6 Tips to Maintain Organization in Your Home

One of the most challenging parts of the organizing world is MAINTAINING organization on a daily basis!

You've taken the plunge and had a professional organizer work some organizing magic in your home or maybe you've spent long, tiresome days organizing your home D.I.Y. style. Either way, it can be frustrating when you feel like your home is becoming unorganized not long after you spent time and money getting it in order. 

Sage Organizing Co. is here to help!

Here are 6 ways to maintain the organization that has been set place in your home and keep clutter at bay.

1.)  Clean Up After Yourself Throughout the Day
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Once it becomes a habit, cleaning up after yourself throughout the day does not take much time. By putting things away immediately when you're done using them, you will feel less overwhelmed and avoid moments when you scream in your head, "I don't even know where to start!" 

The key to this tip is getting everybody in the household on board as much as possible. Things like throwing the clothes you wore today straight in the laundry basket and your husband loading his dirty plate directly in the dishwasher and your child putting his toys away are ways to maintain organization and confidence within your home.

If it is hard to get your family to pitch in, make reminder sticky notes for them around the house or even have a point system (your kids will love to see who can get the most points at the end of the week!)

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2.)  Spend 10 Minutes Every Night Tidying up









​If you're following tip number one, this step may only take 5 minutes!

Incorporate picking up around the house as part of your nightly routine to maintain organization in your home. Some of the tasks you may do during this time may include putting the dog's toys back in the toy bin or folding a throw blanket. Another option is to include the whole family during this time (which reinforces tip 1.) When I was a kid, I had teachers in school who would play a special song during clean-up time and once the song ended, clean-up would end too.

It may sound a little silly, but playing your child's favorite song can really make tidying up much more fun for them!

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3.)  Plan out your Meals for the Week

Alright. I know what you're thinking, "Who has time for meal planning??" It sounds like an ideal yet unrealistic situation for many of us busy moms, but I have managed to incorporate meal planning and it has truly made my life easier!

I know for my family, cooking is one of the messiest, chaotic times in the kitchen. The kitchen gets dirty, food falls on the floor, pots and pans fill the sink-- not a pretty sight. How many times have you looked at the kitchen after eating dinner and thought, "I really don't want to clean all of this." At a time like this, it is easy to resort to stuffing kitchen utensils and equipment wherever instead of their designated spots.

Meal planning reduces major kitchen cleaning to once a week! Oh happy day! Check out my  article on my Family Routine & Meal Planning Here and see how this handy tip can help keep you organized!

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4.)  Donate/Throw away One item for every New thing

This is a personal tip of mine that has helped me in my minimalist goals and prevented home cluttering. As somebody who loves skincare and haircare products, I have made a deal with myself that every time I buy a new product, I throw one thing away. Of course, give yourself some leeway with this tip. Just because you bought a skincare product does not necessarily mean you need to throw away a skincare product you already have (even though that is a good place to start.) An alternative may be to donate a piece of clothing or an old pair of shoes to your local Goodwill.

This tip can be very helpful in making sure you don't overcrowd your home (and life!) with "stuff." It's also a good way to slowly clear out your home of things you don't need so that you avoid panic when the time comes to move or do a massive cleaning of your home.
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5.)  Make sure Everything has a Place

This rule is ESSENTIAL in order to maintain organization in your home.

When items/products/ the nebulous "stuff" in your house does not have designated spots, you and your family do not know where to return these things which inevitably causes mass disorder (and makes tips 1 and 2 far more difficult to achieve!) When each thing you own has its own little "home," you are set up for organizing success! One way to decide where to designate spots for items is to consider where in the house you typically use those items. For instance, it may not be a good idea to keep toilet paper in a closet near the kitchen as opposed to being kept as close to the bathroom as possible.

When items are stored inconveniently from places where you use them, you are more likely to leave those items laying out somewhere near where they are actually utilized. If you're having trouble creating a space for everything, consider donating things you don't need (or things you haven't touched in years!) ​

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6.)  Don't expect Perfection!

We all have hard days. Maybe, it was a bad day and you didn't get around to tidying up before going to bed. Maybe, you left a few dishes in the sink for tomorrow. You can't let unorganized days make you feel like you have lost control or hope of regaining organization at home. We all would love for our homes to look like it came off the cover of a magazine, right? Though we can all dream, kids and pets make this difficult to achieve regularly and that's okay.

Instead of aiming for perfection, try aiming for tidy and praise your family even for small organization maintenance achievements.

Follow these tips and you'll be sure to keep the organized lifestyle alive and well in your home! Marie Kondo would be proud.  

Need some help STARTING your home organization? Sage Organizing Co. can create and establish a professional organization system for your home so that you'll have a thought-out organization structure to follow moving forward. 

Call or email us TODAY and we'll make your home organization goals a reality!

Which part of your home is most difficult to keep organized? Comment below!

Professional Disclaimer: The ideas, recommendations, and opinions on this website, blog, and made in person are for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be considered legal, financial, or medical advice. I am not an attorney, doctor, or licensed financial professional. Sage Organizing Co., LLC is not liable for any losses or damages related to actions or failure to act related to the content of this website, blog, or in-person discussions. If you need specific legal, financial, or medical advice, consult a professional in your area.

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