Does clutter–free living really exist?
Does clutter–free living really exist? Well in my world for three weeks it did. The kids were off to sleep over camp, the dog was at doggie daycare and the house was spotless, I never ate a meal at home, in fact I was rarely home. So clutter-free living exists if you don’t live there.
However for those of you who live in the real world like me be realistic and aim for a low maintenance home. It’s easy once you get the hang of it.
To create and be successful with a low maintenance home you have to be disciplined and not too sentimental. There are some rules to this golden lifestyle.
Here they are:
- Whatever comes in the door has to be deal within the first hour.
- Have a home and a place for every item, plus growing room.
- Whoever you live with has to get with the program.
- Keepsakes have to kept to a minimum and stored.
- Every week rotate an area of the home that has to decluttered, i.e. magazine collection, a closet, junk drawer.
- Sort your clothes as you undress for the night, have your laundry basket close, re-hang for another wearing in the closet not on a chair, have a bag for repairs or dry cleaning ready to go.
- Only keep papers you absolutely need too.
- Dishes have to be cleaned immediately after cooking and or eating.
- Beds have to be made every morning.
- Before you leave for the day, walk around your home and tidy up all loose ends.
This might seem like a lot of work for a low maintenance home but its not. The outcome is wonderful.
This is the Outcome
- Ready for company at a moments notice.
- You know where everything is in your home.
- Everyone pulls his or her weight around the home, living in harmony.
- You have a special box filled with your mementos in a safe place.
- Cleaning never overwhelms you or organizing because you never have big projects to do.
- Getting dressed in the morning is easy with an organized closet.
- Filing is a breeze as you have systems that just take moments.
- Making meals is a pleasure; the counters are always clear ready to prepare food.
- Great to jump into a freshly made bed at the end of long day.
- Your home really is, Home sweet Home.
Until next time friends, as always I look forward to receiving your questions, comments, and challenges send your emails to . For your listening pleasure I have been invited once again to the Christina Cherneskey Radio Show CFRB 1010 Sunday August 20th at Noon till One.
Brenda Borenstein is your Professional Organizing Guru. Look out for her column every second Thursday in the Metro in the Homes section. For more tips and ideas please visit her Website www.organizedzone.com or call 416-665-2165 or 1-800-771-6052. She has organized hundreds of homes and says, “There is nothing I haven’t seen and nothing that can’t be overcome.”