I am asked from time to time how I keep my house clean. I’m sure that if you were in it for longer than two hours, you’d wouldn’t bother to ask. Aware of my shortcomings as I am, I’m tempted to give a list of disclosures here. But I’ll just skip it. We’re all human. And we can all learn a few things from each other. Here are my tips for keeping a tidy(ish) home. Some are learned from hard-earned experience, and some are duh-worthy theoretical’s that I’m still working on.
Less stuff. I’m starting with the “still working on” bit. I’m not a shopper, but my children are toy charmers. The little Hot Wheels, Transformers, and Ninja Turtles just seem to follow along to my children’s pied piper tune. In any case, it needs to be said: less stuff equals less clutter. I don’t collect decorating chochkees. I keep my countertops almost bare. My house could probably stand to have another bookcase, side table, and kid’s bench. But no thanks. The less I have, the less I have to manage. I make a stop to dump at the resale shop every two weeks. You may not have a place to put your hot cocoa beside you when you visit this winter, but you’ll feel more comfortable in my uncluttered home. At least I hope so.
Need some tips to know what to let go of? I start with magazines, broken things, and eep! my kids’ artwork. Those judgment calls over the artwork sharpen my brain, the magazines help me let go of the projects I’m just not going to do, and the broken things go in a box. That box of bulky stuff goes to the recycling center or to the repair shop–and it’s time to make that call.
Sacred areas. I love the idea of having a basement play area or telling the kiddos that their rooms are their turf (i.e. don’t tread on mom’s). But designated play areas don’t work out that way half the time. It doesn’t matter where you say that play should stay… your children will follow you. No matter how much I’ve said “no toys in the kitchen,” I still trip over them as I cook. But that’s a good thing. I’m the manager of the home, and yet they want to be around.
We choose our battles. We keep one room [almost] untouched for company. All four of us do. It’s the first room you see as you walk in, so people are duped into thinking that my whole house looks like that. {Sinister chuckle.} The layout of your home may not be so, and this may sound like a luxury and indeed it is. But think of your hostessing spot. Is it the dining room table or a countertop bar where you invite a girlfriend to sit for coffee? Fight for it. The way to be ready for drop-in friends is to have a space that you’re not entirely embarrassed about.
Nightly kitchen duty. It’s a bummer. But I’ve had too many moody mornings where I’m washing last night’s dishes while making breakfast while brewing coffee while microwaving chocolate milk. Let me tell you—it doesn’t make for a picturesque start of the day. I know better now. Nope, I’ll just do it. My nightly go-to order is this: wash dishes, wipe countertops, sweep. It’s working from wet to dry and top to bottom.
Wash the pots first. Along with dish duty comes this tip: wash the pots first. Okay, so it doesn’t bode well with how dirty you’re making that washcloth or sponge right off the bat, but it’s the simple principle of delayed gratification. Sure, I want to go straight to rinsing cups and throwing them into the dishwasher when I come in contact with a sink full of dishes. But guess what gets left “soaking?” Uh-huh. Those icky, awkward big pots and pans. “I’ve done enough,” I tell myself… but that’s not what I’m telling myself on day two or three! Do those pesky pots first, and you might look more like a Disney princess by the end, singing while surrounded by suds and pitch-perfect birds. Maybe.
Cleaners easily accessible in every bathroom. Half the battle is getting your mind in the game and your artillery in order. So cut that stress in half by getting extra cleaners. It’s not like they’re going to expire, so shop ahead and have them on-hand. This way, during your worst case scenario–with toilet bowl cleaner, glass cleaner, and wipes at arm’s length–your mind may be anywhere but in the game and you can just get it over with in a jiff.
Create a fun practice. Now what about those things you hate, hate, hate? Bathrooms? Paperwork? The entryway closet? Combine something you hate with a guilty pleasure. Stream Netflix or a podcast on your phone while you go through a dozen paper towels of catch-up grime-wiping. Capitalize on your weakness, and celebrate with it. Tip: reserve your guilty pleasure for only that dreaded task. You might be compelled to scan receipts the next time you’ve got a craving for dark chocolate.
Sort as you throw it in the laundry basket. Our lovely house is graced with a laundry chute now, but this has been a tip I’ve used for years in the past. With each move, I’ve been a return customer of this same laundry basket. It has three bags—each removable, each itself washable. It almost looks like a mail cart. Hubby and I would dump our whites, colors, and “other” into these with the same amount of ease as it takes to throw the clothes anywhere else. The “other” basket often alternated as seasons and needs changed; it held bedsheets at times, or towels or delicates. We could dump a load straight into the washing machine when one of the compartments was full.
Cheaters. {Worthy splurges for the cleaning-challenged.}
- Robot Vacuum. My friends are rolling their eyes as they read this. They’re tired of hearing it, but it’s true: a robotic vacuum is worth the money. She (yes, “she”—because who else cleans my house while entertaining my kids BUT an awesome girlfriend?) does the overall trick. Sure, there are areas of my house she doesn’t seem to like to crawl over, but it’s okay. She does most of the work, which is better than I can say about myself. Now if only she would climb my stairs…. Ooh! And mega-bonus: the kids fear that she’ll eat their toys! We sing Gloria Estefan’s B-track “The Roomba Is Gonna Getcha” while we’re “rescuing” toys and chucking the toys into bins!
- At-Home Dry Cleaning. I attached a dry clean at-home bag to our partitioned laundry basket. Our dry-clean only items go straight into the bag that they’re thrown into the dryer in. All we have to do is add a magical dry-cleaning sheet to the mix, zip it up, and throw it in. You’ll save money and silly trips to the cleaners.
- Disinfecting wipes. In bulk. Maybe that’s not a splurge, but I used to think these were for rich people only. I was raised in a home that frowned upon such lazy luxuries. I’ve turned. I’m not blowing my kids’ noses in them, but I pretty much use them for everything else. Call it my Greek Windex. I’ve found that my cheaters do well in every room, and I’m thisclose to resembling the “Yes We Can” lady when I wield them.
The bottom line I tell myself is this: tidy looks a heck of a lot like actually clean. Pretty good or good enough can be wonderful in this life stage! The goal is peace of mind, an inviting home. If things are in their place, people aren’t noticing dusty baseboards… you’re suppose to wipe those things? My junk drawer is sorted through once a year, and my fan hasn’t seen a duster. All I know is that when my home is clean enough (for me,) I can think straight. And that IS wonderful.
Yes We Can. (Unless we don’t feel like it today.)
A
All illustrations by Amarilys Henderson © Watercolor Devo
