How to Keep a “Company-Ready Clean” House: Fast & Simple 4-Step Plan

Do you ever find yourself running around your home stuffing items into closets and drawers because people are on their way over and you are less than satisfied with the condition of your home? Here is a simple 4-step plan that will make it possible for you to keep a picked up and clean house all of the time.

Step 1 – De-Clutter Your Home

This will make cleaning easier and your home will appear tidy. Everything in your home should either be something you love or is useful (at the present time).

15-Minutes to a Clutter Free Home

Spend 5 minutes walking through your home with a garbage bag and fill it with items that can be thrown away, such as, worn out shoes and old newspapers and magazines.

Next 5 minutes – Fill another bag or bag with items that can be donated, such as, old toys, books and clothing.

Spend the last 5 minutes filling a bag or box (or create a pile) of items to be sold, such as, furniture, collectables, appliances and any other items with value.

Repeat this 15-minute clutter-free exercise once per week until you have a clutter-free home and some extra cash. The NBC Today Show reported that the average American family has $2,500 worth of goods that they don’t like and don’t need or want. What could you do with an extra $2,500? Plus it’s great for our planet when we re-distribute our unwanted items to those who want them. Re-manufacturing new items consumes resources and the old items take up room in our landfills.

Craigslist is a great way to sell your items. Ebay’s another option or you could hire someone to sell them for you, they will simply keep a portion of the profits, usually about 50%. Many Professional Organizers offer this service or you can go to Ebay.com and find a PowerSeller in your area.

To keep your home free of clutter I recommend that you get rid of an item every time you bring a new item into your home. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a DVD for a DVD, just an item for an item.

Every time you or anyone living in your household brings something into the home, something has to go. If you bought a new shirt today, find something to get rid of.

Step 3 – Create a Place for Everything

Keeping your home clean is virtually impossible if you do not have a place for everything. Find a place for every item in your home from paperclips to hair spray to receipts. At the end of each day, spend just 5-minutes walking through your home and put away all items that were left out. If everything has a place it should only take 5 minutes to put everything in its place, if you do it everyday.

Step 4 – Set Expectations for Yourself and Others in your Household

Set an expectation that each member of your household (including yourself) puts away every item they take out as soon as they are done using it. In addition, set an expectation that every member of your household contributes to keeping your home tidy. Divide up chores such as laundry, dishes, vacuuming & dusting.

Step 5 – Set a Cleaning Routine

Having a daily “maintenance” routine will keep your home company ready at all times.

The Morning Routine

3-Minutes in the Bathroom – Keep a roll of paper towels under the sink. Wipe down the counter and faucets and wipe up hair from the floor.

2-Minutes in the Bedroom – Make your bed and put away your PJ’s, at least just fold them and place them at the end of your bed.

Have a no-dirty-dishes left out policy. After every meal wash the dishes and wipe down your counter tops and table. If you have toddlers, you will probably need to wipe up the floor as well.

Possible Evening Routine

5-Minutes – Walk through your home and put away items that were left out and empty the garbage’s, if needed.

2-Minutes – Put away your clothes before going to bed.

In addition to these daily routines, your home needs to be thoroughly cleaned at least twice a month (once every other week). If you do not have a professional housekeeper to do it, then divide up the cleaning among all of the capable members of your household and schedule specific days and times for the chores to get done. Hold yourself and everyone else in your household accountable. Professional Organizer Heidi DeCoux specializes in Home Organization . Heidi offers a free e-Solutions Kit on Home Office Organizing.

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