Have you been repeatedly embarrassed by the state of your room when you have a surprise visitor? Has your mother, upon seeing the state of your apartment, wondered where she went wrong? Are even you a little grossed out and overwhelmed by how messy everything in your house is? We can help. If your New Year's Resolution is to deal with your messy tendencies, follow these tips.
Start now. One huge clean can show you how great it feels to clear the mess and toss the garbage out of your life. Blast some music or put on a TV show that you know by heart and get down to business. Recruit several garbage bags, one for garbage, one for donations, and one for keeping. Once the clutter is cleared, do a sweep of your room (or house, or apartment). You'll be shocked at how many nasties accumulate in the dark corners, and it feels great to get them out of there.
Get used to cleaning by doing small cleaning tasks regularly. Putting laundry into a hamper, wiping down the counter when you notice it's dirty- any small cleaning impulse should be followed.
Under-bed storage is your friend. No, we don't meant the "throw-it-under-the-bed" method so loved by messy people all over the world. We mean shallow, long boxes that are great for storing the random stuff you just can't seem to get rid of. It keeps the clutter out of sight and is especially helpful if your closet space is limited.
If you're the level of messy where used plates accumulate in your living room or bedroom, check yourself and break that habit. Leaving used plates and forks around makes your room a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Cleaning a plate right away takes 15 seconds. Scrubbing crusty food and god-knows-what-else off a week-old plate can take several minutes.
Think about why the mess has accumulated. If you've completely dropped the ball on self-care and cleaning your surroundings, it could be a sign of depression, high levels of stress, or a prohibitive schedule of too many obligations. Taking some time to reflect and talk to those you love or a professional can be the first important step to becoming a clean person, according to LifeHack.
Set a timer. If you're noticing the mess starting to creep back into your space, set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and clean furiously in that time. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in so little time, and you'll feel fantastic, Apartment Therapy noted.
- Have fun. There's no rule that prohibits having a glass of wine or a beer while you clean. Even if you feel that there's no way you'll be able to find cleaning relaxing, little sips here and there will break up the monotony.
Happy New Year and get cleaning!
