Shelf Reliant

When it comes to prepping, one aspect that often gets overlooked is the importance of maintaining a clean and organized home. A cluttered living space can hinder your ability to properly rotate and store food items, leading to food waste, which is the enemy of preppers. Beyond the kitchen, a clean home plays a crucial role in keeping vermin at bay, promoting respiratory health, and ensuring overall hygiene within the household.

In times of emergency, a messy or dirty home can swiftly transform from a mere inconvenience to a serious hazard. Clear floors facilitate easy movement during evacuations, especially in low-light conditions or during fires. Keeping up with laundry guarantees that you’ll have clean clothes even in the event of a power outage. Similarly, staying on top of dishes prevents food from sitting and spoiling if water service is disrupted. To ensure your home is always prepared for emergencies, it’s advisable to incorporate daily cleaning habits. While these routines may vary for each family, a minimum effort could involve tackling at least one load of dishes and/or laundry per day (if needed) and cleaning floors weekly.

Now, let’s delve into the realm of organization. The key to maintaining a clean home lies in assigning a specific home for every item, allowing them to be easily stored after use. Items lacking a designated spot tend to clutter junk drawers or countertops. An effective approach to combat this issue is by addressing it directly. Take a systematic approach by sorting through each closet and drawer in your home. Dispose of any items destined for donation or disposal, ensuring that the remaining items fit within the allocated space. Arrange similar items together to simplify retrieval and practice a “first in, first out” policy where applicable to utilize older items first. Items tucked away in the depths of closets often get forgotten quickly. You can counteract this by maintaining an inventory spreadsheet or posting a list of items on the closet door. Leveraging spinning organizers in rear corners can also aid in accessibility.

Here are some rules to guide your decluttering process:

1. Do I need this item?
2. Does this item function effectively? For example, does the jacket still fit, or does the coffee maker still operate?
3. When was the last time I used this item? If not within the past 12 months, can I envision using it in the next 30 days?
4. Would it be challenging or costly to replace this item?
5. Is there a superior alternative available that would better serve my needs?

By adhering to these guidelines and incorporating regular cleaning practices, you can ensure that your home remains primed for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. A clean and organized living space not only fosters efficiency but also enhances preparedness, making it an essential component of any prepper’s strategy.