Prevention is the name of the game when it comes to handling kids’ #summer messes, says The Maids. Set boundaries for kids: A mudroom drop-off tray for dirty socks and shoes can help household keep floors free of mud, grass and sand. Having children eat ice cream and popsicles outdoors plus a post-treat washup regimen can keep sticky hands away from, well, everything. Pick backseat snacks that won’t drip or spill, and pack a roll of paper towels or wipes in the car for spot #cleanups. And have a towel “tree” or clothesline available for wet towels and bathing suits. #Cleaning goes fast when most of the house is a mess-free zone. #SummerMesses
Tag: messy
Conduct Resets to Keep Summer Messes at Bay
With #summer’s busy schedules, making memories often supersedes everyday tasks such as #cleaning. Learn to expect the routine #messes of dirty dishes, stacks of laundry or strewn-about toys — the kind of mess that differs from #clutter. “It’s a byproduct of being a living, breathing human being, and no matter who you are or how #organized you may be, there is no escaping it,” says decluttering expert Katie Joy Wells. Establish quick cleanup rituals or “resets” by taking a few minutes to put things back where they belong. Busy areas such as the kitchen might need a few quick resets per day. #SummerMesses
Keep Summer Fun(k) Where It Belongs
Fun in the sun often means dirt in the home. To keep those #summer messes at bay, think ahead and outsmart the mess, says Clean My Space. Lay down a liner or tarp before loading the car to prevent dirt, mud, gravel and pet hair from adhering to auto upholstery. Leave moisture-laden sporting goods, beach towels and coolers outdoors to dry rather than leaving them inside your vehicle or home. Keep sunscreens and bug sprays sequestered in freezer bags so they don’t leak on other items. Wet bags and totes can keep the mildewy funk of wet swimwear, beach toys and towels in check, too! #SummerMesses
Handling Some of Summer’s Worst Stains
Winter may be messy, but summer has its own set of #cleaning and tidiness challenges. Some of the most difficult stains to handle result from the grease and oils that spatter from favorite cookout foods such as burgers, steaks and potato salad, says Blueland. Blot stains immediately with a rag or paper towel whenever possible. Then, presoak garments in a 1:1 water and vinegar solution for half an hour. Scrub the area with a soft brush such as an old toothbrush. Use an oxygen bleach laundry product and wash in cold water before hanging to dry — and repeat if necessary. #SummerMesses
Junk Hides in the Most Obvious Places
In a consumer society, household #junk tends to build up. You go out and buy the latest fashions, gadgets and gewgaws, and they either become a part of the daily routine or your personal style, or they don’t.
Lots of that #stuff is probably packed away in boxes or hidden in the backs of #closets, with only a dim memory of their purpose remaining. But still more stuff is likely hiding in plain sight — and making your home a #cluttered #mess.
Think about it: Do you have stacks of #clothing where they shouldn’t be — anywhere outside your closets and dressers? Are mail and paperwork piling up on your desk? Is the kitchen table or entryway littered with new purchases or decorative items?
You are not alone. Most homes have “dump” zones where new stuff or stuff that hasn’t been integrated into the everyday lands. The trouble is that sometimes this stuff doesn’t find a spot for months or even years, especially if you have a smaller space.
All of this piled-up #clutter can easily make you feel overwhelmed. “It usually isn’t until the walls are closing in or someone brings those things to our attention that we do something about it,” says California-based Organizing Concepts & Designs.
What can you do? Find ways to tame those piles and places for those things. Go room to room and make an honest assessment of what needs to be in sight and readily accessible, and what can be hidden in storage or dispensed with altogether.
You might find that you need more shelves to display your knickknacks, a filing cabinet for your office, an underbed box for your extra linens or a new #storage system for your #closet. Don’t hesitate to install them; cost-effective solutions are available.
As you take stock of your stuff, you will find things hiding in plain sight that you no longer want or need. #Donate them to ClothingDonations.org by scheduling a free #donation #pickup for your #purge. Keep at it, and soon you’ll enjoy a #clutter-free, #organized home.