Homemaking - Tumblr Posts - Page 2
Wandering with my littles. Found some beautiful wildflowers native to our zone 5 nature trails.
Baked oatmeal bars for my boys 🩵
These scones came out *chefs kiss* perfection. I swapped out the orange flavoring for almond and made a strawberry topping 🍓
My son needs a Sponsor...
Hi everyone, I'm posting this on all of my social media pages in hopes of finding some help for my son.
He requested to go to summer camp. It's a week long. I managed to get his spot secure, but we are short on what we need for activities & supplies.
We are trying to raise $275 by the 20th for church camp. If you'd like to help, you can DM me or donate directly to us via
Cashapp: $AuroraLunae
Or
Venmo: Aurora_Lunae
🚨IMPORTANT NOTICE 🚨
I'm sure my followers have noticed that this account has been inactive for over a year now. I apologize for not coming to you sooner and explaining this.
Honestly, life has just been in my way. I have many social media platforms and pages I run, I am a manager at my job, I am in online college, I have 3 teenagers, and I have a chronic autoimmune disorder.
It's a lot. 😅
But I haven't abandoned Tumblr! I just switched profiles. I have been working on building up my personal branding and now have a universal name for my socials!
*editing to add*
I have decided I'll go ahead & use this Tumblr for my personal life stuff, hobbies, food, etc. A rebrand if you will...
To follow my spiritual journey, schooling, & home renovation follow here
To follow my original works and fanfiction, you can find me here...
Aurora is a resilient and creative force, pouring her experiences and passions into her writing. As a boy mom of three teenagers, she draws inspiration from the chaos and love of family life. Having overcome the challenges of domestic abuse and living with an autoimmune disease, Aurora infuses her work with empathy, strength, and a touch of magic - literally, as a practicing witch. When not conjuring stories, you can find her nurturing her garden, whipping up a storm in the kitchen, or rescuing animals in need. Thrift shopping and treasure hunting are also among her favorite pastimes. Across various social platforms, Aurora shares both original fiction and fanfiction works, inviting readers to join her on a journey of imagination and self-discovery.
*I currently have an ongoing Sesskag fic & am participating in a sesskag gift exchange*
simplify your cleaning routine with this easy-to-use notion template
tired of managing many to-do lists, sticky notes, and housekeeping reminders? keeping your home clean and tidy can be difficult, but with the correct tools, it does not have to be.
introducing the simple cleaning notion template. I've been using this cleaning template for about 6 months, and it's been a huge help in planning and organizing my cleaning. It's very simple and straightforward.
why use notion for cleaning? notion is an online resource for all your organizational needs. Here's why it's ideal for organizing your cleaning tasks:
customizability: adjust your cleaning schedule to meet your individual requirements.
case of Use: the interface is simple and intuitive, so anyone can use it.
all-In-one solution: organize your to-do lists, calendars, and notes in one spot.
accessibility: you may view your cleaning schedule from any device, anywhere.
key features of the cleaning template:
categorize by Area: divide your home into sections such as the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and more. This helps to distribute responsibilities evenly and ensures that no detail is ignored.
task specifics: assign particular cleaning duties to each location, making it clear what has to be done where.
frequency relation: daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning duties demand varying frequencies. the template allows you to categorize jobs based on their frequency of completion. this allows you to arrange your cleaning schedule more effectively.
Ready to streamline your cleaning routine? Click here to download the template
HOME GLOWUP 1/2 ⁽ᵉᵃˢʸ ᵖᵉᵃˢʸ⁾
STEP 1: CLEANLINESS
You do know how some homes are welcoming and some simply aren't, the moment you enter... the smell does matter a lot.
Wash all textiles, including curtains, decorative pillows, bedcovers. They DO refrain a ton of smells and dust, body sebum, food smells that can make a house smell off. Clean the curtains, furniture, decorative pillows, and other fabric items every season.
Change the kitchen linens everyday or every other day. They are especially susceptible to odd odours, as they retain food bits. I make it a rule to have 7 sets of kitchen linens, which means 7 rags, 7 hand towels, and 7 dish linens, so that if one piece gets dirty, I can easily change it out.
Take out the kitchen trash EVERYDAY or every other day at MOST. If you don't produce that much trash, time to scale the trash bin down. For the other room's trash, it tends to be less smell-producing but I would make sure to change it 1-2 times a week.
Make it a habit to do the dishes as you go, or every evening. No buts nor maybes.
Activate the fan and take down the toilet lid every time you flush down, I think you understand what I am meaning by that. An additional option is to make room sprays avaliable nearby. It can be Febreeze, or some fancy room mist, to your taste.
Have a COHESIVE house scent across rooms. Don't do lemon scents in the bathroom then rose scents in the bedroom. make it cohesive aka within the same perfume family (fruits, florals, woods, etc) or pick scents that are known to fit well together (chocolate and spice, orange and spice, strawberry and light florals, etc). THAT DOES INCLUDE CLEANING PRODUCTS!
Burn incense, or candles. Beeswax candles are amazing to bring in cozyness, a bit pricier but a little goes a long way!
Do not dismiss the power of OPENING WINDOWS and AERATION. Takes off anything musty smells, changes the air for cleaner fresher air. If you live in the city, dismiss that and choose a HEPA portative air filter. They're wonderful for smell elimination.
Keep down any pet scents as much as humanely possible. Take out the kitty litter every day, use litter baskets that minimize smells (like those closed ones), do a litter overhaul every week. Remove urine scents with enzymatic sprays first (avaliable in pet stores). Giving baths to dogs and cats (for other pets, make sure to check if it is okay as some pets cant be bathed) every month, or better, bringing them at the pet groomer.
Establish a clear housekeeping routine, to keep everything clean. It is better to dust weekly than removing a massive coat of dust every season (ugh). There's whole routines you can google so you can create a nice frame for your housekeeping needs. I remind you again: housekeeping done regularly makes life EASIER. A 30 min weekly dusting is easier and feels better than a 4 hour dust crust removal every 4 months.
STEP 2: DECLUTTER
Visual clutter distracts the mind from the actual art/architecture features and makes a space seem trashy even if it may be extremely clean. See how hotel rooms feel CLEAN and agreable as hell... It is because it is clutter-free and streamlined for easy cleaning aka minimum clutter.
If you declutter, you're actually making your cleaning routine way easier. Less stuff to get around, obviously. Spare yourself the pain of cleaning by decluttering.
No clothes on the floor, and remove those you don't want anymore. No more "cloth chair". Reserve a specific space (hooks on the wall, a different basket from dirty laudry) for the "not quite dirty, will rewear again" clothes.
No clothes chair. You did read me right. I am repeating it again because I'm sick of messy girls glamorizing that fucking cloth chair. Sister, that sounds lame and you sound like a teen and not an adult. Growup.
Try to keep anything cluttered that you can't declutter (p.ex: laundry basket) in concealed storage. In the wardrobe, behind furniture, etc. We want to minimize anything visual clutter by diminishing the number of items the brain has to analyze.
