5 rules to help avoid clutter at home

Every thing has its place

Get in the habit of putting things back in their place after use. But first you need to disassemble everything that is in the house and determine each item its rightful place. Try to arrange them in the places where you use them most often. Homework also needs to be taught to return things to their place. Let them follow your example and find the right place for each of their items. At first it will not be easy, you need to constantly remind about cleaning, but over time it will become a habit, and you will not notice that no one else scatters socks around the apartment and does not throw toys anywhere.

What Decluttering Strategies Are There: Books and Videos

We have already mentioned Marla Scilly and Marie Kondo. But it is worth talking about them in more detail.

"Fly Lady"

“Fly lady”, or “flying lady”, is unthinkable without the appropriate “uniform”: comfortable shoes (and these are not slippers!), Beautiful neat clothes.

Littering, a 15-minute timer, zoning, free surfaces, a two-minute cleanup are also the foundations of Marla Seeley's theory.

She also suggests setting aside an hour a week for general cleaning - 15 minutes in each zone, no more. And for the easiest way to build your own system, he advises you to start a diary with a to-do list. You can enter a weekly and monthly cleaning schedule into it.

Marla is also opposed to tearing down the house on weekends. This is a time for family and hobbies.

Those who are interested can subscribe to her mailing list on the Internet and receive cleaning tasks by mail every day. When you realize that several thousand people in the world are dusting the mezzanine with you, it becomes more fun.

Marie Kondo Method

But Marie Kondo is not a supporter of stretching the pleasure of saying goodbye to things. Her method is fast decluttering. And not in places of storage, but in categories. Clothes, papers, books can lie in different places of the apartment, and in order to have an idea of ​​their quantity and quality, you need to analyze one category at a time.

The author advises cleaning alone so that the advice of loved ones does not confuse you.

A few more books that might be helpful:

"Simplify your life." Simplicity of life as a key factor in a free and organized life (by Erin Doland).

"Breathe freely." Decluttering is a way to unload space, get new positive emotions and free up more time.A home is a reflection of a person's personality. And the authors (Lauren Rosenfield and Melva Green) compare the person with the house. In their interpretation, a person is able to determine the course of his life, getting rid of unnecessary things.

“Perfect order in 8 minutes…”. Regina Leeds also talks a lot about the energy and the changes that come with vacating the apartment. Her system is based on three pillars: throw away the excess, sort what is available and organize storage in a functional way.

"The art of living simply." Dominique Loro's ideas may seem too revolutionary. But they make sense: theoretically, everything that we really need can fit into one, maximum two suitcases. This is a wardrobe, and favorite little things, and a must-have like a mobile phone and a toothbrush. And the author does not attribute equipment and interior items to personal things.

"Minimalism. Life without rubbish. The Russian blogger Irina Sokovykh has her own technique. The scheme is like this. First, away from everything broken, outdated and unfashionable. Then everything is useless. And finally, the unloved. And so methodically in a circle, until you understand: now there is definitely nothing to throw away.

Some more tips about how to competently begin to analyze the rubble in the house - in the video.

How to prevent re-littering of the apartment

In order to prevent the accumulation of rubbish in the apartment in the future, use the rules of rational consumption, learn how to make deliberate purchases and get rid of unnecessary things in a timely manner. In order to facilitate the process and do everything right, follow these simple recommendations:

• before buying a thing, think about whether you are ready to wear it right now.If the thought of a momentary release in a new image is accompanied by a number of excuses and justifications, then most likely the product will remain unclaimed and wardrobe items will still accumulate in the closet;
• do not purchase things that do not fit the usual style, size or color;
• before you hang a new dress, shirt or blouse in the closet, throw out one old thing;
• do not buy interior items, jewelry or accessories under the influence of emotions or advertising - do everything deliberately.

To avoid re-littering the apartment, periodically conduct an audit in the house, follow the principles of rational consumption and buy only those things that you really like and need.

