01/09/2025
10 things to help you keep a cleaner home and helps motivate your day :
1. Make your bed : Making your bed can inspire you by providing a small, tangible sense of accomplishment at the start of your day, setting a positive tone and motivating you to tackle other tasks, essentially acting as a catalyst for increased productivity and a more disciplined mindset throughout the day; this concept is often referenced in the motivational speech "Make Your Bed" by Admiral William H. McRaven.
2. Declutter and Organize your mail :
Designate a mail station, such as a desk, table, or counter. You can use stacking trays, baskets, or wall-mounted organizers to sort your mail. ○ Use folders or envelopes to organize your mail into categories. You can also create a filing cabinet for important documents.
3. Do a load of Laundry a day or every couple of days : Doing laundry can positively impact your mental health by providing a sense of accomplishment, reducing stress, fostering a feeling of control, and offering a repetitive, calming task that can help quiet the mind, particularly when feeling overwhelmed; essentially acting as a form of mindful activity that can improve your mood and overall well-being.
4. Take your shoes off before walking on the floor : Clean floors generally make people feel calm, relaxed, accomplished, and more in control of their environment; the visual tidiness can contribute to a sense of order and well-being, often reducing stress associated with clutter and messiness.
Taking your shoes off at the door is primarily done to prevent dirt, debris, and germs from being tracked into your home, thus keeping your floors cleaner and reducing the spread of bacteria that can be present on the soles of shoes; this is especially important if you live in an area with a lot of mud or dust, or if you have pets or young children in the house. If you need stability, keep a pair of indoor shoes tovwear inside and always designate a specific area for your shoes for tidiness.
5. Cleaning Spills : Spilled food or liquids can harbor bacteria, potentially causing illness if not cleaned promptly.
Cleaning spills also helps protect by preventing potential hazards like slips and falls, contamination of surfaces, damage to property, environmental pollution, and potential health risks depending on the spilled substance, essentially safeguarding people and the surrounding area from harm.
6. Clean the Air : Cleaning the air reduces the spread of airborne disease and improves health. It can improve your health by reducing the risk of heart disease and improving cognitive health incases of asthma and allergies. It can improve mood, sleep, and helps to improve your skin appearance. It also helps protects against outdoor pollutants.
You can improve the air quality in your home by: Using an air purifier
Air purifiers can remove contaminants like dust, pollen, spores, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). HEPA filters are the most effective, removing at least 99.97% of allergens.
Using a dehumidifier: Indoor humidity levels should be around 30%-50%. If they are higher, you can use a dehumidifier.
Using the bathroom fan: Turn on the bathroom fan during showers and baths to remove humid air and contaminants.
Venting your dryer: Make sure your dryer is vented to the outside to move heat, moisture, and chemicals outside.
7. Evaluate : Evaluating your cleaning routine or the work of a cleaning service helps you to maintain a cleaner home by allowing you to identify areas that need improvement, pinpoint any missed spots, and ensure that your cleaning standards are being met consistently, ultimately leading to a more thorough and effective cleaning process.
8: Elimianating : Throwing away expired food can contribute to food waste, which has negative environmental and economic impacts. Instead, you can reduce food waste by:
Donating foods.
You can donate excess food to local food banks, food pantries, and shelters. This helps alleviate hunger and malnutrition.
Repurposing ingredients
You can use ingredients that are past their prime in soups, casseroles, stir fries, frittatas, sauces, baked goods, pancakes, or smoothies.
!! PLEASE NOTE FOR REPURPOSING INGREDIENTS FOR SAFETY 🤢 !! (Foods... its a touchy topic, therefore; use your better judgment when it comes to food products and how you decide to discard or repurposing them) !! (meaning);
Save Scraps for Fermentation.
Turn Old Ingredients Into Cheese.
Make Fuel Out of Coffee Grounds.
Use Food Waste to Make Compost.
Donate Your Cooking Oil.
Create Sustainable Packaging.
I thought I may add a reminder for the 🧀 growers or beginners 🧀 along with the Jimmy Carter Fans 🇬🇸 (cheese lovers) 🇬🇸
When working around other food while making cheese, dedicate a separate, clean workspace solely to cheesemaking, avoid preparing any other food in the immediate area. Also, thoroughly sanitize all equipment and surfaces before and after, and use clean, dedicated utensils to prevent cross-contamination. Essentially, treat cheesemaking like a separate cooking session with strict hygiene practices to ensure the quality and safety of your cheese.
Key points to remember:
Clean workspace :
Clear your counter and designated area of any other food items before starting cheesemaking.
Sanitation :
Wash all surfaces, utensils, and equipment with hot, soapy water and sanitize them using a food-safe sanitizer before and after each use.
Dedicated tools :
Use separate cutting boards, knives, spoons, and containers specifically for cheesemaking.
Hand hygiene:
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling milk or cheese curds.
Minimize airborne contamination:
Consider closing windows and doors to prevent dust and airborne particles from entering the area.
Storage practices:
Store other food items away from your cheesemaking area, and avoid using the same towels or sponges for different food items. 🧀🧀🧀
Also keep in mind how to store & eliminate foods.⬇️
• Keep refrigerated foods covered in sealed bags or containers.
• Allow cold air to circulate around refrigerated foods.
• Store fruits and vegetables in different bins.
• Separate very ripe fruit from less ripe fruit.
• Refrigerate cut or peeled produce.
• Check food regularly.
• Check leftovers daily for spoilage.
• Check the use-by date on food products.
• Look for signs of spoilage, such as unusual odors, flavors, or textures.
Composting
You can compost fruits, vegetables, eggshells, and coffee grounds.
Using your senses
You can use your senses to determine if food is still good to eat. If it smells, looks, and tastes fine, it's probably okay to eat.
9: Organizing Clothing : A organized space allows you to see everything you have in their proper place which prevents you from buying duplicate items. It also helps you keep track of what is actually clean and what is dirty, so you don't waste money re-washing clothes that are already clean.
10 : Creating a Donation Box : Staring at a donation box in your home helps by serving as a visual reminder to declutter and regularly removing items you no longer use. By removing items you no longer need, leads to a tidier and less cluttered space. A donation box also encourages you to donate items instead of letting them accumulate around your house; essentially, it helps you actively manage your belongings and prevent clutter build-up.