Color variety DOES contribute to clutter. I am not encouraging you into going monochrome obviously but, a room with 5836 completely contrasting colors will be harder to keep less visually cluttered compared to a curated palette room.
Neat and orderly clutter is always ever always better than disorderly clutter. If you can't get rid of your book collection (which is fine btw), dedicate a specific space to those books, and look into alternate covers for those books (some books come wrapped in cloth then an amobile paper cover, the paper cover is just librairy publicity for the book, just ditch it you won't regret it.
Remove labels from products, like the dish cleaning soap bottle, except if it's essential (p.ex. dangerous chemical products). Written stuff DOES contribute to visual clutter.
This post is to be followed by another post next week, and I'll talk about palette curating and making the home cozier. See you next week! 💎
Clean Kitchen Tips
Besides daily maintenance, you should clean from top to bottom and do one side of the room at time. Top cabinets, wall under the cabinets, counter, lower cabinets, move on the the next side. My microwave is above my stove, so I clean the top cabinets, microwave, wall under the microwave, then the stove. When you’re cleaning, dirt and crumbs are constantly falling. Why clean something below just to get it messy again when you clean the things above it?
Wipe out the microwave every time you spill something in it. Don’t let it just sit there and crust up
Clean the floors last
Wipe down the counter every time you use it. Get rid of your liquids and foods left behind.
Throw trash away as soon as you see that it has become trash. If you see the loaf of bread is expired, don’t leave it there while you decide to make a bowl of cereal instead. You saw that it was trash so toss it.
Finish items before you open a new bottle of the same thing. Why do you have 3 bottles of ketchup opened that are all 80% empty? Either use the last bit of something before you open the new one or throw it away when you decide that you want to start using the new one from now on.
Are you actually going to eat those leftovers? Bc if not, you’re wasting space in the refrigerator by putting it in there and are also wasting tupperware dishes or food wrap. If you don’t foresee yourself eating it within the next few days and you already have other meal plans coming up, don’t delay the inevitable. Just get rid of it now. “But I’m wasting food!” It was going to waste in the refrigerator too and sit there until next week when you finally got rid of it. Any food that doesn’t get consumed WILL be tossed eventually. Prepared dishes can only last so long. Do you plan to eat the rest of that burger within the next few days or not?
The more frequently you wash dishes, the less you have to wash and put away each time. That sounds obvious, but if you hate doing the dishes, you probably should stop avoiding them until they become big piles. If I hate doing something, I’d like it to be over in as few minutes as possible.
Rather than sitting dishes in the sink, just pre wash them and sit them in the dishwasher. When it gets full, just turn it on. Easy. No need to load anymore.
The best time to do a proper cleaning of the kitchen is early during the day and later in the evening. You’re either undoing yesterday’s mess and giving a clean slate for today or undoing today’s mess and giving a clean slate for tomorrow. Plus there’s less traffic in your way.
If you see a mess, clean the mess. A bit of sauce spilled in the fridge? Don’t shut the door. Clean it up. A responsible cleaner doesn’t turn a blind eye to simple tasks. Just...get it. It’ll be real quick. Why ignore it?
Make sure you clean the inside of the trash can every once in a while. It can get pretty funky in there.
I’ve been trying to figure out whether being a home maker is something I want to do, I was wondering If you could list why you want to be a homemaker and all the benefits of it? 💛🌸
There are many reasons why I want to be a homemaker! I don't even know where to start. I guess we can start with this wonderful "quote" by C.S. Lewis:
I said "quote" because it technically is not accurate. It gets spread around A LOT but that is actually just a condensed version of the full quote. The full quote is as follows:
“I think I can understand that feeling about a housewife’s work being like that of Sisyphus (who was the stone rolling gentleman). But it is surely, in reality, the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? As Dr Johnson said, ‘To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavour’. (1st to be happy, to prepare for being happy in our own real Home hereafter: 2nd, in the meantime, to be happy in our houses.) We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist.”
I adore that quote and find it really eye opening! Every job we do, when you get to the root of it, is to make for a better home life. More money, more food, more comforts, more safety, etc etc. The home is the center of life and anyone who devalues those who dedicate themselves to directly making their home a better, warmer, more inviting and loving place for their family doesn't understand humanity well enough. A good homemaker, not just in action but in personality and spirit as well, is the backbone of all of humanity up until recently. The greats we admire now were fed and cared for by women who made their mission to give their family the best home they could. I could never look down on that.
Now, making this more personal to me, I want to be a homemaker because I love the work that goes into it. I love home management. I love making a house not just a place to sleep and store my stuff, but a home to love and grow in and feel safe in. I love caring for it, I love making memories in it, I love having something that I and my family can be proud to return to everyday. I want to create that peace and serenity for them. I want to have a direct hand at building a place where love is present in every inch of it. From the way I vacuum the floors to the way I fold the laundry to the way I store the dishes. When I get married to a wonderful man and have my little bundles of joy, I will absolutely positively want to do these things for them. I am the type of person that resorts to acts of service when I really care for someone. The people I love most will be showered with that side of me as my career.
I also feel that it is my purpose in life. Well, specifically I feel that my purpose is to be a mother and take care of my family, but being a homemaker pairs well with that in a way that is both challenging, fulfilling and something I love so much that I'd do it every day of my life. The three best things I could ever ask for in a career. Not every woman feels that her purpose is to go forth and multiply as God would put it, but I do and I feel immense joy just thinking about it.
Another reason is that I would never regret it. If I were to dedicate my life to an outside career, I know 100% for a fact that by the time I was old and grey I'd regret not being a homemaker. On the flip side, I would never get old and feel that I 'missed out' on something by choosing to dedicate myself to my family. Again, different people feel regrets for different things. It is not for everyone, but it is for me.
I also love the traditional aspect of it. I feel connected to millions of women who came before me. Those who abandoned selfish ways in favor of making their family their number one priority, taking no days off, and always putting their all into giving them the best life they could even when things were hard, they were tired, or simply didn't feel like it. I look up to them. I respect them. And I would be honored to be even half the homemaker they were.
I value the skills that are necessary to being a good homemaker. I know first hand how hard it is to keep a house full of kids clean and maintaining an optimum environment for everyone to grow in. I know how hard cooking 3 meals a day, every single day is, especially with picky eaters or differing taste buds. I know how hard it is to avoid procrastination and build-up and just putting things off out of laziness. Raising healthy happy kids is WORK. Supporting a spouse and being a good wife to them through ups and downs is WORK. Hard work, discipline, an eye for details, the desire to get better and keep learning more, an open heart, a kind spirit, patience, these are all skills that I value and are all used in successful homemaking.
