Whether you work full-time, part-time, or you stay at home, keeping the house clean and tidy can be a frustrating and daunting task. Use some of the following ideas to get started on getting the house clean and keeping it that way. It's important to find ways to make cleaning the house fun!
Identify what you Hate about Cleaning
What is it that you hate about cleaning? Take a moment to reflect the factors that make you cringe when you think about cleaning: loneliness, resentment for being the only one cleaning, thinking of how the time could be better spent, getting your hands dirty, being repulsed by smells, getting bored easily, lacking motivation, etc. By identifying what you hate about cleaning, you’ll be able to find the solution.
Find Solutions
You’re a smart individual, so after identifying what you hate about doing chores and cleaning, start brainstorming some solutions to those problems. Come up with as many as possible, and then get going. The following is a sampling to get you started…
- Loneliness: talk on the phone or insist your partner keep you company
- Resentment: share this with the other person in a fair and calm way, and discover if you are truly pulling more than your load. Household tasks should be equal, but if your partner is working all day to support you, it may be fair to expect you to work all day too.
- Time better spent: reward certain cleaning tasks with enjoyable hobby/pleasure time
- Dirty hands: wear gloves
- Smells: wear a face mask (can be found at hardware stores)
- Getting Bored: break it into 15 minute tasks, listen to music, dance while you clean, or turn it into a game
- Lacking Motivation: take a before and after picture
A Change of Attitude
Brainstorm some ways you can change your attitude while doing chores and cleaning the house. Some common suggestions include: listening to music, dancing while cleaning, set a timer and race yourself, make it a game, take breaks, reward yourself, play a favorite DVD in the background, and so on. The key is to get creative. You know yourself best, and you know what it’s going to take to change your attitude. If you think you don’t know, start experimenting. The key to changing an attitude is acting like a kid – allow yourself to be silly, goofy, and then you’ll truly start having fun.
Maintaining a Clean House is as Easy as 1-2-3!
Some chores are never-ending and take time everyday, like washing dishes and laundry. For the rest of the house, start doing 1-2-3. Every time you walk into a room (kitchen, living room, bathroom, etc) pick up or clean 3 items. It will only take a few seconds. Train yourself to do this every time you go into a different room, and your house will stay clean. A few seconds multiple times throughout the day ends up saving you hours of picking up and cleaning. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
Your home should be your sanctuary – your place to relax, have fun, entertain, and spend time with the people you love. Start treating it like a sanctuary by keeping it clean and orderly. The positive feelings you’ll get from living in a clean clutter-free home will be worth the time investment. Good luck and start having fun while you clean!
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