How to clean up your home: useful tips and main mistakes

We are accustomed to conducting our daily life the same way from year to year: dusting, washing the floor, putting things in their places. But few people think about looking for new ways to quickly restore order to their home. And sometimes a few useful habits are enough to reduce your cleaning time by an hour or rid yourself of it on one day of the week. Let's look at simple and practical tips that will help you do this.

The first and basic rule when putting things in order is to follow the 4 containers method. Place 4 boxes, bags in front of you or form 4 sectors where you will put things in order to:

Throw it away.
Give away, donate, sell.
Leave for further use.
Use now.

This method will allow you to quickly sort unnecessary items and get rid of those that have not been needed for a long time.

Cleaning up the kitchen

It is best if it is possible to organize the kitchen space in the shape of the letter U, while clearly demarcating the areas for cooking and storage. Before purchasing a kitchen set, it will be useful to think in advance about organizing the space, taking into account the location and filling of the drawers. This will allow you to place all the necessary items correctly:

at hand are those that you use every day and more than once;
in an accessible place – frequently used;
at a distance of two steps - sometimes applicable;
in the back of the closet are those that are needed occasionally.

If you choose high shelves and racks, then there must be elements for sorting inside: trays, baskets, inserts, holders, drawers.

When organizing your space, follow these tips:

use identical dishes that are easy to store according to the principle: one inside the other;
arrange the plates from large to small from left to right;
place glasses in rows, those lower are closer to you;
Place the pots in a matryoshka pattern;

purchase a special stand for the lids;
Place cereals or bulk products near the stove or sink so that you don’t have to reach far when preparing dishes.

Cleaning the territory of a summer cottage

Having bought a new dacha and seeing the picture described above, many are horrified. But here it is important not to give up, but to be consistent, because nothing ennobles a person more than work.

First of all, we suggest doing minimal cleaning of the area so that you can properly look around, get to the house, garden, shower and toilet. Walking through tall grass is inconvenient, scary, and even dangerous, because in the thickets there may be construction debris, broken glass, holes, protruding reinforcement, and maybe some living creatures, such as snakes, spiders, ferrets, and so on. Therefore, we recommend removing as much growth as possible, even with the most ordinary scythe, in order to get maximum visibility.

Organization of the refrigerator space

One problem area is the refrigerator. If you don’t have the healthy habit of putting food in trays and containers specially made by the manufacturer, then it’s time to get one. Store eggs in a special container, not in packaging, put vegetables in drawers below, put milk and dairy products on the door, and prepared food on a separate shelf.

Some more useful tips:

periodically inspect the refrigerator and throw away food that is past its expiration date or spoiled;
Use rugs on shelves to help keep them clean;
Store food in containers to save space and prevent odors;
place small products in drawers or trays;
Put what you need to eat in the coming days in the foreground.

Step-by-step action plan

It will be easier to master a new area if you break the process into separate tasks and then complete them one after another. Then a clear picture will immediately form in your head - what is most important, where to start, what can be left for later.

This will relieve the state of some confusion in which owners of neglected areas often find themselves.

Pre-planning will also help to avoid annoying mistakes that can complicate the life of a summer resident and add more work to him.

The development of an overgrown area can be divided into the following stages:

Cleaning the area.
Removing unnecessary trees and shrubs.
Tidying up the remaining trees and bushes.
Weed control.
Preparing the soil for planting.
Keeping the soil weed-free.

Tidying up the bathroom

The limited space in the bathroom prevents many from placing all the necessary things correctly. The main rule here is to put the item where you use it. For example, place cleaning products next to the plumbing fixtures for which you are using them - this will allow you to clean the sink or bathtub in a few minutes. Individual items that you do not take out very often can be put away in a closet in the room or hallway so that they do not clutter the bathroom space.

When organizing the bathroom space:

hang an additional shelf;
place holders or baskets on the door;
place a compact stand in the corner;
take up space under the bathroom;

Attach hooks or clothes rails to the wall.

Hygiene products and household chemicals can be placed in containers or special organizers with a rotating mechanism.

Improvement of trees and bushes

It’s quite easy to tidy up neglected shrubs. First you need to get rid of all dry and damaged branches.

