THE FRUGAL MATERIALIST

The Lure of Spontaneity

Ever get that sudden burst of energy where you just need to clean? Maybe a peek into a friend’s spotless home or one too many episodes of a cleaning show got you charged up. It’s all fun and games until you’re knee-deep in clutter with no end in sight. Let’s get into why you need to prepare before acting in the spur of the moment.

Via Pexels

The Plan You Didn’t Know You Needed

Jumping headfirst into a cleaning frenzy without a game plan? Oh, it’s a recipe for disaster. You think you’re just going to reorganize your closet, and next thing you know, every drawer is emptied onto the floor, and you’ve lost your energy and drive somewhere along the way. Where do you even start? Without a plan, you’re setting yourself up for a bigger mess.

Underestimating the Scope

We’ve all been there: you start with a simple drawer, and suddenly, every cabinet in the house is empty. You think it’ll be a quick sort-out, but then the whole weekend’s gone, and your stuff’s all over the place. Bit off more than you could chew? Absolutely.

Lack of Supplies and Tools

And then there’s the moment you realize you’re out of cleaner… right when your kitchen is a disaster zone. Or you’re ready to tackle the windows and—nope, no squeegee. Getting halfway through and missing the essentials is just the worst.

The Disruption to Daily Life

Imagine all your kitchen appliances, cutlery, crockery, etc., have temporarily been relocated to your living room floor. Or your bathroom essentials are hiding under the bed. Daily tasks become epic quests to find what you need, and your home feels more like an obstacle course than an oasis if you don’t pull through with the deep clean. Many of us have suffered this fate.

Waste Management Woes

Here’s something you might not think about until it’s too late: trash. You’re gonna have a lot more than usual. And guess what? Your regular trash pick-up might not cut it. You need to plan and be ready for the waste you will need to get rid of after completing this impromptu project. Get Red Dog Dumpster Rentals on speed dial—they can handle the big hauls, so you don’t end up with trash mountain at your curb.

Solutions for the Impulsive Cleaner

• Start Small: Why not start with something small? A drawer, maybe. It’s less daunting, and you’ll feel awesome when it’s done. Small victories, right?
• Gather Your Tools First: Do a quick inventory. Make sure you’ve got all your cleaners, sponges, bags, you name it before you start. There’s nothing worse than losing steam halfway through because you’re out of wipes.
• Set Realistic Goals: You’re not going to get through the entire house in one afternoon. Pick a room—just one. Save yourself the stress and tackle the rest another day.
• Consider Waste Solutions Early On: Think about the cleanup before you start. Plan for the extra trash or call in reinforcements like a dumpster rental early on. Trust me, it’ll save you a headache later.

Embracing Structured Spontaneity

Impulse cleaning isn’t a bad thing, but a little planning can go a long way. Get the satisfaction of a clean home without turning your life upside down. Just a touch of prep, and you can make that cleaning spree a total win.

Image Credit: Mediamodifier from Unsplash.

At some point or another, almost everyone considers switching up their style. As natural as it is, it mightn’t always be the easiest thing to do. Changing your style often involves changing how you think about your clothes, too. It’s easy to see why so many people don’t know what to do.

While you might think it’ll have to be complicated, it’s far from it. It could be a lot simpler than you’d think, especially if you decide to be practical about it. Using a few tips with this helps more than you’d think, so they’re well worth diving into.

Three of them can have much more of a difference than you’d think. No matter what you’re changing your style into, they’ll be sure to help.

Changing Your Style: 3 Practical Tips

1. Try Layering

Layering is a great way to make an outfit look much nicer, and it doesn’t take too much time or effort. It’s just a matter of adding more layers to an outfit while making sure each of these layers compliment each other. During the winter months, this is also a great way to stay warm.

You could pair a t-shirt with an overshirt, and then add a jacket on top of it. Not only will this help to create an outfit, but you could end up looking amazing because of that. Keep layers in mind when you’re getting new clothes.

2. Don’t Overdo Accessories

Accessories are a natural part of many peoples’ styles, and it’s always worth investing in this. The trick is to make sure you don’t overdo it with your accessories. One or two could be more than enough for an individual outfit. Anything more than that could make everything look relatively cluttered.

Instead of buying a lot of new accessories, focus on buying two or three that you can use with any outfit. Go for higher quality options, and there’ll be nothing not to love about them. You’ll end up being able to accessorize with any outfit, no matter what kind of style you’re going for.

3. Experiment With Clothing

Changing your style often means updating your wardrobe, and this is the most obvious step you’ll need to take. That doesn’t mean just replacing everything, though. It can often be worth experimenting with the clothes you get and trying a few you wouldn’t have thought about before.

Even some branded merchandise, like this Camp Half Blood Cabin 6 merchandise, can be worth considering. With some experimentation, you could end up finding a new style you’ll love. You’ve no reason not to at least consider it, and you could end up having a better time than you’d think.

