Cleaning and Decluttering Tips

Simple Cleaning And Decluttering That Can Be Done Daily

Since the new year I have been trying to implement habits to help me stay on top of cleaning tasks and clutter.

First thing in the morning I like to do some simple tasks, after making the bed, of course. "If you make your bed first thing in the morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another and another." Admiral William H. McRaven

So first thing after making the bed, I like to sweep the floor.

The second thing I like to do is put the dishes away if I've ran the dishwasher the night before, which is usually the case. Occasionally I wait to run it after breakfast if it wasn't quite full. Then I unload it after it has finished. My main goal is to be able to keep an empty sink as much as possible, loading the dishwasher throughout the day.

A favorite dishwasher tablet of mine is Branch Basics. They are 100% Natural Minerals. No plastic coating or chemicals that we are all trying to avoid these days. 

Then I like to wipe down the counter tops using Method Daily Granite Cleaner. It works great on stone, leaving the counters clean and shiny without any residue.

There seems to always be some laundry to be done. So it is also on my morning task list. Load and start the washer dry and put away afterwards.

To try to stay on top of clutter, I am trying to add decluttering one area a day with my cleaning routine. Today, it was my vanity drawer. 

I took everything out of the drawer making a keep pile and a do something else with it pile. Some things needed discarded, others I found a home for elsewhere, narrowing down the items that would go back into the drawer to things I use daily or almost daily. 

I decided I needed a little help keeping the drawer organized so I looked for containers at our local grocery store. The containers were made with food storage in mind, but I thought they looked like they would work perfect for what I needed.

I ended up choosing tow containers that looked like they were about the right size. I saw that the larger container could be taken apart and used as two containers and I already had an idea for how I could use them.

The little blur container was perfect for holding my hair clips in the bottom section and my hair bands in the top tray.

The largest clear plastic container worked great to contain my hair products and lotions, keeping them sitting upright and in place inside the drawer.

The basket container is going to hold all my brushes and extra make-up that I may need.

After putting the containers into the drawer there was a perfect spot left for my hair dryer to go.

Then my make-up bag sits right down on top of my hair dryer. I love how my vanity drawer is organized, now. Such a good feeling to be able to open it and know right where to reach for whatever I am needing. Also to not have to even think about where it goes after I'm finished with it. "A place for everything, everything in its place." Benjamin Franklin

Happy cleaning and organizing,

Tammie

xoxo