I used to feel as though maintaining a clean and organized home was a never-ending uphill struggle. Between work, family, and personal time, it seemed impossible to keep up with the constant messes and chores that come with everyday living. But after trial and error, I discovered that the key to a manageable home isn’t in doing more—it’s in doing less. Here are 10 things I stopped doing that helped make my home easier to maintain, and that freed up my time and energy for the things that matter most.
1. Purchasing Unnecessary Items
The less you have, the less you have to clean and organize. The first step in making your home easier to maintain is to stop buying things you don’t need. This may seem difficult, especially when there are so many tempting sales and deals. However, if you take the time to really consider each purchase, you’ll find that most items don’t add much value to your life.
Instead, implement a “one in, one out” rule. For each new item you bring into your home, get rid of an old one. This will help keep your possessions manageable and your home clutter-free.
2. Leaving Dishes in the Sink
It’s easy to leave a dirty dish in the sink with the intention of cleaning it later, especially after a long day. However, this habit only makes your home harder to maintain. Dishes pile up quickly, and before you know it, your sink is overflowing and it feels overwhelming to even start cleaning.
Instead of letting dishes accumulate, make it a habit to clean them right away. It only takes a few minutes to wash a dish and put it away, but it can save you hours of cleaning in the long run.
3. Ignoring Clutter
Clutter has a way of slowly taking over a home. It starts with a few items left out of place, and before you know it, entire rooms are covered in stuff. Ignoring clutter only makes it more difficult to maintain your home.
Instead of turning a blind eye, tackle clutter as soon as you see it. Put things back where they belong immediately after using them. This will help keep your home tidy and make it easier to clean.
4. Skipping Routine Cleaning
Skipping routine cleaning might save you some time in the short term, but it will only make maintaining your home more difficult in the long run. Dirt and grime build up over time, making surfaces harder to clean and creating an overall sense of disarray.
Instead of skipping routine cleaning, create a schedule that works for you. This could mean cleaning certain areas of your home on specific days, or dedicating a certain amount of time each day to cleaning.
5. Hoarding Old Documents
Keeping old documents can quickly lead to piles of paper cluttering your home. It’s important to keep certain documents for legal or financial reasons, but most can be discarded after a certain period of time.
Instead of hoarding old documents, set up a filing system and regularly go through your papers. Shred or recycle what you don’t need and file away important documents in an organized manner.
6. Neglecting Small Repairs
Small repairs can quickly become big problems if left unattended. A leaky faucet can lead to water damage, a squeaky door can become a broken one, and so on. Neglecting small repairs makes your home more difficult to maintain and can lead to costly fixes down the line.
Instead, address small repairs as soon as they come up. This will help prevent larger issues and keep your home in good working order.
7. Letting Laundry Pile Up
Laundry is one of those chores that can quickly get out of hand if not kept in check. Letting laundry pile up not only creates clutter, but it also makes the task of doing laundry seem daunting.
Instead of letting laundry pile up, try to do a little bit each day. Folding and putting away clothes immediately after they’re dry can also help keep your home tidy and manageable.
8. Using Too Many Cleaning Products
Using too many cleaning products can actually make maintaining your home more difficult. Not only do you have to keep track of and store multiple products, but it can also be confusing to remember what product is supposed to be used where.
Instead, try to stick to a few multipurpose cleaners. This will not only make cleaning simpler, but it can also save you money and reduce the amount of chemicals in your home.
9. Holding Onto Items “Just In Case”
Holding onto items “just in case” you might need them in the future is a surefire way to clutter your home. These items take up space and make your home more difficult to maintain.
Instead, only keep items that you use regularly or that hold significant sentimental value. If you haven’t used an item in the last year, it’s probably safe to let it go.
10. Doing Everything Yourself
Maintaining a home is a big job, and trying to do it all yourself can be overwhelming. If you live with others, it’s important to share the responsibilities.
Delegate tasks based on each person’s abilities and preferences. Not only will this make maintaining your home easier, but it can also help foster a sense of teamwork and cooperation.