Then, following the pruning rules for each crop, shorten or completely remove some of the shoots. All this can be done in one season.

Many types of shrubs can be rejuvenated by simply cutting them back to 2/3 of their height or even more. This can be done with gooseberries, honeysuckle, currants, shadberry, and viburnum. All bushes must be well fed.

Neglected trees cannot be completely restored in one season. At first, it is enough to carry out sanitary pruning. It can be done at any time.

The main thing is that the air temperature is positive. Which branches should be deleted first:

dry or injured;
damaged by diseases or pests;
hanging down to the ground;
intertwined with each other;
potentially dangerous to buildings and people.

More than three large branches cannot be removed at one time, as the tree will receive too many wounds and will not be able to cope with them. In the second year it is already possible to thin out and shape the crown. But overgrowth shoots can be cut out at any time.

Very often, trees on an abandoned site are affected by diseases and pests, so they need to be treated with suitable chemicals.

Over several years without proper care, the soil under the trees has become very depleted, so it needs to be well fertilized. Simultaneously with fertilizing, it is useful to shallowly loosen the soil under the crown and form a tree trunk circle.

Typical storage mistakes

Let's consider 5 of the most banal situations that can be observed in almost every home:

Error 1 : a large number of things, clothes, books, small items with insufficient storage space. Many of them have not been used for a long time and serve as collectors of dust and dirt.

How to fix it? First of all, throw away everything unnecessary and what will no longer be in demand, change the storage pattern and acquire new things.

Mistake 2: You have a lot of things that are not assigned a specific place. These can be a variety of items: children's toys, accessories, household items. Each time, when cleaning, such things end up in a new place, and in the end they get lost among a large number of exactly the same ones.

How to fix it? Organize the space logically. Put the most necessary items close so that you don't feel the urge to throw them where you just used them. The weight should be simple: pick it up, put it in place and it takes a few seconds.

Mistake 3: You found a place for the thing, but you realize that it is inconvenient. It is difficult for you to take an item from a high shelf, it is difficult for you to reach deep into the closet, you have no desire to move other objects that interfere with access. As a result, you take a lot of unnecessary actions to take or put down what you need now. Result: things end up scattered.

How to fix it? Change your storage plan, get rid of unnecessary things, freeing up space.

Mistake 4: Lack of zoning and sorting of things, everything is mixed up.

How to fix it? Divide the room into separate sections, place things close to where they are used. This applies to any room, be it a nursery, a bathroom or a kitchen.

Mistake 5: Not using modern organizers and other convenient storage devices.

How to fix it? Look at the range of organizational materials in your local store or online and choose something that will really make your life easier.

Weed control

It will not be possible to completely get rid of weeds in an overgrown area in one season. This will require at least 2 years.

Typically, neglected areas are overgrown with perennial grasses such as gooseberry, wheatgrass, sow thistle, stinging nettle, etc. Such weeds are difficult to remove; you must immediately prepare yourself for a long and persistent fight against them.

If the area is covered with annual vegetation such as woodlice, acorn grass, white goosefoot, galinsoga and chickweed, then you can rejoice. It will be much easier to deal with them.

Without the help of chemicals, it will not be possible to quickly clear an overgrown area of weeds. This is especially true for large areas.

In a small area, it is still possible to eradicate weeds by constant mowing or plowing, but this will take a lot of time.

In addition, this will need to be done every two weeks. If you act manually, then in this way you can conquer only a small space from the virgin soil. If you hire heavy equipment, it will be very expensive.

To destroy harmful perennial weeds, it is better to use continuous herbicides based on glyphosate.

These are drugs such as Tornado, Roundup, Glyphos, etc. They spray the leaves of the weeds, and then wait 2-4 weeks until the poison reaches the roots and the plants die.

During this period, they cannot be mowed or pulled out of the ground. For the drug to work, there should be no rain for the first few hours after spraying.

The main steps to putting things in order

The main reason for clutter in the house is the inability to devote enough time to cleaning and putting things in their place. To reduce the time spent organizing space, it is better to initially follow simple steps:

Get rid of unnecessary things. This will save you from having to constantly look for a place for them or move them on the shelves. Do not hesitate before disposing of an item. If the thought occurs to you that you cannot sell or give it away (because no one needs it), then throw it away without regret. Sometimes you feel sorry for the money spent on an item, in this case, take a smarter approach to the purchase so as not to save up such purchases later.

