Hello and welcome back,

Lauren
2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 18 hours ago

Thank you so much for being part of the blog - I’m so glad you’re here.

Cleaning, tidying, decluttering, organising...

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between these four things. I often hear people say, “I should be able to tidy by myself” or “I have a cleaner, so my house should be organised.” But that’s not the case.

Each of these four actions has a different meaning, purpose, and skill set. You can have the cleanest home but no organisation, or a beautifully organised home but still struggle with cleaning. So today, I want to break it all down - to help you figure out where you might need a little extra support.

🧼 Cleaning (noun)

The action of making something clean, especially the inside of a house.

Everyone needs cleanliness - for our homes and for ourselves. Cleaning helps keep us healthy, prevents bacteria from spreading, stops unpleasant smells, and prevents mould from affecting our environment (and our lungs).

Cleaning is essential for wellbeing. Everyone has different standards when it comes to how clean something “should” be, and that’s absolutely fine - as long as your home is safe for those who live in it.

Many people outsource cleaning because of time constraints or because they simply don’t enjoy it. Others find cleaning therapeutic and stick to a regular routine. Whatever works for you is completely valid.

🧺 Tidying (verb)

Bring order to (something); arrange neatly.

When we tidy, we’re putting things away in their designated “homes.” These homes were already chosen by someone in your household. Tidying is simply resetting - returning things to where they belong.

There’s no decision-making involved. You’re not getting rid of anything or rethinking the system - you’re just following it. Think of children tidying away toys. It’s part of a routine.

Some people tidy as they go. Others prefer a bigger tidy-up at the end of the day - often called a “daily reset.” There’s no one right way, but leaving tidying too long can lead to overwhelm. The key is finding a rhythm that works for you.

🧹 Decluttering (verb)

Remove unnecessary items from an untidy or overcrowded place.

Decluttering is always the first step in organising. Before you tidy or organise, you must declutter.

Decluttering means removing items you no longer need, use, or love - and intentionally moving them out of your space. It’s a decision-heavy process.

You’ll be asking:

Do I need it?
Do I even like it?
Does it fit my lifestyle?
Is it usable?

In my opinion, decluttering is the hardest part of any organising process - but it’s also the most important and transformative.

Ask yourself: When was the last time 25 people came over and all needed a cup of tea at the same time? Do you really need that many mugs?

Make an exit plan for your items:

🛍️ Can someone else use them?

🏬 Could a charity shop re-home them?

💸 Is it worth selling them?

♻️ Have they served their purpose and need to be recycled?

There’s no wrong answer only what’s right for you. But remember, keeping clutter adds no real value to your life. It’s time to make space for the things that truly matter.

🗂️ Organising (verb)

Arrange systematically; order.

Organising always comes after decluttering - otherwise, you risk wasting time arranging things you don’t even need to keep.

Top tip: You don’t need to rush out and buy fancy storage solutions. If you want to, that’s fine - I personally love when things match! But honestly, a shoebox in your sock drawer or a cardboard divider can be just as effective.

Don’t buy storage until you know exactly what you’re keeping and where it needs to live. So often I visit homes where we end up decluttering the storage - because too much was purchased, or it simply wasn’t the right fit.

Organising is also about thinking practically:

🧠 Where would I instinctively look for this?

🧠 What items should live together?

For some people, this comes naturally. For others, it’s much harder to visualise. That’s okay - we all have different strengths, and it’s absolutely okay to ask for help where you need it.