House Is Messy – How To Get It Clean Again TODAY
Your house is messy? Here’s a list of things that keep your house messy and what to do instead to get it forever TIDY.
Let’s chat about what you can do when your house is messy.
I think we all can admit that having a messy house SEROUSLY SUCKS.
A house can become messy for various reasons. Before I tell you how to quickly clean up your messy house, I want to note the biggest factors that contribute to messiness (so you can keep the messiness at bay forever).
Of course the reasons can vary from one household to another. But here are some common reasons why a house might become messy:
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
1 – Lack of Organization:
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- Does everything you own have a place where it is meant to go? If not, insufficient storage or disorganized storage solutions can lead to items being strewn about instead of neatly put away.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
2 – Busy Lifestyle:
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- Sometimes it feels like we don’t have enough time to get our homes in order. People with hectic schedules may find it challenging to dedicate time to regular cleaning and organizing.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
3 – Procrastination:
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- Ah just imagine what happens when you keep putting off what needs to be done in your home? Delaying tasks such as laundry, dishwashing, or general cleaning will definitely contribute to a buildup of clutter and mess.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
4 – Too Much Stuff:
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- This is another common problem. You simply have way too much stuff! An excess of belongings without a proper organization system can result in a cluttered and messy environment (not really a surprise though, right?).
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
5 – Children and Pets:
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- Gosh of course we love our kids and pets to bits but let’s be honest. Families with children or pets may find it more challenging to keep things tidy due to toys, pet accessories, and general activity (I speak from experience – it’s definitely more work to keep the home neat and tidy with kids and pets).
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
6 – Lack of Cleaning Routine:
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- This reason is pretty obvious. Without a regular cleaning routine, dust, dirt, and grime can accumulate, making the space look messy.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
7 – Ineffective Systems:
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- Don’t be freaked out by the term system. It just means an organized way of doing things. Obviously, if you don’t have a clear system for managing and maintaining order in your home, it can lead to chaos.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
8 – Guests and Entertaining:
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- I have nothing against hosting and entertaining – I do it often with my extended family. But hosting guests or events can temporarily disrupt the normal order of a home, leading to a messy appearance.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
9 – Paperwork and Mail:
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- If you don’t take care of paperwork, unsorted mail, and documents promptly, they can quickly pile up, creating visual clutter.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
10 – Neglecting Regular Chores:
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- Sigh, I don’t think anyone would say they LOVE chores. But avoiding daily chores, such as making the bed or washing dishes, can contribute to a cumulative mess.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
11 – Lack of Time Management:
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- It actually requires good time management skills to keep a home clean and organized. Conversely, poor time management skills can result in neglecting household tasks, leading to a disorganized and messy living space.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
12 – Stress or Mental Health Issues:
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- The last thing you probably feel like doing when you’re stressed or anxious or depressed is cleaning your home. Individuals facing stress, anxiety, or mental health challenges may find it difficult to prioritize and manage household tasks.
WHY YOUR HOUSE IS MESSY REASON
13 – Unfinished Projects:
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- I have nothing against starting home projects but uncompleted DIY projects or home improvement tasks can leave tools and materials etc scattered around, contributing to a messy environment.
So there you have it! These are the most common reasons why our homes can get quite messy. But let’s now chat about what we can do to GET RID OF THE MESS FOREVER.
Please note:
If the idea of cleaning a messy house feels overwhelming to you, this is normal! But rest assured, it can be done.
Once you create a plan it will make the process more manageable. All you need to do is break down your larger tasks into smaller tasks. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
1 – Declutter:
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- Let’s start by getting rid of items you no longer need or use. This is the first place you need to start. Sort through your belongings and donate, sell, or discard anything that are no longer useful.
- Yes you need to throw some stuff away! I promise, you don’t need to keep every single thing you purchase. I mean, were you really planning to take it with you to the grave?
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
2 – Organize:
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- Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to organize the remaining items. You need to decide where everything you own will “live”. It needs to have a home.
- Designate specific places for commonly used items to make it easier to find and put away. Not sure where to put it? You can use storage bins, baskets, and shelves to keep everything in order.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
3 – Create Cleaning Zones:
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- When it comes to cleaning, I recommend dividing your house into different cleaning zones (e.g., kitchen, living room, bedroom). Focus on one zone at a time to prevent feeling overwhelmed and then get to work!
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
4 – Set a Timer:
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- I love using a timer because I work so much more effectively and efficiently when I have a deadline to work to. You can do the same.
- Break your cleaning sessions into manageable chunks. Set a timer for 15-30 minutes (let’s be honest – I prefer 15 minutes!) and focus on one task during that time. Make sure to also take short breaks between your sessions.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
5 – Start with High-Traffic Areas:
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- It makes sense to begin cleaning in areas where people spend the most time, such as the living room or kitchen.
- In other words, start where the messiness is most visible to your visitors. Tidy up surfaces, put away misplaced items, and clean your most visible areas first.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
6 – Work from Top to Bottom:
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- Make sure to clean from the top down to avoid re-cleaning lower surfaces. For example, you would obviously dust your shelves before vacuuming the floor.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
7 – Kitchen Cleanup:
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- Want to quickly clean your kitchen? Here’s the process to follow:
- Start by clearing and wiping down countertops.
- Then wash dishes or load the dishwasher.
- Next, wipe down appliances and clean the inside of the microwave.
- Finally, sweep and mop the floor.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
8 – Living Room Cleanup:
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- Want to quickly clean your living room? Here’s the process to follow.
- Start by putting away items that don’t belong in the living room.
- Then dust surfaces and clean electronic devices.
- Next, vacuum or sweep the floor.
- Finally, fluff and arrange cushions.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
9 – Bedroom Cleanup:
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- Want to quickly clean your bedroom? Here’s the process to follow.
- First, make the bed.
- Then put away clothes and personal items.
- Next, dust surfaces and clean mirrors.
- Finally, vacuum or sweep the floor.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
10 – Bathroom Cleanup:
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- Want to quickly clean your bathroom? Here’s the process to follow.
- First, wipe down surfaces, including countertops and sinks.
- Then clean the toilet, bathtub, and shower.
- Next, replace towels and refill toiletries.
- Finally, sweep or mop the floor.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
11 – Laundry:
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- Want to quickly do your laundry? Here’s the process to follow.
- First, gather dirty laundry and start a load of laundry.
- When it’s dry, fold and put away clean laundry.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
12 – Trash and Recycling:
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- Let’s keep this simple: empty trash cans in each room.
- Next, sort and take out your recycling.
HOUSE IS MESSY CLEAN UP PLAN
13 – Final Touches:
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- Once you have done all of the above, make sure to walk through each room to ensure everything is in its place.
- Vacuum or sweep the floors as needed.
14 – Develop Daily Habits:
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- It’s also important to establish daily habits to maintain a clean and organized living space. They don’t need to be complicated. Simple habits include: putting things away immediately and doing a quick tidy-up each evening.
So there you go – here’s exactly how to turn your messy home into a neat, clean and organized home.
Remember, the key is to take it one step at a time.
Do your best not get overwhelmed. Seriously all it takes is consistency with the above highlighted daily habits – they will prevent the mess from building up again.
PS > If the mess is too overwhelming, consider enlisting help from a professional cleaning service. That is always an option too!
I wish you the best of luck, Frances xxx
I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.