I was raised by a wonderful homemaker who gave me such an amazing childhood full of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I was such a happy child. I was extremely well-fed, I was always listened to and had plenty of time made for me, I got to see the world around me without having to wait until a parent came home from work and got enough rest to take me to the zoo, I felt safe at home at all times, I was protected, I was taught valuable skills and life lessons, I was in bliss. Then my mom wanted to go back to work. I still had a great life, but things were different. No more homemade funnel cake before school. No more room mother for my class. No more random apple picking trips. Dinners were much later in the evening and less and less of it was being made from scratch. Again, my life was still great and my mom was still a fantastic mom, but I could see the difference. She stopped working after a little while and the difference was once again, stark by comparison. I got to see both sides first hand and I know which one I prefer. I bet my children will feel the same way.
Really, it all comes down to the fact that I quite literally place family as my number one priority and I know that I can't live a completely happy life if I ignore that part of me. I want to serve and be dedicated to my family. I want to put my skills and love to the best use possible. I want to work hard every single day at something that makes me so happy and fulfilled that I could cry. It's simply something that I truly love from the bottom of my heart and no other career, no matter how well-paying or cool or flashy could ever be more exciting to me than being a homemaker. I may do things on the side for my own personal enjoyment but never as a primary or forever thing.
I hope that answered your question ♡
Clean Kitchen Tips
Besides daily maintenance, you should clean from top to bottom and do one side of the room at time. Top cabinets, wall under the cabinets, counter, lower cabinets, move on the the next side. My microwave is above my stove, so I clean the top cabinets, microwave, wall under the microwave, then the stove. When you’re cleaning, dirt and crumbs are constantly falling. Why clean something below just to get it messy again when you clean the things above it?
Wipe out the microwave every time you spill something in it. Don’t let it just sit there and crust up
Clean the floors last
Wipe down the counter every time you use it. Get rid of your liquids and foods left behind.
Throw trash away as soon as you see that it has become trash. If you see the loaf of bread is expired, don’t leave it there while you decide to make a bowl of cereal instead. You saw that it was trash so toss it.
Finish items before you open a new bottle of the same thing. Why do you have 3 bottles of ketchup opened that are all 80% empty? Either use the last bit of something before you open the new one or throw it away when you decide that you want to start using the new one from now on.
Are you actually going to eat those leftovers? Bc if not, you’re wasting space in the refrigerator by putting it in there and are also wasting tupperware dishes or food wrap. If you don’t foresee yourself eating it within the next few days and you already have other meal plans coming up, don’t delay the inevitable. Just get rid of it now. “But I’m wasting food!” It was going to waste in the refrigerator too and sit there until next week when you finally got rid of it. Any food that doesn’t get consumed WILL be tossed eventually. Prepared dishes can only last so long. Do you plan to eat the rest of that burger within the next few days or not?
The more frequently you wash dishes, the less you have to wash and put away each time. That sounds obvious, but if you hate doing the dishes, you probably should stop avoiding them until they become big piles. If I hate doing something, I’d like it to be over in as few minutes as possible.
Rather than sitting dishes in the sink, just pre wash them and sit them in the dishwasher. When it gets full, just turn it on. Easy. No need to load anymore.
The best time to do a proper cleaning of the kitchen is early during the day and later in the evening. You’re either undoing yesterday’s mess and giving a clean slate for today or undoing today’s mess and giving a clean slate for tomorrow. Plus there’s less traffic in your way.
If you see a mess, clean the mess. A bit of sauce spilled in the fridge? Don’t shut the door. Clean it up. A responsible cleaner doesn’t turn a blind eye to simple tasks. Just...get it. It’ll be real quick. Why ignore it?
Make sure you clean the inside of the trash can every once in a while. It can get pretty funky in there.
I’ve been trying to figure out whether being a home maker is something I want to do, I was wondering If you could list why you want to be a homemaker and all the benefits of it? 💛🌸
There are many reasons why I want to be a homemaker! I don't even know where to start. I guess we can start with this wonderful "quote" by C.S. Lewis:
I said "quote" because it technically is not accurate. It gets spread around A LOT but that is actually just a condensed version of the full quote. The full quote is as follows:
“I think I can understand that feeling about a housewife’s work being like that of Sisyphus (who was the stone rolling gentleman). But it is surely, in reality, the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? As Dr Johnson said, ‘To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavour’. (1st to be happy, to prepare for being happy in our own real Home hereafter: 2nd, in the meantime, to be happy in our houses.) We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist.”
I adore that quote and find it really eye opening! Every job we do, when you get to the root of it, is to make for a better home life. More money, more food, more comforts, more safety, etc etc. The home is the center of life and anyone who devalues those who dedicate themselves to directly making their home a better, warmer, more inviting and loving place for their family doesn't understand humanity well enough. A good homemaker, not just in action but in personality and spirit as well, is the backbone of all of humanity up until recently. The greats we admire now were fed and cared for by women who made their mission to give their family the best home they could. I could never look down on that.
Now, making this more personal to me, I want to be a homemaker because I love the work that goes into it. I love home management. I love making a house not just a place to sleep and store my stuff, but a home to love and grow in and feel safe in. I love caring for it, I love making memories in it, I love having something that I and my family can be proud to return to everyday. I want to create that peace and serenity for them. I want to have a direct hand at building a place where love is present in every inch of it. From the way I vacuum the floors to the way I fold the laundry to the way I store the dishes. When I get married to a wonderful man and have my little bundles of joy, I will absolutely positively want to do these things for them. I am the type of person that resorts to acts of service when I really care for someone. The people I love most will be showered with that side of me as my career.
I also feel that it is my purpose in life. Well, specifically I feel that my purpose is to be a mother and take care of my family, but being a homemaker pairs well with that in a way that is both challenging, fulfilling and something I love so much that I'd do it every day of my life. The three best things I could ever ask for in a career. Not every woman feels that her purpose is to go forth and multiply as God would put it, but I do and I feel immense joy just thinking about it.
Another reason is that I would never regret it. If I were to dedicate my life to an outside career, I know 100% for a fact that by the time I was old and grey I'd regret not being a homemaker. On the flip side, I would never get old and feel that I 'missed out' on something by choosing to dedicate myself to my family. Again, different people feel regrets for different things. It is not for everyone, but it is for me.
I also love the traditional aspect of it. I feel connected to millions of women who came before me. Those who abandoned selfish ways in favor of making their family their number one priority, taking no days off, and always putting their all into giving them the best life they could even when things were hard, they were tired, or simply didn't feel like it. I look up to them. I respect them. And I would be honored to be even half the homemaker they were.
I value the skills that are necessary to being a good homemaker. I know first hand how hard it is to keep a house full of kids clean and maintaining an optimum environment for everyone to grow in. I know how hard cooking 3 meals a day, every single day is, especially with picky eaters or differing taste buds. I know how hard it is to avoid procrastination and build-up and just putting things off out of laziness. Raising healthy happy kids is WORK. Supporting a spouse and being a good wife to them through ups and downs is WORK. Hard work, discipline, an eye for details, the desire to get better and keep learning more, an open heart, a kind spirit, patience, these are all skills that I value and are all used in successful homemaking.
