Are your days filled with scrubbing, wiping, mopping, vacuuming and conquering every clutter-filled corner of your home. If you answered, “yes” then… you’re hired! Kidding aside, by reading my previous blogs you realize that cleaning doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s not that I don’t love a clean and organized home, it’s just that I really have to work at keeping it that way. The analogy I like to use is this: some people are naturally smart. They never crack a book open to study, yet ace a math quiz as if they wrote themselves. Conversely, I need to work with a math tutor for days in advance to do as well.
I believe the same analogy can be applied to cleaning. Some people are naturally tidy, while others need to apply organizational techniques to aid in keeping the house presentable. I fit into the latter category. What’s more, if you have children you know cleaning can be like fighting a losing battle. Unfortunately, blaming others is not going to cure my home of the clutter. Clutter, is what makes a room appear messy, regardless of if all of the items that are strewn around are clean.
With that in mind I have been trying de-clutter my home (with the holidays fast approaching I figured it was a project that could no longer be ignored). I applied the cleaning method that I shared with you in a previous blog: Put it away, give it away, or throw it away. (Get three boxes and label them accordingly… and get to work.) In addition, to that tried-and-true method, hopefully, these other tips will prove as helpful:
Tackle One Room At A Time. Unless your husband has been designated to take the children out for the entire day so you can conquer the entire house in one day don’t undertake a cleaning marathon.
Establish Cleaning Routines. My friend has got this concept down to a science. I, on the other hand, am still struggling to strike a balance between working out of my home, cleaning, cooking, washing and folding clothes, and running after a toddler. Cleaning experts recommend you tackle simple tasks on a daily basis, which prevents the job from growing into an all day project.
Recruit Family Members. I’m sure you’ve heard this one before—the obligatory: hold family members accountable for keeping their spaces clean and clutter-free. (If you have already made this a household rule then you are one step ahead of me.) Experts suggest before going to bed, each member of the household spend 10 minutes picking up a designated mess.
Develop A Tolerance For “Good Enough.” Unfortunately, cleaning is not something you do once–it’s a repetitive process–so give yourself a break if you are only able to get half of your list done. After all, in all likelihood the mess will be there tomorrow.
Related Articles:
Cleaning Routines… The Method Behind The Madness
Time Saving Cleaning Tips—Part 1
Time Saving Cleaning Tips—Part 2