I’m not a fan of the cleaning. Organizing, yes. Cleaning, not so much. Thankfully the organizing lends itself to less cleaning. Here are eight steps I follow to keep my clutter and cleaning to a minimum resulting in more time for the things that really matter.
1. No shoes in the house by anyone ever means less dirt for me to vacuum or scrub off the floor. Slippers provided at the door.
2. Food is only eaten by children at the kitchen table (no living room, no bedrooms) which means crumbs and dishes are limited to one space.
3. I keep wastebaskets in every room lined with grocery bags. Garbage is contained and clean up is a snap.
4. Less knicknacks and stuff lying around means less I have to dust.
5. I do a 10 minute tidy each night before bed to return out of place items back to their designated spaces.
6. I never leave a room empty handed.
7. I have my kids do regular walk-abouts.
8. My kids are expected to help out with chores around the house ~ I am not their slave!
All of the above have helped tremendously with my quest for simple living. Each one on its own doesn’t amount to much but the combination of them all makes a huge difference.
image provided by Katie@!’s
What simple steps do you take as a family to keep your clutter and cleaning to a minimum?
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I totally have to get rid of knick knacks. I do’nt have many of them anymore, but I still have some. They drive me insane.
Love this.
I follow most of these steps too. We haven’t gotten around getting slippers for visitors yet, but we all have them and visitors take off their shoes…usually.
How funny! I spent most of the day cleaning, dusting, ditching stuff in my bedroom. I just want to sit in there and bask in the tidiness! We do #1 and #2 religiously. #5 and #8 too. I’m getting brave and *gasp* throwing things out, it goes against my pack rat nature but it’s essential. It;s hard to get rid of stuff but otherwise my house would be too full for the people.
This idea just came to me minutes ago. I have a very bulky old comforter that I use whenever all my family converge during holidays. I was thinking about where to store the comforter. If I put it on the mattress under the sheets not only will it not take up space, but it will make the hard mattress softer.
OMGosh, I love the slippers! I’m not so sure the dog would, lol.
I would LOVE to see an example of someone’s Chore Chart. I’m struggling setting one up on my own-I need some visual assistance and my kids really need the reminders.
Great post, thanks!
I use a chore chart from http://www.brookie-wookie.blogspot.com. I love it! Thanks for the tips.
Getting rid of the knick knacks and stuff is crucial! I’m working on it. :-)
are the slippers home made?? I would love to implement this idea – is there a tutorial if they are homemade???
thanks!
Terra the slippers are actually from a company here in Canada called Jsyk. I purchased the pouch (which says guest on it) and slippers for $9.99 cdn. Such a great deal, I couldn’t resist :)
Great tips – I like taking off the shoes especially. My boyfriend constantly forgets to take off his shoes, despite the fact that I have a very pretty white rug. White! I will try offering him slippers.
Rebecca
@alice
Hay we have the same rules… especially eating: in the kitchen or outside on the grass… I just wish a knicknack monster would come in the night and steal all the dust collectors and I wish we could have a skull and cross-bow at the door saying absolutely no knicknacks may enter ever and I ABSOLUTELY wish people would give my children nothing for their birthday rather than little ornaments. Thank you for this opportunity to say that where hopefully no-one I know who is a knicknack giver may be reading!!!
Just wanted to let you know that you inspired my latest post – thank you!
Really good steps, Laura! I’m purging knick knacks now as I type. Some are hard to get rid of though, as they all mean something. Sigh.
We have issues with the first one. I grew up with the no shoes in the house rule. My husband did not. No matter how I try to stress this he always walks through with shoes on. He doesn’t wear them all the time inside, but when he’s going somewhere or running in for something he always leaves his shoes on. And the habit, of course, is being picked up on by our son and sometimes our daughter. If Dad can do it, so can he. Sigh. I’ve had to let go of this one or there would be constant battling. It’s just not worth it.
GREAT tips! Thanks!!!
Thanks for the info. I really like the idea of picking up the rooms before going to bed. What a nice way to wake up in a new day!
Rachelle – thanks for the link to the chore charts. Wow-they are amazing!
Se7en – A knicknack monster, too funny! I have a DF, who I know will never read this, that is the queen of dust-gathering-giving. I love her, but UGH!
;-)
At my parents’ home they have been implementing the slippers thing for years. In addition, they acquired some of those shoe covers that surgeons wear in the hospital for guests who would prefer to leave their shoes on in the house. The shoe covers fit over all sorts of shoes, yet keep the house cleaner.
In our house, we have the basic furniture in our living room – couch, 2 chairs, coffee table, floor lamp. We move every couple years and I never know what kind of end tables or shelves will fit in various houses. So,I have never bought them. I used to think I had to have them. Now I realize they would just be clutter, knick-knack and dust collectors!
This is one thing I definitely have to improve upon!!
I wonder how my family/friends would react to the slippers idea? Hmmm…. ;)
I find this so odd. My grandmother’s house has the slipper idea. But at first I was like this: “Why do clean floors need slippers?” Just like how you and I, our homes have clean floors yet we still use slippers. I think it’s a habit and some visitors like it more.