I was raised by a wonderful homemaker who gave me such an amazing childhood full of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I was such a happy child. I was extremely well-fed, I was always listened to and had plenty of time made for me, I got to see the world around me without having to wait until a parent came home from work and got enough rest to take me to the zoo, I felt safe at home at all times, I was protected, I was taught valuable skills and life lessons, I was in bliss. Then my mom wanted to go back to work. I still had a great life, but things were different. No more homemade funnel cake before school. No more room mother for my class. No more random apple picking trips. Dinners were much later in the evening and less and less of it was being made from scratch. Again, my life was still great and my mom was still a fantastic mom, but I could see the difference. She stopped working after a little while and the difference was once again, stark by comparison. I got to see both sides first hand and I know which one I prefer. I bet my children will feel the same way.
Really, it all comes down to the fact that I quite literally place family as my number one priority and I know that I can't live a completely happy life if I ignore that part of me. I want to serve and be dedicated to my family. I want to put my skills and love to the best use possible. I want to work hard every single day at something that makes me so happy and fulfilled that I could cry. It's simply something that I truly love from the bottom of my heart and no other career, no matter how well-paying or cool or flashy could ever be more exciting to me than being a homemaker. I may do things on the side for my own personal enjoyment but never as a primary or forever thing.
I hope that answered your question ♡
I’ve been trying to figure out whether being a home maker is something I want to do, I was wondering If you could list why you want to be a homemaker and all the benefits of it? 💛🌸
There are many reasons why I want to be a homemaker! I don't even know where to start. I guess we can start with this wonderful "quote" by C.S. Lewis:
I said "quote" because it technically is not accurate. It gets spread around A LOT but that is actually just a condensed version of the full quote. The full quote is as follows:
“I think I can understand that feeling about a housewife’s work being like that of Sisyphus (who was the stone rolling gentleman). But it is surely, in reality, the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, mines, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? As Dr Johnson said, ‘To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavour’. (1st to be happy, to prepare for being happy in our own real Home hereafter: 2nd, in the meantime, to be happy in our houses.) We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist.”
I adore that quote and find it really eye opening! Every job we do, when you get to the root of it, is to make for a better home life. More money, more food, more comforts, more safety, etc etc. The home is the center of life and anyone who devalues those who dedicate themselves to directly making their home a better, warmer, more inviting and loving place for their family doesn't understand humanity well enough. A good homemaker, not just in action but in personality and spirit as well, is the backbone of all of humanity up until recently. The greats we admire now were fed and cared for by women who made their mission to give their family the best home they could. I could never look down on that.
Now, making this more personal to me, I want to be a homemaker because I love the work that goes into it. I love home management. I love making a house not just a place to sleep and store my stuff, but a home to love and grow in and feel safe in. I love caring for it, I love making memories in it, I love having something that I and my family can be proud to return to everyday. I want to create that peace and serenity for them. I want to have a direct hand at building a place where love is present in every inch of it. From the way I vacuum the floors to the way I fold the laundry to the way I store the dishes. When I get married to a wonderful man and have my little bundles of joy, I will absolutely positively want to do these things for them. I am the type of person that resorts to acts of service when I really care for someone. The people I love most will be showered with that side of me as my career.
I also feel that it is my purpose in life. Well, specifically I feel that my purpose is to be a mother and take care of my family, but being a homemaker pairs well with that in a way that is both challenging, fulfilling and something I love so much that I'd do it every day of my life. The three best things I could ever ask for in a career. Not every woman feels that her purpose is to go forth and multiply as God would put it, but I do and I feel immense joy just thinking about it.
Another reason is that I would never regret it. If I were to dedicate my life to an outside career, I know 100% for a fact that by the time I was old and grey I'd regret not being a homemaker. On the flip side, I would never get old and feel that I 'missed out' on something by choosing to dedicate myself to my family. Again, different people feel regrets for different things. It is not for everyone, but it is for me.
I also love the traditional aspect of it. I feel connected to millions of women who came before me. Those who abandoned selfish ways in favor of making their family their number one priority, taking no days off, and always putting their all into giving them the best life they could even when things were hard, they were tired, or simply didn't feel like it. I look up to them. I respect them. And I would be honored to be even half the homemaker they were.
I value the skills that are necessary to being a good homemaker. I know first hand how hard it is to keep a house full of kids clean and maintaining an optimum environment for everyone to grow in. I know how hard cooking 3 meals a day, every single day is, especially with picky eaters or differing taste buds. I know how hard it is to avoid procrastination and build-up and just putting things off out of laziness. Raising healthy happy kids is WORK. Supporting a spouse and being a good wife to them through ups and downs is WORK. Hard work, discipline, an eye for details, the desire to get better and keep learning more, an open heart, a kind spirit, patience, these are all skills that I value and are all used in successful homemaking.
I was raised by a wonderful homemaker who gave me such an amazing childhood full of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I was such a happy child. I was extremely well-fed, I was always listened to and had plenty of time made for me, I got to see the world around me without having to wait until a parent came home from work and got enough rest to take me to the zoo, I felt safe at home at all times, I was protected, I was taught valuable skills and life lessons, I was in bliss. Then my mom wanted to go back to work. I still had a great life, but things were different. No more homemade funnel cake before school. No more room mother for my class. No more random apple picking trips. Dinners were much later in the evening and less and less of it was being made from scratch. Again, my life was still great and my mom was still a fantastic mom, but I could see the difference. She stopped working after a little while and the difference was once again, stark by comparison. I got to see both sides first hand and I know which one I prefer. I bet my children will feel the same way.
Really, it all comes down to the fact that I quite literally place family as my number one priority and I know that I can't live a completely happy life if I ignore that part of me. I want to serve and be dedicated to my family. I want to put my skills and love to the best use possible. I want to work hard every single day at something that makes me so happy and fulfilled that I could cry. It's simply something that I truly love from the bottom of my heart and no other career, no matter how well-paying or cool or flashy could ever be more exciting to me than being a homemaker. I may do things on the side for my own personal enjoyment but never as a primary or forever thing.
I hope that answered your question ♡
Clean Kitchen Tips
Besides daily maintenance, you should clean from top to bottom and do one side of the room at time. Top cabinets, wall under the cabinets, counter, lower cabinets, move on the the next side. My microwave is above my stove, so I clean the top cabinets, microwave, wall under the microwave, then the stove. When you’re cleaning, dirt and crumbs are constantly falling. Why clean something below just to get it messy again when you clean the things above it?
Wipe out the microwave every time you spill something in it. Don’t let it just sit there and crust up
Clean the floors last
Wipe down the counter every time you use it. Get rid of your liquids and foods left behind.
Throw trash away as soon as you see that it has become trash. If you see the loaf of bread is expired, don’t leave it there while you decide to make a bowl of cereal instead. You saw that it was trash so toss it.
Finish items before you open a new bottle of the same thing. Why do you have 3 bottles of ketchup opened that are all 80% empty? Either use the last bit of something before you open the new one or throw it away when you decide that you want to start using the new one from now on.
