You live in an apartment, so you already know that it's difficult to keep things clean. This can be especially true if you're living in a small space. However, there are some easy steps that can help you organize your apartment and make life easier for you.
Throw away everything you don't use.
The first step to a more effective apartment is to get rid of everything you don't use. This includes things that haven't been used in over a year, things that you don't like or want to keep, and any broken or damaged items. It also includes expired food and cleaning supplies.
The next time you go through your cupboards, drawers and closets take stock of what needs to be thrown away. Get creative! You'll be surprised at how much space can be freed up by simply throwing away things that aren't needed anymore--and often times those unused items are taking up valuable room in our homes without us even realizing it!
Identify what you use first, and put it in its proper place.
The second step to a more organized apartment is to identify what you use first. Take stock of your belongings and see what parts of your home are being neglected, or are just taking up space. Put things away as soon as you're done with them so that they don't pile up. If there are certain areas where clutter tends to collect--like on the kitchen counter or desk--set aside time each day for tidying up those spaces.
If something needs a permanent place in your apartment but isn't currently serving any purpose (like an umbrella), put it away in an accessible box labeled "incidents" or "miscellaneous." This will ensure that when something comes along that requires its use again (say: getting caught in rain), then one can easily find it without having had to keep track of where exactly they put such items previously!
Find a place for everything.
It's important to have a place for everything and then put it back in its place. If you don't, your apartment will become cluttered quickly and you'll be more likely to miss something when you need it.
Labeling things is also helpful because once they're labeled, they're easier to find later on (and if they aren't labeled already). For example: "Kitchen Towel" instead of just "Towel". Don't leave out items that don't belong there--for example, if your dining table has chairs around it but no tablecloth or placemats, then put them away until they are needed again!
Organize your closet and drawers so they actually make sense to you.
There are many ways to organize your space, but if you're not happy with the way things are currently organized, try one of these methods:
Organize by item type (e.g., socks in one drawer, t-shirts in another).
Organize by category (e.g., underwear goes together).
Organize by color (e.g., all black items go together).
Organize by size (e.g., all large items go together). This method works best when paired with another method such as "organizing by purpose" or "organizing by category."
Create a master cleaning schedule to cut down on clutter accumulation in the future.
Create a master cleaning schedule to cut down on clutter accumulation in the future.
Clean as you go, not when it's too late.
Clean every week, not just once or twice a year.
Clean every day, if possible--the more often you clean up after yourself, the less work there will be when it comes time to do an all-out deep clean of your apartment (which should happen at least once per month).
Now that you know what to do, it's time to get started. Don't let the fear of failure keep you from taking action. You might not be able to change everything overnight, but with some effort and patience, you can make a difference in your home environment and start living a happier and healthier life!