Organizing Your Home: Best Solutions to Common Household Problems
As an organizational freak, I am always on the lookout for the best solutions to common household problems. Whether it's finding efficient ways to manage daily tasks or dealing with pesky household situations, here are some of the best strategies that I have found to keep my home clean, organized, and free from stress.
Effective Solutions for Household Problems
First and foremost, many commonly recommended solutions online can be overwhelming and sometimes unnecessary. For example, if your toilet handle is broken, the internet might tell you to rebuild the entire toilet. However, these solutions can often be much simpler. Instead of investing in a complete overhaul, try alternatives like lavender oil for headaches and nervousness, mint for muscle pain and digestion, fenugreek for breastfeeding, turmeric for pain and irritation, or ginger for pain and sickness. These are all easy, natural remedies that can help address common household issues without the need for major renovations or products.
Implementing Routines, Schedules, and Plans
Creating routines, schedules, and plans can greatly improve the efficiency and organization of your home. Use tools like Google Keep to set recurring reminders. For instance, if you have a dishwasher, set a specific time to empty and load it, ensuring it is done at the end of the day or every other day. This prevents getting behind on the dishes. Towels can now be managed more efficiently by having each bathroom with only two sets; one being washed and one being used. Dirty towels can be tossed directly into the washing machine, and whoever is washing clothes will also take care of drying them.
Effective Organization and Cleanliness
One of the most common household issues I face is helping my husband remember to put items in their designated places. Part of the problem is that he has difficulty finding items when they are needed. To address this, I strategically placed three hampers in the precise locations where his clothing typically lands, helping the laundry to migrate easily to their proper spot, often leading to an amusing trail of grass-stained clothes across our home. Another approach is to use labels throughout the home. However, labeling has been a mixed success for me and my husband. Empty soda cans have a tendency to find their way to the kitchen counter above the recycling bin, where their labeled spot is. Cereal boxes have even taken up residence in a spacious cabinet that is labeled, clearly indicating that they should be put there. Additionally, a tray by the door labeled for sunglasses, hats, masks, pens, and piles of mail has caused the keys to always be missing, with the paper shredder finding its way under the mail center against my suggestions that paper shredders do not belong in a foyer.
24/7 Clutter Control
Despite the occasional failure of labeling and organizational systems, I have found great success with 24/7 clutter control. I spend my days retrieving abandoned items and returning them to their proper locations. This approach has proven to be the only method that my husband has been consistently on board with since the beginning. By constantly addressing clutter and inefficiency, the home remains clean and organized without the need for major interventions. While solutions one and two might work for some families, the 24/7 clutter control method has brought order and functionality to our home and has become a key part of our household management strategy.