Ideal order in the apartment is always the key to a good mood among household members, because no one will look for things and no one will be ashamed to bring guests into the apartment. In addition, the order of objects in the house helps to concentrate, putting everything on the shelves in your head. You should also put things in order if you are moving out of a rented apartment; you don’t want people to think of you in some wrong way (as if you are slobs and slackers).

Today in our article we will help you put your apartment or house in perfect order by doing everything quickly and correctly.

11 secrets on how to clean up your apartment

1. Focus on dust. It is impossible to avoid it, since it penetrates us from all places - windows, doors and even vents. We bring it on the soles of our shoes and, of course, outerwear. You can get rid of such dust using a vacuum cleaner, but set it to wet cleaning so that it does not spread dust throughout the space. By removing the dust, you can move the things you need. There is no need to do the opposite otherwise, for example, you can move the bag to another place where dust will already accumulate, so it will remain there for a long time, and it is better not to breathe such air. The place where dust is most visible (especially to guests) is the surface of tables, chairs, televisions and window sills (there is especially a lot of it here, as it blows from the window). Dust can also form on the wallpaper (rarely, but if it appears, it means you have been cleaning the rooms for a long time), vents (it is better to remove them and thoroughly clean them from cobwebs, dirt, etc.). The top ones deserve special attention. ceiling corners, where cobwebs can usually be found.


2. The first thing our guests pay attention to is the floor. Therefore, you should start by cleaning the floor. Thoroughly clean the carpets (if any), sweep and wash the floor itself (parquet, linoleum, tiles, etc.). It is better to focus on those places that are most contaminated - the hallway and living room, but this does not mean that you can forget about hard-to-reach places, such as areas under the bed or sofa.


3. If your apartment is small, then try to take out the trash more often. There is no need to install separate buckets in the bedroom, living room, etc. for this. The fact is that the trash can will be easy enough to notice, however, garbage left on a table or nightstand will also haunt you. Therefore, immediately accustom yourself to one bucket (in the kitchen) and daily removal of garbage bags, although the more often the better, because it is far from the most nice smell in a house that spreads very quickly.


4. Get rid of things you don't need. Now that the living room and corridor are in order, take care of the objects that surround you. Order comes first rational use spaces in the house. When the house is a mess, there are a lot of things in it that we don’t need. Of course, you are unlikely to be able to throw them away, so we suggest doing it this way: purchasing a large box in which to put all the necessary things. Moreover, identifying an item by necessity is quite simple: put in a box all those items that you have not used for a month, two or more: lamps, pens, magazines, accessories, small equipment (an old mobile phone, for example), etc. You can also place some decorative elements in the box (vases, mugs, figurines, glasses that you don’t like much). After filling the box to capacity, seal it and write today’s date on top. Take the box to the garage, basement, or at least indoor balcony. And believe me, most likely, you will not look into this box for at least a year (due to necessity), and, therefore, all the collected things are really nothing more than trash for you. After one year, you can safely sell these items.


5. Once you've removed everything you need, surround yourself with the things you use regularly. Have you ever noticed that you take out all the necessary items from cabinets, shelves and even other rooms, when there are things nearby that you do not need at all? If this is so, then you should urgently reconsider the entire set of objects surrounding you. He is unfaithful. Try to surround yourself by putting in a visible and convenient place only those things that you use, and not those that should be located according to generally accepted canons. By completing this step, you can easily avoid a mess in your apartment, because there will be no unnecessary things, and the necessary things will not create problems for you.


6. A clean apartment in which everything is at hand is not yet perfect order. So now it’s time for us to start hiding unnecessary items from the eyes of outsiders. Come to terms with the idea that there will be guests in your home from time to time, that is, essentially strangers. These may include: people from a repair service, neighbors, inspectors (gas and electricity), friends, colleagues, acquaintances (friends of your children, parents or spouses), etc. They may all have different understandings of order and cleanliness, but in general, there is a rule - to hide your personal life from strangers, so try to distribute things in the house in such a way that even if strangers come to your house at night, you do not feel awkward . So how to do this?! Quite simple! Get into the habit of “always hide personal things!” It doesn't matter if it's money or bed linen. Documents should never be left in plain sight. Small things like glasses, watches, mobile phones, bracelets and other things should also have their place, preferably in bedside table. When changing clothes, put all things in the closet, and dirty linen or clothes in a special basket. Washing should not be carried out over the whole day. It is also better not to leave dishes dirty, but to wash them immediately or put them in the dishwasher.


