14 Ways to Keep Your Home Clean & Neat

You've spent all that time to clean up the mess in your home, don't let it revert to its messy and disorganised state by following these tips by professional organiser Nathalie Ricaud of Get Organised & Beyond.

1. Return things to their “home” right away after you’ve used them. Teach the other members of your household where things belong so that they can do it too.
2. Do a daily tidy-up. If it takes you more than 5-10 minutes, then your system needs re-evaluation.
3. Purge regularly, according to a yearly schedule. Don’t put back in your closets something that you no longer like or you know you will no longer use.
4. Buy only what you need. Rent or borrow if you can. Resist buying on sales unless it’s on your shopping list.
5. Play the number game. If you buy a new pair of shoes, chuck or donate one or even two old pairs.
6. Rationalise. Avoid buying items that serve only one purpose.
7. Avoid freebies e.g. buy one get one free, unless it’s on your shopping list.
8. Review your system when your circumstances change – setting up a home office, having a baby etc.

Aside from Ricaud’s tips above, there are some other daily habits (small things!) you can integrate into your day-to-day life to keep your house generally neat and tidy. These are mostly habits that you can discipline yourself to build. Before long, you’ll be doing them automatically without much thought or effort!

Follow the “One-Minute Rule”

If a task takes less than a minute (e.g., putting shoes away, wiping the table, or hanging up clothes), do it immediately instead of letting it pile up.

Have a Donation Box in Your Store Room

Keep a donation box in your home for items you no longer use. Before buying something new, “donate” something old to the box maintain balance. Make it a point to drop off these items with the door-to-door donation drives that often stuff leaflets at your HDB door!

Make Your Bed Every Morning

A simple 2-minute habit of making your bed (while you’re still sitting on your bed) that instantly makes your bedroom look tidier and more inviting.

Do the “10-Minute Nightly Reset”

Before bed, set a 10-minute timer to: put away stray items, wipe down kitchen counters, fold blankets or laundry, check if anything needs restocking (e.g., toilet paper, snacks).

Better Storage Solutions

Sometimes, neatness and tidiness comes with structural changes at home. Maximise vertical space in your home with wall shelves or hanging organisers. You can store seasonal items in under-bed storage boxes. Finally, use stackable organisers inside cabinets to avoid clutter.

Clean as You Cook

While waiting for food to cook, start the cleaning up process by washing dishes or wiping up spills. When you have a moment, return ingredients to their places after using them. This prevents a messy kitchen pile-up after meals.