As we move into the new year we can be glad that the holidays are behind us and we can finally take a breath. The new year is a time for new beginnings and a time to take care of yourself since you’ve been taking care of everyone else’s needs during the holidays. One of the best gifts you can give yourself in the new year, besides the typical pledge to eat better and exercise more, is the gift of a perpetually clean house. Having a clean house does wonders for the mind and body alike. Keeping on top of household chores is a great way to burn some extra calories and give you and your family the mental boost of a clutter free and clean house to come home to after a long day. So, we’re going to look at some actionable steps you can take right now and into the new year to keep your house cleaning duties under control.

Edit Your Life/Room As You Go

Things change and we have to adapt to that or risk being stuck in a rut. Case in point, fashion is constantly changing and clothes are constantly being replaced, or worn out, or outgrown. This can lead to a messy closet filled with old, outdated, outgrown, or worn out clothes and no space to put anything. Finding a good outfit in a cluttered closet just adds to the daily stress of finding clean clothes to wear for the right occasion.

This can all be solved fairly easily if you edit as you go. Keep two baskets in your closet or close to the area. As you you discover a piece of clothing doesn’t fit as well as it used to or you just don’t enjoy wearing anymore, put it in a basket for donating. As clothes wear out, toss them in the second basket to be either turned into rags for cleaning or thrown away entirely. Get clothes that you don’t use regularly out of your way and you will free up more valuable closet space. Empty your donate and scrap baskets twice a year.

Editing as you go doesn’t have to stop at your closet. You can (and should) edit other parts of your house as you go as well. The kitchen is another great place to focus on. If you find yourself with pots, pans, utensils, or other kitchen devices that you don’t use more than once or twice a year, then it’s time to edit down. You don’t have to make a big production of it, but as you are putting dishes from the dishwasher away, check your drawers and cupboards for things that you haven’t used in a long time.

Maybe you have a slotted spoon or an extra rolling pin or a jello mold that you haven’t touched since Gangnam Style was first trending. If so, then it’s time to edit them out of your life! Toss them in the donate bin and move on with your day. If you pare down one or two things from your kitchen each time you unload the dishwasher, then that’s about three hundred fewer items in your kitchen in the first year alone!

Treat Yourself

A great gift you can buy yourself to set yourself up for success in the new year is a nice set of cleaning supplies that can tackle every room in your house. Don’t be afraid to spend a little money on the nicer version of every component. Having higher quality cleaning supplies and tools can make cleaning less of an annoying chore and more of a known task that can be easily completed without frustration.

Things to get you started include:

• Large cleaning supply caddy (this allows you to keep everything in one place that you can just easily grab and go)
• Lots of baking soda. Baking soda is inexpensive and can clean everything from the oven to the toilet and can even be used to unclog drains.
• White vinegar
• Cleaning gloves
• High quality set of scrubbing brushes
• A spare electric toothbrush (makes bathrooms a cinch!)
• Nice microfiber towels
• Waterproof bluetooth speaker for listening to tunes or podcasts as you clean. If you enjoy cleaning then you are more likely to do it more!

Stick With It: Get It In Your Schedule

As the new year charges on, make sure to take some time each week to keep on top of your new cleaning routine. Actually putting it in your calendar really helps! Schedule a recurring hour or two each week so that you have some structured and scheduled time to get your chores done. This will help you stay on track so that you don’t build up such a huge backlog that even starting to clean feels futile.

Good luck this year and may you and your family stay on top of all of your resolutions!