7. Keep the kitchen clean. The order in the house can often be determined by the kitchen; if it is clean and well-groomed, then most likely the rest of the rooms in the house will not be dirty. This is often where most of the guests come, drinking tea with you or stopping in for a short conversation. Therefore, this implies several rules that the owner should not forget about if he strives to restore order throughout the apartment. First, as we already said, wash the dishes immediately after dinner, and don’t even think about leaving dirty dishes somewhere in the house. Secondly, clean the refrigerator, both inside and outside. outside. It attracts the most attention due to its size and frequency of reference to it. There is no need to store spoiled products in it that are already expired or are not suitable for cooking in themselves (they smell bad and look terrible). Third, thoroughly wipe all cabinet handles and kitchen appliances(For example, microwave oven), so that the guest does not get dirty by accidentally touching something. Fourthly, ventilate the room more often so that not only the order and cleanliness in the kitchen is visible, but also the smell does not bother us.


8. If you have already started tidying up the rooms of your house, then you should not bypass the bathroom. It will be very strange if everything in the house radiates cleanliness and order, and the bathroom somehow stands out from the general background. There should also be a pleasant smell, clean floors, fresh towels, soap and bottles on the mirror. clean look, and there should be in the sink good drain so as not to create discomfort for the guest and yourself.


9. Now it’s time to think about the order and cleanliness of the “Holy of Holies” - the bedroom. You can get a sense of order not only by arranging all the items in their places, but also by changing the bed linen, removing small debris from the dressing table or coffee table, arranging books or magazines on the bedside table, as well as ventilating the rooms themselves. Naturally, here we no longer mention cleaning the room itself. Pay attention to mirrors too. If you are a pedantic person who loves order and cleanliness, you will not feel sufficiently comfortable seeing dirty spots on mirrors (from touching or cosmetics).


10. If it is difficult for you to constantly remember what and how should be folded ideally, then we advise you to once create the ideal order (that you would like) and capture it on. Such a picture will help you perform all the actions every time, which will tell you what else you have not done to keep your home in order.


11. When cleaning up your home, check the technical components of all appliances at the same time. Here we are talking about various techniques, for example, televisions and computers. Check their connections to the outlet and other connectors. Is everything inserted correctly, is there any play or problems (especially with electrical part, so that there is no short circuit later).

• Divide the entire apartment into several zones (living room, bathroom, corridor, etc.) and restore order gradually in each zone, do not try to clean everything at once, as you will definitely forget something.


• Train yourself to clean up your house, at least 15-20 minutes a day, then you won’t have to spend whole days on it once a week or two.


• If the amount of work is large, then it is better to stretch the process over several days.


• Scientists have calculated that every month from 20 to 100 unnecessary things appear in the home of the average family. Therefore, we suggest that you take a box with you once a month and forcefully put in it 20 to 30 things that are not particularly dear to you. Take the box to the garage. This way, the apartment will not turn into a “junk storage room”.


• Before you put things in order, make a list of things you need to do that day and gradually start doing it.


• If you want ideal frequency and comfort in the room, try to make all horizontal surfaces as clean as possible, and also to have a minimum of objects on them.


• Never leave an item in plain sight unless it can be hidden in a locker or closet.


• It’s better to put things in order while listening to fast and favorite music (you can even dance along to it), this way the process will go faster and more interesting. Do not turn on the TV under any circumstances, especially when watching an interesting program or film/series, as you will definitely get caught up in watching it and forget what you wanted to do in the first place. After watching, you are unlikely to want to get involved in the process again.


• Our editors of the online magazine site recommend finding for each subject separate place, since in this case it will be easiest to find and also put in place. Which will accordingly save time and nerves.


• Use space wisely! Don't forget about the small shelves that you have in your closet or even coffee table. For example, we always forget about the bedside table on which the TV sits, but it often has a lot of shelves on which you can put remote controls. household appliances, a magazine with a program, favorite DVDs with films, etc.


• If you are overtaken by laziness in putting things in order, then you can come up with some kind of motivator, for example, invite dear guests tonight or tomorrow, to whom it would be very embarrassing to show the apartment in this condition. Then your laziness will go away, and the desire to clean up your house will quickly appear!


• Eradicate this “Sovdepov” habit of hanging clothes on doors, chairs and other pieces of furniture. Accustom yourself to order, then you will have to restore it less.


• Place aroma candles or special air fresheners throughout the rooms, which will create not only an externally pleasant environment, but also rid the apartment of unpleasant odors.

Fast pace modern life often leads to chaos not only in our daily routine, but also in our work, affairs and, of course, homes. Due to lack of time, energy, lack of concentration and disorganization, people are faced with systematic chaos in their lives. But, as the famous proverb says, clean is not where they clean, but where they don’t litter.

To get rid of chaos you need to start with own home. If you accustom yourself to cleanliness gradually, the discipline of order will fit tightly into the rhythm of life, and over time everything will become immaculately tidy everywhere and in everything.

