15 Tips for a Clutter Free Home

Hello friend. Do you every have those day when you have a monumental to do list and nothing seems to get done? I have those fairly often these days. However, I have found that if I can get my home tidy quickly, it takes some of the stress off of me and I can focus on other important things that need to get done. So I have 15 tips that I follow to maintain a clutter free home.

Now, this is not to say that my house is always clean and clutter free. Anyone with kids can agree that keeping a spotless house in nearly impossible. But, with these tips, I can quickly (30 minutes or less) I can get it under control and breathe easier.

Here we go.

1. Make the Bed Each Morning

Start the day with a quick win. Making the bed instantly makes a room look cleaner and tidier. Bonus: when you get home; it’s a peaceful place to escape to for a few minutes!

2. Do a Quick 10-Minute Tidy

Set a timer for 10 minutes each evening, and get the family to help with putting away toys, clothes, and dishes.

The timer is my best friend when it comes to accomplishing any task. I’m a little (or a lot ADHD) and I struggle to stay focused but using a timer has been so great to keep me focused. This is a tote I like to use for tidy time–it holds everything and I can put things away as I go.

3. Clear the Kitchen Counter

After meals, do a quick sweep to keep counters clear of clutter. This makes the kitchen feel less chaotic.

4. Declutter the Entryway

Make it a habit to put away shoes, bags, and jackets as soon as you come in from outside.

5. Sort Mail Immediately

Create a system to sort through mail as it arrives. Recycle or shred unwanted items, and keep important papers in designated spots.

Your system can be a basket or wall organizer, depending on what your space allows. This is so helpful to corral the papers that come into the house. Only actionable items should be in the basket–all the other should be sorted into recycling or trash.

6. Tidy Toys Before Bed

Spend five minutes picking up toys and putting them back where they belong. It keeps the living area under control.

Have your kids help pick up toys in their bedroom or playroom when playtime is over. I also enlist my older kids in cleaning up toy areas of their siblings–these jobs factor into their weekly allowance.

7. Nightly Laundry Routine

Set aside time to fold and put away one load of laundry each night. It’s a small task that prevents piles from building up.

If you put a load of laundry in when you come home from work in the evening. Switch it out before eating supper. And it’s ready to come out by the time you’ve cleaned up.

8. Keep Daily Cleaning Tools Handy

Use cleaning wipes or a handheld vacuum to do quick touch-ups daily. A quick swipe over surfaces can keep things looking fresh.

If you prefer reusable–have an all-purpose cleaner and reusable cloths ready to grab. A cordless vacuum is such a great investment for the time it saves and ease of use.

9. Create a Drop Zone

Set up a designated spot for keys, wallets, and essentials. This minimizes the clutter on counters or tables.

This one goes back to clean off kitchen counters and putting things away when you come in. Having one location for items that go in and out daily can prevent clutter from being dropped all over the house and losing things when they don’t have a home.

10. Put Things Back Immediately

When you use something, make it a habit to return it to its rightful place right away.

Another time saver. We lose so much of our time looking for things we didn’t put away. Save yourself the time and headache by just putting it back after you finished using it.

Weekly Clutter-Free Tips

11. Declutter One Room Per Week

Pick one room each week to do a more thorough declutter session. Sort through old clothes, toys, or anything that’s piling up.

Decide how much time you have to devote to the task each week. Spend a little time each day or a block of time one evening or on the weekend. It’s very important to get the donations out of the house quickly. This will prevent you from looking back into what you worked hard to declutter.

12. Have a Family Declutter Day

Schedule a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly declutter session with the family. Everyone can take part by picking up their stuff or sorting through their things.

If you have someone that struggles to part with their items, give them a specific number of items to declutter. Sometimes the open-ended declutter can be a deterrent, but a firm number can be easier to manage.

13. Purge Expired Food

Weekly, check your pantry and fridge for expired food, and toss anything that’s past its prime.

It may be easy to keep up with what is in your fridge–I mean you will probably smell it if it’s bad. However, pantry items can slip by unnoticed if we don’t check dates from time to time.

14. Set Up a Donation Box

Keep a box in a closet or garage for items you want to donate. Every week, add to it and take it to a donation center once it’s full.

This is especially helpful to keep items from lying around the house homeless. A donation bin can house items until it’s time to take them off. I also keep a consignment box for kids clothes and other items. Once it’s full, I take them to our local children’s consignment store to drop off.

15. Weekly Paperwork Sort

Dedicate time once a week to go through important papers—filing, recycling, or scanning bills and documents. This keeps the paperwork pile from getting overwhelming.

By tackling small tasks each day and setting aside time for deeper cleaning weekly, you’ll feel more in control and reduce that constant clutter buildup!

Check out my post on cleaning your home when you are short on time! Decluttering will greatly reduce the time it takes to clean and tidy your home.