Ways To Keep Your Home Presentable for the Domestically Disinclined

Your house is a mess, but it is a beautiful sunny day outside. Do you stay in until the whole place sparkles even if the only outdoor activity you see all day is on the walk to the garbage can? Or do you rush around to get outside ignoring the dust and clutter around you? If you answered with the former, I envy you. If you answered with the latter, well, I have to love you, because you are a lot like me. And if you are like me, here are five habits to cultivate that will help you keep your place clean enough, so you get out there and do what you want to do.

If you use it, put it away. My grandmother has lectured me on this one for years. It is a simple rule that will save you hours of housework. If you take the coffee out, put it back. If you use creamer, put it away when you are finished with it. When you are done drinking your coffee, rinse the cup and put it directly in the dishwasher. If you put everything you use away when you are done with it, then there will be very little to pick up when you do get around to housekeeping.

Take the garbage and recycling out daily. Nothing stinks up a place like old coffee grounds and banana peels left in a nice warm house for a few days. Piles of papers, boxes, and cans really do not add much ambience to your place either.

Clean the bathroom as you exit it each morning. Wipe the shower down (just with water and a wash cloth) as you use it. Dry the shower and tub out when you finish to avoid grimy build up. Run the exhaust fan so the room doesn't get musty. Wipe down the counter and sink after you use it. If you really feel inspired, keep a toilet brush handy, and brush out the toilet bowl daily to avoid any gross build-up. Take the trash and laundry out when you leave. If you do these things daily, your bathroom may not be Martha Stewart ready, but it will never be too disgusting to deal with.

If you do nothing else, run your machines. This is another grandmother tip! When you run the washer, dryer, and dishwasher, it is like having three helpers. A bonus is that the smell of the dishwasher washing, and the dryer sheets emanating from the dryer should really freshen your home right up. Just remember to finish the laundry. A pile of stinking wet laundry left in the washer is not a nice thing to come home to.

Spend ten minutes straightening up each morning. Make your bed. Put the laundry away. Pick up anything left out. Put stray dishes in the dishwasher. Spray a little air freshener. Set a timer if you get easily side-tracked (like me). You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in ten minutes.

If you are like me, these tips will help you get through your housework and onto other, more interesting, activities faster. Although this will not eliminate all your household cleaning (even fabulous ladies like us have to vacuum and dust every once in a while), these five habits will work wonders to help you keep your home presentable.