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Things people with tidy homes do daily

Things people with tidy homes do PUT CLOTHES AWAY. WIPE DOWN THE
every day April is upon us, so you Tell me: Do you loathe putting the KITCHEN COUNTERS.
know what that means: In these laundry away? Or, worse: Do you This tip from Country Living mag-
parts we may still have a good throw your dirty clothes on that
month—at least—before we can con- chair in the corner instead of tossing azine is a win-win because it’s cheap
sistently spend time outdoors sans them in the hamper? I’m certainly and easy: Wipe down kitchen coun-
ters nightly with a homemade solu-
long sleeves (or worse yet, long guilty of that. And I’m not alone, ap- zine, gets everyone to pitch in for a
johns). parently. Debra Johnson, a home tion that’s one part vinegar, three quick tidying up session. Her family
parts water, and a squirt of almond
But we can somewhat soften that cleaning expert from Merry Maids, of four picks up the dog toys, puts
blow by ensuring that our home’s in- has these words for us: "Before you oil dish soap and store in a spray away the mail, hangs up jackets, and
terior looks and smells as good as it go to bed, put dirty clothes in the bottle. The vinegar cuts through puts items back in their place. "With
grease while also clearing up
can. And that might not require as hamper or re-hang clean ones in the everyone helping, it usually takes
much effort as you might think. I’ve closet. And in the morning, fold your smudges on stainless appliances. less than five minutes, and I feel so
searched high and low for the most pajamas and store them in their much better when I come downstairs
comprehensive pointers from ex- proper place." In the bathroom… in the morning and the house is or-
perts and professionals, and here’s WIPE DOWN THE BATH- ganized," she says.
what I found. In the kitchen… ROOM SINK—EVERYTIME.
TAKE OUT THE TRASH. For those of us who abhor a dirty OPEN A DOOR OR TWO.
In the bedroom… Oh, the difference this next tip sink, Ashlee Edie, a professional Sherry Petersik, who co-authored
MAKE THE BED. makes! It comes from Good House- cleaner at Handy, a professional Lovable Livable Home with her hus-
Before she even thinks about leav- keeping magazine: Sort through left- cleaning and handyman service, has band, John, suggests we air it out. "I
ing the house for the day, North Car- over food and throw away anything the holy grail of tips: Wipe down the throw open the front and the back
olina-based interior designer Amy you don’t think your family will eat. bathroom sink. Every. Single. Time. door to air out the house every day,
Bell makes the bed. Says the owner The magazine says that mornings (But even if you did it once a day, even just for a few minutes if it's cold
outside," she says. "It helps to fight
of Red Chair Home Interiors, "Even are the most suitable time to take the that would likely be an improve-
if the rest of the room isn't picture- garbage out as well, as we can simply ment.) Says Edie, "You will instantly off stale air—or any random linger-
perfect, a neat bed instantly makes tie up our trash bag and put it out- see what a big difference it makes, ing odors from dinner—and it
the whole space look pulled to- side—instead of letting stinky food because when you don't do this, makes the house feel fresh and
gether." smell up the fridge all day. makeup, toothpaste, soap, and hard breezy."
water build up, making your entire
bathroom appear slightly dirty." USE THE
“TWO-MINUTE RULE."
SQUEEGEE THE SHOWER. Procrastinators, take heed:
Now, this one, also from Country Sometimes, it's easier to tackle a
Living magazine, may be a bit over task head-on instead of waiting until
the top, but the merits are surely jus- later…whenever that might be. "If a
tifiable: Squeegee the shower door task takes less than two minutes to
after every shower to prevent water complete, do it immediately," advises
spots and grime and keep the glass Gordon. "Small tasks that are al-
looking clear and bright. lowed to pile up will turn into fodder
for procrastination later."
General tips to keep in mind…
USE PICTURE LABELS
Courtney Conover is a wife
ON TOY BINS and mom of two kids who has
Celebrity organizing expert called Wayne home since 1995.
Emma Gordon has something both Catch up with her weekly by vis-
parents and grandparents can get be- iting her blog at www.courtney-
hind: Pull and print images of your conover.com
kids’ toys from a quick Google image
search, then use that as the label for Hey, Dispatch readers, it’s almost
a toy’s container. “Young children time to celebrate the dads, and we
have a natural desire to help, which want to know something: How has
can be encouraged with age-appro- your father—or the father figure in
priate organizing,” says Gordon. your life—shown his love without di-
“And when the image is bright and rectly saying so? How has he been
appealing, putting away toys can there for you in unyielding ways?
turn into a captivating game.” The Dispatch wants to know! Share
your experience by e-mailing courtn-
DO A FIVE-MINUTE eyconover@yahoo.com and put “Dis-
CLEAN UP. patch Father’s Day” in the subject
Before bed, Camilla Fabbri, con- line. You may be included in June’s
tributor to Farmhouse Style Maga- Mindful Moment column.
The Wayne Dispatch · April 2022 · 13