You can tell a house is clean by the absence of lingering odors, the lack of visible dust/grime on hidden spots (like baseboards, vents, window sills), tidy surfaces with organized items, sparkling floors and windows, fresh air, and a general feeling of freshness and order, not just masking smells with air fresheners. It's a holistic sense of tidiness, hygiene, and lack of clutter, extending beyond just surface-level tidying.
"These symptoms come and go fairly quickly -- you may notice them within an hour or two of entering a building but also notice that they will be gone within an hour or two of leaving a building." There is no objective test that measures these symptoms, McLellan says, so it's more a matter of paying attention to the ...
Sometimes, however, significant clutter problems can be linked to underlying mental health conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding disorder, major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and anxiety disorders.
Five Signs That Your Home Is Too Messy
If you thought that your bathroom was the germiest place in your home, think again. The study revealed that the top hot spots in the home were in the kitchen.
"Clutter accumulates quickly, making spaces feel chaotic and overwhelming," says professional organizer Meaghan Kessman. "And the 50% decluttering rule offers a simple solution: remove half the items from any given area."
A worn stairway in an old house shows signs of neglect. The steps are stained and the railing is rusty. Unkempt walls reveal faded green and white paint. Natural light filters in from a nearby window.
If the 5x5 method is as new to you as it was to me, allow me to explain. Coined by Steph of The Secret Slob, this technique requires nothing but a timer and twenty-five free minutes. Pick five rooms or zones and dedicate five minutes per area. In twenty-five minutes, Steph promises a cleaner, less cluttered home.
Hoarding disorder is a recognized psychological condition where people feel compelled to keep items regardless of their actual value or usefulness. The thought of discarding things causes significant distress, leading to rapid accumulation and cluttered living spaces.
Dampness, mold and moldy odor are all signs of excessive moisture, water intrusion, and/or poor ventilation, and signal potential health risks for occupants. Excess moisture also provides a more attractive environment for pests, such as cockroaches and rodents.
Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.
Here's what your cleaner can do in 2 hours:
Dusting, vacuuming, and wiping down surfaces like coffee tables and shelves. Wiping down counters, cleaning the sink, emptying the bin, and mopping the floors. Cleaning the toilet, sink, and shower, wiping mirrors, and mopping the floor.
Recommended Order for Cleaning a House
The Most Effective First Room: The Kitchen
Among all the choices, the kitchen is one of the best rooms to declutter first.
The Core 4 Method was created by professional organiser Kayleen Kelly. It's designed to keep things simple and strip decluttering right back to the basics. The four steps — Clear Out, Categorise, Cut Out and Contain — give you a structured plan that says exactly what it does on the tin.
Of course, the time it takes to declutter can vary for so many different reasons. It's hard to say there's a rule of thumb, but one view is that it can take 1 to 1.5 days per room (or 8 to 12 hours per room). Obviously, closets and bathrooms might require only a few hours, whereas a garage could take 2 to 3 days.
We hold onto heirlooms/gifts even though we don't like or enjoy them because we feel guilty giving them away. They weigh us down emotionally and cause physical clutter. We keep things that don't match our sense of style, and we then don't have space for items that would truly bring us joy."
Flat, uninspired room color ideas can make even the most carefully designed home feel cheap and lifeless. Color is one of my favorite ways to lift a space, and when done thoughtfully, it can be the simplest and most effective way to make a home look expensive and luxurious.
What are the least popular house styles?
Loss: When Clutter Holds Memories
Loss is a universal human experience, but for those with complex trauma, it can feel catastrophic. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a home, or a sense of safety, these experiences can lead to hoarding as a coping mechanism.
The 333 outfit formula (also written as the 3-3-3 rule in fashion) is a minimalist wardrobe strategy where you select 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 pairs of shoes to create a micro-capsule wardrobe. By mixing and matching these nine pieces, you can generate 27 unique outfit combinations.
Here are 5 clever tips to help you declutter and bring order back to your living space: 1️⃣ Embrace the "One In, One Out" Rule: For every new item you bring into your home, let go of one you no longer need. This simple rule will keep your possessions in check and prevent unnecessary buildup.