In order to get rid of trash in a house, garage or country house, you need to conduct a thorough audit with a critical assessment of each item in the apartment. This will clear the space and get rid of unnecessary things that emit negative energy. Never be afraid to throw out old stuff, because something new and good will definitely come to the vacated place.

Useful decluttering tips

To get rid of old things without regret, you need to act decisively and not put off the process indefinitely. Simple but effective tips will help you declutter.

Start sorting out the trash in the apartment with small areas. Decluttering is a massive process that requires a lot of effort and time, which is why many people constantly put it off. To effectively cope with the task, start with a small area - sort through and throw away the trash from the nightstand in the desktop, sort the dishes in the kitchen or bed linen. Set aside things you don't need, and put things you need neatly into place.After putting things in order in one area, move on to the next.

Get rid of trash gradually, sorting through things and putting things in order on separate shelves, in drawers, bedside tables. Do not try to complete a large-scale revision in one day, capturing the entire space at once

Incorporate decluttering into your routine. Having freed a small area of ​​space from trash, do not stop. Spend 20-30 minutes daily clearing out new areas, shelves and cabinets. So, gradually, without much effort and time, it will be possible to clean the apartment of unnecessary things and negative energy.

Act decisively. When sorting through things, evaluate each item critically and do not give vent to emotions. If the product is not in demand and does not cause positive emotions, feel free to throw it into the bucket.

Send trash directly to the trash can. Having collected a bag or a box with unnecessary things, immediately take it to a landfill so that there is no temptation to review and sort everything again. If the items are intended for someone, try to transfer them to the addressee as soon as possible.

Take the selected trash to the trash can immediately so that there is no desire to review it again

A collaborative approach to bullying. To get rid of all the trash in the apartment, you need to work together. Include all people living in the house in the process, explain the need get rid of the old and hoarding habits. Only a joint solution to the problem will help to clean up the space qualitatively.

Enjoy the process. Take decluttering as a step towards a new, better life, purification of space, gaining freedom and clarity.Try to enjoy the process and mentally tune in to the transformation of your apartment and internal state.

Is it allowed to store things in a common space in the entrance?

In accordance with subparagraph 1, paragraph 1, article 36 of the LC RF, corridors, inter-apartment areas and other spaces that are not part of apartments, but are intended to serve several premises, are considered common property of residents of MKD.

Such property is distributed in proportion to the shares, that is, the area that each owner has. Relatively speaking, if a person’s apartment is twice the size of a neighbor’s, he can store two bicycles in the hall, and the neighbor can store only one. If other residents do not mind, leaving household items in common areas is allowed, but there are legal restrictions.

This rule was introduced because the pile of things in the entrance:

• Increases the risk of fire.
• Accelerates the spread of fire.
• Prevents occupants from evacuating when seconds can count.
• Interferes with the work of firefighters.

It is forbidden to block the passages with any objects. It can be either furniture (for example, an old chest of drawers), or a small bag of garbage. The objections of the owners, who believe that their things take up little space, are rejected. After all, evacuation in the event of an accident will be massive.

According to the Fire Protection Rules, the minimum width of escape routes in an MKD should be 1.2 meters. Thus, even a baby stroller may not fit into the safety rules if it is not foldable.

Psychological tendencies to hoard

Psychologists note that most often men suffer from the desire to litter the house, and this problem takes its roots in childhood.The reasons can be very different: for example, such a negative effect deviation from the educational normlike too much control. Mothers, relentlessly watching every step of their child, make him want to create his own separate world around him, and the easiest way to do this is by surrounding himself with his things, which are carefully and reliably protected from others. Also, the lack of attention contributes to the desire of the child to strengthen his attachment to at least his favorite things and toys, which become almost familiar to him, and there is no way to part with them. Of course, the total deficit of the Soviet era also played its role in our country, forming a stable tradition of accumulating material values.

