Creating a beautiful home

You can do many things to create a beautiful home, but this article isn't about the latest colours, the right sort of bed or what trendy couch to buy. This is about what the basics are to create a beautiful home.

So what is the  first thing you need to do to have a beautiful home, its simply having a good home management system in place, better known as a housekeeping routine.

You need to create a set of realistic goals in your daily routines that will allow you to make sure that the kitchen, bedroom's) and bathroom's) are clean.

Some habits to get yourself in to will also help with the household cleaning.

Live tidy: That is to say, put things away when you have finished with them.

• Don't leave them to accumulate on tables or in the sink.

• Put dirt laundry into laundry baskets.

• When you take off your clothes at night and plan to wear them again, hang them up.

• Get the children to put their toys away before dinner and neither you or the children will have energy later on in the evening.

• Put books and magazine back in their proper places when you have finished with them. Don't leave it until later.

Housekeeping routine:

Create a routine that suits you, the house and your family. Having unrealistic goals will only get everyone's back up. Encourage all members of the family to help with housework.  One of the most important habits members of the family can get into is to put things away when they have finished playing or using them.

Bathroom's):

• Showers and baths - give them a quick wipe down with a clean sponge or cloth each time it is used, this will stop the build up of scum.

• Hang wet towels to dry and replace soiled towel straight away. Dirty towels that are also wet should be washed the same day to prevent them smelling and getting mould on them.

• Your facecloths should be changed daily for hygienic reason. Don't share facecloths either as this can help to spread unwanted bacteria.

• Toilets - give these a quick wipe down around the lid and toilet seat cover region. If you have boys or men living in your house, a quick wipe around the outside of the bowl will get rid of any urine smells. Soiled skid marks on the inside of the bowl should be removed as soon as possible as they get harder to remove as time passes.

Bedroom's):

• Before you make your bed's) and if you do have the time, try and air your beds each day. Half an hour is a good time if you are leaving the house, an hour is better as this will allow the bed to dry out after a night of use. Make your bed(s) first thing in the morning. Try and get the children to make their beds each morning, you may need to remake them again for the younger ones but as they get older you should be able to train them to make a well presented bed (it is at least a worth while goal).

• If you can ventilate, open the windows, each day for at least half and hour.

Kitchen:

• Keep kitchen benches tidy, don't let things accumulate on them.

• If you are not going to do the dishes straight away place in the dishwasher or rinse and stack them ready to wash later.

• Clean and remove any food scraps from your dishwasher. Remember it is not a waste disposable unit, rinse dishes before placing them into a dishwasher.

• Put out clean tea towels and cleaning clothes each day.

Floors:

• Vacuum, sweep and mop as necessary. Sweep up food scraps as soon as possible otherwise you may find dinner has found its way to the lounge and on to your couch. Yuk!

Rubbish bins:

• Empty rubbish bins in each room at the end of each day and wipe clean.

Laundry:

• Don't let wet clothes lie around, they will smell and can attract bacteria.

• Try and do a little ironing each day.

• Once clothes are folded put them away, don't leave it until later.

Over the next few issues I will go over each area of the house in more details, giving you ideas on how to reduce clutter, make a bed (past that one on to your teenager) and much more.

Enjoy your home, its your castle.