Changing Your Style: Wrapping Up

Changing your style can be relatively complicated to start off with. It takes more than just updating your wardrobe. That doesn’t mean you’ll have to struggle with it, though. It’s just a matter of being practical and you’ll update your style before you know it. You could even end up looking more fashionable than ever.

Your home should be your safe space – a place where you can relax and unwind after a busy day. However, this is easier said than done if you aren’t maintaining your home properly. After all, it’s difficult to kick back and relax if you’ve got 101 things to do before you even step through the door.

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

With that in mind, here are some top tips for maintaining a happy, healthy home! 

• Get rid of clutter. 

Not only does getting rid of clutter make your home interior more relaxing, but it can also work wonders for your health. After all, if you’re surrounded by clutter, it’s highly likely that you’re also surrounded by dust and other allergens, which can quickly take its toll on your overall health and well-being.

As such, now is the perfect time to declutter your home from top to bottom. Remember, if you come across an item you no longer need or use, then you should not keep hold of it just for the sake of it! 

• Clean for 10 minutes a day. 

Cleaning is often the last thing you want to spend time doing after a busy day at work. However, ignoring these tasks only makes them more difficult to deal with in the long run. This does not, of course, mean that you have to spend hours cleaning each night either!

Instead, write down a list of all of the cleaning tasks that you need to complete within a week, then spend ten minutes a night working on this list or ticking off one of these tasks. For example, you could spend your Monday evening doing your laundry, Tuesday polishing, Wednesday vacuuming and so on. By the end of the week, you’ll have worked your way through the entire list! 

• Maintain your HVAC System. 

Your HVAC system is one of the most essential appliances within your home – as you’ll use it throughout the year to heat or cool your home. As such, you should make maintaining this system a priority moving forward. For example, you should clean the filters regularly to prevent a build-up of dust. 

If you encounter any problems with your HVAC system or believe that it is faulty, be sure to reach out to a hvac repair specialist as soon as possible. This ensures that the problem is resolved right away! 

• Inspect & maintain your roof.

Your roof is your home’s primary defence against the elements, which means that any damage to this should be rectified right away. After all, something as simple as a missing roof tile could lead to a range of maintenance challenges, such as internal moisture damage, flooding and even the presence of pests within your home.

As such, you should also make maintaining your roof a priority moving forward by carrying out regular inspections of your roof, cleaning out your gutters, and bringing in the experts for assistance when necessary. You should also remember to take proper precautions when working at height.

• Bring the outside in. 

Not only can houseplants elevate your interior design choices or introduce a splash of color into a room, but studies have also shown that they can improve indoor air quality. 

Not only could this be great for those with respiratory conditions, but caring for a house plant (and working to keep it alive) also has many mental health benefits! As such, now is the perfect time to bring the outside in. If you’ve been known to kill your fair share of house plants in the past, focus on those that are known for being low-maintenance. This way, they’ll continue to thrive even if you do not water them as often as you should.

• Buy eco-friendly cleaning products. Many of the cleaning products sold in supermarkets contain harsh chemicals that damage not only the environment but also your overall health. For example, according to the American Lung Association, many contain ingredients that can “irritate the eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems.” Switching to eco-friendly products can, therefore, make a huge difference. 

• Make your own cleaning products. If you’re looking for a way to save money while maintaining a happy, healthy home, then you may want to try your hand at making your own cleaning products. For example, lemon, vinegar and water make an excellent stain remover, whether this is used in your kitchen or bathroom! 

• Seal any gaps in windows, walls and door frames. 

If you find that you’re constantly getting a cold or that your immune system has weakened, it could be because your home is simply not as warm as it should be. While there’s not much you can do about the weather, you should ensure that your home is as energy-efficient as possible. One way to achieve this goal is by sealing any gaps in windows, walls and door frames, as even the smallest of cracks allow cold air to enter your home. Thankfully, this is a task you can handle yourself using caulk or sealant bought over the counter or online. 

• Hire a cleaner. 

If you don’t have enough time in your schedule to dedicate to cleaning, there is no shame in hiring a cleaner. After all, they will be able to do a lot of the hard work on your behalf, making routine house cleaning a lot easier. Remember, you don’t need to hire them to clean the entire home, either.  For example, you could ask them to focus on communal spaces or hard-to-clean areas, such as your bathroom or kitchen. When you consider the amount of time, energy, and stress a cleaner can save you, it is well worth the investment.

Final Thoughts. 

If you’re looking to get on top of household maintenance or want to ensure that you maintain a happy, healthy home, then the above list should come in handy. 

Whether you’re refining your cleaning schedule, calling a handyman, or making your own cleaning products, this guidance can help you start 2024 on the right foot!