Organize your home in under an hour

Sometimes, all you have is that small window of time on the weekend to get your place into shape for the week ahead. Here’s our take on how to bring order to your home in under an hour.

1. Five-minute mail hunt

Chances are, you’ve got a lot of closed and opened mail scattered around your home. Take a peak into every room and start collecting those envelopes. Once you’ve finished your hunt, place your findings in a file or tray designated to mail.

2. Hunt and gather loose paper

Next, start gathering loose paper. It might sound random but there is probably tons of it around your home. From receipts to printouts, brochures and more they’re everywhere. While you won’t have enough time in the hour to review each one, place them in a secure spot (like a home office) to look at later.

3. Designate a spot for the small stuff

Keys, loose change, wallets and cellphones tend to also take up a lot of surfaces around the home. Put a small catch-all bowl or tray in the foyer or above the mantel and put it all there.

4. Go on shoe and jacket patrol

Once the week gets started, shoes from the weekend can easily be forgotten and never put away. Put all of the shoes you’re not wearing on a daily basis into a closet or shelf that’s away from incoming traffic. As for jackets that have been strewn on chairs and banisters, you know the drill.

5. Give surfaces their function again

If your various tables are clad with miscellaneous items you have yet to put away, take the time to return them to their respective homes. Nothing looks more polished than a smooth dining room table with nothing but a fresh vase of flowers.

6. Polish off the main hubs

Take one look at the kitchen or family room and you might find it’s completely out of order. Put dishes in the dishwasher, fold blankets on a sofa and put remote controls on the coffee table. These are all small ways to bring some order back into your dwellings.

7. Gather cups and mugs around the house

Many people take a cup of water to their bedside at night, but rarely do they put it back in the kitchen come morning. Now’s the time to gather those cups and late-night snack plates.

8. Target towels and toilet paper

This one’s simple: place fresh towels and toilet paper rolls in all of your washrooms and powder rooms.

9. Tackle the washroom mayhem

Take five minutes to get your washroom in tact again: put away hair brushes, products and empty bottles of shampoo.

10. Start a return policy

While you wished everyone could return their belongings to their rooms like you asked, it’s not happening this week. Do a quick walk around the house picking up misplaced items (clothes, toys, etc). Bringing a basket or bin along for the ride will ensure you don’t need to make several trips up and down the stairs.

Related:
Marie Kondo’s drastic bathroom organization strategy
8 quick ways to clear the clutter in your home
Pantry cleaning checklist: What to toss, keep and store