18/12/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | DEC 18, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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Organised homes to start 2026 right A S the end of the year draws near, it is undeniable that a lot of homes have become testimony to o Simple steps for every household Ű BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR As a tidy home helps dwellers concentrate, improve their mental clarity and make daily life structured, the following is a year-end,home-organisation checklist that works for every home. Home decluttering for dummies 0 Pick one zone at a time 0 Be honest: question yourself on what you actually use or need Consider letting go of things that you have not used in a while, outdated items or things that no longer fit your current lifestyle. 0 Handle unwanted items

0 Create proper storage spaces Use drawer dividers, shelves or bins so each item has a known place. This reduces the tendency of stuff piling up where it does not belong. 0 Recognise non-material gains A reiteration of what was previously mentioned, home dwellers would do well to remember the advantages of a decluttered home or space: a clutter-free home reduces stress and improves sleep, focus and overall well-being. After the dust settles Following a checklist will result in less time wasted looking for things, more space to move around, better focus, profound peace of mind and a cleaner, easier-to-maintain home. When the space you live in resembles a war zone, it is only consequence that your mental stability is affected and in some instances, you have to forgo your sleep quality.

Beyond the fact that clutter looks unappealing, research shows that clutter can elevate stress, impinge on focus and make cleaning harder. On top of the psychological effects, these messy spaces collect dust and allergens, which may worsen existing allergies, aggravate asthma and generally make breathing harder.

responsibly Donate or sell items that are still sturdy. Recycle what can be recyled, do away with things that have lived out their time. This reduces waste and helps everyone. 0 Clear floor space and walkways first Removing items from the floor reduces tripping hazards, helps cleaning and makes rooms feel more open. 0 Tidy regularly, not monthly or once a year A quick declutter every few months or after major life changes helps prevent clutter build-up over time.

Focus on a single room or even a small area like a closet, a shelf or a drawer. Breaking decluttering into small zones makes it manageable and far less overwhelming. 0 Gather sorting tools for ease Use bins, boxes or bags labelled “relocate”, “donate/sell”, “trash” and “keep”. This helps you decide quickly what to discard and what to keep. 0 Set time limit per cleaning session that feels effective Even 10 to 15 minutes works, as decluttering in short bursts gives a sense of progress.

things that have quietly piled up, albeit being unused. Clearing the clutter helps to reclaim peace and lost space.

Clearing the clutter in your home can be done daily, if you do a little bit everyday. – PICS FROM FREEPIK

A cluttered home can negatively affect your overall well-being.

More Malaysians opting for laundrettes to reclaim welfare, quality time A recent customer survey reveals that an increasing number of families, working individuals and students are opting for professional launderette services in an effort to save 25 hours a month or six hours each week, equivalent to 150 to 300 hours a year. urbanisation, growing middle-class populations and widespread smartphone penetration. benchmarks against global leaders in the laundry industry for their advanced technologies, particularly in Korea and Japan. “While Korea remains ahead in automation and convenience, we focus on adapting those innovations to suit Malaysian consumer

DobiQueen gained insights into the laundry habits of hundreds of thousands of customers through data collected via its proprietary mobile application. The app helps customers locate the nearest outlet in DobiQueen’s franchise. Customers can start washing or drying machines instantly through QR code scanning, removing the need for token usage or in-outlet kiosks. “With over 90 outlets across the Klang Valley, we’ve witnessed firsthand how our laundrette services can make a difference, giving Malaysians more time and energy back on the daily,” said DobiQueen co-founder and executive director Nini Tan. Tan said DobiQueen actively

behaviour. We prioritise features that build customer trust and security in Malaysia. Interestingly, while Japan is technologically advanced, many laundromats there still rely on physical tokens and have e-payment systems limited to domestic patrons. Malaysian payment systems are more inclusive and can cater to both local and international patrons.” DobiQueen recently introduced its “Single Parent Welfare Support” programme, which rewards high performing single-parent employees with monthly incentives of up to RM500.

This substantial time savings reduces stress, frees up schedules and enables more flexibility in everyday living. Consumer data tracking over 15 million washes by DobiQueen reveals that 41% of users utilise the extra time to bond with their kids, 32% use it to enjoy dining out and social activities, 19% reinvest it into managing or growing their businesses and 8% dedicate their time to self-care. Internationally, this aligns with the adoption of self-service laundry services as Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region, driven by rapid

DobiQueen collaborates with NGOs that empower women’s welfare and community.