However, keeping an apartment or house clean every day is not as easy as it seems at first glance. The housewife must follow some rules and also know the secrets of successful, fast and high-quality cleaning.

How can you keep your home clean?

Cleanliness and order in the house is not only a sign of the neatness and pedantry of the owners, but also the basis healthy image life. Each missed cleaning can lead to the proliferation of bacteria or fungi that are dangerous to humans. For example, a bathroom without proper care will become a habitat for mold; dust is a strong allergen and an excellent environment for the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Unwashed dishes in the kitchen, crumbs on the table - a “feast” for cockroaches. Spiders with webs may not be as scary, but they are ugly to look at.

In order not to bring your home to such a state, it is recommended to “generalize” it from time to time. First of all, start removing garbage and putting things in their places. After this you can start wet cleaning and cleaning surfaces.

Advice: pay attention to the details of the interior. Lamps, chandeliers, figurines, flowers, blinds, curtains must be fresh and washed.

If you don’t have enough time and you are busy at work from morning to night, you can contact a special cleaning company. However, not everyone likes the presence of strangers in the house. Therefore, this method is suitable only if you know the workers or have been using the services of housekeepers for money for a long time.

Keeping your home clean requires desire, time and patience. You will also need a mop, vacuum cleaner, rags, sponges, detergents and cleaners to help. To fix minor “accidents” (such as a torn tablecloth or a fallen picture), stock up on thread, needles and tools. You should not ignore time-tested folk remedies cleaning. Therefore, along with purchased detergents, you should prepare soda, peroxide, alcohol and vinegar.

What cleaning tools should you have?

For daily or regular quality work, everything necessary for this process should be available. First of all, household chemicals. Such preparations do an excellent job of removing dirt, dust, grease, and stains. This is a lifesaver for any housewife.

Each type of cleaning requires its own products, gels or sprays.

To combat dust on wooden furniture It is better to purchase a polish that can easily remove dirt and also leaves a protective anti-dust layer.

The window cleaner should be an alcohol solution, and for convenience it is better to use sprays. Selection in stores of this product very wide not only in terms of price criteria, but also in terms of brand.

The range of detergents and cleaning products for the kitchen is incredibly huge. Choose according to your preference: gels, sprays, liquid substances, powders. In addition to the excellent cleansing effect, the compositions have a “bonus” - aroma. The kitchen will not only be perfectly clean, but also smell nice.

Solutions are used for. They cope well with pollution, especially street pollution. The products provide not only cleanliness, but also additional disinfection. This is even more important if children live in the house.

For floor coverings You can also pick up a good cleaning product in the store or make a solution at home. For example, wine stains can be quickly removed with vinegar or alcohol, and greasy stains can be dealt with with laundry soap or dishwashing gel.

Advice: do not forget about brushes, sponges, napkins and newspapers, which will be useful in the arsenal of devices for putting things in order.

What detergents should be

In order for the cleanliness of the house to please the owners for a long time, it is necessary to clean properly. And to properly restore order, you need to select suitable detergents and cleaning agents. Listed below are the most popular and necessary funds for cleaning rooms.

So, home remedies are available for the following purposes:

1. Bathroom (for cleaning pipes, tiles, acrylic and ceramic surfaces), also sprays for mirrors and glass.
2. Wet cleaning (floor detergents, for example, “Mr. Proper”, etc. “Vanish” or “Kärcher” are suitable. For dust - “Pronto” polish).
3. “Sif” cream works well for stains on the kitchen surface, and for greasy dishes. liquid product“Fairy.”
4. Spray “Unicum”, or similar ones, will help in cleaning and cleaning upholstered furniture.
5. Liquid “Rhythmix” will cope with stains and dust on a TV or computer. Popular among housewives aerosol cans with the remedy.

If you are allergic or generally do not use store-bought chemicals, you can easily prepare them yourself at home.

A universal solution for many types of stains, dirt, as well as dust and germs, made from ordinary laundry soap and soda. Dissolve 50 g of baking soda in 100 ml of hot water. Grate 25 g of soap and add to the mixture. Stir until lung education foam and complete dissolution of the components. Use a sponge or microfiber cloth to remove dirt or dust.

How rarely to clean (what and how to do so that you have to tidy up less often)

To make the cleaning process move faster, you must follow the following rules:

1. Divide the apartment into several conditional zones. It is better to clean from top to bottom. That is, initially the chandeliers and ceilings are washed, after. Dust and dirt are wiped off tables and other pieces of furniture. Next, they begin to clean the carpets.
2. You can resort to one more trick. Create a cleaning calendar. Since areas in the apartment become dirty in different ways, it is worth cleaning them depending on the location in the room. For example, carpeted surfaces should be cleaned once every two months. Wash floors every week. Vacuum and 2-3 times in seven days.
3. Keep detergents and cleaning products handy in your cabinet. How long the cleanliness will remain depends on the selection of the right cleaning products and devices.
4. There is only one way to accustom yourself to order and cleanliness in the house. Things put in their places in a timely manner, washed dishes and washed clothes will make the process of regularly putting things in order easier. All you have to do is use a vacuum cleaner and brush off a layer of dust.
5. Once a month, take the time to clean and wash cabinets, glass, tiles, and doors. On the day of the main cleaning, you will not be distracted by these small but very significant things.

