From Room Cleaning to Organization and Storage: Expert Tips for a 'Clean Living'

Keeping a house tidy is a challenge for everyone. From small spaces like desks, closets, and shoe racks to managing all household belongings, maintaining a clean and organized environment is no easy feat. However, living in a well-organized space can bring peace of mind and enhance concentration. Today, we'll share some helpful tips for tidying up every corner of your home, leveraging advice from professional organizers.

Before you begin organizing your home, your mindset is crucial. Instead of viewing tidying as a 'duty,' consider it an 'opportunity' to improve your quality of life. Also, setting a specific time frame and amount of time for tidying can improve your focus. Set a timer for 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes and concentrate on organizing during that time. Starting with the thought 'It's only 10 minutes' can lead to more time passing than expected, allowing you to accomplish more than you anticipate.

Taking before and after photos of the space is also a good idea. Seeing the 'before' photo can make you realize that the messy space wasn't the norm. Plus, seeing the 'after' photo brings a sense of accomplishment. Putting on some light music while you work can also brighten the mood.

The actual tidying process begins with taking everything out. Emptying all the contents of furniture and storage spaces like closets allows you to accurately assess your possessions and their quantities. If tackling everything at once feels overwhelming, start with smaller areas like kitchen drawers or cardboard boxes.

Next, categorize the items you've taken out based on whether you 'use' them. It's best to discard items you don't use, but if discarding feels difficult, consider giving them to someone else or selling them online. However, if you use an item at least once a year, it's best to keep it.

Categorizing items solely based on 'usability' isn't always ideal. Keeping unused items simply because they are wearable or not broken is wasteful. It's important to assess the usefulness of items based on your 'current life' situation.

After categorizing the items, you need to decide where to store them. For items you use daily, store them at a height between your knees and head. Less frequently used items can be stored below that. Organizing by category makes things easier to find. If you live with family, consider organizing by individual user as well. Arranging items with your daily routine in mind can also make things more convenient.

Finally, it's essential to maintain the organized space over time. When buying new items, ensure you have storage space for them beforehand. If things start to pile up, get rid of older items before acquiring new ones. Assigning a designated spot for each item and putting it back there after use is key to sustaining an organized environment.