Lennar Resource Center

Messy kids, rambunctious pets, frequent visitors, busy work life – all of these things, and many more, can lead to a disorganized or cluttered home. It can be tough to set aside the time to de-clutter, especially during the busy summer months. But there are a few ways to clean out your home that take very little thought process at all, giving you a clear home and clear mind.

1. Clean out the closet over time

Getting rid of clothes proves to be very difficult at times. There will always be that one shirt that might get worn eventually, right? To combat this issue without even thinking about it, at the start of the month, turn all of your hangers in the closet the other way around (with the hook facing out). When you wear an article of clothing, turn the hanger back around. At the end of the month you will be able to see which pieces you’ve actually worn and which you know you don’t. Take the clothes still hanging the opposite way and donate them.

2. Avoid organizers

It is very easy to de-clutter by buying organizational boxes, shelves, cabinets, or drawer inserts. This helps for a while, until you have to keep buying more organizers for all of your things. It’s a vicious cycle of having more things because there are more places to put them. To steer clear of this problem, buy the essential organizers and nothing more (unless absolutely necessary). This way, you have to make stricter decisions about what you actually need to keep and where to put it.

3. Get your kids involved

All parents know that having kids causes the majority of home clutter and messes. But, that does not mean the parents are the only ones that can deal with it – more kids means extra hands around the home. Chore charts can be useful, but children tend to be very extrinsically motivated and driven by technology. Change the Wi-Fi password daily or weekly; the only way for the kids to get the password is to complete their chores. The home gets cleaned and the kids get rewarded with their favorite technology!