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We all know that one friend whose home is always spotless. Busy families with spotless homes are just another thing aren't they, how do they do it?

It’s the friend you can visit at any time of the day, even without prior arrangement, and you’ll know that the house will be immaculate and tidy. For the rest of us, and especially families with children, you might need a few days' notice to master the chaos that has slowly taken over the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom. Of course, it’s not to say that you let things get dirty. Most people keep a clean enough home, even when they run a tight schedule. But organisation and shiny surfaces might not be on top of your to-do list. If you find yourself having to call your number to find where you last left your smartphone – and discover that it landed at the back of the sofa, under the cushions and a pile of old lifestyle magazines –, then you’re probably one of those parents who struggle to keep things organised in the long term at home. But don’t worry, with these foolproof strategies, you’ll get there in no time!



Busy families organise ahead

The first rule of a tidy home is to stay on top of your maintenance schedule. How do you do that fantastic tour de force? The clue is to start organising as early as possible. Good organisation begins even before you move into your home. But, it’s fair to say that most families have been living in their current home for a few years already. Does it mean you should move out to finally reveal your inner tidy wizard? Of course not, but you can use a similar tidying approach in your current property. Things accumulate all around the house when you don’t have a specific place to store them. For instance, to go back to the pile of magazines on the sofa, a newspaper rack can be the ideal solution to store your favourite papers until you’ve read them. Are the shoes accumulating in the entryway? Look for a shoe rack. Investing in suitable storage facilities is vital to introduce order at home. Similarly, while it can be tricky to retroactively organise your furniture, the addition of shelf-splitters, drawer-inserts and dividers can help to manage the chaos.

You know that fancy, fluffy white carpet? Busy families don’t buy it

How does your friend keep the house in such a spotless condition? It’s easy. She has invested in materials that are easy to maintain and clean. Washable paint on the wall from the Dulux range can make a great deal of difference, especially if you’ve got pets and young children as you can get rid of most stains with only a sponge. Similarly, a washable flooring solution, such as micro-concrete floors from carrcrete.co.uk, is the perfect addition to a household that struggles to keep mud, footprints and liquid stains off the carpet. Hard flooring solutions are not only elegant, but they’re also super easy to look after. Tiles are also an excellent alternative for a dramatic look in your kitchen, for instance.

They don’t keep things they don’t need

How much stuff do you own? If you find it tricky to answer truthfully, think of it this way: Do you use all the things you’ve got in your house? Most people don’t, but unfortunately, our materialistic culture encourages us to buy and own more. As a result, your home gradually fills up with clutter – for there is no other word for it. Tidy homeowners share one characteristic; they know how to de-own. In short, if you’re drowning in stuff, now’s the best time to declutter with becomingminimalist.com. One rule for all your belongings: If you don’t need or use it frequently, get rid of it.

They share a chore chart

Last, but not least, your friend receives help in her journey to master tidiness and organisation at home. Why so? Because the home is a communal space one shares with a partner and children. Therefore it is everyone’s responsibility to look after it. You’ve probably guessed what is coming now: chore charts. Chore charts make everyone accountable for cleaning after themselves and maintaining a welcoming and cosy home. More importantly, chore charts need to bring your children on board. You can share tasks around the house with older children, while young children only need to focus on simple jobs such as cleaning their rooms or putting their toys away. In the long run, tidying can become automatic.

Chore chart

The bottom line is that keeping your household clean and organised is a lot of work. Consequently, if you’re dreaming of a spotless home, you need to be smart about it by investing in storage solutions, easy-to-maintain materials, and making everyone part of your plan. Last but not least, things that serve no purpose don’t need to be kept.

One key thing in keeping your home tidy I think is understanding toddlers, they are hard work. I am sure their mind operates in a strange way at times so this blog post from a fellow blogger made me giggle, A toddler's guide to life.

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