Is your home permanently messy? & quick cleanup tips

We all know that a messy environment can also lead to clutter in the mind. If we tidy up a little every day, we'll save a lot of time and stress on cleaning days. So today I'd like to share a few tidying tips with you that are quick and easy to implement.

Sometimes there's so much to do in everyday life that we jump from one task to the next. It's easy for nothing to be where it belongs after a short time. The laundry piles up, all the little things gather in one corner, and our home literally descends into chaos. This can create a feeling of being overwhelmed – even in our minds. If, on the other hand, we manage to keep our surroundings tidy, then there's more space in our minds as well. It's easier for us to tackle the everyday challenges of balancing household, work, and personal life.

5 cleaning tips – quick, easy and for every day

1. Everything has its place

First things first: Everything should have its own place. And when I say everything, I really mean it. every Object. If something in your home doesn't have a fixed place, you move it from right to left and back to right again. It's always in a place where it's actually a bit of a nuisance.

This tip may sound too simple, but it's incredibly essential. Find a place for every item that's currently lying around on any surface. This will make tidying up quicker and easier in the long run—because you'll know where everything belongs.

To make things a little easier, you can get baskets, boxes, folders, or drawers. These will provide space for even small items without making your shelves look cluttered.

2. Regular decluttering (it's not as bad as you think!)

Oh yes, believe me, I completely agree with you. Decluttering isn't fun, it's exhausting, and it's incredibly stressful. The solution: Set aside a fixed time every two to three months, from half a day to a whole day, to declutter your belongings. Because when you declutter regularly, you only have a little bit to do at a time. It doesn't feel as overwhelming, and you're more motivated because there's an end in sight.

Go through your things; whether it's clothes, electronics, decorative items, or pantry items—figure out what you really need and what's just lying around and no longer serves any purpose. You can open a glass of wine, put on some music or a podcast, or even invite a friend over for support.

Your decluttered items can make other people very happy. Whether you donate your clothes or food supplies to those in need, or resell your belongings online or at a flea market, there are plenty of options, so nothing has to be thrown away (unless the item is truly no longer usable).

I know you have things at home that you don't really need... Am I right? So just do it. :)

3. A tidy bed works wonders

Now let’s get to the tips that you can actually implement every day.

Making your bed in the morning – this is probably not the first time you've heard this. But it's true that a well-made bed can make a huge difference.For me, it's now part of my morning routine and really helps me get a good start to my day!

Even if the rest of the bedroom is messy, a tidy, made-up bed instantly puts you in a good mood. Making your bed every morning gives you the immediate feeling of accomplishment and productivity.

It really doesn't take long. And when you come home in the evening or enter the bedroom again after a day working from home, you simply feel good looking at a made bed. Treat yourself to this little magic!

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

4. The one habit that changes everything

You know that moment when, after using something, you pause for a moment and think, "Should I put this away now or later?" Let me guess—you choose the latter? If so, I feel for you. 😅

From a young age, whenever such a situation arose (whether it involved tidying up, making a phone call, or some other obligation), my father would say, "Just do it now." And in most cases, it only takes a few seconds or minutes to complete the task. Only in the last few years have I really started to put this advice into practice.

Especially when it comes to tidying up, I still can't manage it every time. Sometimes it's just too tempting to crash on the couch or move on to the next to-do. "Oh, I'll just do that later," I think to myself. But when "later" actually happens, I regret it. A lot of stuff piles up, and tidying up suddenly takes three times as long...

So, if you tidy up your workspace now or put away used items, you're giving your future self time. And that's what we all need, right?

What can also help is to give yourself a time window in which you tidy up the object/your surroundings, z.B"I'll have this cleared away within 24 hours." This creates a small commitment to yourself. This can help you actually put your plan into action.

5. Tips for the kitchen && Bath

The kitchen, in particular, is a place where chaos can quickly erupt. But there are a few things you can get into the habit of doing to clear up the mess faster and with less effort.

What's made the biggest difference for me is getting things done while I'm cooking, baking, or generally in the kitchen. While the cake is in the oven, I can wash the baking utensils. While the curry is simmering on the stove, I can put used ingredients back on the shelf. While the coffee machine is running in the morning or my porridge is bubbling away on the stove, I can empty the dishwasher. It's even better if I put on a podcast or some music, or talk to my mom on the phone. Then the tedious cleaning flies by.

Speaking of Mom: One thing she taught me is to regularly wipe down the countertops. When they're clean, the entire kitchen immediately appears much tidier. It's now become an absolute habit. I've become accustomed to giving any surface a quick wipe after every use.It only takes seconds, so I don't run the risk of anything getting stuck or attracting insects, especially in the summer.

Even in the bathroom—the place we all probably least like to clean—it can help to do a little cleaning every day. Rinse the shower head after showering. Or just wipe the sink after brushing your teeth or washing your face. When the "real" cleaning day arrives, you'll have significantly less work to do because hardly anything will have stuck.

What am I getting at?

As you can see, it's ultimately all about doing a little something every day so that you can save yourself stress and time later. We want to leave our surroundings tidier than we found them.

If all these things still feel overwhelming to you, it can help to have a little Checklist This can also help your roommates, children, or partner gradually develop these habits.

Because it's actually not that much once it becomes a habit. It won't affect you; in fact, it will even free up your time.

Which of these tips will you try or incorporate more into your daily routine? ☺️

If you would like to learn more about sustainability, healthy eating, mindfulness or family and pregnancy, Check out more exciting blog articles on these topics here.