Are you actually going to eat those leftovers? Bc if not, you’re wasting space in the refrigerator by putting it in there and are also wasting tubberware dishes or food wrap. If you don’t foresee yourself eating it within the next few days and you already have other meal plans coming up, don’t delay the inevitable. Just get rid of it now. “But I’m wasting food!” It was going to waste in the refrigerator too and sit there until next week when you finally got rid of it. Any food that doesn’t get consumed WILL be tossed eventually. Prepares dishes can only last so long. Do you plan to eat the rest of that burger within the next few days or not?
The more frequently you wash dishes, the less you have to wash and put away each time. That sounds obvious, but if you hate doing the dishes, you probably should stop avoiding them until they become big piles. If I hate doing something, I’d like it to be over in as few minutes as possible.
Rather than sitting dishes in the sink, just pre wash them and sit them in the dishwasher. When it gets full, just turn it on. Easy. No need to load anymore.
The best time to do a proper cleaning of the kitchen is early during the day and later in the evening. You’re either undoing yesterday’s mess and giving a clean slate for today or undoing today’s mess and giving a clean slate for tomorrow. Plus there’s less traffic in your way.
If you see a mess, clean the mess. A bit of sauce spilled in the fridge? Don’t shut the door. Clean it up. A responsible cleaner doesn’t turn a blind eye to simple tasks. Just...get it. It’ll be real quick. Why ignore it?
Make sure you clean the inside of the trash can every once in a while. It can get pretty funky in there.
i really do want to be a homemaker. i’m great at keeping my space clean, but as for general upkeep of the rest of the house, i get so lazy. (i live with my family btw)
do you have any tips for pushing past laziness to accomplish daily cooking and cleaning?
Do what needs to be done when it needs to be done whether you feel like it or not.
When motivation fails, discipline wins.
Trust me, I completely understand the difficulty of completing house care tasks when other family members are around (I have a post about it in my drafts. Maybe I’ll publish it later on). It really comes down to making a routine of it and forming new habits. In the same way we have been trained to brush our teeth first thing in the morning or check our phones as soon as we wake up, we can be trained to do anything else on autopilot too.
After I get washed up in the morning, I come into my room and write down what tasks need to be completed in my planner. Then I go into the kitchen to get some water and coffee and immediately start on the kitchen stuff bc I’m already there.
Anything that can be done in 5 minutes or less should be done immediately.
Turning on the dishwasher? Easy. Putting in a load of laundry? Easy. Vacuuming the carpet? Easy. Sanitizing the counters? Easy. I call these under5’s bc they take less than 5 minutes. Most of our cleaning routines are very quick if you keep up with them on a weekly basis. Therefore, those are the ones that should be learned to just kind of do on autopilot. I always listen to music first thing in the morning, so putting away dishes (that were washed after dinner) while I’m listening to Mariah Carey only takes a short amount of time and I don’t have to think about it much or muster up motivation to do it.
Blitz through the under5’s on a daily basis to avoid build up that will make them end up becoming over5’s due to neglect. Meaning, washing dishes after you just cooked a meal (under5) will be a lot easier than only doing the dishes every other day when there is now a giant sink full (over5)
Writing down your cleaning tasks in the morning also gives you the chance to figure out the best order to do them in. If I know I need to clean out a litter box or do something in the yard that gets me down and dirty, I will do it as early as possible so that I can take a shower afterwards. I’d be annoyed if I got all dolled up, only to realize at 1pm that I need to get icky again. Bc chances are, you’ll just try to put that task off to another day. If you plan your day out, you can make your schedule work in your favor.
Think about the cleaning you like doing least, and do it often. Why? Bc you are cutting down on the amount of time it takes to do it in one sitting from neglect. I hate folding giant piles of laundry. So I make sure to wash frequently enough that I can fold it all in a relatively quick manner instead of my whole bed being covered in a giant pile that I don’t even know where to start. As it turns out, folding a weeks worth of clothes is a lot better than a months worth.
Meal prep, meal plan, and cook early. Have a list of quick and easy foods at your disposal for days when you really, truly cannot be bothered to make a full blown meal.
The less stuff around, the less you have to clean. Put things away, declutter items you don’t use, and try to free up space on your surfaces.
Not everything has to be done in one day! Space big cleaning tasks throughout the week. You don’t have to be overwhelmed by it all.
Remember that this isn’t just about completing things and moving on to the next. It’s about caring for your house, creating a healthy living environment, maintaining the integrity of your possessions, and respecting your space.
Some may say, “what’s the point of making your bed when it’s just going to get messy again at night?” If you can understand the importance of making your bed everyday even though, yes, it will absolutely get messy again at night, I think you will learn to understand a lot about the way life works.
Clean Kitchen Tips
Besides daily maintenance, you should clean from top to bottom and do one side of the room at time. Top cabinets, wall under the cabinets, counter, lower cabinets, move on the the next side. My microwave is above my stove, so I clean the top cabinets, microwave, wall under the microwave, then the stove. When you’re cleaning, dirt and crumbs are constantly falling. Why clean something below just to get it messy again when you clean the things above it?
Wipe out the microwave every time you spill something in it. Don’t let it just sit there and crust up
Clean the floors last
Wipe down the counter every time you use it. Get rid of your liquids and foods left behind.
Throw trash away as soon as you see that it has become trash. If you see the loaf of bread is expired, don’t leave it there while you decide to make a bowl of cereal instead. You saw that it was trash so toss it.
Finish items before you open a new bottle of the same thing. Why do you have 3 bottles of ketchup opened that are all 80% empty? Either use the last bit of something before you open the new one or throw it away when you decide that you want to start using the new one from now on.
Are you actually going to eat those leftovers? Bc if not, you’re wasting space in the refrigerator by putting it in there and are also wasting tubberware dishes or food wrap. If you don’t foresee yourself eating it within the next few days and you already have other meal plans coming up, don’t delay the inevitable. Just get rid of it now. “But I’m wasting food!” It was going to waste in the refrigerator too and sit there until next week when you finally got rid of it. Any food that doesn’t get consumed WILL be tossed eventually. Prepares dishes can only last so long. Do you plan to eat the rest of that burger within the next few days or not?
The more frequently you wash dishes, the less you have to wash and put away each time. That sounds obvious, but if you hate doing the dishes, you probably should stop avoiding them until they become big piles. If I hate doing something, I’d like it to be over in as few minutes as possible.
Rather than sitting dishes in the sink, just pre wash them and sit them in the dishwasher. When it gets full, just turn it on. Easy. No need to load anymore.
The best time to do a proper cleaning of the kitchen is early during the day and later in the evening. You’re either undoing yesterday’s mess and giving a clean slate for today or undoing today’s mess and giving a clean slate for tomorrow. Plus there’s less traffic in your way.
If you see a mess, clean the mess. A bit of sauce spilled in the fridge? Don’t shut the door. Clean it up. A responsible cleaner doesn’t turn a blind eye to simple tasks. Just...get it. It’ll be real quick. Why ignore it?