Where is the line between the normal desire to preserve memorable and necessary things and the problem of cluttering up the house? Perhaps the criterion can be the fact that a violation of the normal life process of people in their own home has appeared, when, having entered the kitchen to have breakfast, they simply can hardly do it due to the fact that they have to search for the necessary items for too long. Or, for example, every morning turns into stress due to the inability to pick up a wardrobe.

Often there are conflicts in the family about the littering of the house. someone from family members. In this case, of course, it is best to switch to separate living, or at least clearly delineate the personal space of each. Especially often one can observe the desire to accumulate old things in the elderly. This is explained both by a slowdown in all basic life processes, and with it a lesser desire for something new, and by physical changes in blood vessels, leading to changes in brain activity.A good option would be to consult a doctor and prescribe maintenance therapy.

Mandatory daily cleaning

Set aside 15-30 minutes each day to keep things organized. It’s better to do small routines every day to free up the weekend for more interesting things. Much can be done during this time. Each item is the work of one day:

• vacuum and mop the floors;
• wipe dust, wipe mirrors and skirting boards;
• wash kitchen shelves, facades, refrigerator;
• clean in the bathroom;
• remove the curtains, wash them, iron and hang them;
• wash 1-2 windows;
• wipe walls and ceiling.

Work can be customized according to your needs. The main thing to understand is that in order to have enough 15-30 minutes for daily cleaning, you must first get rid of unnecessary things, organize convenient storage and immediately put everything back into place.

Dry dishes in the dryer

Washing dishes is not an easy task that many people find too routine. And even scarier is to wipe every dish if there is no dishwasher in the house. But to make life easier for yourself, experts recommend purchasing a special dryer stand that helps outdoors remove excess moisture from dishes.

If you leave only washed dishes on the table in a pile, then the water from them will not be able to evaporate. This will lead to the development of various bacteria in the dishes, and eventually everything will have to be washed again. But the dryer will get rid of this trouble. In addition, it is much easier to put all the dishes in their places in the morning than to grind the plates with a kitchen towel until you pass out all evening. The right kitchen helpers will always make life easier for the hostess if used wisely.

Zen decluttering

Regina Leeds, author of Perfect Order in 8 Minutes: Easy Solutions to Simplify Life and Free Up Time, teaches us about the so-called Zen organization. She says that after organizing the space, its energy changes. The vibrations that a clean, structured and well-groomed space creates emit completely different vibrations than chaos and disorder.

Regina Leeds says that tidying up any space consists of the same steps: get rid of the excess, categorize the remaining things, and organize them. She called these steps "the magic formula."

Step 1: Remove

This step helps us take control of the room and get rid of unnecessary things. We can not only throw things away, but also donate them to charitable organizations, re-gift them, give them to relatives, return them to their owners, donate recyclable materials for recycling, come up with a new purpose for them.

Step 2: Categorization

Here we need to sort items into categories with similar features: clothes, toys, food.

Step 3: Organization

Here our task is to complete the process and create beauty, convenience and functionality in the use of things.

This is the order that works. It makes no sense to buy organizers and storage devices until you get rid of the excess and appreciate the real volume of your things.

The second stage of decluttering the house

When the main stage is completed, you can proceed to the next one: sometimes arrange mini-marathons to get rid of excess - set a timer for 5-10 minutes and run around the apartment with a bag in hand. Everything that falls under the above definition of trash, put it there. After the alarm rings, arrange the contents into boxes.The main thing is not to return anything to its original places.

You can keep several empty bags/boxes side by side and sort right away. Cleaning equipment - a bucket of clean water, a dust cloth, a vacuum cleaner - will also come in handy. Then at the same time you will brush away the cobwebs and wipe the hidden corners into which the human hand reaches once a year.

Vacuum cleaner Philips FC9573 PowerPro Active

Even better, make it a habit to get rid of things you don't need as soon as you find them. Then 15 minutes will not be needed.

