Do you ever feel like no matter how much effort you put into decluttering and organizing, your home never looks neat? Or perhaps you spend a lot of time on a cleaning project, and a few days later, you get busy, and the whole house feels like a disaster again? There could be a few things going on that explain the chaos—here’s why your home always looks messy, along with some helpful tips from professional organizers on what to do about it.
1. There are Dishes Left in the Sink
Open floor plans are more popular than ever these days. But unfortunately, that means everyone is subjected to seeing your messy kitchen. Not only does a sink full of dishes look unsightly, it can also smell. So prioritize getting this done ASAP. “If you do your dishes as soon as you use them, you will never have a mess,” says professional organizer and founder of organizing service O.C.D, Ashley Stewart. “If it is too hard to clean dishes throughout the day, make it a point to make sure you go to bed with no dishes left in the sink.”2. Toys are Everywhere
Children make it challenging to keep a home tidy, but it’s not impossible to get things under control. “The best solution for toys is to have baskets and bins where you can put the toys in,” says Stewart. “Not everyone has time to organize every day, but everyone does have time to pick up toys and put them in bins—kids included. When you teach your kids from an early age they clean up at the end of play, they will learn to put things away after they use them.”3. The Bed Isn’t Made
Your bedroom will always look clean and tidy if your bed is made. It only takes a minute and makes a big impact. “I can’t stress this one enough. There is something about a made bed that sets the mood for the rest of your house. If your bed is made, not only will your bedroom look cleaner, it will feel better getting into at night,” explains Stewart.4. You’re Not Using the Laundry Hamper
We’re all guilty of wearing a sweatshirt for a few hours, failing to put it away, and leaving it on a chair or worse—the floor. This often results in messy piles. “If you don’t hang up your clothes after you wear them or put them in the laundry, you are most likely going to have that one chair in your room that becomes an abyss for your clothes,” says Stewart.To avoid a cluttered space, the organizer advises making it a habit to put your clothes away or in the hamper after you wear them. It only takes a few seconds and makes a major difference.