But this isn’t the case with my grandmother’s house. Her house NEEDS slippers because everyone walks in and out the house with their shoes on. Makes sense? Nope, and she blames the “outside dust” for her floor being dirty meanwhile everyone walks in and out their house from God knows what places.
It’s also funny because I wear white socks, and their shoes aren’t near the entrance, they are in the middle between the living room and kitchen. By the time I get to the slippers, my white socks already turned black on the bottom and gray on the top. Amazing..
By the way, we also have a lot of knick knacks at home. My mother collects crystals and ornaments on a huge three shelf mounted on wall. Whats more irritating is that she hates dust and hates having to clean it up and hates how her delicate things knock over, yet she has them everyone.. picture frames, plants, vases, etc.
I’m with you on this one !! I do not like cleaning … nope, not one bit !! I do these same sorts of things and it works quite well. My biggest thing is that everything must have a home or it cannot live in my house !!! That helps to keep things tidy !! My house is driving my crazy right now because we just bought our first house and are moving out of this one we have been renting and therefore I have not been worried about things having a home for a week or so … how quickly it gets out of hand !!!! Soon, everything will be in boxes … or sold at a garage sale and then … ahhh … new space to organize !! Can’t wait !!!
PS … loved this post !!
My attempts at organization are always getting derailed. Right now it’s finals week for me (I’m procrastinating) so the house is a disaster.
What are those clipboards? Are they kids chores? What’s your system? That’s another thing that’s been derailed around here, a regular schedule of chores for the kids. I just tell whoever is closest to do whatever I think needs to be done at the moment, not really very practical…
Mary-Ann we use slippers only because my tile floors are so cold. I don’t want anyone’s toes getting chilly :)
Katy yes those are my kids clipboard chore charts. It’s been working really well. I’ll try to post on that soon.
Great tips! I have contemplated the no shoe rule, but I like to wear shoes in my house. I don’t feel dressed without them on.
I break all of your rules! I have to wear shoes to support my back, but not everyone does! I should be more structured about chore schedules too. The grammarian in me has trouble with the sign “Live Simple” It should be “Live Simply” or “Be simple”.. which sounds odd.. You know the adverb thing.. simple is an adjective, which should modify a noun. It could say “the simple life” or “the simple way”.. O.K. maybe it’s time to correct papers and not strange signs which have nothing to do with reality. Either way, I like the concept.
Love the slippers…do guests mind? My mom would go berserk, but I think everyone else would be amenable…
For Beth, above: I struggled for ages to find a chore system that worked for us. I hesitate to link to my own post, but I wrote one a long time ago about what finally worked for us. Couldn’t find a link to you, so I thought I’d share it here in case you check back. http://tinyurl.com/d7gv2d Good luck!
As we have visitors take off their shoes,we also do the slippers thing.
I have given you an award… Stop by and pick it up.
Nope guests don’t mind. Actually here in Canada (at least in my area) you would never dream of going to someone’s house and leaving your shoes on. It is considered very rude. So basically it’s the standard here. I usually bring my own slippers wherever I go though cause my toes get cold :)
Where do all these knick knacks come from??? I get rid of so many and still they are everywhere. I swear they have babies at night while I am sleeping….
I love all of these tips and ideas! I’m obsessed with the chore chart thing. Thanks so much for the links here and there, everyone!
Great tips Laura, thanks!
I guess this is an opposing view on shoes. We wear our shoes in the house because we are in and out all day long. Putting shoes on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off takes time. Muddy, snowy boots or barn boots are not worn in the house, but shoes are. If shoes are covered with “barn dirt” (I want to use another word here) then good sense is expected. My house is clean, but we don’t eat off the floors, nor do we expect to. Also, dirty, messy boots would typically not come in the front door.
When I go to someones house and I am expected to take off my shoes, I am very uncomfortable. Wearing someone else’s slippers would make me feel worse.
I find the pile of shoes that people have inside their door very unsightly. I notice the mess, not the uber clean floors.
I have also noticed that many people do not have a place to sit to do the shoe removal. Another way to make guests feel uncomfortable.
Requiring a guest to remove shoes is like saying you care more about your house than you do about them. Someone who would actually ask a guest to wear shoe covers should be called obsessive unless there is a bona fide health reason for it.
My favorite line…..I’am NOT their slave! Wonderful tips, Laura! =)
I so wish I could get everyone to take off their shoes!
Each of the big kids have a bucket on the bottom step of the stairs. When I find random stuff around the house, I dump it in the there…then, before they get to watch TV or have a snack or anything “fun” in the afternoon, they have to empty their bucket! And by that…I mean PUT AWAY…not just dump!
Excellent – all of these are excellent ideas, Laura. I’m very seriously considering the no shoes in the house policy. I just steam cleaned all my carpet and half of what I cleaned up came in on peoples’ shoes. I love the idea of providing slippers too.