It will not take time at all, but self-control - yes. After all, it happens that when we find small-sized children's T-shirts in a drawer, we put them back with the thought: "I'll sort them later." No, put them immediately in a box labeled "Gift". Stumbled upon an unloved calendar? Immediately remove it from the wall. Got a chipped cup in your hands? In the bucket without hesitation.

This will only seem strange to you and the household at first. Then you get used to it, and it will become difficult to live differently, among unloved and ugly things. True, be careful with the personal space of family members. You can use your gift of persuasion, but it is up to the owner of the item to decide what to throw away and what not.

It is possible that after a while the children, spouse and parents, having seen the results of your cleaning, will also want order in their zones. And they will gladly join you. And think, maybe they just do not have enough items to store? If you buy them in addition, some of the blockages will definitely disappear.

Trying to negotiate with neighbors

We begin to resolve any controversial situations with conversations. Without aggression, peacefully and calmly

Pay attention to those who live nearby that a bicycle, a closet, boxes or remnants of building materials interfere with the passage or even block the door

You can do this with the help of an ad, where you describe the possible risks if you leave things on the common area untouched. Some residents will start to move after such information. There was no reaction, go to the conversation.

You say that there should not be trash on the site all the time. You can’t turn the situation that when I now bring the closet, and in a couple of weeks I will take out the chest and dressing table.

Ignore the arguments about a small apartment where there is absolutely no way to store these especially important boxes. And about the huge number of stomping children, they barely interfere in the apartment, to say nothing of these things

These are attempts to manipulate, not a constructive dialogue. Whatever were not needed things, they cannot violate the rules of the fire regime.

The purpose of the conversation is to convey to the neighbors that the stairs are not a dump, but a common area. By the way, maybe the conversation will be more productive if it is decided by all the owners of apartments living on this floor?

A calm conversation with thoughtful arguments will make it possible to avoid conflicts and save energy that can be spent on going through the chain of command.

fold clothes

In the bustle, people often scatter clothes outside of closets and chests of drawers. And this applies to both clean things and already worn ones. As a result, whole heaps of clothes are formed in the bedroom or living room, which, apart from slovenliness, add nothing to the room.

Therefore, even if it is not possible to immediately put the thing in place, then you need to at least carefully fold it. Agree, a neat stack of clothes in the corner of the room or on a chair looks much more attractive than a pile of things.This will also indicate that the person living in this living space is neat, although this may be quite far from the truth.

But do not leave things in this state for a long time. As soon as a free minute appears, they immediately need to be put in place: send something to the closet, and something to the washing machine.

Get rid of unnecessary

Many people think about how to put things in order in life. In short, you need to remove everything unnecessary from it. And first it is necessary to free the house, your space from trash, unnecessary things.

Every thing we own holds a piece of our history. They reflect certain decisions from the past, store different memories. How can you get rid of this, you ask? Not everything needs to be thrown away, because among them there may be important, memorable things. It is necessary to carry out the so-called inventory of things that reflect past events of the life path. Make a list, do analysis and see who you are.

Global parting with rubbish and getting rid of everything unnecessary is simply necessary, even if it seems to you that by doing so you are completely deprived of protection. It's easy to say, get rid of the old stuff. For most, this is always a difficult task. However, for people who can easily give, sell, throw away, it is even a pleasure. Others need time to hold each thing in their hands, to think, to cope with the surging memories, to practically tear off a piece of their heart associated with a past life.

For those who cannot easily part with things, we recommend:

Find your own cleaning solution.Perhaps the option of getting rid of a little every day is suitable for someone, Marla Seeley uses it. And Marie Kondo from Japan recommends removing everything at once. These methods have their positives and negatives.

Everyone has the right to choose.
When sorting through the rubble, saying goodbye to the past, maybe not the happiest life, it is necessary to pay attention to each of the things, to decide their fate.

Such general cleaning and further organization of your space helps to get a house where cleanliness is maintained without any extra effort. Things, most of them, can be easily put away, daily cleaning manipulations will not be so burdensome in time. In the new space, you can make new plans.

