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

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