Now you know how to keep your apartment clean and tidy so that it is always a pleasure to be in.

In conclusion, it must be said that cleaning can be not only quick and easy, but also enjoyable. To save good mood While putting things in order, open the windows for ventilation and turn on cheerful music. Singing along and dancing, you will see that the whole process will go positively and unnoticed, but the result (a clean house) will delight you for a long time.

Many people are interested in the question of how to maintain cleanliness and order in the apartment when there is not enough time, energy and desire to clean. Even with regular general cleaning, after two days not a trace remains of the order. In this article we offer recommendations on how to learn how to maintain order at home.

1. Clean areas for ten to twenty minutes every day largest accumulation dust and debris (for example, in the hallway);

2. Systematicity is the main factor in maintaining cleanliness and order at home. Here it is important to complete the list of daily and weekly tasks in a timely manner, and never skip them! Then cleaning will become a habit and will not become a burden. It has been established that a habit is formed in 21 days. For some it will take more time, but the main thing is not to deviate from your plans, complete the planned tasks on time and complete them. Then you will have formed good habit, and the house will be clean, comfortable and cozy;

3. Every thing has its own place. Things need to be put back in their place immediately. And this applies not only to clothes. We put the read book back on the shelf, put the used laptop on the table or in the closet, put the writing instruments in an organizer or drawer, and so on. In other words, we put it where we got it. Even in a hurry, follow these simple rules, and then order will reign at home;

4. After the end of the season, go through your clothes, shoes and other things. Anything you haven't worn or used for over a year can be donated. We safely take broken, damaged and unusable items to the trash heap. We get rid of everything unnecessary and do not store junk;

5. Do not clutter the apartment with a lot of furniture, tall cabinets, souvenirs and small items. They accumulate a lot of dust, so you will have to clean them more often and for longer. Besides, a large number of small trinkets litter the apartment and make the home tasteless;

6. Designers recommend using spot or diffuse light and completely abandoning chandeliers. Desk lamp, floor lamps, sconces and other lamps are easier to wipe than a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. In addition, they will make the room brighter, warmer, cozy and homely;

7. Ventilate your apartment regularly. But do not keep the windows and balcony open all the time, as a lot of dirt and dust from the street will get inside, which will complicate cleaning;

8. Involve and teach household members to clean and organize. Let them immediately clean up after themselves. Also, divide housework responsibilities. Come up with an incentive for yourself and your family, and the cleaning itself can be turned into an exciting quest or game. Then cleaning will become easier and more fun. How to teach children to order and clean, read.

How to properly organize cleaning

When doing a spring or major cleaning, prioritize and make a list of what needs to be done first. Distribute tasks over several days; you don’t have to complete everything at once. By the way, experts advise cleaning a room a day. For example, clean the living room today, clean the kitchen tomorrow, and so on.

During the cleaning process, everything you need should already be at hand: detergent, rags, etc. Prepare these things in advance to avoid distractions such as your smartphone or TV. After all, it’s already difficult for many of us.

You need to clean from top to bottom. First, wipe the dust from cabinets and hailstones, then from tables and window sills, and only then wash the floor. This will avoid double work, because dust will not fall on the clean floor.

It is more convenient to use for wet cleaning and washing floors washing vacuum cleaner, not a broom and a rag. By the way, be sure to moisten the broom in cool water, otherwise it will only spread the dust, turning it into a dust ball. As a result, it will again settle on pieces of furniture. When cleaning your bathroom, be sure to use disinfectants that kill harmful bacteria and germs.

Cleaning schedule

Experts advise dividing things by season. Make a schedule of what needs to be done quarterly, what every month, what every week, and what daily. Once every three to four months we wash the curtains and curtains, and windows, disassemble the closets and sort through things, get rid of unnecessary things, wash the ceilings and baseboards. To provide an incentive, such cleaning can be timed to coincide with a holiday or date, for example, New Year, Easter, and so on.

A little less often, once every five to six months, it is recommended to clean pillows, blankets and mattresses, wash the oven and beat out carpets. Don't forget to rinse hard to reach places behind the refrigerator, cabinet, stove, and so on. Divide tasks into several days and complete them throughout the week.

