Where to Start When Cleaning and Organizing Your Home

The beginning steps on cleaning and organizing your home.

You probably landed on this site because lately you've been thinking of your home... "I've GOT to get this place together!" Meaning organizing your home.

The clutter and maybe even dirt and grime has gotten out of control and where do you start when you need to get things together?

Here are some tips to help you formulate a plan for organizing your home and getting it together.

1. Get a plan. A housekeeping plan. Decide if you will clean your home a little each day or once a week on an all out Saturday cleaning binge. Find a method to cleaning each room in your home that works for you. We have some simple cleaning lists in our series Clean the House this Week located here. These are not deep cleaning lists but a way to put your home in basic order in a week's time.

2. Have a reason for getting your home in order. It can be anything. You have a new home, new apartment. Newly married. You youself can't take the mess anymore. You want a cleaner more organized home for your children, your family, your guests. It's probably best if it's for yourself as you're more likely to stick with it. I hear a lot of people say they aren?t going to clean up for visitors. I think this is a mistake. Why wouldn?t you clean for visitors? You would want them to clean for you wouldn?t you? Or do you enjoy living in squallor and visiting others who live in squallor? If you want a clean and inviting home and feel it?s a good thing to be hospitable to others and give them the idea that yes they are special and you take a bit of pride in welcoming them in a graceful manner in your home then read on.

3. Imagine your home cleaned up and organized. Do you like what you see? Image in all the counters and tabletops were cleared off. Beds made. Laundry put away. Bathrooms and kitchens cleaned up. You knew where your car keys were. How many good batteries or lightbulbs you had left or at least where you kept the extras. You like? That's what we're aiming for.

4. You will see results....eventually. Not overnight so don't look for that. In doing the small every day details you will find outlined throughout this site know that you will see a big payoff if you keep at it. The things you do to keep you home clean and organized will work. You will see results from your efforts. Some people will probably see and notice your efforts before you even realize it. It never fails that I clean the kitchen and think it doesn't look much different but my husband can tell every time.

5. Give it time. Researchers show that it takes 21 days to make something a habit and 100 days to make it a commitment. Mark your calendar for 21 days of homemaking (cleaning and organizing your home) and then give yourself a reward for making it through those days. Have a simple tea party for family or friends (or yourself). Make a celebration cake. Buy or start making yourself a Home Organizer. Or whatever makes a good reward system for you.

6. Get right on it! Start today. Make a bed. Do all the dishes. Vacuum. Clean off that little section of your computer desk just to right of you. Just get to it! Work out the details later.

Organizing Your Home Tips

For a simple schedule of House Cleaning read How to Clean Your House

For more on deep cleaning the rooms in your home pick up a copy of our free ebook when you sign up for our monthly newsletter Organized Homelife.

Also if in the midst of straightening up your home you see the need to declutter check out our article

5 Steps for Clutter Control.

And again....

Happy Cleaning! (your family loves you for this, among other things)