Make sure you clean the inside of the trash can every once in a while. It can get pretty funky in there.
i really do want to be a homemaker. i’m great at keeping my space clean, but as for general upkeep of the rest of the house, i get so lazy. (i live with my family btw)
do you have any tips for pushing past laziness to accomplish daily cooking and cleaning?
Do what needs to be done when it needs to be done whether you feel like it or not.
When motivation fails, discipline wins.
Trust me, I completely understand the difficulty of completing house care tasks when other family members are around (I have a post about it in my drafts. Maybe I’ll publish it later on). It really comes down to making a routine of it and forming new habits. In the same way we have been trained to brush our teeth first thing in the morning or check our phones as soon as we wake up, we can be trained to do anything else on autopilot too.
After I get washed up in the morning, I come into my room and write down what tasks need to be completed in my planner. Then I go into the kitchen to get some water and coffee and immediately start on the kitchen stuff bc I’m already there.
Anything that can be done in 5 minutes or less should be done immediately.
Turning on the dishwasher? Easy. Putting in a load of laundry? Easy. Vacuuming the carpet? Easy. Sanitizing the counters? Easy. I call these under5’s bc they take less than 5 minutes. Most of our cleaning routines are very quick if you keep up with them on a weekly basis. Therefore, those are the ones that should be learned to just kind of do on autopilot. I always listen to music first thing in the morning, so putting away dishes (that were washed after dinner) while I’m listening to Mariah Carey only takes a short amount of time and I don’t have to think about it much or muster up motivation to do it.
Blitz through the under5’s on a daily basis to avoid build up that will make them end up becoming over5’s due to neglect. Meaning, washing dishes after you just cooked a meal (under5) will be a lot easier than only doing the dishes every other day when there is now a giant sink full (over5)
Writing down your cleaning tasks in the morning also gives you the chance to figure out the best order to do them in. If I know I need to clean out a litter box or do something in the yard that gets me down and dirty, I will do it as early as possible so that I can take a shower afterwards. I’d be annoyed if I got all dolled up, only to realize at 1pm that I need to get icky again. Bc chances are, you’ll just try to put that task off to another day. If you plan your day out, you can make your schedule work in your favor.
Think about the cleaning you like doing least, and do it often. Why? Bc you are cutting down on the amount of time it takes to do it in one sitting from neglect. I hate folding giant piles of laundry. So I make sure to wash frequently enough that I can fold it all in a relatively quick manner instead of my whole bed being covered in a giant pile that I don’t even know where to start. As it turns out, folding a weeks worth of clothes is a lot better than a months worth.
Meal prep, meal plan, and cook early. Have a list of quick and easy foods at your disposal for days when you really, truly cannot be bothered to make a full blown meal.
The less stuff around, the less you have to clean. Put things away, declutter items you don’t use, and try to free up space on your surfaces.
Not everything has to be done in one day! Space big cleaning tasks throughout the week. You don’t have to be overwhelmed by it all.
Remember that this isn’t just about completing things and moving on to the next. It’s about caring for your house, creating a healthy living environment, maintaining the integrity of your possessions, and respecting your space.
Some may say, “what’s the point of making your bed when it’s just going to get messy again at night?” If you can understand the importance of making your bed everyday even though, yes, it will absolutely get messy again at night, I think you will learn to understand a lot about the way life works.
HOME GLOWUP 1/2 ⁽ᵉᵃˢʸ ᵖᵉᵃˢʸ⁾
STEP 1: CLEANLINESS
You do know how some homes are welcoming and some simply aren't, the moment you enter... the smell does matter a lot.
Wash all textiles, including curtains, decorative pillows, bedcovers. They DO refrain a ton of smells and dust, body sebum, food smells that can make a house smell off. Clean the curtains, furniture, decorative pillows, and other fabric items every season.
Change the kitchen linens everyday or every other day. They are especially susceptible to odd odours, as they retain food bits. I make it a rule to have 7 sets of kitchen linens, which means 7 rags, 7 hand towels, and 7 dish linens, so that if one piece gets dirty, I can easily change it out.
Take out the kitchen trash EVERYDAY or every other day at MOST. If you don't produce that much trash, time to scale the trash bin down. For the other room's trash, it tends to be less smell-producing but I would make sure to change it 1-2 times a week.
Make it a habit to do the dishes as you go, or every evening. No buts nor maybes.
Activate the fan and take down the toilet lid every time you flush down, I think you understand what I am meaning by that. An additional option is to make room sprays avaliable nearby. It can be Febreeze, or some fancy room mist, to your taste.
Have a COHESIVE house scent across rooms. Don't do lemon scents in the bathroom then rose scents in the bedroom. make it cohesive aka within the same perfume family (fruits, florals, woods, etc) or pick scents that are known to fit well together (chocolate and spice, orange and spice, strawberry and light florals, etc). THAT DOES INCLUDE CLEANING PRODUCTS!
Burn incense, or candles. Beeswax candles are amazing to bring in cozyness, a bit pricier but a little goes a long way!
Do not dismiss the power of OPENING WINDOWS and AERATION. Takes off anything musty smells, changes the air for cleaner fresher air. If you live in the city, dismiss that and choose a HEPA portative air filter. They're wonderful for smell elimination.
Keep down any pet scents as much as humanely possible. Take out the kitty litter every day, use litter baskets that minimize smells (like those closed ones), do a litter overhaul every week. Remove urine scents with enzymatic sprays first (avaliable in pet stores). Giving baths to dogs and cats (for other pets, make sure to check if it is okay as some pets cant be bathed) every month, or better, bringing them at the pet groomer.
Establish a clear housekeeping routine, to keep everything clean. It is better to dust weekly than removing a massive coat of dust every season (ugh). There's whole routines you can google so you can create a nice frame for your housekeeping needs. I remind you again: housekeeping done regularly makes life EASIER. A 30 min weekly dusting is easier and feels better than a 4 hour dust crust removal every 4 months.
STEP 2: DECLUTTER
Visual clutter distracts the mind from the actual art/architecture features and makes a space seem trashy even if it may be extremely clean. See how hotel rooms feel CLEAN and agreable as hell... It is because it is clutter-free and streamlined for easy cleaning aka minimum clutter.
If you declutter, you're actually making your cleaning routine way easier. Less stuff to get around, obviously. Spare yourself the pain of cleaning by decluttering.
No clothes on the floor, and remove those you don't want anymore. No more "cloth chair". Reserve a specific space (hooks on the wall, a different basket from dirty laudry) for the "not quite dirty, will rewear again" clothes.
No clothes chair. You did read me right. I am repeating it again because I'm sick of messy girls glamorizing that fucking cloth chair. Sister, that sounds lame and you sound like a teen and not an adult. Growup.
Try to keep anything cluttered that you can't declutter (p.ex: laundry basket) in concealed storage. In the wardrobe, behind furniture, etc. We want to minimize anything visual clutter by diminishing the number of items the brain has to analyze.
