Unlocking a Professional Organizer's Strategies to Maintaining an (Almost) Always Tidy Home

Keeping a clean and organized home is a challenge for most of us. With busy lives, work, kids, pets, and so many other obligations, achieving and maintaining tidiness can often feel like another impossible task in a never-ending to-do list. Through a series of practical approaches, I have been able to maintain a tidy and organized home while living a very busy life. Today, I want to share the strategies that have worked wonders for me over the years.

Don't Put it Down...

Consistency is key when it comes to maintaining a tidy home. Personally, I'm a big believer in, "Don't put it down, put it away!" Whenever possible, put items where they go - not on a random surface nearby. While developing a system for where all the random items go can be tricky (hey - I can help you with that!), once you have that system in place, it is so much easier to maintain a desirable level of tidiness going forward. With that said, I should mention I'm a business owner, wife, and mother, and I live in a multiple pet household. Quite honestly, others in my house don't always subscribe to my way of thinking when it comes to putting things away, as much as I'd love for them to. There are also times that is simply not practical to follow this "rule" due to time constraints. These harsh realities leads me to my next two strategies...

Picking Up Daily

Another practice I swear by is the "pick up daily" approach. Spending just 10 minutes a day to walk through your house and put things back where they belong has a surprisingly large impact.

As a neat freak who enjoys organizing and likes things in place, this is something I do on auto-pilot, but I recognize this is an unnatural, tedious, and boring task for many. If you fall in that second group, try setting a timer, blasting some favorite music, and making a game of it to see how much you can accomplish in those ten minutes. You may surprise yourself! This daily habit not only keeps clutter at bay but also makes tidying up feel less of a burden.

Utilizing Catch-All Baskets

An additional game-changer in my organization journey has been the introduction of catch-all baskets (or drawers, trays, or bins). You might be wondering, “What’s a catch-all basket?” It’s simply a designated place for those miscellaneous items that tend to clutter surfaces in your home, or items that you have a hard time finding a good system or place for.

Having a basket near the entryway and another in common rooms allows me to quickly toss things in when I am in a hurry and have no choice but to put things down (and not away). Instead of getting bogged down by these little things, I can continue with my day, knowing that I’ll come back later to sort through them. It’s a simple and fantastic way to keep surfaces clear while still managing the inevitable bits that accumulate. I personally also choose to accept that these baskets will almost always have something in them and will likely never be organized. This is better for my own peace of mind.

Cleaning Up Immediately

It’s easy to let messes build up, but I’ve found that addressing them in real-time is a vital part of my organization toolkit. Whether it’s a mess from meal prep in the kitchen or toys left scattered around at nap time, I make it a priority to clean up messes as soon as they happen, or as soon as I possibly can if immediately is not feasible.

This prevents small messes from snowballing into larger disasters that can be overwhelming. If something takes less than three minutes to clean, I do it right away! This simple rule can turn tidying into a proactive habit - rather than a reactive chore.

Approaching Laundry: One Load at a Time

Laundry can easily become a mountain that feels insurmountable if not approached properly. My solution? I finish laundry loads one at a time. Rather than overloading my washer and dryer with multiple loads at once, I focus on one load at a time, giving it my full attention.

Once it's done, I take the time to fold and put it away before starting another load. I try to do this immediately, but if I simply can't, I at least take care of the first load of laundry before starting another load. Completing one load at a time allows me to stay on top of my laundry without it piling up and becoming a much more daunting task.

Establishing a Cleaning Schedule

One of the most effective ways I’ve streamlined my tidying and cleaning process is by establishing a flexible and practical cleaning schedule. For me, this isn’t a rigid schedule for when to vacuum or dust or clean a bathroom. Instead, it’s a holistic approach that breaks down cleaning tasks into manageable pieces throughout the week.

By creating a weekly checklist of chores (including alternating through those that do not need to be done weekly) I can focus on specific individual tasks without feeling overwhelmed. I use a spreadsheet to keep up with the chores, and ensure they are broken down so that almost all take fifteen minutes or less to complete. This allows me to knock out a "quick win" anytime I have a few minutes to spare, without feeling overwhelmed. This systematic approach keeps my home from ever becoming too chaotic or dirty to begin with, which really allows me to cut down on the time spent cleaning and tidying overall. P.S. If you're interested in the format I use, drop a comment below or send me an email and I'll create one for digital download.

Being Realistic

No matter what season of life you're in or where you are in your path to organization, do not underestimate the importance of being realistic with time and expectations. I personally often remind myself that I’m a busy person, I am only one person, and it’s okay if everything isn’t perfect all the time. Remember, perfection is not attainable, and there's way more to life than organizing, tidying, and cleaning!

A tidy living room

Conclusion

Embracing these practical habits — from simply putting items where they go to establishing an actual cleaning schedule spreadsheet — has made a significant difference in my home’s tidiness and my stress levels. Each of these strategies has helped cultivate an environment that feels welcoming, organized, and serene.

Remember, the journey to a tidy home is not a race. By taking small, intentional steps each day, you too can turn the overwhelming task of home organization into a manageable routine.

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