Get a Clean Start: Tips for a Cleaner and More Organized Home

There is no better way to start a fresh, new year with the family than to enjoy a home that is clutter-free.

Keeping your junk at bay helps clear the mind and gives you enough room (physically and emotionally) to deal with the challenges that will come in the next few months. Dealing with your own growing pile of old clothes, books, and other items is one issue in and of itself, but having to sort through your kids’ toys and other knick-knacks and embarking on a massive overhaul of your living room and bedroom layouts can seem almost impossible.

You may be busy running a household, raising kids, spending time with your husband, and saving some me-time for yourself, but taking the huge task of organization one step at a time—and with enough foresight—can easily make the job more manageable, more doable, and definitely more achievable.

Plan it out.

 “One must be prepared physically and mentally for spring cleaning,” explains architect, interior decorator, and mom Arlene Maslog. “Don’t kid yourself that it will be easy because it is not—especially if you have not done it for a while or if you are doing it alone.”

“Set a schedule for cleaning up, and divide the spaces of your home into modules,” she adds, recommending at least a weekend to cover a specific room. “Do not just say, ‘I’m working on the den today.’ Tackle a wall or a cabinet first, and then move on to the next module.” Working in small steps allows you to take breaks without leaving an entire room in chaos.