Growing up our family had a rule, every year the place was cleaned/sorted like it was about to be fumigated. So cupboards & storage spaces sorted out, garage & storage shed dealt with.

With a family of 5 kids, the living area was our main play area, even though there was a playroom that we ended up spending more time in as we got older. All toys were in plastic tubs and cycled on a regular basis. There was only one hard’n’fast rule, all lego had to be put away or it was vacuumed up – the living areas were vacuumed/swept on a daily basis so we all learnt the hard way about this rule.

At home now, I try to spend no more than 15 mins cleaning one room, if there are things for other rooms I just put them in a washing basket or container and continue to deal with the room I’m currently in.

I’ve probably got 2 or 3 more 15 min sessions in the spare room until it is back to respectable. There is minimal storage at my place, so I’m trying to find new ways of storing the stacks of empty plastic storage tubs.

I also do cleaning every day, just 15-20 mins because I want to not have to stress about doing anything major on the weekends.