Some people seem to have the envious ability to maintain a perfectly ordered home 24/7, but this can be more of a daydream than a reality for the rest of us. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend hours each week tidying to make your home look great. Whether you’re having guests over in the next half an hour or have just had enough of the mess, our five quick tidying hacks will have your home looking spick and span in no time.
1. Concentrate on surfaces: Tackle the worst offender first. Cluttered surfaces will make any house look disorganised and cramped. We’re talking items left on the floor, obscured table worktops and messy kitchen counters. If you don’t have time to wash up, rinse dirty dishes and put them in a neat pile, hang-up towels and clothes, put shoes away and clear away any papers or books. You can then quickly straighten up any leftover stationary or ornaments so that they don’t look out of place.
2. Make use of storage boxes and cupboards: As the saying goes, you never know what goes on behind closed doors! Utilise cupboards, drawers and storage boxes to hide almost anything and no-one will know. If you want to be really organised, you can give everything it’s own ‘home’ so that you can quickly return it to its rightful place when needed. You don’t even have to do that if it sounds like too much work – a large basket or box for each room’s unorganised clutter will do. Just live by the mantra, if it’s not seen then it’s clean!
3. Keep wipes and bins handy: For those of us that are constantly rushing around, a spill or pile of rubbish here and there can be the last thing that we want to deal with. The key is to make it easy for yourself to clear while you go, saving on time and effort in the long run. For example, having a packet of cleaning wipes in every room is practical. Or keeping a small bin in every room and putting rubbish in there straight away.
4. Vacuum and dust: Floors and screens often get neglected in a quick clean up. Even if it’s only a five-minute run around, vacuuming or sweeping can make a big difference to the look of a house. Nowadays we live surrounded by screens and spend the majority of our time at home engaged with either a TV, computer or tablet. However small your screen, it will attract dust and dirt and this is really noticeable if you are looking at it constantly! Don’t delay – your home will instantly feel tidier.
5. Create a good feeling: Rather than doing a massive overhaul, tackling a few minor details can transform the state of your home in minutes. If it’s daytime, open windows to let stale air out and open up curtains or blinds to let in plenty of light. If it’s nighttime, why not create a cosy mood with dimmed lighting and candles, which are also great for hiding dusty corners. Next, focus on making a nice clean smell in your home by using items such as sprays, incense and scented candles. Fresh flowers can work well as a focal point in your room, drawing prying eyes away from cluttered corners. These may seem like insignificant tasks but if something smells and looks great, it will give the impression of a cleaner and tidier home – like magic!
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