Everyone wants a clean and tidy house, but almost no one wants to spend hours doing it. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone! By implementing simple changes into your day-to-day process, you’ll be able to see how your small daily impact eventually makes a big difference. These ten quick-and-easy to maintain tricks will keep your home decluttered and tidy in less time than you spend reading this article. Remember, if some of the tricks don’t appeal to you, skip them! The most important part of home organization is to create habits that work for you, so you’re more inclined to keep them going.

  • Make Your Bed Every Morning – A lot of people think making your bed in the morning is a waste of time because you’ll just mess it up again later that night. Adjust your mindset with this task, and make it the first “accomplishment” of your day. You’ll already have one thing checked off your list before you even leave your house, and it makes for a much more inviting scene to come home to at the end of the day.
  • Have a Place for Everything – This one seems obvious, but make a space for everything in your home! If you have a hard time organizing the mail every day, look for an organizer that can keep it all together. If your keys always get lost in a pile on your counter, place a small hook nearby so you can always locate them in a hurry. Pro tip: Having a place for everything doesn’t mean you need to buy a bin or box for everything you own. Just put your items in their proper space, find a spot for everything you are committing to keeping and toss what you aren’t.
  • Get Rid of Unnecessary Extras – Do you ever actually use the 10 spare pens in your junk door? We bet the answer is no. Go through your space and get rid of any “extras” that you can do without. If you were gifted a measuring cup set but already have one that you like, donate the extra one. Have countless winery wine glasses from your recent trip to Napa? Clear them out for your matching set to take center stage. Have an attic full of Christmas decorations? Keep what fits best in your home and get rid of the rest.
  • Set Your Everyday Tidying Tasks – Depending on your living situation this can vary quite a bit, but decide what task(s) you want to do before the day is over and make a habit of always doing them. Some examples could be putting away the clothes, shoes and accessories you wore that day, folding laundry or having children return all their toys to their proper spot.
  • Never Leave a Room Empty Handed – Before you move from one room to another, take a quick scan for anything you can take with you. If you always leave your shoes at the front door, bring them with you on your way to the closet at the end of the night. By doing a little bit of this throughout the day, you’ll have less mess and will create a good habit for yourself and whomever you live with too.
  • Keep Highly-Used Products at Close Grasp – One of the most obvious places for this is your kitchen, but in all rooms be sure to put your most-used items at close range. Not only will this make your life run a little smoother, but it’ll also prompt you to store or find a place for items that are used less often.
  • Get Rid of Items That Aren’t Being Used – We’re all about samples and trying new things, but if an item is not serving you, get rid of it! This could be a shampoo that you didn’t end up liking or a dress that doesn’t quite fit. Instead of holding onto them just because of the money you invested, move on from them and clear up that space for something else.
  • Keep Your Décor in Check – Even if you think it looks beautiful when it’s all made up, consider toning down the number of pillows or blankets you keep on your bed or couch. If they’re ending up on the floor more often then not, store a few away for when you want a refresh. Your space will look a little less cluttered, and you’ll have an easier time making the bed in the morning. It’s a win-win!
  • Always Put Your Dishes Away – We know how many folks love their drying racks, but if you can, try to avoid using one. As soon as you’re finished with your dishes, wash and dry them, or place them directly into the dishwasher. Clean pots and pans and put them in their proper storing space right away. Drying racks are great if you actually empty them out when the items are dry, but all too often they are used as a cop-out to completing the dishwashing job.
  • Finish Tasks 100%, Not 75% – Bear with us here. Putting your clothes into the washing machine and drying them is doing your laundry 75% of the way. The last 25% is putting the clothes back where they belong, cleaning out the lint trap and ordering more detergent if you’re running low. Make sure you’re allocating enough time and energy to finishing your task 100% of the way so you aren’t left with unfinished things piling up.

We’re all guilty of leaving our dirty clothes in a pile on the floor every once in a while, and that’s ok! But by establishing easy and quick habits that you’ll actually be able to maintain, those less-then organized tendencies will be a thing of the past. Have some tidying tips of your own? Share them in the comments below!