Every year, people take the new year as an opportunity to set goals for the betterment of their personal and professional lives. Eating healthier, exercising more, learning new skills and maintaining more organized living spaces are some of the many goals people set for themselves year after year.
While we can’t be of much help when it comes to fulfilling all your new year resolutions, we can offer up some ideas that will keep your home mess-free this year. Because when you start the new year by removing unnecessary clutter, your home and happiness will improve.
Consider implementing these simple and efficient ideas to boost your home’s cleanliness for the year to come.
Resolution 1: Customize Your Cleaning Schedule
Tackling simple household chores often feels like a burdensome task. From figuring out which areas of your home need the most TLC, to asking your always-busy family members to lend a hand, chore time can be a real drag. But it doesn’t have to be. With a little organization, those simple chores can be just that – simple.
A great way to keep up with the pesky housework is to create a personalized cleaning schedule based on your home’s needs and what realistically can be completed each week. By having everything laid out and clearly assigned to family members, it will be easier for everyone to visualize what areas need the most regular attention, and which rooms can be skipped every so often. Tip: it’s important to keep your routine simple and attainable so it stays consistent throughout the year.
Resolution 2: Clean Your Home of Dangerous Toxins
Believe it or not, your home can actually be more polluted than the outdoors, especially if contaminated by cleaning products, air fresheners, potpourri and perfumes.
To rid yourself of harmful chemicals, but still keep your home dirt-free and smelling great, consider using homemade cleaners instead of store bought products. Vinegar is great for getting rid of bacteria, mildew and dirt, while lemon and rosemary are healthy ingredients to create a natural room scent.
If you want the extra oomph of store bought cleaners, look for eco-friendly, toxic chemical-free brands like Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, Method, Seventh Generation, Simple Green or Clorox’s eco-friendly line, Green Works. Bonus: If you choose an all-purpose cleaner, you’ll have one bottle versus 10 cluttering up your space. Plus, the dilutable cleaners can actually save you money.
Resolution 3: Finally Get Houseplants to Thrive
For those of us that regularly like to decorate our homes with plants, we know that their upkeep requires a bit more than just adding water every so often. To keep your plants looking fresh for a longer period of time, simply wash the leaves with lukewarm water or wipe them with a damp cotton cloth. Removing dead or yellowing leaves is another trick that will prolong your plant’s overall health. Besides looking nice, regularly cleaning your houseplants also helps keep dust and insects from settling indoors.
Resolution 4: Make Mattress Cleaning a Habit
The place where you get the most rest is in need of a rejuvenation. By that we mean getting rid of the dust and dust mites that build up throughout the year on its surface. You can either rotate your mattress to make it last longer and/or clean the filth by simply running a vacuum that will suck it all up. Hurray for clean and restful sleep!
Resolution 5: Shrink Your Bills (and Go Green!)
If you’re looking to save a couple bucks on your energy bill, then consider going green in your energy consumption. Simple home adaptations like sealing gaps and cracks in your rooms to maintain a comfortable temperature, buying energy-efficient appliances, replacing your light bulbs with Energy Star-qualified models and washing your laundry with cold water, is not only great for the environment, but can save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.
Which tips will you be using to keep your home clean this year? Let us know in the comments below.
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