The list of tasks that need to be done every month includes cleaning the doors and tiled walls, refrigerator and microwave oven, kitchen set and hoods. This also includes careful processing of pots, pans and other kitchen utensils. We also clean rugs in the hallway, bathroom and toilet. But, if animals live in the house, it is recommended to clean it every week.

Every week I wash mirrors and bathroom fixtures, the door of the refrigerator and microwave oven, and the hatch of the washing machine. We thoroughly wash the floors, including under and behind the furniture. Twice a week we lightly mop the floors and vacuum the carpets. If there are children and animals, we do this every other day.

Every day we devote 15-20 minutes to cleaning. Here we wash the dishes and put things in the closet or send them to the laundry, ventilate the apartment and sweep, rinse kitchen table, sink and work surface in the kitchen. Once every two or three days, we wash the shower or bathtub and wipe the dust in the house. This schedule will help maintain perfect cleanliness in the kitchen, bathrooms and rooms.

Where to store things to keep things organized

Store items in baskets or drawers. They will save the situation when you need to fold and put things away in a short time. These baskets are convenient for storing children's toys, clothes, and dirty laundry. It is important that they are combined in some way to form a single style. You can select products different shapes, but the same color.

You don't have to use classic hooks to store things in the bathroom. Today, coil batteries are popular, where they can functionally dry clothes and towels. Place or hang plastic or wicker baskets in the bathroom. And you can hang compact drawers on hooks. Functionally store household chemicals in drawers and baskets, cosmetical tools or towels.

Such storage looks aesthetically pleasing and orderly. Be sure to use a place under the sink where you can hide the same drawers or baskets. Such a bathroom always looks tidy and clean. And neatly hung or laid out snow-white towels will add freshness and style to the room.

We hang clothes in the closet or lay them out on shelves, and put underwear in dresser drawers. We store shoes in boxes or containers, which we put on the bottom shelf in the closet or on the mezzanine. If you don't have much space in your apartment, use the space under your bed. But the boxes should not be visible! For seasonal shoes that you wear regularly, use shelves and racks in the hallway. Wash and dry your pair after every wear!

Each of us has experienced a cluttered home, an excess of unsuitable clothes and unnecessary junk. Natalia Zhelyaskova I found myself in a similar situation and approached its solution confidently and eruditely. Yes, on personal experience and with a successful result, she will talk about 10 simple rules that will help you achieve order in your home.

“Order in the house means order in the head,” my mother kept telling me. But in the years of youth, such worldly wisdom has a tendency to fly past one’s ears. I defended my “creative” disorder, being a natural person and really close to the world of art (all my life I have been painting and applied arts, received a higher art education and to this day I continue to do what I love, which now has the official status of my “work”). And so, after many, many years, already having a separate home, I really thought about how life and then sacred place, which is called “house” (by the way, it is surprisingly true in Shakespeare’s language that the difference in meaning is noted by the presence of the words “home”, to designate that very holy of holies, and “house”, to refer to an architectural structure), affect our lives outside its walls and feelings of peace and happiness in general.

A huge amount of literature was used, starting from the world-famous “Fly lady” system and Marie Kondo’s book “Magic Tidying Up” and ending with all kinds of courses for transforming space and yourself. I also met some scientific articles, listened to audio recordings of lectures on Vedic knowledge (people of Eastern cultures and traditions always seemed more harmonious to me) and read works by all possible authors about this collective concept like “hygge” (the Danes also haunted me in terms of their life satisfaction). Some of the new knowledge really inspired me and gave results, some did not suit me personally, some were immediately tested in practice, and some are still waiting in the wings. But I can say one thing for sure - my mother was right. The past year has brought a lot of new things both into my life and into my home.

From my own experience and acquired knowledge, I have compiled a simple list of the main rules for transforming a home, following which you will certainly become a little happier, see the familiar in a new light, be inspired for new achievements and will happily rush home from work in the evenings.

Rule one

The place to start is to love your home. Yes, you heard right. Moreover, you need to love him right now and exactly as he is, even if the ideal is not quite “at hand” or if the housing is rented or you have to share it with someone. The main thing to remember is that things can always get worse. It’s not difficult to imagine offhand several options when everything is worse than it is now. Having scrolled through the possible deterioration in your head, return to what you have and be happy about it! And one more thing - we should not forget that according to most of the described techniques for managing your reality, you should count on improvements (including in terms of improving your living conditions) only if you value what you already have. So, have no doubt, this approach has nothing but advantages.

Rule two

Don’t try to disassemble and change in one day (or even two) what has been accumulated for years. According to research, even acquiring a new habit, be it exercise in the morning or a new behavior, takes at least 21 days. So what can we say about such global changes as the reorganization of the most significant space in life. Don't beat yourself up if things don't go as quickly as you wanted. But beware of going to the other extreme - stretching out the cleaning for an indefinite period of time. Make a clear plan for the day or week that will be within your power and will help you enjoy the results.

