Have you ever wondered how “those moms” always keep things neat and tidy, especially when they have kids running around the house?  Well, Jessica Kane is here today to share 5 little things you can do to keep your house in order, so you don’t have to worry about keeping things tidy, they just will be!!  Jessica is a professional writer who has an interest in keeping things organized and in order. She currently writes for FlexCon, a leading vendor of corrugated plastic bins and boxes.  You all know how much I love keeping things tidy in bins!

When you first move into your home, take a picture of how neat and tidy everything looks.  When you leave your house, take another picture to see just how much stuff you accumulated while you were there.  Even though you may not think about how much we gather over the years, it can make it harder to keep our homes orderly.  However, there are some easy tactics that you can use to keep your home as clean and organized as possible.

1. Clear Unused Items Out Each Month

If you have a bike that you haven’t rode on in awhile, get rid of it.  If you have clothes or shoes that you have recently replaced, you may want to donate them or give them to relatives.  In the event that your items are worth anything, you could try selling them on Amazon or eBay.  Otherwise, you can get rid of them by putting them on the curb for others to take away.  Getting rid of clutter on a regular basis prevents you from filling the basement, attic or garage with junk and reducing the amount of living space you have.

2. Label Everything You Have in the House

Labeling items helps to keep them in their place throughout the year.  Having a clear label for holiday decorations makes it more likely that they go back into the box labeled holiday decorations instead of being thrown in with the extra batteries or other miscellaneous items you may have.  Labeling also makes items easier to identify should they ever get loose, which means you can put it back where it belongs quickly.

3. Have Designated Locations Where People Can Come in After Getting Dirty Outside

Parents who have children probably relate to having their kids come in after playing in the dirt, grass and mud and spreading that filth throughout the house.  By designating one entrance as the one kids can use when they are dirty, you contain the mess and make it easier to clean up whatever does get tracked in.

This can also work if you have pets or if you have just come in from mowing the lawn or doing other yard work.  You may also consider this if you have a pool and don’t want wet bodies walking through your home.  For added convenience, the designated entrance could also be the laundry room or a closed off patio or deck.

4. Automate Everything That You Possibly Can

Automation makes cleaning and organization much easier.  A dishwasher will help make doing dishes a snap while a Roomba will help clean the floors.  Making your home a smart home can help you keep the temperature to a reasonable level at all times or ensure that you don’t have the lights on when you aren’t there.

Smartphone apps may also enable you to lock your door or alert the authorities if anyone tries to break in.  All of this can be yours either for a small fee each month or an upfront payment of $500 or less.  Another benefit is that your home will have features that home buyers will love, which will help sell the home faster if you ever put it on the market.

5. Make Sure You Finish Projects That You Start

Nothing makes a home fall into disarray like failing to finish a project.  For weeks, months or years, a bathroom could be left with no floor, nails could be sticking out of the ceiling or dust and debris could be left scattered after sanding a wall in preparation for painting.  In addition to the health hazards that those actions can create, it creates an eyesore and a mess in your home.

Each time you start a project and don’t finish, you are left with a sense of dread and stress at how much needs to be done just to get the home back to average.  It could also create a situation where you can’t use your kitchen or your bathroom because it is out of order until renovations or other projects are complete.

Keeping your home in good order takes some effort on your part and the parts of others who live in the house.  However, most of the steps needed to keep the home in good condition aren’t difficult nor will they take up too much of your time.  By automating processes and getting rid of junk on a regular basis, you will find that your home is comfortable and meets your needs for years to come.

These are some great tips to keeping things neat and tidy…especially with the kids home for the summer!!