If you’re tired of cleaning up all the time, you need some good tidying shortcuts to keep the mess in your house under control. Here are some easy tidying tips that can make a huge difference when it comes time to do the big cleanings.

1. Clutter bins

This is one of my favourite solutions to clutter. You can use plastic storage containers, decorative baskets, or pretty bags for this, so there’s no need to buy anything new.

All you do is place a bin in every room in your house that is prone to clutter. Then, any time the room gets messy, grab everything that is out place and toss it in there. I actually use clutter corners for this because I don’t have space for bins.

You can put everything in its proper place every evening or every few days, but in the meantime, you’ll get to enjoy a clutter-free environment!

2. Clean as you go while cooking

I really can’t emphasize this enough. There can be a lot of downtime when you’re cooking, so make the most of it!

Washing the chopping board, knives and other prep tools is an obvious choice, but if you’ve already got that squared away and you’re just standing there keeping an eye on your food as it finishes cooking, use that time to clean out expiring food from the fridge or organize that messy food storage container cabinet.

3. Rethink your rubbish strategy

A lot of homes just have a rubbish bin in the kitchen and bathroom, but if there’s a place in your home where you always seem to find trash lying around, get an attractive lidded bin and place it there.

For example, my daughter is always making little paper crafts and I often find cut scraps of paper on her bedroom floor. After placing a cute bin in her room, that problem has subsided significantly!

4. Follow the one-minute rule

I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating: don’t put off anything that can be done in less than a minute for later. All those little tasks you keep putting off can really add up, so deal with these simple tasks as soon as they arise.

5. Be smart with your idle time.

One of my favourite tidying shortcuts won’t take you any extra time at all! If you’re stuck on the phone with someone chatty, why not wipe down the counters or sweep the floor at the same time? Wireless earphones come in very handy here. I also like to clear the car while I wait for someone, and do a quick cleanup of my daughter’s room while she’s taking her time to wake up.

You’d be surprised by all the opportunities to get something else out of the way while you’re doing things you’d be doing anyway.

6. Follow a route

When you’re going on a full-fledged tidying spree, have a route that you take every time and stick to it.

I recommend starting with a corner room and working your way inward. Tidy each room fully before heading onto the next to cut down on all that wasted time and energy going back and forth from room to room. This simple hack also helps me focus and see progress, which is what I need to help me keep going.

7. Clean the bathroom while your kids are bathing

Some of the best tidying shortcuts involve multitasking. If your kids are still at the age where they need supervision while bathing, use that time to wipe down the counters or clean the mirrors and sinks. This won’t work with a baby, of course, but it’s perfect once your kids are pre-schoolers.

8. Get rid of papers

If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of papers in your house that you simply don’t need. Don’t let these accumulate. Most paperwork is available online these days, so set up a filing system for the important things and let the rest go.

9. Focus on the high-traffic areas

If you’re too busy to sweep or mop the whole of your house (particularly if you have a multi storey one!), this one’s for you. Keep a dedicated area for shoes near the front of the house and make sure everyone takes them off, and then give just the busiest floor of your home a quick sweep when you find a few minutes in your day before the dirt and dust circulates. This does not apply to me, because we only have 100 sqm of indoor floor space, and I use a robot regularly, but I have spoken with many who struggle with a larger home.

10. Make every trip count

Any time you’re walking from one room to the next, look for things that are out of place and fix them. Bend over and pick up that stray bouncy ball you noticed on the floor of the hall as you head to your bedroom and put those books that have fallen over sideways upright as you walk past the bookcase.

The key to tidying efficiently is not letting problems grow. By taking some small steps each day, you can keep the situation under control and won’t have to give up a whole weekend to get your house clean and organised.

I hope my list of tidying shortcuts help mama!

Love,

Nakita xxx