One of the most daunting responsibilities of being an adult is the dreaded household cleaning. Whether you live in a studio apartment or huge 7 bedroom detached house, it is hard for many people to find the motivation to clean up. Although let’s face it – if you live in a huge house, I would be very impressed if you take on all that cleaning alone. Cleaners exist for a reason!
Hiring a cleaner might not be an option for many however, so how can you get motivated? Household cleaning can be such a huge task, especially when you have a full time job, hobbies, a social life and a family to take care of. Here are some ways to make this essential skill a little less daunting.
Reduce the Clutter
Whether you’re a certified hoarder or bona fide minimalist, you would be surprised at how much extra ‘stuff’ you’re holding on to. Surfaces are harder to clean when they’re covered with ornaments or paperwork, and it’s a lot more arduous to get a vacuum cleaner and mop round when you have to traverse furniture legs. If you work to reduce your belongings, you’ll find your surfaces are clearer and the idea of wiping them down doesn’t seem so difficult. I’m a big fan of keeping kitchen counters clear of appliances – storing your appliances in cupboards not only reduces the visual clutter, but it protects the appliances from dust. It’s also ENDLESSLY EASIER to keep the counters clean!
Practicing minimalism is a sure fire way to make cleaning easier. If you’re looking for help decluttering, there are many tried and tested methods out there that really work. Reading The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo really did change my life and completely altered my perspective on what ‘clutter’ is.
Little and Often
Many people swear by this method. Set aside an amount of time each day (recommended is 15 mins) including a timer, and try and get as much cleaning done in that time as possible. What you don’t want to do is burn yourself out – I myself have been in the ‘mood’ for cleaning, spent hours and hours being productive and then became exhausted for the next week (or at least that’s the excuse I gave my husband!). If you do a little each day, you start to maintain that sense of cleanliness that can breed the motivation to clean other parts of your home.
Make sure to prioritise cleaning tasks as well; reserve those 15 mins or so of daily cleaning for a task that can make a visible difference in your home to maximise the impact it has overall. For example, I find vacuuming the carpet can make a room look infinitely cleaner, as can cleaning the sink in the bathroom (I can’t lay claim to this one, credit for this goes to FlyLady although she does focus on the kitchen sink instead). I’ve also heard that just making the bed can make a bedroom so much more pleasing to look at and spend time in.
Delegate
This is only an option if you don’t live alone, but it’s still important to mention. If you live with others, and they contribute to the mess, they can help clean it up. It can be easier said than done especially when it comes to children – but it’s especially important to get children involved in chores as it develops their crucial life skills. So many young adults move out for uni and have no idea how to use a washing machine or cook a nutritious meal, and lack of household delegation when they were growing up is probably to blame.
It can also be hard to balance chores between partners, especially if one brings home more money or works longer hours. It’s important to delegate together in order to avoid resentment down the line. When you collaborate to get something done, it gets done faster and both partners feel valued and involved from start to finish. Many relationship issues can be resolved just by effective communication and collaboration. I think many people forget that it’s not you vs them; it’s you both vs the problem (of no one wanting to do any cleaning). You can’t expect to be able to take on all the household responsibility and have a full, happy life. That’t not to say it’s not possible – just very difficult!
Use Products You Enjoy
It’s easier to get up and start spraying things on surfaces when they smell good. It might also be easier if you know the product has come from ethical sources. In case you hadn’t heard, widely known ethical manufacturers Ecover & Method have recently been acquired by SC Johnson, a company which admits to animal testing – therefore purchasing these products will no longer be supporting ethical, cruelty-free practices. It might also be worth exploring the different types of cleaning appliances, such as cylinder vacuums vs cordless sticks. Or even handhelds!
There are some great DIY cleaner recipes for those who are more environmentally conscious. For example, citrus peels steeped in white vinegar for a few days makes a lovely natural citrus scented surface cleanser. You can also boil a pot of water with a few drops of essential oils, or even vanilla essence, for a natural air freshener.
Power Hour
This tactic is very popular across YouTube. It’s when you set a timer for an hour, have a list of tasks to get done in that hour, and try and get as much done as possible. The key is crossing off your list when a task is complete, as this brings a sense of accomplishment and productivity. It’s supposed to give you fuel to power through the hour timer and get more done than you would have otherwise.
Many people like to turn off all distractions, others like to put some earphones in and blast energetic music while they power through their list. It’s entirely up to you!
Let me know in the comments what tactics you use to beat the procrastination!
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