As the year draws to a close, we have that big year-end cleaning event, don’t we?
It’s that feeling of thoroughly cleaning places you normally can’t reach.
(*・ω・)(*-ω-)(*・ω・)(*-ω-)Yeah, yeah♪ That’s impressive!
Think about it for just a moment. With a few small changes, organization and tidying become easy, and things are simple to put away and take out♬
Isn’t it possible that the placement of your things is causing all the problems?
Simply put, if you have fewer things, cleaning is easier and organization becomes more efficient.
Reality isn’t that simple.
The first step to tidying up is to give your things an address—to create a home for them.
For example, aren’t you leaving chemical cans scattered all over the place?
You might have several bottles of brake cleaner opened and lying around, and some of them might even be empty.
If you wipe down a can after using it and return it to its designated spot, the next time you need it will be easier, and cleanup will be easier too.
If you create a fixed place to return things and make it a habit, your body will automatically put them back without you even thinking about it. As a result, the area around you will become tidier.
Keep things off the floor as much as possible
I’ve realized over the past few years that keeping things off the floor as much as possible really boosts cleaning efficiency.
Wait? So you put things up high? That’s dangerous…
You might think that, but that’s not what I mean. It’s about not permanently fixing things to the floor. In simple terms, it means keeping things on the floor in a way that they can be easily moved.
I use connected home carriers and place things on top of them.
It’s easy to pull things out and put them away, and cleaning underneath becomes a breeze too.
I store six Trusco L-size tool boxes with specialized tools (engine and frame), tire changes, fork overhauls, inspection gear, and wiring supplies.
Specialized tools are quite heavy, so pulling them out and putting them away used to be a real hassle, but with this storage method, I can access them very comfortably now.
Small things like this can make a huge difference in comfort.
I’m getting a bit off track here, but these Trusco tool boxes were previously sold by various tool makers with different logos. *Actually, the first one I got was a BETA.
For tool boxes with handles like these, I’d recommend choosing plastic ones.
I made this mistake myself years ago, but steel boxes that look sturdy are just heavy by themselves.
And despite looking tough, they dent easily and damage whatever they touch.
Plastic ones are lightweight, less likely to damage other things, and won’t dent—or if they’re PP or PE, they won’t crack either. That’s actually what makes them durable.
If you’re storing maintenance items for camping or track days, they’re incredibly practical. When buying, I’d recommend the L size.
Plus, you can do case-in-case storage with this type, so the convenience is really high.
Always decide on a return spot for your things.
Like your office desk… like your own room…
Turn fixed items into mobile ones.
Heavy items become easier to move, and cleanup becomes effortless.
At the shop, we mostly use Gordon Miller 70L storage boxes for everything. At home, they also help with storing water and food. Of course, if you put a home carrier underneath like I mentioned earlier, you can take things in and out without any effort.
I’ve covered two simple points this time, but they do require some investment.
By improving efficiency, you save time.
When you save a few minutes with each action, putting things away and taking them out stops feeling like a chore.
As a result, I think you naturally start tidying up quickly and properly.
Now, if you stay as you are with low efficiency,
putting things away becomes a hassle and takes time. Because it takes time, you end up leaving things within arm’s reach, which means they don’t have a designated place and scatter everywhere. You end up with duplicates of things you’re using, everything becomes chaotic, and this vicious cycle perpetuates itself.
It’s a matter of “do it or don’t,” but I’m certain that doing it will make your life easier.
