Jan 29, 2016

Tip #1: The sink is only for washing things, not storing.

A sink full of dishes signals everyone in the house that it’s okay to leave clutter and messes for someone to deal with later. Unwashed dishes also cause household odors and attract pests, particularly if it happens day after day.

Listen, everyone gets tired and busy, but it takes less than 15 minutes to wash even the nastiest pile of dishes in the sink. Don’t believe me? Time yourself! Then the next time you’re thinking about ignoring that stack of dishes remember it only takes a few minutes to turn your kitchen around.

Tip #2: By bedtime, things go where they belong… or they go.

If you’ve got kids then you know how they tend to leave their things strewn all over the house. And there you are, finally looking forward to a few moments of peace after their bedtime, only to find yourself surrounded by chaos. Here’s how to fix that: set aside 5 minutes before bedtime for kids to put away their toys, and let them know anything they leave sitting out will go into “toy jail.”

What’s toy jail, you ask? It’s a way for you to assign chores that kids can do to earn their toys back. They get very good at putting their things away before bedtime after a few days of extra chores, and meanwhile you get more help around the house!

Tip #3: No one walks around empty-handed.

Whether it’s taking a dish to the dishwasher, picking clumps of pet hair off the floor, or putting clothes in the hamper — get in the habit of doingsomething as you go from one room to another. It’s amazing what a difference this makes, not just in terms of household clutter but in family members’ awareness of the messes they make.

hat tip to housewifehowtos.com