Color variety DOES contribute to clutter. I am not encouraging you into going monochrome obviously but, a room with 5836 completely contrasting colors will be harder to keep less visually cluttered compared to a curated palette room.
Neat and orderly clutter is always ever always better than disorderly clutter. If you can't get rid of your book collection (which is fine btw), dedicate a specific space to those books, and look into alternate covers for those books (some books come wrapped in cloth then an amobile paper cover, the paper cover is just librairy publicity for the book, just ditch it you won't regret it.
Remove labels from products, like the dish cleaning soap bottle, except if it's essential (p.ex. dangerous chemical products). Written stuff DOES contribute to visual clutter.
This post is to be followed by another post next week, and I'll talk about palette curating and making the home cozier. See you next week! 💎
HOME GLOWUP 1/2 ⁽ᵉᵃˢʸ ᵖᵉᵃˢʸ⁾
STEP 1: CLEANLINESS
You do know how some homes are welcoming and some simply aren't, the moment you enter... the smell does matter a lot.
Wash all textiles, including curtains, decorative pillows, bedcovers. They DO refrain a ton of smells and dust, body sebum, food smells that can make a house smell off. Clean the curtains, furniture, decorative pillows, and other fabric items every season.
Change the kitchen linens everyday or every other day. They are especially susceptible to odd odours, as they retain food bits. I make it a rule to have 7 sets of kitchen linens, which means 7 rags, 7 hand towels, and 7 dish linens, so that if one piece gets dirty, I can easily change it out.
Take out the kitchen trash EVERYDAY or every other day at MOST. If you don't produce that much trash, time to scale the trash bin down. For the other room's trash, it tends to be less smell-producing but I would make sure to change it 1-2 times a week.
Make it a habit to do the dishes as you go, or every evening. No buts nor maybes.
Activate the fan and take down the toilet lid every time you flush down, I think you understand what I am meaning by that. An additional option is to make room sprays avaliable nearby. It can be Febreeze, or some fancy room mist, to your taste.
Have a COHESIVE house scent across rooms. Don't do lemon scents in the bathroom then rose scents in the bedroom. make it cohesive aka within the same perfume family (fruits, florals, woods, etc) or pick scents that are known to fit well together (chocolate and spice, orange and spice, strawberry and light florals, etc). THAT DOES INCLUDE CLEANING PRODUCTS!
Burn incense, or candles. Beeswax candles are amazing to bring in cozyness, a bit pricier but a little goes a long way!
Do not dismiss the power of OPENING WINDOWS and AERATION. Takes off anything musty smells, changes the air for cleaner fresher air. If you live in the city, dismiss that and choose a HEPA portative air filter. They're wonderful for smell elimination.
Keep down any pet scents as much as humanely possible. Take out the kitty litter every day, use litter baskets that minimize smells (like those closed ones), do a litter overhaul every week. Remove urine scents with enzymatic sprays first (avaliable in pet stores). Giving baths to dogs and cats (for other pets, make sure to check if it is okay as some pets cant be bathed) every month, or better, bringing them at the pet groomer.
Establish a clear housekeeping routine, to keep everything clean. It is better to dust weekly than removing a massive coat of dust every season (ugh). There's whole routines you can google so you can create a nice frame for your housekeeping needs. I remind you again: housekeeping done regularly makes life EASIER. A 30 min weekly dusting is easier and feels better than a 4 hour dust crust removal every 4 months.
STEP 2: DECLUTTER
Visual clutter distracts the mind from the actual art/architecture features and makes a space seem trashy even if it may be extremely clean. See how hotel rooms feel CLEAN and agreable as hell... It is because it is clutter-free and streamlined for easy cleaning aka minimum clutter.
If you declutter, you're actually making your cleaning routine way easier. Less stuff to get around, obviously. Spare yourself the pain of cleaning by decluttering.
No clothes on the floor, and remove those you don't want anymore. No more "cloth chair". Reserve a specific space (hooks on the wall, a different basket from dirty laudry) for the "not quite dirty, will rewear again" clothes.
No clothes chair. You did read me right. I am repeating it again because I'm sick of messy girls glamorizing that fucking cloth chair. Sister, that sounds lame and you sound like a teen and not an adult. Growup.
Try to keep anything cluttered that you can't declutter (p.ex: laundry basket) in concealed storage. In the wardrobe, behind furniture, etc. We want to minimize anything visual clutter by diminishing the number of items the brain has to analyze.
Color variety DOES contribute to clutter. I am not encouraging you into going monochrome obviously but, a room with 5836 completely contrasting colors will be harder to keep less visually cluttered compared to a curated palette room.
Neat and orderly clutter is always ever always better than disorderly clutter. If you can't get rid of your book collection (which is fine btw), dedicate a specific space to those books, and look into alternate covers for those books (some books come wrapped in cloth then an amobile paper cover, the paper cover is just librairy publicity for the book, just ditch it you won't regret it.
Remove labels from products, like the dish cleaning soap bottle, except if it's essential (p.ex. dangerous chemical products). Written stuff DOES contribute to visual clutter.
This post is to be followed by another post next week, and I'll talk about palette curating and making the home cozier. See you next week! 💎
HOME GLOWUP 1/2 ⁽ᵉᵃˢʸ ᵖᵉᵃˢʸ⁾
STEP 1: CLEANLINESS
You do know how some homes are welcoming and some simply aren't, the moment you enter... the smell does matter a lot.
Wash all textiles, including curtains, decorative pillows, bedcovers. They DO refrain a ton of smells and dust, body sebum, food smells that can make a house smell off. Clean the curtains, furniture, decorative pillows, and other fabric items every season.
Change the kitchen linens everyday or every other day. They are especially susceptible to odd odours, as they retain food bits. I make it a rule to have 7 sets of kitchen linens, which means 7 rags, 7 hand towels, and 7 dish linens, so that if one piece gets dirty, I can easily change it out.
Take out the kitchen trash EVERYDAY or every other day at MOST. If you don't produce that much trash, time to scale the trash bin down. For the other room's trash, it tends to be less smell-producing but I would make sure to change it 1-2 times a week.
Make it a habit to do the dishes as you go, or every evening. No buts nor maybes.
Activate the fan and take down the toilet lid every time you flush down, I think you understand what I am meaning by that. An additional option is to make room sprays avaliable nearby. It can be Febreeze, or some fancy room mist, to your taste.
Have a COHESIVE house scent across rooms. Don't do lemon scents in the bathroom then rose scents in the bedroom. make it cohesive aka within the same perfume family (fruits, florals, woods, etc) or pick scents that are known to fit well together (chocolate and spice, orange and spice, strawberry and light florals, etc). THAT DOES INCLUDE CLEANING PRODUCTS!
Burn incense, or candles. Beeswax candles are amazing to bring in cozyness, a bit pricier but a little goes a long way!
Do not dismiss the power of OPENING WINDOWS and AERATION. Takes off anything musty smells, changes the air for cleaner fresher air. If you live in the city, dismiss that and choose a HEPA portative air filter. They're wonderful for smell elimination.