Choose a specific place for each item. Focus on the principle of proximity: place the necessary things closer to the doors, and those that are needed less often - further in the closet or drawer.
Use various organizers, baskets, shelves, boxes, storage systems, grids, boxes. Thanks to them, various little things will not be lying all over the closet.

Label shelves and cabinets. Especially if you have a lot of things for different family members, especially if, for example, a child does not know where to look for a sweatshirt or T-shirt.
Clean regularly and consistently. This should become a kind of habit. If you have used an item, immediately put it back in its place. Don’t make promises to yourself to do something later – tomorrow or in the evening, but do it right away. This is especially true for problem areas where things constantly accumulate.

Try to take a positive approach to the process of cleaning the house, trying to organize the space comfortably for yourself and your family, and then putting things in order will no longer be an overwhelming task for you.

How to make cleaning your house easier and how to maintain cleanliness at a constant level: tips

To make cleaning take even less time and you spend less effort, you can use the useful advice of experienced housewives.

Place appropriate cleaning supplies and rags throughout the house in the right places. Dry and wet wipes in the living room or room, a set of detergents in the kitchen and bathroom. This is especially true if there are children in the house. This way, everything you need for cleaning will be “at hand” at the right time. And just make “your own” place for them, so as not to look for accidentally spilled coffee or tea in the commotion.
To ensure that a large number of shoes never accumulate in the corridor, it is worth getting a special locker. Shoes should be wiped or washed immediately after a walk, and then put back in place.
To keep the baseboards always clean, you need to wipe them with water with the addition of an antistatic agent. This repels dust, and you can forget about cleaning the baseboards for a long time.
You can also add a drop of conditioner when cleaning wooden surfaces. Moreover, it is not forbidden to wash floors with this drug. It also repels dust well and gives cleaning a pleasant aroma.
Teach your children to clean up after themselves. Moreover, this must be done from an early age. To instill in a child a desire to clean, you need to turn the process itself into a game. You can turn on the music and let the baby dance and sing. But under no circumstances punish your child or force him to clean up after himself, this will discourage the desire for cleanliness in the bud.

Everything should have its place!

Get convenient cleaning equipment. For example, you don’t always want to vacuum with a bulky and inconvenient vacuum cleaner, so it’s better to buy a small and lightweight device to make cleaning much more convenient and enjoyable. You shouldn’t wipe the floor with an already worn out rag that leaves lint marks behind – buy a comfortable mop. Believe me, the desire to clean lies in these details!
To avoid losing socks after washing, immediately place dirty socks in pairs in the washing machine. Don't worry - they can be washed in the washing machine even when folded!
If there are pets in the house, always wash their paws after a walk and brush them once a week.
Don't forget about ventilation. Often an unpleasant odor already creates an uncomfortable atmosphere. 10-15 minutes a day in each room is enough.

The mood of all household members depends on the cleanliness of the house. You always want to return to a house where order reigns and smells of freshness. Therefore, do not be lazy to maintain comfort in your home and teach all family members to do so; besides, with joint efforts this can be done much faster and easier.

The most important country buildings

We all understand perfectly well that the main buildings, besides the country house, on the territory are a kitchen, an outdoor shower and a toilet. There must be direct access, which we have already provided, and these places must be clean and safe. It’s up to you to decide in what sequence the renovation and arrangement will take place, but we want to say that it’s better to put the kitchen, shower and toilet in order at the same time.

When you have a place to cook lunch and dinner, refresh yourself after a working day and relax, you can move on to further work aimed at repairs and even design of the site.

Inspection of buildings on the site

It is very difficult in such a situation, and we understand this very well. After all, you have a whole sea of worries in front of you, and it can be impossible to understand what to tackle first. But we will not dramatize, but move on to practical actions.

It is necessary to inspect all the buildings on the site, perhaps even with the participation of a repair specialist who will advise on future processes, the possibility of their implementation, building materials, as well as the amounts separately or in general.

