The Lazy Person’s Guide to Keeping Your Home and Yard

Keeping your home and yard tidy doesn’t have to mean hours of hard work or meticulous planning. With the right strategies and tools, even the laziest among us can maintain a clean and presentable space with minimal effort. This guide will help you adopt practical, low-maintenance habits that ensure your living spaces remain clutter-free and enjoyable.

Declutter as You Go

One of the simplest ways to keep your home and yard tidy is to adopt the “as you go” approach. Instead of letting clutter build up, deal with it immediately:

• Place items back where they belong after using them.
• Throw away rubbish or recycle it as soon as it’s created.
• Keep a donation box handy for items you no longer need, and drop it off regularly.

For managing waste effectively, compact solutions like compact 120 litre bins are perfect for homes that want to stay organised without sacrificing space. These bins are easy to store and help streamline waste disposal both indoors and outdoors.

Prioritise High-Impact Areas

Focus on cleaning and maintaining the areas that make the biggest visual impact. By targeting the most noticeable spots, you’ll make your home and yard look cleaner with less effort. For example:

• Indoors: Tidy up living areas, such as the lounge and kitchen, where visitors are most likely to spend time.
• Outdoors: Keep your front yard neat by clearing pathways, mowing the lawn, and trimming visible hedges.

This strategy allows you to make a big difference without tackling every single corner of your property.

Use Smart Storage Solutions

Clutter is often a result of poor storage systems. Investing in smart, low-maintenance storage options can save you time and energy in the long run. Some ideas include:

• Bins and baskets: Use labeled bins or baskets to organize household items like toys, tools, and cleaning supplies.
• Vertical storage: Install wall-mounted shelves in the garage or shed to free up floor space and keep tools easily accessible.
• Outdoor storage: A small, weatherproof storage box can house gardening tools, hoses, and other yard essentials, reducing clutter outside.

When everything has a designated place, it’s easier to tidy up quickly and maintain order.

Automate What You Can

Technology can be a lazy person’s best friend when it comes to keeping a home and yard tidy. Automation takes the effort out of routine tasks:

• Vacuuming: Invest in a robotic vacuum cleaner to handle daily floor cleaning.
• Mowing: Robotic lawnmowers can keep your grass trimmed without any manual effort.
• Irrigation: Automatic sprinkler systems ensure your garden stays hydrated while you relax.

By automating these chores, you can enjoy a clean home and well-kept yard with minimal involvement.

Tidy Up in Short Bursts

If the thought of spending hours cleaning overwhelms you, try the “15-minute tidy” approach. Set a timer and dedicate just 15 minutes to tidying up one area. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish in such a short period:

• Clean kitchen counters and load the dishwasher.
• Fold a pile of laundry or put away clothes.
• Sweep the patio or rake leaves in a small section of the yard.

Breaking tasks into short, manageable sessions keeps cleaning from feeling like a chore.

Opt for Low-Maintenance Plants and Features

If you want a beautiful yard without the hassle, choose plants and features that require minimal care:

• Native plants: These are adapted to the local climate and often need less water and attention.
• Mulch: Adding mulch to garden beds reduces weeds and helps soil retain moisture.
• Hardscaping: Incorporate elements like gravel paths or stone patios that require little upkeep compared to lawns or flower beds.

Low-maintenance landscaping ensures your yard looks great without constant effort.

Outsource When Necessary

Sometimes, the best way to save time and energy is to let someone else handle the work. Outsourcing certain tasks can be a game-changer:

• Hire a cleaner for deep cleaning sessions once a month.
• Use a professional lawn care service for mowing, fertilizing, or pruning.
• Arrange for rubbish removal services to deal with bulk waste.

While outsourcing comes with a cost, it can free up your time and energy for more enjoyable activities.

Stick to a Weekly Maintenance Schedule

Consistency is key to keeping your home and yard in good shape. Create a simple weekly schedule that spreads tasks across the week, making them less overwhelming.

For example:

• Monday: Take out the rubbish and recycle.
• Wednesday: Wipe down surfaces and tidy living areas.
• Saturday: Spend 20 minutes on yard work or gardening.

By tackling smaller tasks regularly, you’ll avoid the need for major cleaning sessions.

Embrace Multi-Tasking

Combine chores with other activities to make cleaning feel less like work. For example:

• Listen to a podcast or music while doing housework.
• Weed the garden or sweep the driveway while chatting on the phone.
• Clean one room while waiting for food to cook.

Multi-tasking turns mundane chores into an opportunity to enjoy other things, making them feel less tedious.

Celebrate Small Wins

Even small improvements in your home or yard can make a big difference. Celebrate when you complete a task, whether it’s clearing out a cluttered drawer or trimming a garden bed. Rewarding yourself for these efforts reinforces good habits and makes maintaining your space feel more satisfying.

With these simple tips, you can keep your home and yard looking great without spending hours on upkeep. By focusing on efficiency, automation, and low-maintenance strategies, even the laziest among us can enjoy a clean and inviting space.