May 5, 2020
During a time when so many people are hunkering down at home, it can be challenging to keep
a tidy house, especially when you have kids, pets, and other adults living in the same space. It
can be stressful and overwhelming at times, trying to find a balance of keeping everything
organized and clean while maintaining one’s sanity. There are a few tips to help keep your
house in order while everyone is home, and while you have some downtime to knock out some
much-needed organization projects.
Schedule Clean-Up Time Before Bed
Take ten minutes every evening for the entire family to help clean up the house. Run the
dishwasher, wipe down the countertops, and put away any clothes lying on the floor. This is also
a great time to have your kids help by cleaning up their toys, books, or any crafts they used
during the day. Everyone will start each morning off with a clean living space and play area. It’ll
make it much more manageable to maintain throughout the day, and when the time comes to
tidy up in the evening, the mess won’t be so overwhelming.
Clean Out the Junk Drawer
There is always at least one drawer or cupboard in every household that becomes a collecting
place for items without homes. Take some time to clean it out and make it into a manageable
space again. Make it easier to identify where odds and ends go, to help prevent the drawer or
cupboard from getting cluttered again.
Combine Similar Items
Use any containers you already have at home, or order a few online to get organized. Totes,
boxes, or baskets can help contain items and make them easier to find. Start with your kitchen
and craft area by combining similar items together—for example, cereal, pasta, rice, crayons,
beads, etc. This makes it easy to take inventory of everything you have by keeping the same
types of items together.
Label Your Containers
Once you’ve taken the time to consolidate and put all like items together, make sure to label
each container with its contents. This will make it much easier to find what you’re looking for,
especially when you can’t see inside the boxes or jars you’re using for storage.
Spending a significant amount of unplanned time at home can seem daunting at first. However,
if you take the time to organize while you’re at home with your family, it’ll leave your space
feeling much cleaner, and you’ll better enjoy your surroundings. In addition, it will be much
easier to find everything that you need once your life gets back to normal, and everyone gets
back into their routines.
