Collins Country

(If you are already naturally organized and your house is always spick and span, this is not for you LOL)

1. Always make your bed.  Even if you do nothing else, your bedroom’s appearance will be greatly improved.

2. Never leave a room empty handed.  Take mail to the desk, books to the shelf, or dishes to the sink.  If you make this a habit (even if it is just one item each time), you will be amazed at how little there is to pick up later.

3. Keep up the Front Room.  Even when the rest of the house is a disaster, I try to at least have the first room people see upon entering my home picked up.  We are NOT talking “Better Homes & Gardens” here.  Just have the floor picked up, cushions tidy, and tables empty of clutter; first impressions, you know?

4. 5-minute room rescues (from FlyLady).  When I am uninspired to clean, I set my timer for five minutes and clean in the kitchen until it dings.  I set it again and clean in the bathroom until it dings.  I do the same in each room (except the kids-they do their own).  It takes no more than 25 minutes and you’d be amazed at what gets done!

5. Throw junk mail away!  This is one of my struggles.  I always think I want to look at it later, so I save it.  Or, I open it, realize it’s junk and set it on the side board or something.  Eventually, it’s a huge pile of debris.  Throw it away.

6. Wipe the bathroom counter top.  It usually takes 30 seconds to stash the things left out and wipe it with a wet cloth, but it makes a HUGE difference.  The same with straightening towels (I am always going behind people…my family just flops them over the shower doors or the shower curtain.

As you may have guessed, housework is not my favorite task.  My DH and I went ‘round and ‘round over this when we were young.  He has lightened up, and I have tidied up!  It makes for a peaceful household.