The clearest instruction is often the one that answers the reader's next question. “Find the folder” leaves several questions open. Which folder? Where is it? What should happen after finding it?
You can improve an instruction without making it long. Add the details that remove uncertainty, and leave out background that does not help the task.
Use one instruction for one purpose
Give the entry a recognizable title. Then describe the action, the location or contact, and any useful context. A practical pattern is: “Look here for this information, then ask this person about the next step.”
For example: “The household service contacts are in the folder marked Home, in the hall cupboard. The list explains which company handles each service.” This is easier to use than “All the home stuff is where I usually keep it.”
Replace private shorthand
Family nicknames and familiar phrases can be confusing to someone who does not share the context. “The old drawer” or “the usual person” may work in conversation but fail in a guide. Use a location and a person's name or role instead.
If you mention another instruction, use its actual title. That helps the reader recognize it when looking through the guide.
Describe the boundary
Sometimes the safest useful instruction is to contact a professional or provider. Do not tell someone to use your credentials, assume legal authority, or attempt a hazardous repair. Explain where to get appropriate help.
Read the instruction as though you are new to the household. If it needs a fact that exists only in your memory, add that fact if it is appropriate to share. If it contains a password, PIN, full account number, or other confidential information, remove it.
Clear instructions do not need elaborate language. Specific everyday words are usually best. Your reader should be able to understand the purpose before deciding what to do next.