Rule three

Junk cannot be organized. You just have to get rid of it. The main thing about this rule is that it does not tolerate compromises. Approaches may vary, some techniques call for throwing away a certain amount of unnecessary things every day, some recommend recycling everything you haven't used for a certain time (usually a year or two). I recommend not delaying the so-called “decluttering” stage and approaching it as categorically as possible. If you don't use an item all the time or don't bring you true joy when you pick it up, feel free to get rid of it. It’s better if you have only three blouses, not ten, but each of them will suit you and bring real pleasure and a good mood. It is believed that such “unloved” / unnecessary things have already fulfilled their purpose the moment they appeared and helped you understand that such a style, for example, does not suit you. The same can be said about useless gifts or cards - they have already brought you joy the moment you received them, feel free to let them go! Moreover, old things can still bring joy to someone else and turn out to be useful (think about which of your friends could use them, or look for charities that are ready to accept them).

Rule four

Don't start cleaning with sentimental trinkets. Analyzing photo albums or dear collections of porcelain dolls threatens to turn into a fiasco. And instead of a bag with unnecessary things a couple of hours later you will find yourself still sitting in a pile of photographs in the middle of the room. It's best to start with something more practical, like cleaning expert and personal advisor Marie Kondo recommends, with wardrobe. First of all, collect all your things in one place. Everything - that is, really everything that you have. You can start by category: first outerwear, then shoes, bags, trousers, dresses and so on. We put what we need and what we love to one side, what we don’t need goes straight into a bag and throws away (or to give away). We immediately carefully hang / put everything left in its place (think separately about what place would be best for these things, perhaps not at all where they lived before). We also get rid of unnecessary things as quickly as possible; you shouldn’t store it all in the hallway for a week, because you might be tempted to look again at the selected items and keep that blouse for yourself.

Rule five

Things of the same category and purpose should be stored in one place. You shouldn't keep your underwear at one end of the room and your socks at the other. Organize your new space so that everything is close to you. Let you have a “wardrobe” area where you can immediately choose a blouse, a handbag, and a jacket. The same applies to all other things, be it cosmetics, household chemicals, bed linen or children's toys. A nice bonus With this approach, it will be that if you lose, for example, some document, you will know for sure that you should look for it only in these two drawers of the chest of drawers and nowhere else, because all the important papers are only there.

Rule six

When choosing a new “home” for each category of things, think more about how to conveniently return them to their place, rather than taking them. This simple rule will become the basis for maintaining future order. Agree, taking out a stack of frying pans that prevents you from getting to one treasured one (the one you need to bake pancakes, the dough for which is already waiting on the table) is much easier than taking out the same stack and then putting this frying pan back in its place. The essence of the approach is that you would rather be too lazy to clean up after yourself than to get to something you need.

Rule seven

Don’t rush out and buy all sorts of storage organizers first. First, it’s better to get rid of the excess so that you understand how much stuff you actually have. Then try arranging them based on the storage spaces you already have. Having done this and lived in the updated space for some time, you will definitely understand exactly what you should buy in addition and what you can do without. Also, don’t despair if you can’t buy absolutely everything you need right away. Instead of beautiful wardrobe inserts in drawers, you can use, for example, shoe boxes, and instead of expensive glass jars for cereals - ordinary plastic containers or jars. Over time, everything will be replaced and purchased, and then, looking back, you won’t believe how much your home has changed!

Rule eight

The key to compact storage is choosing the right method. You won't believe how much less space Take up your favorite 40 pairs of socks or T-shirts if you try folding them in a new way! What methods there are and what they are suitable for can be found on the Internet. I’m sure you had no idea how beautiful T-shirts folded into an “envelope” look and how convenient it is to use them. This also applies to bed linen, towels and even plastic bags(yes, it turns out that they can also be stored folded into neat triangles, and not in a “bag with bags”). From what suited me, I would like to note the option of the above-mentioned “envelopes” for T-shirts and T-shirts, vertical storage for them, as well as storing bed linen strictly in sets and folding jeans for horizontal storage on a shelf. I also recommend keeping horizontal surfaces as empty as possible. This will make cleaning easier and faster, and will also give the room a tidier appearance; the room will seem to “breathe.” All this is very, very convenient, believe me.

Rule nine

If some method of storage or organization is not convenient for you personally, then it is not suitable. When solving “domestic” issues, comfort should always be the first priority. After all, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the new arrangement of things is, in line with fashion or the practice of Feng Shui, if every time you take out that dress over there, you curse everyone and everything and always touch that shelf on the left with your elbow. Organize everything so that changes are only for the better. Sometimes to find best option, you'll have to experiment.

