{"id":10975,"date":"2018-03-27T05:00:10","date_gmt":"2018-03-27T09:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sincerelymariedesigns.com\/?p=10975"},"modified":"2018-03-27T06:47:50","modified_gmt":"2018-03-27T10:47:50","slug":"5-tips-for-keeping-a-tidy-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sincerelymariedesigns.com\/5-tips-for-keeping-a-tidy-house\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips For Keeping A Tidy House"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keeping a tidy house can be difficult at times. Life can get a little crazy and if you have little ones running around it can seem almost impossible but over the years I\u2019ve discovered a few tricks that have worked wonders in our home and I wanted to share them with you!<\/p>\n

First Iet me say that I\u2019m not a professional organizer or expert on the matter but having a clean and functioning home has always been really important to me. I can think more clearly, I have less anxiety and I\u2019m more creative. Before Josh and I had kids I kept the house neat with little effort. Once Charlie came along I had to learn a way to keep organized and clean with a little one running around. Here\u2019s 5 tips that have kept me sane and our house running smoothly.<\/p>\n

1. Keep a basket at the bottom of the stairs or at the end of the hallway.<\/h2>\n

In the last couple of years I purchased a basket for our staircase and as I find items down stairs that belong up stairs I stick them in the basket and at the end of the day I carry the basket upstairs and we put those items where they belong. It saves time and you don\u2019t have to go up and down the stairs 50 times a day!<\/p>\n

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This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Wash those dishes as you cook.<\/h2>\n

This one took me a while to learn but it has saved me so much time in the evenings. Before I start making dinner I fill up a mixing bowl with soap and hot water, (you can fill up your sink if you prefer.) even better if you can use a bowl that you\u2019ve used while preparing your meal. As I go along I throw in items that can\u2019t be placed in the dishwasher. Once dinner is done we place plates and silverware in the dishwasher and the other cookware that\u2019s in the bowl is scrubbed and rinsed clean. I don\u2019t always remember to do this but when I do it makes a huge difference. Waking up to an empty sink in the morning is the best feeling! Even the coffee taste better.<\/p>\n

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3. When you leave a room take an item that doesn\u2019t belong there and place it where it goes.<\/h2>\n

This can take some time to really become a habit but stick with it and it will eventually. Any time I\u2019m leaving or walking through a room on\u00a0my way to another I take something from that room that doesn\u2019t belong there and drop it off where it goes. It takes only seconds and makes a big difference. Instead of spending an hour at the end of the day puting things away, try doing a little throughout the day. It\u2019s keeps the mess from becoming too overwhelming.<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0<\/span>Provide yourself and children with storage baskets for easy clean-up.<\/h2>\n

You can\u2019t have a tidy house if you don\u2019t have any place to keep things. Baskets have become my best friend since Charlie came along. It\u2019s easy for him to put his toys away and they hide those not so pretty items. I\u2019ve used them on our built-ins in our family room, Charlie\u2019s room and in our office. Two of my favorite lidded baskets are used as an alternative end table in our family room. Those are linked below. My favorite places to purchase baskets are TJ Maxx and Pottery Barn.<\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0<\/span>Keep an empty box or bag available for things that you wish to donate.<\/h2>\n

declutter, declutter, declutter! I can not express this enough. Sometimes our homes become messy and unmanagable because we simple have too much stuff. I\u2019m referring to the things that we don\u2019t use, want or need anymore. We all have it and if left unchecked it can take over. If the thought of decluttering your whole house overwhelms you, start small with drawers, closets and go from one room to the next. You can find my tips for decluttering here. I like to declutter twice a year, in the spring and once right before the holidays. This keeps the \u201cstuff\u201d at a minimum.<\/p>\n

I like to keep a basket in my closet and as I come across things that we haven\u2019t used in a long time or things that we no longer need I put them in the basket. Once it\u2019s full I place them in a box and take it to goodwill. It\u2019s a easy job that makes a big difference.<\/p>\n

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I\u2019m always trying new things in the hopes of making it easier for us to keep our home tidy. If you have some favorite tips please share. I really believe it\u2019s one simple task done routinely that keeps the home clean and your stress low. As I find new and better methods I\u2019ll share them here with you guys. Keeping a tidy house doesn\u2019t have to be stressful or time consuming. I hope some my family\u2019s tips will help and inspire you to discover what works best with you family.<\/p>\n

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