How to clear an untidy room

Cleaning up should be fun. As Mary Poppins said, In every work which must be done there is an element of fun. 

What will you find? Interesting books. Lost buttons. Lost keys. Jackets which match skirts making a new outfit. Seasonal clothes which will come in handy. 

1 TIMER

Set a timer for an hour.  

2 REFRESHMENT

Pour a glass of water to drink at one hour break when you drink and go to the toilet and reach for the ceiling.

3 MUSIC

Play your favourite music.

4 PHOTOS

Take a before photo. 

5 AIR

Open the window and put on an apron. 

6 PROTECTIVE GLOVES

If you like wear disposable or washable gloves.

7 DUSTERS

Have a duster or an old odd glove or sock for dusting.

8 SOAP & SPONGE

Fetch your cleaning materials. Kitchen towel, Cif or wet wipes or a sponge. 

9 WATER FOR CLEANING & CONTAINER

Find a water container such as a pail. If none use 2 large yogurt pots with labels removed. 

10 Re-LABELLING FOOD & DRINK CONTAINERS

Remove labels from any bottle or food container to void eating or drink supposed food or drink which is dirty water.   

Add clean water to the container. 

Place the container where it cannot be knocked over or kicked over. 

Or use up the water on wetting kitchen paper towels. 

10 BIN

Have a second container for dirty dusters or kitchen roll papers.

11 STORAGE BOXES

Fetch plastic boxes with lids and plastic sandwich bags. If none, take any large box or bag inside this room or from another - even a suitcase, to put in small items. Have small items one side, large items the other. 

12 ELASTIC BANDS

As soon as you get two of something, tie them together or put an elastic band around them.

13 SEE THRU BAGS

Or put them inside a small zip-lock bag. 

14 GROUP PILES

Pile items in groups such as shoes, skirts and trousers, blouses, hats, jewellery, accessories. Miscellaneous.

12 CLEAR FLOORS

Clear all floor space so you can walk around. You need space to sweep and/or vacuum clean the floor.

13 DUST

A two minute dust, clean, vacuum. Move items and clear corners. Keep the bin beside you. Or empty dust out of window into a garden if nobody is in the garden. It all looks better.

14 CLEAR SMALL ITEMS

Have a see-through bag for small items. 

15 PHOTOS TO HELP YOU FIND THINGS LATER

Photograph as you go. Especially items inside boxes, such as shoes. 

16 COLOUR CODE

Use coloured labels on boxes. eg red for rings or red rings. Brown for bracelets or brown items.

Keep a list of important items you might need later.

17 Label hangers which are the right size, with colour or shape for important items and have a place for the hanger, eg Bride's dress, mother of the bride dress, mother of the groom dress, funeral suit, dinner jacket, Christening outfit, Chinese new year clothes, easter bonnet, fancy dress party outfit, birthday cocktail dress, travel outfit, quick release shoes for plane travel security, ski boots, swimsuit, swimming caps, umbrellas. You might add: spices, kid's crayons, homework books, car documents, family history.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Kondo

About the Author

How to clear a cluttered room - completely cluttered, can't get in

Matryoshka, Russian Doll, from article called Matryoshka in Wikipedia. 

Russian Doll 

1 First move out two items so you can stand in.

2 Clear a path with mountains at the side or back so you can reach in.

3 Throw away or move near your front or back door items such as old and damaged cardboard boxes which you don't need and could throw away later, but keep for now in case you need a storage box.

4 Then begin Russian doll method. Every large bag can have a small item inside.

5 Better still, fold flat the large bags and boxes.;

6 Then store smaller things in see-through containers.

7 Any large item containing another needs a label tied on or stick on labels on all four side, plus top and bottom in case the box is turned. Keep labels and a pen in a specific handy place, perhaps in your pocket, such as a kangaroo pouch pocket on an apron.

8 Write the word well done on a box and throw your lunch sandwich to the back. You have to clear the room to reach it.

(Make sure it is in a sealed container. Don't forget it and leave it to rot and attract insects! It is your reward.

This would work well on somebody else, too, but only if they have a sense of humour.)

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Kondo

Angela Lansbury, author of How To Get Out Of The Mess You're In.

Lost keys, lost crockery

Lost Crockery

The smaller your coffee cup, the more likely it is to disappear. Especially if it is white. 

It is easier to find a coloured cup, on a coloured saucer, always to the right of the desk or table, visible from the door.

Did you take the cup into the bedroom? Leave it in the shower? On the balcony or in the garden? Left in the garden by the gardener. Left by the car when washing the car? By the bed? On the desk. On top of the fridge? Inside the fridge with something inside it? Under another item the same shape in the drying rack or dishwasher? Inside the microwave oven? Taken home with leftovers by a relative? Left behind at a party?

Under a newspaper? On a chair? Under a chair? At the back of a desk? behind a Large object such as a TV or vase? Left by a garden feature such as a swimming pool or jacuzzi? Or outdoor picnic table? Behind a lamp or box file? Still in the picnic box or suitcase?

Under a newspaper.

On the floor? Broken and in the bin?

Our latest lost bowl turned up in the microwave. 

 Lost keys

Doorkeys

Attach them to a ribbon which is attached invisibly under the handle at the end of the bag or tote bag where the pulled together zip fastens.

Postbox keys

Keep on the key ring with the door key. Add letters such as pb.

Ask the locksmith fixing the postbox to post the number of the key and the locksmith number.

Keeping Track of Keys

If you are a landlord or landlady or property manager, the keys should be photographed and attached to the inventory. Before a tenant moves out, the week or month before, remind them that they will have to provide keys to the front door, building door if in a flat or condo unit, the keys to bedroom doors and bathrooms and fire escapes, and window keys. Tell them where to get replacements and the cost.

If possible install a keybox for safekeeping of keys and label keys.

Angela Lansbury is an author and blogger. See other blogs and posts. Please share links to your favourite posts.