Decluttering Your Home: Tips from the Experts

A cluttered home is like a toddler on a sugar rush: unpredictable, chaotic, and somehow sticky in places you didn’t even know could be sticky. At MoniCare Nannies, we know that maintaining a well-organized home also maintains our sanity! And as a household staffing agency that helps families find top-tier nannies and household staff, we’ve picked up some expert tips along the way. So, if your home is drowning in toys, laundry, and mystery objects from the black hole of your junk drawer, read on.

1. The “One-Touch” Rule

If you pick something up, don’t put it down somewhere random; put it away. That stack of mail? Open it and deal with it now. Those shoes? Back to the closet or shoe organizer. Teach your household this rule, and you’ll eliminate the dreaded “I’ll do it later” piles that multiply overnight.

2. The 80/20 Wardrobe Principle

Did you know that you wear 20% of your clothes 80% of the time. The rest? They’re just taking up valuable real estate. If you haven’t worn something in a year, donate it. The same goes for kids’ clothes: if they’ve outgrown it, it’s time to let it go. Pro tip: to keep track of what you’ve worn, turn all of your hangers backward in the closet. Then only turn the hangers around when you’ve worn the item on it. At the end of the year, anything with a backward hanger hasn’t been worn in 365 days – and can probably go!

3. Kid Zones, Not Kid Takeovers

Your living room shouldn’t double as a toy store. Designate specific play areas and storage bins, and involve your little ones in the cleanup routine. Pro tip: Make it a game: “Who can clean up the fastest?” Put on some fun, upbeat music and race to reset the room.

4. The “10-Minute Tidy”

Set a timer for 10 minutes at the end of each day and do a quick sweep of your main living spaces. You’ll be amazed at how much cleaner your home feels with just a little daily effort. Trust us, your future self will thank you in the morning.

5. The Basket System

Place a basket in each room for stray items. At the end of the day during your “10-Minute Tidy,” return everything to its rightful place. This trick works wonders for rogue socks, misplaced remote controls, and the odd toy car lurking underfoot. Plus, this is a chore that even toddlers can help with!

6. Outsource When Necessary

Let’s be honest: sometimes, you just don’t have the time (or patience) to declutter or deep clean. That’s where professional help comes in. Whether it’s hiring a housekeeper or a household manager, MoniCare is here to help bring order to your home. Start your search for a professional, long-term domestic staff member at www.monicare.com.