A lot can contribute to clutter in your home; odds and ends, things left out of place, excess stuff, lack of storage, and so much more. So, how do you tackle clutter in the house when there are so many things causing it? Well, these 7 proven tips to keep clutter away are your best bet!
#1 Practice Minimalism
More often than not, we hold on to possessions we no longer need, or buy more stuff when we have enough; these are two of the biggest reasons why homes end up cluttered. The more you have, the more difficult it becomes to maintain a clean and tidy house. By practising minimalism, you will be able to organise better, free up storage space, and enjoy the mental benefits of a neat, clutter-free home!
#2 Have a Place for Everything
No matter how big or small it is, ‘it’ needs a designated place to be stored! Without one, things get moved around and left in places they shouldn’t be which, in turn, causes more clutter in your home. If needed, take the time to purge and reorganise drawers and cabinets so that you can make space for things that don’t have a place to go.
#3 Install Clever Storage
Look around the house and make use of ‘dead’ space by installing storage aids. Whether it’s a spice rack on a bare wall in the kitchen, wall hooks behind your bedroom door, or a wall-mounted corner shelf in the bathroom; there are plenty of ways to add more storage to your home. This, of course, helps keep clutter at bay since you will be able to keep things organised with the additional space.
#4 Declutter One Room at a Time
Even if it takes a few days to collectively have enough time to declutter one room, do it. This is better than doing half the job in one room, and then moving on to another room the next day. When it comes to decluttering your house, it pays to be thorough because that’s when it is easiest to maintain a clutter-free space. If you’re unsure of where to start decluttering a room, divide the space into zones, and tackle one at a time. For example, in a bedroom, declutter your closet, dresser, and table tops separately (or on separate days).
#5 Put Things Back in Place Immediately
Sometimes the only thing that’s causing clutter in the house is random items left lying around. Everything from chargers for your devices to online packages that haven’t been opened or put away yet; too many things occupy table tops and shelves a lot longer than they should. Instead, one should practice putting things away as soon as they are done using them. The biggest mistake most homeowners make is leaving such tasks for later because they tend to pile up, and then require a chunk of time to get everything done at once. This can be solved by simply acting immediately.
#6 When You Buy Something New, Give Something Away
With the convenience of online shopping and innovative marketing that entice customers to purchase things they don’t really need, a lot of homeowners find themselves buying at least a few new things every month. While some of them may be useful, it’s still advisable to develop a system wherein you give away old stuff when replaced with newly-purchased items. This is especially recommended when you buy new clothing; a lot of old clothes sit in your closet which could be of great use to someone else.
#7 Declutter Daily
Decluttering your house is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that can very easily be achieved by adopting simple habits to keep clutter away. One such habit (and one of the most important ones) is decluttering on a daily basis. This is your best bet in maintaining a neat home because you are stopping clutter in its tracks! Best of all, it only takes a few seconds to put things back in place or into a donation box and yet, makes a world of difference to the overall tidiness of your home.
Take it from the experts at CleaningBest who are trained and experienced in professional house cleaning, and keeping homes immaculate; the tips above are your ticket to a clutter-free home from here on out!
For the longest time, we’ve relied on chemical cleaning products that are not only damaging to the environment but burning a hole through our pockets, too! If you can relate to this, you’ll be happy to know that the eco-friendly alternatives just might lie in your own home!
Natural homemade cleaners are incredibly easy to concoct and very effective in household cleaning if you get the ratios right, of course. Well, that’s what CleaningBest is here to help you with! Read on to find out how to make effective eco-safe home cleaners to clean up just about any surface or area of your home.
Multi-Purpose Cleaner
When a surface needs something more than a damp cloth to get rid of dirt and grime, a multi-purpose cleaner is your best bet!
How to make and use natural all-purpose cleaner:
Combine 2 cups of water, 2 cups of white vinegar, and the juice of 1 lemon.
Pour it into a spray bottle with multiple settings including a mist and stream setting.
Shake the bottle well before every use.
Spray the all-purpose cleaner directly on the surface and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
Store the remaining cleaner left in the bottle in a cool and dark place such as a cabinet.
Glass Cleaner
If you thought only chemical-based glass cleaning products were effective, this eco-friendly homemade glass cleaner will prove you wrong!
How to make and use a non-toxic glass cleaner:
Combine 2 cups of water, ¼ cup of isopropyl alcohol (70%), and ½ cup of white vinegar.
For a pleasant fragrance, consider adding ¼ teaspoon of essential oil, and stir the mixture well.
Pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake well.
Before you use your homemade glass cleaner, make sure to wipe the surface to remove dust and loose debris for better results.
Grease Remover
Stubborn grease can be really messy to clean up, especially if you aren’t using a degreaser. Fortunately, there are some eco-friendly ingredients that can cut through grease to speed up and simplify the cleaning process.
How to make and use a natural degreaser:
Combine 2 cups of warm-hot water, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
Stir the mixture and pour it into a spray bottle.
Soak the greasy area with the cleaning solution and leave it for 2 minutes.
Take a clean, damp microfibre cloth and wipe up the grease.
If needed, spray the grease stains again (to soak them) and wipe immediately.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
This organic cleaning solution will not only remove stains and grime, it will also deodorise your toilet bowl!
How to make and use a natural toilet bowl cleaner:
Combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white vinegar, ½ cup castile soap, ½ cup baking soda, and 1-2 tablespoons of essential oil. Stir well.
Pour the cleaner all around the interior of the toilet bowl, and leave it to sit for 10-15 minutes.
Spray over the bowl interior with hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a toilet brush.
Rinse and flush the toilet once the stains and grime have been scrubbed away.
Floor Cleaner
When it comes to cleaning your floor, you need something that will remove stains, smell good, and make the floor shine again; that’s exactly what we have for you!
How to make and use a non-toxic floor cleaner:
Combine 2 cups of warm water, ¼ cup of isopropyl alcohol (70%), ½ white vinegar, ¼ cup castile soap, and 1-2 tablespoons of essential oil for fragrance.
Pour the solution into a squirt bottle.
Shake well before every use.
Squeeze some of the cleaning solution onto the floor (one section at a time), and clean with a damp mop.
Drain Cleaner (for clogged drain)
Got a clogged and smelly drain? Say no more because this natural drain cleaner will blow you away!
What you’ll need to clean your drain naturally:
1 litre of boiling hot water
1-2 cups of white vinegar
½ cup of baking soda
To unclog and deodorise your drain, sprinkle the baking soda over the drain first, and then pour the vinegar down the drain. Allow the ingredients to react for a few minutes before pouring the hot water down the drain. Just like that, your drain will be unclogged and smelling great again!
Don’t let those harsh chemical cleaners lined up on shelves at the department store take over your house too! Do yourself and the environment a favour by switching to these effective, non-toxic homemade cleaners!