I think I’d be worried about the germs that are being tracked in with shoes on. I have a little guy that runs around the house without socks on and I would hate to think that he was picking up something or stepping on stones that have come in on shoes. A no shoe policy allows me the peace of mind to know I just don’t have to worry about it. It also means I don’t have to vacuum more than once a week. I love that!
Great discussion!
we live in province where shoes are removed as we are often dealing with snow or rain or mud or ice – with a few hot days tossed in- so it is a social expection that shoes are removed
we don’t pass out slippers -
thanks for the great tips
pretty baskets in each room to do a last minute clean up of toys on the floor if someone rings the doorbell!
I limit eating to the dining room area, keeping dropped food and crumbs to a minimum.
I do ask my 5 year old to help pick up often during the day and he has chores he helps with. He actually like it cause he gets points and with the points he saves to buy some of his favorite toys.
I’m all about the no shoes in the house rule! And my kiddos have clip board checklists too! I had to laugh when I saw that:) They are only 5 and 4 (and 18mos) but they help out every day. They put their toys away/ dirty clothes/ clean clothes/ clear their places/ set the table/ etc. They love doing what I’m doing, and when they are with me doing the chores, they remind me to have fun while I’m getting every thing on my list checked off!
Help! I have a no shoe policy in my home so everyone takes their shoes off at the doo (kitchen), but the shoes end up everywhere! Whatever is on the shoes end up on my floors. It’s a no win situation. Any suggestions?
Those are great tips! I appreciate the slippers at the door. Many people have a “no shoes” policy but don’t accomodate their guest to follow this policy.
I’m guilty of having a lot of knickknacks in the house, especially in the kitchen. I can’t seem simply to throw away stuff that I can perhaps use in the future. To keep me organized, I try to utilize some helpful kitchen organizers. And, to veer away from litter and food crumbs, I discipline my children to never eat in their rooms as much as possible! But if they do, I tell them to must know how to clean up their mess, otherwise cockroaches will be crawling everywhere their rooms. My kids are pretty obedient once they hear the term “cockroaches.” =)
I hate “hosts” who insist I take my shoes off, I’m not putting my feet in your slippers, I don’t know where they have been, I’m not putting my bare or stocking feet on your floor, ESPECIALLY if you have pets and kids.. really they both leak from various orifices and that is even more true if you have carpet..I really don’t know how often you vacuum, mop, sweep or steam clean and as far as I know you’re not planning to share with me if ringworm or athlete’s foot has made its way into your home ever..
Besides, the hostess should be making her guests comfortable, I realize in some parts of the world it’s considered rude to leave your shoes on.. I find that strange, unless you are my best buddy I’d rather you keep your shoes on, and I’d rather keep them on in your house too.. for god’s sake if you’re that hung up on clean you’re going to clean those floors everyday anyway…
Live life and focus on what is important… not what is dusty.
Designated places work, as does a swish of the sink each time it’s used. I also use a squeegee everytime I shower – the bathroom always looks clean!
I do many of these things, too. Especially the “never leave a room empty handed” – though I’ve never had that thought consciously. I just grab. What a great way to put it into words. There have been times that I’m running upstairs real quick and do a quick look for something to bring with me and I think, “Nothing? Really? At ALL?” and feel naked going up empty handed. What a freak…
I’d kind of like the ‘no shoe’ rule, but as the kids were growing up we really didn’t have it. If their shoes were dirty they took them off. As far as the grownups, we come in the garage through the kitchen and there is no place for the shoes. At my daughters they have a no shoe rule and the stack of shoes just piles up and overflows into the kitchen work area. Common sense is so important, I’ve always tried to live by the motto – Clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy. I came by that when I’d spend all day cleaning and my hubby would come in after mowing with grass on his shoes. I’d be ready to scream and then just give it up… he worked hard all day too. I like your post. Good discussion going on too.
I have a couple of problems. Two kids in wheelchairs, no slippers roadgrime on wheels! They can’t reach things to put them away, can’t get themselves dressed, or bathed, or toileted alone, and are unable to do chores. One Mom doing everything!
I follow almost all of these rules myself… I love a clean, well-organized home. I do, however, have issue with the shoe rule. I think it’s fine to have members of the household routinely remove their shoes upon entering, but I would never imagine telling guests in my home they must remove their shoes… fine to offer them the option, but I would never insist. When I have guests in my home, it’s about their comfort, not my own desire to not have to vacuum after they leave. If I went to someone’s home and they asked me to remove my shoes, I would respectfully decline. If they INSISTED, I would probably leave. The only exceptions I have ever made to this are when visiting the elderly parents of some Japanese friends, for whom this is a cultural custom.
I’m a grandma of 2 and I just wanted to tell you that I love your ideas! I highly recommend getting the children to do chores at an early age. That’s when they think it’s fun. If you wait too long, then you are going to have to fight a battle of the wills along with your battle against clutter.~~~:)
Thanks for bringing up the shoes-off at the door issue.
I have an whole blog about removing shoes in homes: Shoes Off at the Door, Please You might want to take a look.