Many families today are constantly hustling about, trying to make sure that everyone is where they are supposed to be for work, sporting events, music lessons, and a myriad of other activities. With all of the running around from place to place, it is easy to sometimes let regular maintenance slide around the house a bit. There are some simple things that you can do to help keep your home organized and clean without having to devote an entire weekend to it.
The first thing to do when attacking a house that has gone out of control is to get rid of as much clutter as possible. This usually involves at least one day of simply sorting through the items that actually get put to use and those that are simply taking up space unnecessarily. A good rule of thumb is to consider whether or not you have actually had a use for an item over the past twelve months. If the answer is no, and there is not any strong sentimental attachment, such items should be added to your collection of future garage sale items or a box that is destined for a local donation center.
Once the clutter is gone, start getting organized. Closets can be very useful for keeping things where they belong, but if people simply throw things into a closet, it defeats the purpose. Consider getting an inexpensive closet system or other organizational aid that includes plenty of shelves and an area for storing items on hangers. Some systems include special hanger attachments which allow clothes to cascade down in an arrangement that lets you see what you have without taking up a lot of space. Just adding something like this can save a ton of space.
For cleaning chores, look for ways to simplify your life. Making a small investment in a vacuum and steam cleaner combination such as the popular Shark Vac Then Sweep can save you valuable time that would otherwise be spend sweeping by hand and then damp mopping the hard surfaces in your house. Such devices also work well at getting rid of stuck on messes that sometimes result from spills on the floor. This eliminates the need to scrub the tough dirt by hand.
Finally, to deal with the chore of dusting, consider using the brush attachment that comes with most vacuum cleaners. This makes it easier to dust around ridges or uneven surfaces and also does a better job of actually capturing the dust. Many times, when people simply dust with a dry rag, all they really do is throw the dust into the air. The result is a room that is covered in dust again as soon as things settle.
There are many more small things that you can do as a homeowner to make the maintenance of your home a bit less of a burden. It may take a while to form new habits, but in the long run, doing these things can save you time and make life just a little bit easier.