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| A clean slate feels so good! |
I am not a “clean freak”, but I do like my home to picked-up and relatively clutter free, and when it’s actually clean, I feel pretty satisfied and smug. Therefore, I have adopted a few strategies to keep my house looking presentable and me calm and peaceful…for the most part.
1. Clean as you go – it’s so darn easy to move thru our day and leave whatever we’ve done, undone. Toothbrush out, clothes on the floor, towels everywhere, food strewn about, dishes dirty, mail on the table; well, you get the picture. The smallest of tasks over time can leave your house looking like one giant mess. My sister calls it the snail trail. Add another body or two and pretty soon the mess can leave you feeling like throwing in the towel all together. One solution for me is to not make a big mess in the first place. I try to put things back as I use them.
Take for example getting undressed; when you drop everything you are wearing without putting them away, you will have a fairly significant pile. Try putting it back as you’re undressing. The same goes for anything you’re doing, from cooking to getting ready to projects. Even saying, “Clean as you go”, to yourself is helpful. Saying it to kids and your partner is a helpful way to get them to think this way and to be proactive rather than being reactive. Saying it to pets is generally a waste of time.
2. Set a timer – it’s amazing what we can get done in a specified amount of time. I have a mild case of ADD, and I suffer from procrastination and inertia. Anyway I can motivate and/or trick myself to get things done is helpful. Setting a timer is a tangible way to create time to accomplish a specific task. There is something about setting the timer; there’s a definitive beginning and an end. I like 10 minute blocks. You can do anything for ten minutes. Ten minutes of focused energy on a task and you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. And when that buzzer goes off; it signifies success. Now you can decide on another block of time or move onto something else. Using a timer may seem silly and unnecessary, but if you lack initiative or interest in something (like me); I suggest you give it a try. It’s surprisingly effective.
3. Do the big stuff – if you want your house to look clean but you lack motivation or time to clean the entire house, clean the major areas and instantly your house will be more manageable.
- First of all, go thru the house and pick up anything that is out of place and put it away or into an organized pile. An organized pile is a stack of like things. Clothes go in one stack; mail, books, magazines, dishes, towels, tools, hobby or craft stuff in their own. This way you’ve accomplished two things, you’ve picked up the entire house and you’ve organized your stuff so you can now go back and put it away when you have more time.
- The second thing is do the dishes and wipe off the counter tops. The kitchen is the heart of the home and when the kitchen is tidy, you will feel more centered.
- Third, go thru and fluff sofa pillows, shake out throw blankets, straighten books and magazines, basically de-rumple the house so it looks like it’s cared for.
- Lastly, if you have time, vacuum or sweep. Everything eventually falls to the floor so cleaning the floor makes everything look and feel better.
4. Clean in shifts – back in the “olden days”, major tasks were done on different days of the week. For example, laundry was on Monday, baking the bread was Tuesday and mending was on Wednesday. This can work in our busy modern day as well. But this time, pick one task that needs to be done and do it after work on a weekday or whenever is convenient. I break them down into five tasks; floors, dusting, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry. These are the days you do the deeper cleaning. So instead of doing everything on one day; spread it out over time.
5. Have fun – in order to enjoy what is typically considered a “chore”, we honestly have to change the way we look at it or it can become drudgery. I read an article where someone changed the way she looked at paying her bills. She used to think of it as a necessary evil, a boring chore, and a drain of her resources that she resented. But then she began to be grateful that she had the money to pay the bills in order to have the things she wanted that brought comfort to her life.
The same theory can be used for cleaning and maintaining our home. Change your idea that cleaning your home is to something you want to do rather than have to do.
- Be grateful that you have a home and things that need to be cared for. Gratitude is gateway to a better attitude.
- Incorporate stuff you already enjoy like music and exercise. Blast the stereo and dance your way around the house.
- Practice your affirmations. “I am beautiful”. “I am loved”. “I am grateful”!
- Engage your core and use it as your work out for the day.
- Put your earbuds in and catch up with friends.
- Use is as a form of mindfulness and meditation…wax on, wax off!
6. Keep it simple – Avoid using a lot of different and harsh cleaners. As a matter of fact, a warm damp wash cloth can clean most surfaces relatively well. I am not sure when or why we decided we needed harsh chemicals to clean and a different cleaner for every job. Our parents and certainly our grandparents didn’t subscribe to that theory and I don’t either. I believe that most things can be cleaned beautifully with a combination of these products: baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, lemon, oil and water. Any kind of oil will work from olive to sunflower. I also am a big supporter of natural liquid dish soap, Murphy’s oil soap and Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap. Not only will these products keep your house looking spic and span, they are inexpensive, multi-use, and chemical free. What more could you want?
So there you have it, my quick and easy, down and “dirty” ways to get and keep your home clean and tidy. Give one or two a try and let me know your tips and tricks for keeping up with your space. Happy cleaning!!
Remember, this is your life; enjoy the JOY-ney.