Rule ten

Your home also has a soul. Many of us probably gave feelings to toys and objects in our room as children. Likewise, many teachings say that inanimate objects have, if not a soul, then at least energy. The same applies to any space, because according to the laws of physics (remember the school curriculum), energy does not appear from nowhere and does not disappear into nowhere. Don’t forget to sometimes “delight” your home with something pleasant. These can be lit candles (it is believed that fire removes negative energy), ordinary ventilation (even if the arguments about the movement of energy did not really convince you, the benefits fresh air For good night no one has canceled), aroma lamps or special fragrances for the home, seasonal change decorative elements(for example, pillow covers) and pleasant daily rituals (you can, say, put plain or distilled water in a spray bottle and add a couple of drops of your favorite oil (mint and lavender are my favorites), and then spray the curtains or bed before bed (just don’t overdo it) Think about home with love, and it will not be slow to answer you in kind!

In conclusion, I would like to say that you will only need to go through the amazing process of reorganizing space once. And I even envy you a little if everything is still ahead. After that, all you have to do is maintain the order that has already been established once, the main point which is to return all things to their places. And since you will be surrounded only by the objects dearest to your heart, it will be truly pleasant to do this. Never again will the arrival of guests take you by surprise, because in order to do even wet cleaning correctly organized apartment it won't take more than 20 minutes. And what can we say about changes in consciousness and achievements in the outside world, when such a reliable and cozy rear is always waiting for you and your family!

The Bombora publishing house published the book “Rake Up Your Sh*t.” One of the chapters in it is devoted to emergency cleaning: what to do and in what order if, in a couple of hours or tomorrow, relatives come to you from another city, the owner of the apartment comes in with an extraordinary check, or a plumber comes in because of a broken tap. We present it in abbreviation.

What is emergency cleaning

Emergency cleaning is a special occasion that goes beyond our long-term cleaning and organization goals. With emergency cleaning, you're trying to get your home into a state where a guest can stop by—and yes, even sit down and stay for a while. You need to pay attention to everything at once, without being distracted by unnecessary things and not wasting time cleaning areas that will not make a special contribution to the overall picture of cleanliness.

During an emergency cleaning, you will be distracted by many things that require attention, and you will feel like it's time to get rid of them. But that's not true. You'll want to tidy up your bookshelf, clean out your refrigerator, or finally sort out your pile of socks. Do not do that. Now is not the right time. You need to reduce the level of clutter from ten points to five or four - or whatever you can achieve in the allotted time. Don't waste time on specific tasks that won't make a significant difference to the overall picture of the mess.

Where to begin

Turn on some cool music, have a snack and place a glass of your favorite drink nearby. (Non-alcoholic! Drunk cleaning is the highest level of aerobatics, but you haven't reached that level yet.) Put away the computer if there is no music playing on it. You can't get distracted and risk losing momentum. Don't fool yourself into thinking you can "just quickly look up something" and get right back to work. You won't succeed, and you understand it. With the internet, it's easy to forget about time, only to finally look up from the screen a few hours later, wondering where your day went. During emergency cleaning, you should not be distracted under any circumstances - neither by specific household chores, nor by the alluring Internet. When taking breaks during emergency cleaning, consider whether to take them online. If you have even the slightest doubt about your ability to walk away from your computer after ten minutes, it’s best not to go near it at all until you’ve finished cleaning.

Make your bed

Having completed the preparations, make the bed. Yes, I understand that you hate making your bed, and it seems that this task is definitely not a priority right now. However, this will give you a neat corner where you can retreat when necessary, and your bedroom will immediately become 20 percent cleaner with minimal effort on your part.

Prepare everything for cleaning

Then gather everything you need for cleaning. Make sure you have enough trash bags and rags. Pull out the broom and vacuum cleaner. Fill kitchen sink hot soapy water to place dirty dishes in. (If there are already dishes there, that's okay! It's just to your advantage.) Fill the bathroom sink with soapy water as well. This will help you when cleaning. Open the curtains and crack the windows to let in fresh air.

Collect trash

Take a garbage bag, go through all the rooms and put all obvious trash in it. Work methodically, moving from room to room from front door. Move in one direction, look around, look up and down. Once you have collected all the trash, remove the bags from your home if possible. When there is no trash left, the house will be a little more comfortable (and the smell will certainly disappear). Take a short break, relax. You will succeed, everything will be fine.

Take dirty dishes to the kitchen

Next, go through all the rooms and collect the dishes. Place it in a pre-filled sink hot water. If there is no more room in the sink, wash some dishes or load the dishwasher. Let the next batch soak and move on. During the cleaning process, completing each next stage, go to the sink and wash some more dishes. But don’t wash all the dishes at once - it’s better to take a break for other things. If you have a lot of dirty dishes, you could theoretically spend a whole day washing them, but here you have a different goal. As soon as the first stage of fighting the plates comes to an end, take a ten-minute break, have a snack or drink tea. Most importantly, when your break is over, get back to work immediately.

