Henry David Thoreau
~Our life is frittered away by detail... Simplify, simplify, simplify! ... Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.~
This of course is one of my top priorities this year. It ties in nicely with the Buy Nothing New plan.
The thing is I'm a Libran.
We like to surround ourselves with beautiful things. Books, art, framed photos of family and friends, beautiful gifts that have been handmade just for us. My house is full of these things. I am also a very visual person. I have to be able to see these things. They lift my spirits.
~To keep a house clean with minimal effort, the guiding rule is to simplify as much as possible. The less you have, the less you have to keep clean and put away.~
So the first step in a minimalist cleaning routine is the hardest: declutter as much as possible, so that you only have the things you use often and love to death, and no more. For me, that's still a lot.
clut·ter
1.a disorderly heap or assemblage; litter: a jumble:
2.a state or condition of confusion
They are not clutter. They were purposely placed. A place for everything and everything in it's place. If I were to pack them away I could not enjoy them. These are all things that bring me great joy.
This really isn't a problem as keeping house is now my job and my hobby. Perhaps if I was still working outside the home I would feel differently or even if my children were still young.
~Our life is frittered away by detail. ~
~Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; ........ instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion.~ (forgive me, I chopped this quote up in order to use what most pertains to this post)
Okay now this I can and have done. At one time I only allowed 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 cup per person .That was back when I was working full time and raising a family. Since then my cupboards have once again become full with excess. I will be working on that this week.
~An uncluttered room, with only furniture on the floor, is extremely easy to clean.~
Yeah, And it is also cold and boring. It's never going to happen around here. I can skip this one ;)
Fewer clothes means you have fewer things to put away and to wash. Sure,if you have lots of clothes, you can go longer without having to wash, letting the clothes pile up into a huge Fuji-like mountain. But who wants to face that mountain when you run out of clothes to wear?
Fewer things on your kitchen counter means cleaning the counter is a snap - just give it a quick wipe with a washcloth and you’re done. No straightening things out, cleaning in between or under things, putting things away.
~Meditate While You Clean~
~While housework is not looked upon favorably by many people, if done right, it can actually be very relaxing and destressing. The key is to be mindful and present while you clean.~
I like to think of a Zen monk sweeping the floors of a temple when I sweep. It’s corny, maybe, but it really helps me focus on the sweeping, and it’s a form of meditation. In this way, I actually enjoy the cleaning, although I’d rather be writing to be honest.( or in my case, I'd rather be baking)"
And now some links that might help you out
How to Declutter,
15 Great Decluttering Tips,
A Guide to Creating a Minimalist Home.
*x-posted to 
myhappyhomeas well
chipper
anxious