7 House Cleaning Tips for an Uncluttered Home

Issue: Nov 2018

7 House Cleaning Tips for an Uncluttered Home

When your home is cluttered, it can be difficult to keep clean because unused items collect dust especially when kept in a confined storage space. Having excessive clutter in your home isn’t healthy because you are more likely to have infestations from insects, mould or rodents. The extra dust on surfaces can also lead to asthma attacks, sinus congestion and chronic sneezing. In addition, you may find it impossible to find what you need each day because things are hidden in huge disorganised piles. There are numerous books on house cleaning tips, but the best way to make sanitising a home easier is by having fewer possessions.

Here is how to eliminate the clutter in your home:

1. Get Supplies Ready For Removing Clutter

Begin by getting ready all the items required for removing unused or unwanted things from your home. Get four bins ready to sort everything out and label them “Throw”, “Recycle”, “Donate” and “Keep”. Have disinfectant sprays and cloths ready to clean spaces that have not been cleaned for months or even years, and also have gloves and mask on standby when you start cleaning to avoid breathing in all the built-up dust or even mould.

old retro radio paired with dried purple flowers on old wood

2. Avoid Any Interruptions While You Are Cleaning

Choose a time for cleaning when there are no potential interruptions. If you work better with music on, turn up your favourite tunes so that they put you in a better mood. Avoid talking on the phone, texting or leaving the TV on or you may be tempted to take “quick breaks” to watch the interesting parts and may never return to the task at hand. When you have small children, arrange a playdate for them somewhere else, and it is also a good idea to keep pets away from your work area.

3. Eliminate Clutter from the Floors

Start the clean-up by removing things from doorways and windows. You shouldn’t have piles of stuff on the floor at these areas as this is a safety hazard when you need to escape from your home in an emergency. When the doorways are free and you don’t need to step over anything, it makes movement in between rooms more pleasant and more efficient when you are cleaning.

white pillow with unfolded blanket

4. Removing Clutter from Beds, Chairs and Couches

Next, take note of any pile ups that have accumulated on couches, chairs and beds by sorting them out quickly into your four bins. You may need to lift cushions and mattresses to retrieve any junk or even loose change that has slipped underneath and you may also need to move your furniture to gather the things that have accumulated behind or under the couch or bed. This is a good time to whip out the vacuum cleaner to suck up all the cobwebs, dust and small debris under these hard to reach places and disinfect corners that you may not see again until the next big clean.

5. Eliminate Clutter from Tables, Dressers or Bookshelves

Flat surfaces such as bookshelves, dressers and tables tend to have piles of paper clutter, including mail, brochures, magazines or schoolwork. Sort through mail quickly to find important letters you may have missed or even unopened envelopes containing cheques. Any brochures or magazines that have been sitting in a pile and collecting dust are worthless, so you should toss them into the recycle bin. You may be tempted to keep all of your children’s schoolwork, but these items require a lot of storage space, so it is good idea to just keep the memorable pieces and get rid of the rest. Now, having the space free of clutter allows you to simply wipe your cleaning cloths over frequently and even display loved items like photo frames and souvenirs for everyone to admire.

6. Getting Rid of Clutter inside Furniture

While all of the furniture surfaces in a room may look clean, you haven’t tackled the insides yet. You may have a desk that is stuffed with pens that don’t work, or broken pencils lying aimlessly in the drawers. Use compartmentalised trays to organise small items like paper clips, staples and rubber bands along with other stationery so you can find these items easily and not need to keep buying new ones. The trays can be easily removed to clean or vacuum when the bottom of the drawers start getting dusty. Likewise, using trays for your dresser drawers enable more efficient sorting of your socks from your neckties, as well as easy cleaning once you spot lots of hair and dust in the corners.

modern wooden wardrobe with clothes hanging

7. Sorting Through the Closets

You may think that having closets in your home makes it okay to stuff everything inside where no one can see them, but this is the wrong idea. Closets are an organisational tool for storing garments, footwear and other essential items that you require each day or on a seasonal basis. The best way to keep the items in the closet in good condition is to keep only necessities in that space, leaving it airy and dust free. Use hanging sachets of dehumidifiers in-between hangars and in the pockets of winter jackets. This way, there is a reduced chance of mould growth and pests hiding and feasting on your best garments in overcrowded closets.

Time for Cleaning a Home

Now that you have used these seven house cleaning tips, you can keep your home clean on a weekly basis. If you need more storage space for those unused appliances, furniture, sporting goods, large suitcases, seasonal clothes, or even mattresses for visitors, check out StorHub services – a safe and convenient solution for all your home storage needs.

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