Collect dirty clothes and start washing

After the break, go through the rooms again and collect all the scattered clothes. Clean laundry should be put in its place, and dirty laundry should be thrown into the basket (or whatever you use instead). You don't need to start the wash, but make sure all your laundry is in the right place so that no one accidentally trips over dirty socks. If you have a little time to spare, you can throw clothes in washing machine. If you don't have the ability (or desire) to dry and put away your clothes, it's best to leave the laundry for later.

How to clean common areas

Once the trash is taken out, the dishes are washed, and the dirty clothes are put away, think about where exactly people will be in your home. If it's a courtesy call, it's unlikely that guests will come into your bedroom, so you might just want to close the door and limit yourself to trash, laundry, and dishes. This tactic won't work if, for example, the landlord wants to do a full inspection and will need access to the bedroom, or if you don't know exactly where he will want to go.

Be that as it may, even if you decide to close extra doors, you should still remove all trash and dirty dishes from the room. As for cabinets, unless you have reason to believe that a guest will decide to open them, you shouldn't touch them. Don't be tempted to stuff more junk into them because you'll have to deal with it later, but don't give them too much attention either. You can clean them up when your guest leaves.

Disassemble flat surfaces

In public areas such as the kitchen and living room, everyone should tidy flat surfaces, because this way you will significantly reduce the level of visual chaos, even without bringing everything to shine. Things often accumulate on horizontal surfaces, and tables and cabinets serve as concentration areas for your clutter. Start with the most visible surfaces (tables, kitchen counters, etc.). Don't move things to another room. Put them back where they belong. Otherwise, in a few months you'll end up with a pile of bins of mismatched junk that was hastily shoved into a corner, and you'll have to start all over again when the next unexpected visit comes your way.

Organize tables, counters and shelves until they look decent. After cleaning one of the surfaces, wipe it. When you're done, wash a few dishes before moving on to the next one. Do it from time to time breaks to catch your breath and reward yourself for your efforts. Flat surfaces will likely take up a significant portion of your time, so find a suitable pace and try to work quickly and efficiently without getting distracted.

Wipe off dust and glass

Once your flat surfaces are clear, dust off from everything that you haven’t gotten around to. Don't get carried away - just wipe down especially dusty and neglected corners. Wipe quickly visible glass by spraying them with a special liquid. Wipe the bathroom mirror at the same time. But don't even think about cleaning the windows. Windows take a lot of time, so they will have to wait.

Clean up your bathroom

If a master or apartment owner is coming to you, and the problem is not in the bathroom, limit yourself to the minimum: remove excess, wipe all surfaces and the toilet, sweep the floor. If you have guests who are likely to want to use the bathroom, clean up more thoroughly. In someone else's bathroom, guests are left alone and notice imperfections because there is nothing else to look at. Wipe down everything, clean the toilet, change hand towels and make sure you have soap and toilet paper. When you're done, take a break.

Wipe down kitchen appliances and surfaces

Next, go to the kitchen. By this point, almost all the dishes have already been washed, so put the clean ones in their places. kitchen counter you cleaned at the same time as the rest of the flat surfaces, so now wipe the stove and others dirty places like shelves and the microwave and remove anything that is out of place. Wipe down the counter and wash the last load of dishes to (finally) clean the sink. If new debris appears during the cleaning process, take it out. Don't forget to take another short break.

Check key points again

If you are waiting for the owner or repairman, go where they will go and spend a few more minutes cleaning the area. If their attention is going to be focused on a relatively small area, it may be worth cleaning it up a little more thoroughly. In addition, if during the last visit the owner was particularly interested in something, devote a little more time to this area. Typically, owners want to make sure that all appliances are in working order and the apartment is in good condition.

Go through all the rooms again and figure out what catches your eye and spoils the overall picture. If you notice it, your guest will notice it too. But don't get carried away - it's not spring-cleaning, but emergency.

Sweep the floor or get out the vacuum cleaner

Once you are more or less satisfied with the overall picture, move on to the floors. Vacuum them or sweep them quickly - Unless absolutely necessary, you don’t have to wash them. If the floor is very dirty or sticky, walk over it with a damp cloth. hot water mop, but do not scrub the floor to such a state that you can eat from it. No one will eat from it anyway (I hope), so you will only waste time, which you already have little of.

When you're done, leave the house (just don't accidentally slam the door!) and go back in. If something catches your eye or is out of place, quickly correct the situation. Once this is over, take a shower, change into clean clothes and eat. Emergency cleaning is exhausting, but you did it! Now try to make your guests happy: you did a great job, and they may even think that you have everything under control.