halfway through the week! today, as part of my ‘clean up your life’ series, i’m going to focus on the home. now, i’m the LAST person in the world who should tell you anything about getting rid of clothes or shoes, so this is not going to be a post on the kon mari method. because you know what? ALL of my shoes make me happy. although i do wish i could kon mari my husband’s shoes, because his camo crocs bring me zero joy.
now, my husband will also say that when i want to clean, i mean business, and there’s no way it only takes “five minutes”, but that’s not what this post is about. i’ve compiled all of the little things i do throughout the day – the easy wins – that help me be five minutes away from unexpected visitors. five minutes away from a little bit of sanity. and five minutes away from knowing EXACTLY where that really obscure thing is.
in order to have my house “five minutes” ready, i …
…make the bed [almost] every morning. i say almost, because if joey is still in bed, i do not make it. i have specifically picked bedding and a way i make it that takes less than ninety seconds, so even if i’m behind in the morning it’s not going to be a total time suck. pro tip: get sheets you like the look of, and fold your comforter/quilt/duvet in half. it’s much easier to do, and your bed is basically made in a split second.
…clean the counters before i go to bed. nothing will start my day off in a bad way like walking out into our kitchen with dirty counters. same goes with dishes in the sink. take a few minutes the night before, put it all away, and wipe those counters down. a tidy kitchen is a great way to disguise the fact that you have a child that enjoys climbing in everything, ripping every book off the shelf, and pulling out every shoe she owns.
…put the couch back together. as in, put the pillows and blankets back on the couch/chairs. another easy win, but i can tell you firsthand that as a pillow-lover, they start to pile up [literally] and if they don’t have a place on the couch, your living area looks cluttered. i’m also very strategic about my pillows [i kind of want to punch me for even uttering that sentence] and make sure that i don’t have too many, they’re all kid-friendly [kid-proof, actually] and that they serve a purpose. sometimes that purpose is to just make me happy [hellooooo cheetah print].
…wipe off the counter after i put on my makeup. we have an all white bathroom, so even the tiniest flake of mascara shows up on the white counter tops. if i wipe them down post-makeup, i come home to a clean bathroom. i also made the hand towels + candles a part of my decor, so it’s super easy to create an inviting, functional space for guests. and us.
…have ‘drop zones’. this is a new one for me, but i’ve started placing decorative baskets in common areas where i can toss toys/shoes/random items that belong in other rooms. periodically, i’ll go around the house and distribute the items to the correct place. baskets are your best friends, guys. i have them ALL over my house to hold everything. i even use one as a pot for a fake plant i have. for real, baskets are lifesavers, and fit perfectly in my new ‘drop zone’ habit.
what about you guys? any tips/tricks/hacks to keep your house ‘unexpected guest’ ready? let me know! comment here or on my latest insta.
as always, thanks for reading!
