15 Minutes a Day: How to Maintain Order in the House Without Going Crazy

While in quarantine, many of us have faced not only problems with self-organization and stress but also household issues. Chaos and dust now accumulate not over days, but by the hour. To make cleaning in the house easier, we've gathered the best quick life hacks and systems for tidying up that will help you keep your home clean every day.

Set a Timer

Set a timer for 15–20 minutes — this amount of time for cleaning doesn't seem overwhelming. You'll easily and without excuses start the task, and when the timer rings, you surely won't leave any job unfinished. In the end, you'll be able to check off at least one item from your cleaning list.

Divide Tasks

Choose one type of cleaning: for example, dusting. Move from one room to another, only dusting. This way, you save time on changing cleaning supplies and avoid distractions.

Put Everything Back in Place

The author of the "Anonymous Slackers" system, Sandra Felton, is convinced that one of the main principles of any cleaning is to put each item back where it came from. "If an action takes 30 seconds or less, do it right now." This way, you won't have to search for a remote control, phone, or keys all over the house.

Dust Regularly

When everything is in its place, dusting becomes much easier. Quickly vacuum the floor, carpets (and don't forget the door mat), and furniture upholstery. Don't forget about radiator screens — for their cleaning, it's best to use a vacuum cleaner with a special dust collection attachment.

Follow Storage Rules

The main secret of Marie Kondo is vertical storage of items. This way, things are easy to see and you can easily pull out what you need without disturbing the others.

By the way, you can use this trick during cleaning too. Store all household supplies in a plastic box and carry it with you. This life hack will save you from having to go from room to room for leftover cleaning products.

Divide Your Apartment into Zones

Divide your apartment into zones and tidy each one up daily over the course of a week. These zones can be rooms: bedroom, children's room, hallway, kitchen, living room, bathroom. Or individual spots in the apartment: desk, kitchen table, or windowsill.

Introduce Mandatory Rituals

Start and end your day every day with two simple actions. In the morning, make the bed; in the evening, polish the sink until it shines. It's from these zones of cleanliness that order in the house begins.

Get Rid of Everything Unnecessary

During daily cleaning, you'll surely find unnecessary items that it's time to get rid of. Set aside a separate box, drawer, or basket for this purpose — put all excess items there and at the end of the month decide what to do with them.

Items in good and working condition can, for example, be donated to charity or given to those who need them more.

Combine Cleaning with Other Tasks

During TV commercial breaks, you can easily wash dishes, or while food is heating up in the microwave, wipe down the stove. This won't cost you any effort, and the waiting time won't pass in vain.