Be prepared for the fact that some buildings will have to be demolished (quite likely, since the house is dilapidated and the site is old), and a lot of money will need to be invested in repairing others.

Soak

“Soaking is not only used for washing clothes.” Sometimes there is simply no time to clean a fresh stain, then soaking the dirt will come to the aid of the housewife.

Just a few drops of washing liquid on the stain, ten minutes of waiting, and you won’t have to scrub vigorously. Chemical components will make it more reliable and gentle.

By the way, the toilet and bathtub can also be filled with cleaning products in the morning, then in the evening you can simply go over with a rag and rinse.

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Do not litter

It is also very simple: “It’s clean not where they clean, but where they don’t litter.” Does your child not carry candy wrappers to the trash can? Let the trash can come to him. Just place a small trash container on the table and check its cleanliness in the evening.

After a month of constant reproaches, the child will understand that it is easier to make this container clean than to listen to his mother’s screams. Or mom will understand that it’s easier to throw out the trash herself.

Does your husband throw his socks around? My husband spends the weekend picking up pairs of socks.

Does your daughter leave cups of unfinished tea everywhere? My daughter collects them and washes them before bed. Or going to school without a morning drink.

Tip 4: Garden beds only for essentials

If a dacha is a place for growing a bountiful harvest, then the owners themselves decide how to use the plot. For a pleasant relaxation and joy from “your own greens,” a small bed with dill, parsley, and onions is enough. These crops are not so dependent on watering or weather, and do not require care.

Inherited houses are often surrounded by fruit trees. Caring for them will be a feasible physical activity. And fruit trees will definitely respond to your care with a good harvest.

Home to live

It's more of a system for organizing space, but it also helps maintain order. The technique was created by Chinese woman Lu Wei, blogger and interior designer. In her book, she talks about proper home design, furniture arrangement and space zoning, and the secrets of proper storage of things. Lu Wei's advice will be most useful to those who are buying an apartment or planning to make renovations.

Basic Techniques

The storage area should occupy 12–40% of the total living area. The smaller the house or apartment, the more space you need to allocate for storage.
Built-in storage is better than separate cabinets.
If you want to keep things organized, buy identical rectangular containers made of transparent plastic. Sign each one so that there is no temptation to put things in the wrong place.
Use the 80:20 principle. Only 80% of things are in plain sight, the rest are stored so that they are not visible. By the way, this idea contradicts the principles of Marie Kondo.
Memorabilia - gifts, souvenirs, postcards - need to be placed in so-called time capsules. That is, send them to plastic containers, one for each year.
Use all available space for storage, do not leave empty space under the ceiling.

Which method do you like? Share in the comments.

Inspection of the dacha area

Now that there are routes to follow at the dacha, and the area is a little better visible, you can take a walk and look around. It is advisable to take a piece of paper and a pen with you so that you can immediately write down your ideas for arrangement. And believe me, there will be a lot of them at once.

While walking around the area where this is possible, look around, try to find useful things that will help in further work. This could be a stack of bricks, several metal pipes behind the house, a mesh that previously fenced off a poultry house or dovecote, boards or beams near the barn. All this will definitely come in handy, because on our website almost every day we make something interesting with our own hands from available materials. Similar material will help in construction, repairs, and landscaping.

Wardrobes

In such places everything is usually stored in bulk. Sometimes you can’t open the door, things fall out onto the floor, and the next round of putting them away begins. To avoid such repetitions, you need to take note of some rules:

Divide clothes into those that are constantly in use, as well as those that are unnecessary, or need to be repaired.
If the item is made of good fabric or knitwear, do not throw it away. The quality of goods only gets worse over the years, and these things can still please you later.
Buy more hangers to hang things as much as possible, but keep in mind that knitted sweaters are best stored rolled up.
Old clothes made from artificial fabrics can be given away or used for handicrafts (there is no need to get attached to such things, they will always be lying around, and the option that they can be used is excluded).
Using boxes will keep warm items intact.
Storing clothes vertically in dresser drawers will not only allow you to find the T-shirt you need at any time, but will also allow you to fit more items.
Don't throw away shoe boxes; they are convenient for storing small items.

All that remains is to maintain order.