When guests enter our small, humble abode for the first time, their immediate, primary verbal reaction is something along the lines of: "Your place is so cleeeeean." On the occasion that our apartment is visited again, but unplanned or unexpectedly, their remark is then something like: "How do you keep your place so cleeeeean?"
So the key element here is cleanliness, but my personal philosophy on home maintenance is: it's not only a matter of cleanliness (for I throw tantrums before dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming), it's a matter of orderliness (which stems from my innate need for power and control).
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| THERE IS A SOCK ON THE FLOOR! |
My home is orderly, thereby producing the illusion that it is clean in the sanitary sense of the word. Everything has its place. Whatever it is- is organized and labeled into white ikea boxes and plastic ziploc bags, or placed into designated drawers and categorized on the shelves. In turn, I rarely "lose" anything at home, and I'm always aware of what I currently own so I don't end up buying things unnecessarily.
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| My white Ikea box fetish |
For a home to appear clean on any given day, there are a few things I've learned about orderliness:
1) Don't leave today's clutter for tomorrow. Take the time to put it away because mess accumulates quickly. Do small bits of reorganizing and cleaning-up every day. Put things back in the same, appointed place every time.
2) Designate boxes (hopefully matching boxes) for like items (coupons, office supplies, writing utensils, important documents, loose photos, receipts, letters & notes) to keep organized. If something doesn't belong in any of the labeled boxes, invest in another box. I prefer boxes because they look pretty on the shelves and can be decorative while being useful.
3) Store most things away rather than putting them on display. When there is less on the countertops and bedside stands and desks, it looks less cluttered. It looks cleeeeean.
4) Maintain while cooking. When something is simmering on the stove or baking in the oven, turn around and contain the mess by putting no longer needed ingredients away, placing dirtied dishes in the sink, and wiping the counters. Just don't forget about the food.
5) Tidy up before exiting the premises. If there are a few moments (seconds even) before leaving the home, or going to bed for the night, put a few quick and easy things away, or gathered scattered goods to be put away at a later time.
If you are curious as to how I accomplish all this, please view a previous blog titled: OCD
1) Don't leave today's clutter for tomorrow. Take the time to put it away because mess accumulates quickly. Do small bits of reorganizing and cleaning-up every day. Put things back in the same, appointed place every time.
2) Designate boxes (hopefully matching boxes) for like items (coupons, office supplies, writing utensils, important documents, loose photos, receipts, letters & notes) to keep organized. If something doesn't belong in any of the labeled boxes, invest in another box. I prefer boxes because they look pretty on the shelves and can be decorative while being useful.
3) Store most things away rather than putting them on display. When there is less on the countertops and bedside stands and desks, it looks less cluttered. It looks cleeeeean.
4) Maintain while cooking. When something is simmering on the stove or baking in the oven, turn around and contain the mess by putting no longer needed ingredients away, placing dirtied dishes in the sink, and wiping the counters. Just don't forget about the food.
5) Tidy up before exiting the premises. If there are a few moments (seconds even) before leaving the home, or going to bed for the night, put a few quick and easy things away, or gathered scattered goods to be put away at a later time.
If you are curious as to how I accomplish all this, please view a previous blog titled: OCD
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