An American Time Use study suggests that we now spend about 62% of our waking time at home. It makes sense that anywhere we spend that much time has a major impact on our physical and mental health. Even if you do not live in your dream home, there are steps you can take to keep your home healthy and comfortable without spending all your time cleaning. Here are a few.
Get Started
With any big project, getting started is often the hardest part. First, create a list of all the tasks you want to complete. Do you have to rearrange things just to close the closet door? Is the bathroom grossing you out? Once you have the list, address one task at a time. If something is particularly difficult, break it down into even smaller tasks. For example, clean out half the closet at a time.
As you clean and declutter, Simple Lionheart Life notes that you may decide to incorporate some aesthetic changes that create a calm atmosphere. If too much visual stimuli stresses you out, keep décor to a minimum and choose muted, neutral colors. Choose lighting that is not too harsh, and display items that you love.
You’ll also want to be strategic in how to free up the time needed to actually do these tasks. For example, handling paperwork can be a big time consumer, whether it’s the bills and receipts or documents that pile up in your home office. In this case, digitizing the paperwork makes sense, as you can scan the documents as PDFs and compress them to reduce the file size, saving you time in organization and retrieval.
Make a Schedule
After the initial decluttering and deep cleaning, your home should be fairly easy to maintain if you stick to a cleaning schedule. Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done. Organize the tasks by frequency, and create a schedule that does not conflict with your other obligations. Many people find it helpful to do a little housework every day, but others prefer to do everything in one day. Choose the way that works best for you.
Use the Right Tools
Indoor air quality plays a major role in how good you feel and how often you have to do certain cleaning tasks. Running a high-quality air purifier removes dust, mold spores and other particulates from the air. This means you will need to dust less often and your home is less likely to incur a mold infestation. It can also help keep your sinuses clear so that you feel better while you are at home.
Read reviews on vacuum cleaners, cleaning solutions and other items necessary for keeping your home clean. Find tools that make cleaning easy. Keep everything organized so that you can find what you need when you need it.
Hire a Professional
Even highly motivated individuals may not have time to get or keep their homes as clean and organized as they would like. In these cases, a professional organizer or cleaner can help.
You can also search for furniture cleaners near me. Professional furniture cleaning removes stains and odors, making the items look revitalized. Whether you are looking for a professional organizer, furniture cleaner, housekeeper or any other cleaning service, be sure to read reviews online. Ask for referrals and a list of the cleaning products used by the service. You can check a platform like Angi or the Better Business Bureau rating for many businesses.
Many people spend most of their time at home, but even those who do not can benefit from making their home as welcoming as possible. Part of that is keeping the environment clean and clutter-free. Write up and stick to a cleaning schedule, hire professionals if necessary and invest in the right tools to make cleaning easy.
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