Summary

The article provides a straightforward strategy for quickly cleaning and organizing a messy space, emphasizing the importance of decluttering and maintaining a tidy environment, even with eight children and ADHD.

Abstract

The author shares personal insights into maintaining a clean and organized home despite the challenges of having a large family and dealing with ADHD. The method involves making the bed and using it as a staging area for clutter, cleaning the rest of the space thoroughly, sorting items into keep, donate, or trash categories, and ensuring everything has a designated place. The article suggests involving older children in the process and offers resources for donating unused items, such as AMVETS and the Salvation Army, to simplify decluttering. The ultimate goal is to create a serene living space that positively affects one's mental state.

Opinions

The author acknowledges not being naturally tidy and compares themselves to a "walking tornado," indicating a personal struggle with organization.
The strategy is presented as effective, even for those with ADHD, suggesting that it can be universally applied.
The author believes in the empowerment of children to take on household responsibilities, which contributes to their independence and hard work.
There is an emphasis on the psychological benefits of a clean environment, with the phrase "Clear your space, and you can clear your mind" implying a direct correlation between physical and mental clarity.
The article promotes decluttering by donating, emphasizing the ease of scheduling pick-ups with charities like AMVETS and the Salvation Army, and the positive impact of contributing to good causes.
The author stresses the importance of having a place for everything, suggesting that excess belongings indicate over-accumulation, and advocates for minimizing possessions to maintain a tidy space.

Simple Solutions to Quickly Clean and Organize a Messy Space

Clear your space, and you can clear your mind.

I often get asked how I keep my house so clean and organized with eight children.

I am not a naturally tidy person. In fact, with having ADHD, I can resemble a walking tornado.

However, this simple formula has allowed me to clean and organize quickly.

Now that my children are older, they have taken up the reigns to do it themselves. It works.

Make your bed and put everything on it

This would be for cleaning a room, but it would also work on a couch, table, or counter.

Whatever room you are tackling, take everything in the room that is out of place, and put it on the made bed, couch, table, or counter.

If it’s too much for a table or a counter to hold, lay a blanket on the floor and put the overflow on it.

Clean everything else up

Here is where you clean. There is no clutter to mess with, so you wipe the counters, dust, vacuum, and mop. Spotless!

At this point, pay no attention to the clutter in the chosen spot!

This step should not take long as you don’t have clutter in the way.

Sort the clutter

Guess what? Now your entire house or room is clean! Didn’t I say it would be easy?

Now deal with the clutter pile and don’t overthink it.

Get three boxes or bags. One is for items to trash, one is for things to donate, and one is for items to put away.

Get rid of the things you no longer use

Things we still hang on to, even though they are no longer useful, can clutter our minds.

Put all the trash in the trash bag and throw it away. Gone.

Have you worn it in the last year? Does it have a stain or rip? Do you ever use that dish, vase, toy, or whatever is causing clutter?

If the answer is no, donate, donate, donate.

I don’t know if you are like me, but I can load a Goodwill bag in my car and forget to drop it off.

Here is a solution. AMvets will come to your house and pick up the items, and the proceeds will go to a good cause.

You could also try to schedule a pick-up with the Salvation Army.

It’s easy- go online, schedule a pick-up, and set the items out on the chosen day. Boom- no more clutter.

Put your items away

Now with a sparkling clean house, you are left with one box of things to put away.

Everything should have a place.

If there is not a place for it, make a place.

If you don’t have the place for it, you have too much stuff.

A place for everything and everything in its place.

Congratulations! Now go and enjoy your sparkling clean and organized home!