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I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a clean freak. I’ve taken pride in how clean my home looks for as long as I can remember. The reasons why I clean my house are pretty simple and come down to individual values and standards I strive to maintain.
It might not be for everyone, but for me, it works.
Truth be told, I’ve lightened up compared to many years ago when I bordered on being somewhat obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness and order.
I remember one Thanksgiving where I started washing my kitchen floor after my sister’s family arrived with muddy boots and dirtied the floor. True story – I’m not kidding.
I’ve mellowed with age – kind of like a good wine. But the fact remains that I like a clean and organized home.
Why I Clean My Home
1. It Makes Me Happy
Growing up with parents who were messy and disorganized instilled in me a deep desire to live in a clean home. My mom was always in a state of anxiety over the situation of the house, and I knew at an early age I didn’t want to experience that kind of stress over something that could easily be remedied.
Clean and organized makes me feel happy, but more importantly, it eliminates the stress that’s caused by a chaotic environment.
There’s nothing wrong with finding happiness in the simplest things and clean and organized does it for me.
2. Because the World is Chaotic Enough
The world can be such a chaotic place. The noise, the chaos, the overcrowding, the excess – all of those things I want to leave outside of my home.
When I come home and close the door, entering a clean and organized home provides a level of sanity and peace in an otherwise stressed out world.
I can shut the door and know that this is MY little piece of heaven filled with the smells, sights, and sounds of peace and serenity.
Check out these related articles on decluttering:
How To Declutter Your Home Fast
The Shocking Truth About Clutter
3. Company Can Drop By, and I Won’t Be Embarrassed
This goes back to my childhood at seeing my mother panic when the doorbell would ring unexpectedly.
No panicking for me – being a cleaning, organizing freak almost guarantees that won’t happen.
Plus, I enjoy entertaining and can do so at a moment’s notice.
4. I Can Find My Stuff
Nothing is more frustrating than having to look for things, or worse yet to have to go out and buy something because you can’t find what you need. That never happens to me.
My house is so organized I could send a total stranger into the house, and she could find something with my verbal direction – guaranteed.
5. Causes Me To Purge On A Regular Basis
This doesn’t happen as regularly as it once did, mainly because I don’t buy things I don’t need and don’t hold to things I have no need for.
Once a year I like to go through the house and donate or yard sale what I no longer need or want. I’ve made significant money at yard sales in the past, and now I enjoy giving away what I don’t want through Freecycle.org.
It makes me feel really good that someone in need can benefit from what I no longer want.
Related Articles to help you make significant money at your next yard sale:
Yard Sale Tips: How I Managed To Make $2565 At My Last Yard Sale!
A Step by Step Guide For Getting The Most Cash At Your Yard Sale
6. I Save Money
When you take care of things, they typically last longer.
For example, if you never clean your stove top it becomes almost impossible for it ever to look like it did when you first purchased it. If on the other hand, you clean it after you finish cooking you can almost be assured it will look almost brand new for years. I know this first hand. When I sold my home last year, because I had properly maintained my property, the assessor thought my updates were far more recent than they were by more than ten years.
Taking care of what you own helps to ensure a longer shelf life for your possessions.
Need to get your home clean and organized? These articles can help!
10 Must Do Yearly Cleaning Tasks
Top Ten Spring Cleaning Tips from A Professional House Cleaner
63 Things You Should Be Cleaning But Aren’t
7. I Sleep Better
I know there’re a lot of people who can relate to this. I literally can’t go to bed if I leave a mess to clean up the next day – hence, it never happens. I also just like the idea of waking up in the morning and the house is clean, tidy and organized.
For me, it’s a beautiful way to start the day.
8. Gives Me The Space To Be Creative
When my space is organized, it opens up my creative process. I think it’s because I’m not worried or stressed out about things being out-of-place or messy.
It allows me to focus my time and attention on the creative process that goes into making this blog a success. If I were filled with worry or angst, my creative juices would be blocked, and I wouldn’t be able to write and create the content I want to share with my readers.
Creativity thrives in an organized environment.
9. It Saves Time
I know that this may feel a little counter-intuitive, but hear me out on this one.
Imagine you’ve come home from a long a day. You head upstairs to get into your pj’s. Instead of taking off your clothes and tossing them on the floor, you take the time to put them in the laundry or where they belong. You head to bed, and the next morning you’re able to focus your attention on whatever is happening that morning instead of climbing over piles of clothes.
Your goal is to handle an item once. Whether it’s the mail, your clothes, whatever it is – touch it once, and it will save you time in the long run.
10. When Your House Is Clean and Organized So Is Your Money
There’s a little saying that ‘how you do money is how you do everything.’ Guess what? It’s true.
When your house is a disorganized mess, it’s almost a guarantee that your finances are too.
In my recent article, What Is Clutter Costing You? I highlight all the ways in which money leaks from our bank accounts because of clutter and disorganized living.
Watch the video below to learn more:
Bonus Tip for the Sandwich Generation:
If you’re caring for an elderly parent and they live in your home you’ll want to put this tip into practice to make caregiving easier on everyone.
In the beginning days of dealing with different caretakers, I spent countless minutes each day searching for what they needed simply because the previous caretaker had moved the needed items. This was particularly frustrating for them and me because we wasted time looking for stuff.
Now, when I introduce a new caretaker into the mix, I spend the first week going over where all the needed items are in my home. They are expected to put things back where they found them, to keep my mother’s closet and drawers organized and to replace shampoo and lotion when finished with a new bottle. This way we all know that what we need will be available to us without having to run around and look for things.
It reduces stress for me and reduces stress for the caretaker.
Remember, no one can do it all. If your home is not as clean and organized as you’d like, enlist your family to help in this endeavor. Take time each week to focus on one area and then keep it organized and clean moving forward.
Then sit back and relish in your accomplishment!