Keep down any pet scents as much as humanely possible. Take out the kitty litter every day, use litter baskets that minimize smells (like those closed ones), do a litter overhaul every week. Remove urine scents with enzymatic sprays first (avaliable in pet stores). Giving baths to dogs and cats (for other pets, make sure to check if it is okay as some pets cant be bathed) every month, or better, bringing them at the pet groomer.
Establish a clear housekeeping routine, to keep everything clean. It is better to dust weekly than removing a massive coat of dust every season (ugh). There's whole routines you can google so you can create a nice frame for your housekeeping needs. I remind you again: housekeeping done regularly makes life EASIER. A 30 min weekly dusting is easier and feels better than a 4 hour dust crust removal every 4 months.
STEP 2: DECLUTTER
Visual clutter distracts the mind from the actual art/architecture features and makes a space seem trashy even if it may be extremely clean. See how hotel rooms feel CLEAN and agreable as hell... It is because it is clutter-free and streamlined for easy cleaning aka minimum clutter.
If you declutter, you're actually making your cleaning routine way easier. Less stuff to get around, obviously. Spare yourself the pain of cleaning by decluttering.
No clothes on the floor, and remove those you don't want anymore. No more "cloth chair". Reserve a specific space (hooks on the wall, a different basket from dirty laudry) for the "not quite dirty, will rewear again" clothes.
No clothes chair. You did read me right. I am repeating it again because I'm sick of messy girls glamorizing that fucking cloth chair. Sister, that sounds lame and you sound like a teen and not an adult. Growup.
Try to keep anything cluttered that you can't declutter (p.ex: laundry basket) in concealed storage. In the wardrobe, behind furniture, etc. We want to minimize anything visual clutter by diminishing the number of items the brain has to analyze.
Color variety DOES contribute to clutter. I am not encouraging you into going monochrome obviously but, a room with 5836 completely contrasting colors will be harder to keep less visually cluttered compared to a curated palette room.
Neat and orderly clutter is always ever always better than disorderly clutter. If you can't get rid of your book collection (which is fine btw), dedicate a specific space to those books, and look into alternate covers for those books (some books come wrapped in cloth then an amobile paper cover, the paper cover is just librairy publicity for the book, just ditch it you won't regret it.
Remove labels from products, like the dish cleaning soap bottle, except if it's essential (p.ex. dangerous chemical products). Written stuff DOES contribute to visual clutter.
This post is to be followed by another post next week, and I'll talk about palette curating and making the home cozier. See you next week! 💎
HOME GLOWUP 1/2 ⁽ᵉᵃˢʸ ᵖᵉᵃˢʸ⁾
STEP 1: CLEANLINESS
You do know how some homes are welcoming and some simply aren't, the moment you enter... the smell does matter a lot.
Wash all textiles, including curtains, decorative pillows, bedcovers. They DO refrain a ton of smells and dust, body sebum, food smells that can make a house smell off. Clean the curtains, furniture, decorative pillows, and other fabric items every season.
Change the kitchen linens everyday or every other day. They are especially susceptible to odd odours, as they retain food bits. I make it a rule to have 7 sets of kitchen linens, which means 7 rags, 7 hand towels, and 7 dish linens, so that if one piece gets dirty, I can easily change it out.
Take out the kitchen trash EVERYDAY or every other day at MOST. If you don't produce that much trash, time to scale the trash bin down. For the other room's trash, it tends to be less smell-producing but I would make sure to change it 1-2 times a week.
Make it a habit to do the dishes as you go, or every evening. No buts nor maybes.
Activate the fan and take down the toilet lid every time you flush down, I think you understand what I am meaning by that. An additional option is to make room sprays avaliable nearby. It can be Febreeze, or some fancy room mist, to your taste.
Have a COHESIVE house scent across rooms. Don't do lemon scents in the bathroom then rose scents in the bedroom. make it cohesive aka within the same perfume family (fruits, florals, woods, etc) or pick scents that are known to fit well together (chocolate and spice, orange and spice, strawberry and light florals, etc). THAT DOES INCLUDE CLEANING PRODUCTS!
Burn incense, or candles. Beeswax candles are amazing to bring in cozyness, a bit pricier but a little goes a long way!
Do not dismiss the power of OPENING WINDOWS and AERATION. Takes off anything musty smells, changes the air for cleaner fresher air. If you live in the city, dismiss that and choose a HEPA portative air filter. They're wonderful for smell elimination.
Keep down any pet scents as much as humanely possible. Take out the kitty litter every day, use litter baskets that minimize smells (like those closed ones), do a litter overhaul every week. Remove urine scents with enzymatic sprays first (avaliable in pet stores). Giving baths to dogs and cats (for other pets, make sure to check if it is okay as some pets cant be bathed) every month, or better, bringing them at the pet groomer.
Establish a clear housekeeping routine, to keep everything clean. It is better to dust weekly than removing a massive coat of dust every season (ugh). There's whole routines you can google so you can create a nice frame for your housekeeping needs. I remind you again: housekeeping done regularly makes life EASIER. A 30 min weekly dusting is easier and feels better than a 4 hour dust crust removal every 4 months.
STEP 2: DECLUTTER
Visual clutter distracts the mind from the actual art/architecture features and makes a space seem trashy even if it may be extremely clean. See how hotel rooms feel CLEAN and agreable as hell... It is because it is clutter-free and streamlined for easy cleaning aka minimum clutter.
If you declutter, you're actually making your cleaning routine way easier. Less stuff to get around, obviously. Spare yourself the pain of cleaning by decluttering.
No clothes on the floor, and remove those you don't want anymore. No more "cloth chair". Reserve a specific space (hooks on the wall, a different basket from dirty laudry) for the "not quite dirty, will rewear again" clothes.
No clothes chair. You did read me right. I am repeating it again because I'm sick of messy girls glamorizing that fucking cloth chair. Sister, that sounds lame and you sound like a teen and not an adult. Growup.
Try to keep anything cluttered that you can't declutter (p.ex: laundry basket) in concealed storage. In the wardrobe, behind furniture, etc. We want to minimize anything visual clutter by diminishing the number of items the brain has to analyze.
Color variety DOES contribute to clutter. I am not encouraging you into going monochrome obviously but, a room with 5836 completely contrasting colors will be harder to keep less visually cluttered compared to a curated palette room.
Neat and orderly clutter is always ever always better than disorderly clutter. If you can't get rid of your book collection (which is fine btw), dedicate a specific space to those books, and look into alternate covers for those books (some books come wrapped in cloth then an amobile paper cover, the paper cover is just librairy publicity for the book, just ditch it you won't regret it.
Remove labels from products, like the dish cleaning soap bottle, except if it's essential (p.ex. dangerous chemical products). Written stuff DOES contribute to visual clutter.
This post is to be followed by another post next week, and I'll talk about palette curating and making the home cozier. See you next week! 💎