14 Tidying Tips To Keep Your Chaotic Home Feeling Calm And Clean

Life motto: It's much easier to keep up than play catch-up. For quick cleanups around the house that have a big payoff, #PutSomeWindexOnIt.

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1. First and foremost, this rule — this one little rule — will change your life:

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Dirty dishes, clothes on the floor, dust on a TV... Those can all be taken care of in less than two minutes and will immediately remove mess from your home and your mind.

2. Clean as you cook and plan accordingly.

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Read the full recipe ahead of time and create a game plan of what needs to be cooked when and what can be plated together. This will save on dishes used and cleanup time.

3. Make your bed...every day.

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It seems small, but it makes a big difference. You'll start your day by doing something productive, and you'll come home to something clean and tidy, not messy and chaotic.

4. Eliminate "that chair" and use a hanger instead.

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Everyone has that infamous spot to drop their jackets and other junk. DON'T. It can cause clutter and make your life seem chaotic. Place a hanger on the back of your door so that it's ready and waiting for you.

5. Only put things where they belong.

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Shirts go in the closet.

Dishes go in the cupboard.

Books go on the shelf.

Avoid clutter by taking 30 seconds to put things where you got them.

6. Take one item that doesn't belong when leaving a room.

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If you abandon the put-things-where-they-belong rule, this is a good backup. Each time you leave a room, grab an item that doesn't belong and take it to its rightful place.

7. Wipe tables after using them.

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You know those stubborn crusty stains that form on tables over time? Those can be easily avoided with a one-minute wipe-down after each table use.

8. Don't bring yesterday into today.

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You don't want to carry yesterday's problems with you, so why carry yesterday's mess into today? Make sure every trace of yesterday (clothes, dishes, trash) is cleared before you go to sleep.

9. Keep small trash bins in every room.

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It's easy to let bottles and wrappers clutter, so eliminate this by keeping a small trash bin in each room. Avoid larger bins to prevent critters and odors from taking over your room.

10. Hate folding clothes? Do laundry every week.

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Don't wait until your last pair of clean clothes to do laundry. Do a load each week to help prevent clutter and reduce time spent folding and storing.

11. Clean your shower and sink after each use.

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Your shower and sink are already wet, and the sediment is loose. Spray on some glass cleaner and wipe it down after each use. This will save you time and effort trying to scrub mold and rings away from your bathroom.

12. Cheap hair trappers and clog remover will change your life.

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It's good always to have a clog remover on deck, but having one of these bad boys will prevent from having to pull literal hair balls from your drain.

13. Minimize things on floors and counters.

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Moving things to clean or vacuum can be a hassle. Save yourself time by putting things away in storage compartments and only using them when needed.

14. Clean your mirrors once a week after you shower.

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Once a week after you shower, wipe down your mirrors with glass cleaner to avoid a buildup of dirt and dust.

For your small cleanups that make a big difference, you can always #PutSomeWindexOnIt.

Courtesy of Windex / Via Facebook: windex

Toula Portokalos is always tidying up after her family. On March 25, see Toula, the Portokalos clan, and Windex star on the big screen in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2!

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