Leave shoes at the front door

It is normal to take off your shoes at the entrance to a house or apartment. And there is nothing wrong with leaving a pair or two slippers / shoes in this place for the ability to quickly go outside. But many people have a whole collection of shoes at the door over time. And that's not attractive at all.

To prevent this from happening, you need to determine the place in the house where you need to fold your shoes. But this will not work unless a rule is introduced, following which each family member can leave only a couple / two at the door, and he must clean and hide everything else in its place. It is not difficult if, immediately after coming home, put the shoes in a secluded place, and not collect them after a day or two, when a whole pile has already formed at the front door.

It's not that hard to keep your house in order, is it?

Examples of decluttering for housewives

Marie Kondo likes to repeat: bring things into the house and remove things from it consciously, focusing not on momentary sympathy for them, but on how it will look in the interior, whether you really need them.

Bijouterie

Bright jewelry is often bought according to the mood and just as easily goes into oblivion. If the soul for jewelry no longer lies, it's time to say goodbye. Surely when you want rich colors again, old earrings, beads and bracelets will not be relevant: you want other colors, designs and textures.

Package

Summer residents know what a pain it is to see how food packaging flies into the trash, because it can be adapted for seedlings. And yet the house is not a place for storing such containers. In extreme cases, take it to the balcony, or better - to the garage or to the cottage.

Package with packages

It is not economical and not environmentally friendly to just throw away polyethylene immediately upon returning from the store. Many store this goodness in a plastic bag that grows endlessly. It is better to buy a beautiful plastic container for storing bags (available in home improvement stores). You can’t put much in it, so you have to deal with the surplus: use store bags for taking out the garbage, take them with you for shopping, or even switch to an eco-bag.

kitchen stuff

Visually clutters up space and utensils on rails, numerous plates, cereals, detergents on countertops. Thin them out, for sure you really don't need all of them. What you decide to keep can be put in lockers, but not in plain sight.

Cut-outs with recipes are best glued in one notebook, or even thrown away - on all occasions there is internet.

Textiles with non-removable stains are evil.He gives hope that you are about to wash everything, but a year passes, and an untidy rag wanders from the washing machine into the room and spoils the mood.

In the kitchen, cups, plates, cutlery, cutting boards, pans, regardless of their degree of wear, can get “under distribution”. A set of devices, some of which are lost, it is better to update. When the time comes for a feast, a different-sized serving will look disastrous.

Imagine how you would like to see your kitchen. What colors, what style? If you can’t take your eyes off the monochrome Scandinavian interiors for a long time, get rid of dishes with Egyptian pharaohs and a Khokhloma teapot. Buy the same dish, but in a plain color or with a simple geometric pattern.

And if you dream of hi-tech, then it's time to give away enamel pots with polka dots and a tablecloth with sunflowers. Even if all this is bought recently and sparkles with novelty.

Planning

Without a clear cleaning plan, it will be difficult for you to understand what needs to be cleaned and when. Get a special diary for doing household chores and write in it first a list of everything that needs to be cleaned at home, and then distribute these routines by day. To do this, go to each room and write down all the cases. For example, in the bedroom:

• wipe the dust;
• wash curtains, blanket;
• change bed linen;
• conduct an audit in the closet (change the wardrobe for the next season, throw out the unnecessary);
• wipe the baseboards;
• wash the window
• vacuum;
• wash floors;
• To water flowers.

And so on throughout the house. Many things can be combined: wiping the dust in the house, watering the flowers, mopping the floor and others.

Next, divide the tasks into daily, weekly, monthly, yearly.Based on this, fill out your diary. Now every day you will know your front of work and do not run the risk of launching some kind of zone.

Keeping the house organized is not easy, but when your house is organized, all family members help with cleaning and you know your tasks for the day, cleaning becomes easier. Free up precious weekends for more important and pleasant things.