If your house feels out of control and full of clutter – you are not alone. If you feel totally overwhelmed by the daily maintenance of your household – you are not alone.
But it really doesn’t have to be this way.
I don’t expect you to spend a full day purging every single inch of your home. I don’t expect you to take off a day of work to deep clean your home. Because I wouldn’t do that either.
But I do believe that a few simple cleaning and organizing habits can totally transform your home. I think that decluttering and organizing your home can make it feel more peaceful and less stressful.
And I know that regular 10-minute bursts of productivity can get you on the road to a neater, cleaner and less stressful home.
It doesn’t have to mean an unattainable cleaning schedule from Pinterest. Because this lady don’t have time for cleaning the grout in my tub with a toothbrush every Tuesday.
But I have time for 10 minutes. And I know you do, too.
So, set your timer and choose one of the nine quick and simple projects below. Today. Right now. This takes no planning. Just do it.
Aim to do one or even two of these projects every single day – actually write it down in your planner if that will make you do it. Anyone can make time for 10 minutes – and your home and your sanity will thank you.
Make your bed.
This doesn’t even take 10 minutes. And I think you should do it every day.
So, I’m just adding it here (AGAIN!) because I truly believe that making your bed is one of the best ways to start your day and feel in control of the state of your home.
So, can you do this for me? Bed-making is becoming my personal mission.
Tackle shoes and coats.
Maybe you have an entryway or mudroom – or maybe not. Regardless of your home setup, you likely have a pile of shoes and coats somewhere in your home right now.
This can be a stressful first impression in your house – so tackle those items now. Put shoes and coats where they actually belong – and wipe down the floors for good measure.
Looking for a great mudroom system? I highly recommend our simple DIY peg rails and the infamous IKEA shoe cabinet.
Work on laundry – every single day.
I know I’m not alone in feeling that a household of laundry is totally overwhelming. Because as soon as I finish the neverending laundry pile, it’s already huge again. It literally never goes away.
That’s why I started trying to do SOMETHING every single day. Because then I almost never have
If I’m not feeling it, I just pick up stray socks and call it done.
But most days, I do one small thing:
- Sort and bring laundry to the laundry room.
- Start a load of wash (set the timer overnight if you don’t want to worry about remembering to switch the load)
- Put a load of laundry in the dryer.
- Fold and put away.
- Wash the towels, sheets, etc.
All of that would have normally been a full-day Saturday project. But not anymore. Now, I do smaller loads more frequently. Not only does this make the daily work a lot simpler and quicker, but it also makes my most dreaded task – folding and putting away – more bearable. Because it’s not neverending.
(P.S. Make your kid(s) and spouse help with the most dreaded parts. Trust me. It’s time.)
Clear the clutter.
Set your timer for 10 minutes and focus on all those surfaces that are the biggest clutter zones. For me, it’s the kitchen counter. Other common areas that need help are kitchen tables, coffee tables, desks and bedroom dressers.
Purge ruthlessly – throwing away any trash and junk mail. Do this first and take no prisoners – don’t simply shuffle your stuff around to be clutter somewhere else. Then, sort your paperwork and put all the rest of the stuff into the rooms where it actually belongs.
Finish by wiping down the counters with a cloth or Clorox wipe.
Done and done.
Clean out your fridge and freezer.
This is one of those jobs that gets put off for an embarrassingly long time in my house.
In just a few minutes, you can remove anything expired or unused in your fridge and freezer. Once you have purged, wipe down the surfaces and admire all that clean space.
(Extra tip: Add a magnetic notebook to the side of your fridge for an easy way to maintain your grocery list. In my house, it’s required to add anything to the list that’s been used. Even my son, who can’t write, will shout “WE NEED TO ADD MILK TO THE LIST!”)
Undergo a speedy closet purge.
So, closet cleaning can be a giant project. But, you can start small and make a dent.
Set your timer for 10 minutes and work on purging your closet for items you know you don’t love or wear.
Or, focus on just one type of item – like your dresses. Make a pile to donate or sell and enjoy all that extra space in your closet. (It’s worth the work – you could make hundreds of dollars selling your clothes.)
Work on the bathroom.
Clear off the vanity and wipe it down. Spray the toilet and clean it. Finally, clean the floors – I like to use a wet Swiffer for ease. If you have time, spray and wipe down the tub, too.
I like to work on the bathroom when Henry is in the tub – it’s a dedicated time and I’m already there. And it always surprises me how quickly I can really clean the bathroom – it really can take less than 10 minutes.
After you are done, it’s time to block off the bathroom so no one ever uses it again. Because when I clean the bathroom, I want it to stay like that FOREVER.
Can I get an “amen?”
Find the bottom of your sink.
If you have a pile of dishes in your sink, spend 10 minutes washing, drying and putting them away. Then wipe down the sink and smile in your reflection.
(If you don’t have a pile in the sink, unload the dishwasher. Because if you are anything like me, clean dishes can stay in the dishwasher for an embarrassingly long time.)
Straighten and tidy up
This is a great thing to do right before bed – because it’s a great final step to have your home looking neat for the next morning. I know you don’t want to do it, but you’ll be so happy it’s done tomorrow.
Basically, this is when I just make my way through my home and do a once-over – straightening, tidying and fluffing, as necessary. This basically just gives me a chance to pick up any stray toys or books, straighten and fluff pillows and blankets, and tidy up items on coffee tables and end tables.
I always feel better when everything is straightened up. Maybe you will, too.
Do you have anything to add to this list? I’d love to hear it in the comments.
And if you like it, put a pin on it.
Can I let you in on a secret?
You don't have to spend all your time cleaning to have a presentable home.
Grab our 6 tips for a clean home (in no time).
Colleen says
I will add one thing to your list. When I vacuum the floors, I do all of the carpets in the house. When I do the bathroom floors, I go ahead and do both – no reason to get the mop out for just one floor lol. And when I Swiffer my wooden floors, I do them all at once. Great satisfaction in getting a chunk done and each method only takes a few minutes if done at different times.
I also do a ‘walk through’ just before I go to bed. It’s so satisfying to wake up to a ‘fresh’ home!
Kim Woodward says
This is a great idea – if I have my vacuum or mop out, you’d better believe I’m doing it all. Thanks for sharing!
Pam says
Do one thing every day and when Saturday arrives you are ready for fun.
Kim Woodward says
That’s a great tip!
RS says
Love your timer suggestion. When we’re motivated and effective (read: maybe 3% of our actual life if you round up), we walk through the door, straight to the oven without even putting anything down, and set the timer for 10 minutes. Until that goes off, we clean. We put away our bags, hang our jackets, wipe down the counters, sweep the floor, whatever it is that grabs our attention or that we’ve been meaning to get to. If the timer goes off when we’re mid project, we finish the task we’re working on before quitting. Half the time we’re in “go mode” by then and spend a few extra minutes doing things we would have ignored. I’d totally be lying if I said I did this every day, but every time I do it it feels GREAT and then it’s just a matter of making it a habit. Does it mean the bathroom grout is efficiently scrubbed or the ceiling fans have been dusted? Are they ever? But does it mean that I’m at least not ADDING to the chaos of daily living? I’ll take that!
Dawn Notarpole says
Keep a grocery bag with you as you declutter. So much easier to throw things away if you have bag within teach. And a great visual for your accomplishment.
Kim Woodward says
This is such an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
Marty Walden says
Great tips, Kim! I have to keep my home decluttered or I can’t function. We have much in common (but we knew that!)
Kim Woodward says
Haha! Love it!