SO MANY of my friends have been hooked with the Netflix series “Tidying up with Marie Kondo” that they started the year waging an all-out war against clutter in their homes.
Whenever I visit picture-perfect homes of friends, I am constantly curious how they maintain a spic and span haven for their families. You could drop by their homes unannounced and everything is remarkably in order.
Want to learn their secrets? Meet these three Dabawenya queens of clean and get their tried and tested tips.
“Real Living” mom
Stepping into Razelyn Te-Arrieta’s cozy home is like visiting a page from “Real Living” magazine. A more-than-an-amateur interior design enthusiast, the stay-at-home mom has a natural talent and taste in home decorating. Whether it be renovating her kitchen, experimenting on a new paint color, or changing her throw pillow covers, this stylish mom means business. Here are some of Raz’s best tips:
1. Don’t let clutter linger.
“As often as I can, I clean or discard right away. I notice when I leave a little clutter here and there, amazingly, they multiply like they have a life of their own.”
2. Don’t overcrowd, may it be your bed, kitchen counter or open shelving.
“When I buy, I also let go of the old ones to avoid overcrowding.”
3. Streamline furniture.
“When I buy my furniture, I make sure they are proportionate to my space. It’s quite limited so I don’t go for the bulky ones. I prefer clean lines. I also arrange them in such a way that I maximize every nook and cranny of my home.”
4. Do spring cleaning regularly.
“Discard stuff that you don’t need. Like what Marie Kondo says, keep only what sparks joy. By doing this, we allow a breathable space for the things we need and love.”
The sanitizer mom
Fresh and fab mom Erika Soriano-Mata is a self-proclaimed neat freak.
“Being an O.C. (obsessive compulsive), my helper knows what I want and many times, I join her to do it. There’s no one day that my trusted helper won’t do general house cleaning”, shares the hands-on mom of three.
“I always believe that a clean and organized house is what really makes it beautiful regardless of how big or how small it is”, says the Humabi Bag founder. Erika’s organizing and cleaning secrets include these:
1. Strictly no outside shoes inside the house.
“Sanitation is very important to me, so I make sure that disinfectants are always available. I teach everyone at home not to use outside shoes or slippers inside the house. Practicing this makes the house squeaky clean.”
2. Make a family rule to place things where they should be.
“Without this rule, all your efforts to tidy things up will amount to nothing.
3. Train your helper as your cleaning partner.
“To really maintain the cleanliness of the house, I have a helper who is focused on doing only that the whole day. I train our helper properly by teaching her how I want our house to be specifically cleaned and organized.”
The professional cleaning mom
Mom-of-three Cherry Faye Banquil Al-Ag proudly co-owns and co-operates MetroCleaners, Davao's premier professional housekeeping and cleaning service company.
“Our aim is to give the market an upgraded cleaning system at par with hotel standards. Our equipment, tools, supplies, and practices are comparable to big hotel brands. After more than a year in operation, we are happy to have loyal companies and clients who continuously patronize us,” divulges the charming wife of Davao City Vice Mayor Bernie Al-Ag.
Cherry has found these practices helpful in her de-cluttering and cleaning journey at home:
1. Allot a time each week to de-clutter and clean by area.
“I do the rooms and different parts of the house at different times. It gives me time to think more what to keep, throw or share when I do not work on one room in one sweep.”
2. Keep seasonal items in storage boxes.
“For items such as Christmas decors, I keep them in storage boxes with labels and put them in our little storage room which has shelves so I can store more even when the space is limited.”
3. Create a temporary storage.
“Because I’m a busy mompreneur, I keep a paper bag at one corner neatly placed which serves as my temporary storage whenever I find an item or two that I no longer need or use often. Once it gets full, I find a way to give or share them to people who are happy to receive used, pre-loved clothes or new items I no longer need.”
Most importantly, Cherry points out that one must begin de-cluttering with a resolve to create a cleaner, more orderly and efficient space for the home. “This mindset benefits not only you but your whole family as well,” she emphasizes.
Have your property METROnized! Call and book for a cleaning schedule with MetroCleaners at telephone number (082)2858015 and cellphone number (0943)7070748.
E-mail the author at mom.about.town.dvo@gmail.com. Visit http://momabouttowndavao.blogspot.com/