Wipe out the sink.
Use a disinfectant wipe on the faucet handles and light switch.
Use toilet bowl cleaner in the toilet bowl and wipe the seat and handle with a disinfectant wipe.
Empty the trash.
Shake out rugs and give the floor a quick sweep.
Put out fresh towels.
More Cleaning for the Bathroom
I hope you found these tips useful.
Whether you only have the time or interest to do a Quick Tidy in one room, or the desire to do More Cleaning in all your rooms, I hope these tips offer a refreshment to your space.
What did I miss? What things would you add or remove from these lists? Drop me a line below. I'd love to hear from you.
Remember, there is no schedule here. This is your home. It deserves some time and effort, but there are no organizing police waiting to come in and tell you you're doing it wrong.
Take it room by room and see how your house changes.
When you're ready to tackle your tough organization project, I am here to help you learn how.
Let's RETHINK organization together.
For more information, visit the RETHINK website today.
Mandy Thomas is a professional organizer fulfilling her lifelong passion for creating order out of chaos. She finds joy in helping people tackle their most overwhelming spaces and collections to create the optimal living space and enjoy their homes.
RETHINK organization is on a mission to help you develop long-term patterns of organization that you can maintain and feel good about long after our work together is done.
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