How I did it: I love walking into my apartment and smelling fresh clean, clean-ness. I have always been organized and clean in a way that is borderline OCD, but I'm also highly creative and I tend to be messy when I get started on a project. Now what I do is try to contain the mess in one specific area, and once the project is finished I immediately clean up afterwards. I try not to procrastinate longer than a day or two. Since I have guests over a lot that helps motivate me too. I don't want people to think I'm a slob, so every day I clean a little. It helps to immediately clean things once you're done with them. Like putting dishes straight into the dishwasher once you've eaten. Or just doing the dishes every night before bed. I also try to vacuum once a day, or at least 3 times a week, even if its just the living room.

Also, for the first time in my life, I have nice things that I want to take good care of. In order for me to do that I have to keep my apartment clean and organized. I feel a lot less stressed out when the things around me are uncluttered.

Lessons & tips: I have learned that if you try to do too much at once you will get
burned out. Do one deep clean, and then every day do what you can to
maintain.

Make lists. If you're like me you tend to forget things easily and get sidetracked a lot. If I write something down and keep my list in a highly visible area, it reminds me to do things. I have to write down the super mundane stuff, otherwise I will forget.  

Resources: 43 Things, my husband, my OCD

Dec 16, 2008, 05:01AM PST | 0 comments | 4 cheers