Tidiness Tips For Lazy Clean Freaks - Page 12

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For the longest time, I was very messy, and didn’t mind it. I just hated taking the time to clean. I wanted to go, go, go! I’m social and ambitious, and I really didn’t want tasks like folding clothes or wiping down counters to slow me down. I wanted to finish one activity, and start the next, without pausing to clean up any sort of mess I’d just created. Maybe because I was young or single, it didn’t bother me for many, many years. But then, things took a turn for the better. I met a very tidy partner—he’s so tidy that it can cause some disputes—and he generally taught me to appreciate living in a clean space. He had to, because we were moving in together, and he just couldn’t live the way I lived.

He didn’t say anything for the first couple of years we dated because he had his own home to retreat to—his clean place. But once we started talking cohabitation, he just had to tell me, “Hey the way you live causes me anxiety and I really don’t want messiness to be the reason we don’t work out. So…can you fix it before we live together?” So I did. It turns out love is a pretty good motivator like that.

As I was forced (not really, but kinda) to live in a cleaner, tidier way, I became accustomed to living like that. And then, I started to like it. I really started to understand how not living in clutter is good for your moods, mindset, and productivity. But I still never came around to enjoying cleaning. It still feels like a huge bummer to me. So I’ve had to learn cleanliness hacks for lazy clean freaks. Like these.

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Have a bed that’s easy to make

There’s no need to make things difficult on yourself with your bed. If you aren’t going to replace 10 accent pillows and a throw blanket every day, then don’t have those things. Having a duvet, instead of a comforter and top sheet, can be nice, because you just give one item a big shake, and the bed is practically made.

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Put baskets in cubbies

If you have tons of exposed storage, like cubbies, open shelving, storage space beneath couches, and things like that, buy some attractive baskets. Get matching sets in varying sizes that will hold items large and small. Having matching ones throughout the home creates a unifying aesthetic.

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Put lots of hooks in walls

If you just can’t be bothered to walk across the house to put things away in cabinets and closets, just hammer sets of hooks on walls around your home. You can put hats, jackets, towels, keys, and purses on these hooks. It’s a simple way to get these items off your floor or furniture.

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Purchase decorative storage

Explore the world of decorative furniture. You can find cute footrests that have storage inside for books and blankets. You can get an accent bench to keep near the front door that opens up and offers a place to keep things like sunscreen and dog leashes. Add attractive end tables behind couches, put photos on top, and miscellaneous items inside.

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Entertain yourself

Make tidying up fun for yourself. I purposefully bring my clean laundry into the living room, dump it on the floor in front of the TV, and watch a show while I fold it. Or I’ll put on a podcast while I clean dishes. Or I’ll call a friend on speakerphone to keep me company while I dust.

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Do the hourglass cleaning round

If you don’t have an actual hourglass timer, just set, say, a five-minute alarm on your phone. Race yourself. See how much you can clean up before it goes off. Knowing that alarm will go off will encourage you to work efficiently so you can get back to having fun when it sounds.

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Get cutthroat about spam mail

Just toss it. The furniture store coupons. The take-out menus. The credit card offers. The Internet company up-sells. The cruise ship fliers. You hold onto these things, thinking you’ll use them one day, and they just pile up and expire on your desk. You’ll be happier to throw them out and have a clutter-free space, than to hang onto 100 coupons in case you use one.

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Make simpler recipes

It could be time to learn how to make simple recipes that only call for a few basic ingredients or, more specifically, a few dishes. If you find yourself, after every meal, having to clean two cutting boards, two pans, one pot, and two serving dishes, you’re doing something wrong.

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Get a spray bottle and vinegar

Get an empty spray bottle. You can get one from your dollar store. Purchase big bottles of white vinegar. You can often get double-packs for less than $10. Create a mixture that’s one part vinegar and one part warm water in the bottle, mix it up, and spray it on…everything. Kitchen counters. Sink basins. The inside of your bathtub. Your shower walls. Let it sit for ten minutes, and wipe away. It’s a simple solution that can make most surfaces sparkle. (But don’t use it on unfinished wood. Ever.)

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Put clothes away right away

It’s such a simple thing that will make a world of a difference. Start to be conscious of the moments you remove an item of clothing. Don’t toss it on the floor. Put it in the laundry if it’s dirty or in the closet if it’s clean. Doing this daily is so much easier than cleaning that mountain of clothing you’re creating on that chair every week.

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Allow for a junk drawer

It’s okay if you have some items that you just don’t know what to do with. Measuring tape. Furniture scratch magic marker. Egg timer. Have a miscellaneous drawer. You don’t need to feel pressure to have a specific drawer for every category of item. You won’t get around to it—instead you let those odd items sit around on surfaces. So put them in a junk drawer.

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Don’t accept more gifts

You may have to tell friends and family to stop giving you physical items as gifts. There came a point when I just had to tell my loved ones that I was no longer accepting physical objects. Gift cards are the way to go for me. I need the option to buy just the thing I need when I need it, but not a second sooner—otherwise it takes up precious space.

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Keep wipes in every room

Keep a canister of antibacterial wipes in every room. You can have one under each bathroom sink and under the kitchen sink. Have one behind the TV to wipe down the TV stand. These provide a quick and easy way to dust off and sanitize surfaces that collect grime daily.

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Post a pic

This may be funny but it was surprisingly effective for me. Start positing photos of your home. If the place looks bad, you’ll want to tidy it up before sharing that image with the world. Your ego won’t let you post a selfie with a pile of dirty dishes in the background.