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There’s no way around it. One of the hardest things about having a home is maintaining it. There’s always something to do. There’s always something to fix. Things happen. Pipes burst. Toilets overflow. Kids take markers to freshly painted walls.
Homeowners’ to-do lists stay long.
So, how can we make it a little easier to maintain our homes? Here are a few simple suggestions:
Learn some DIY
One of the first things you can do is take the time to learn some DIY. Your home WILL have issues from time to time, and being able to address some of them on your own will save you a lot of time and money. Being able to do stay on top of the little things as they come up will prevent small problems from becoming big ones.
Declutter
One thing that can be overwhelming in your home is clutter. Just because our homes have space, doesn’t mean we should fill all of it. Clutter not only makes us feel overwhelmed in our homes, but it can also keep us from noticing problems that need to be addressed. Make a plan to declutter twice a year. Summer and winter are good times to do it, but daily decluttering of things like papers, receipts, mail, and kids’ doodles will help keep the clutter down.
Maintaining Your Appliances
Let’s face it: new appliances are expensive, and they don’t seem to last as long as they used to. Recently we had to replace our washer, dryer, refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher all within a few months, and I do not want to have to do that again! There are some simple ways to keep your appliances in good repair, and one of them is having some washing machine cleaner on hand. Dishwasher cleaning tablets also help prevent limescale and build-up. Not only will things like this help your appliances last longer, they’ll work better, too.
Organization
Organization is everything when you have a home that always seems to be messy. You know what they say, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” I just wish I was better at keeping things in their place, but I will say this after 20 years of parenting: if things have a defined place, it’s much easier to get your kids to help clean up. There’s no confusion about what they need to do when you say, “Put the toys away.” They know exactly where the toys should go. And, organization can be beautiful. There are so many lovely things you can use for storage. Labels for your pantry are a great place to start. Keeping things organized allows you to spend just a few minutes tidying because you know where everything is going to go, as opposed to having to spend an hour or two tidying because you have to figure out where to put everything.
Focus on Convenience
Another thing you can do is focus on convenience. There is no way to get around the fact that floors need thorough mopping, but to keep on top of things, having a spray mop available for quick cleanup is also a good idea. The same concept applies to your vacuum cleaner. You don’t necessarily have to haul out your vacuum cleaner every time there’s a little something like crushed goldfish on your rug. Simply use a handheld vacuum instead. It’ll make it easier to get crumbs vacuumed up instantly and can also make it easier to get rid of the cobwebs that might be around your home, too.
Brush your Pets
Take it from someone who suddenly has cats inside my house: pet hair is a constant problem. To help control it, you have to brush them on a regular basis. Not only does this help keep hair from accumulating, but it also helps your vacuum because I don’t care if it says it’s good for pet hair. It can’t keep up.
Get some help if you need it.
Finally, remember: if you are having a hard time keeping things clean, you can always hire a cleaner. They don’t have to come every week. Maybe you just need help preparing to host your family for the holidays. Maybe you just need someone to clea out a closet and organize it for you. You know, to do the thing that’s overwhelming you. Let them.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.