Easy Habits to Maintain a Clean Home Environment for Your Family
In the quest for a clutter-free home, maintaining a simplified and organised environment doesn't necessarily require a complete overhaul. The author of the Clutter Cure shares their top 5 simple routines to help families manage clutter effectively.
Heat Mapping
Identify clutter hotspots by observing where clutter most frequently accumulates, such as entryways, living rooms, or kitchen counters. Focus decluttering efforts on these areas first to maximise impact [1].
Grouping Products
Collect similar items together before organising. This helps assess quantity, discard duplicates or broken items, and assign proper storage [1][3].
Separating Unused Items
Use the “1-year rule”—if an item hasn’t been used in the past year, consider donating, selling, or discarding it. This applies especially well to clothing and rarely used household goods [3].
Wishlisting
Maintain a shared list (physical or digital) of items your family wants or needs to prevent impulse purchases. This helps keep incoming clutter intentional and manageable [4].
Sorting Papers
Digitizing important documents via scanning is recommended to reduce paper clutter. For physical papers, use labeled folders or bins sorted into categories like bills, school papers, and receipts [1].
Another practical solution to manage paper clutter is to place a shoe rack right by the entrance. This encourages family members and guests to remove shoes immediately, preventing shoe clutter from spreading indoors and creating a simple routine to contain mess [1].
Additional helpful routines include setting small, manageable decluttering goals daily or weekly, gamifying tidying tasks with timers or checklists for motivation, and adopting ongoing habits like “one-in, one-out” where bringing in new items means removing something old [1][5].
Consistency and small steps keep clutter under control without overwhelming the family. Remember, routines eventually turn into habits, making clutter management easier. Over-ambition is a path to failure when changing routines and habits. Keep it simple, and you'll be well on your way to a clutter-free home.
[1] The author's Clutter Cure [2] The third important clutter-busting simple routine is Wishlist When Shopping [3] The number one type of clutter that the author's Clutter Cure students and readers bring to attention is paper clutter [4] Adding items to a wishlist, rather than strictly telling oneself "NO," can help manage shopping urges [5] Digitizing and going green are recommended for managing paper clutter, but immediate sorting is important for the papers that still come into the home.
- Incorporating a "one-in, one-out" habit when bringing new items into the home can help maintain a clutter-free environment.
- By digitizing important documents, families can reduce paper clutter and create a more organized home-and-garden space.
- Grouping products together before organizing can help family members assess quantity, discard duplicates, and assign proper storage.
- Adopting the habit of sorting papers into labeled folders or bins, such as bills, school papers, and receipts, can help manage paper clutter effectively.
- Maintaining a shared wishlist can help prevent impulse purchases and keep incoming clutter intentional and manageable for a simplified lifestyle, whether in fashion-and-beauty or home-and-garden items.
