Home Cleaning Tips⚓︎
Summary⚓︎
Cleaning sucks. There's no getting around it. So now that we know it has to be done, how do we approach it?
By no means is this guide meant to be comprehensive or the best approach. This guide aims to be a practical and manageable approach to cleaning.
Create a Cleaning Schedule⚓︎
When you set out to get something done, the best approach is the one that comes with a plan for getting it done. Cleaning should be no different. Begin with creating a schedule for cleaning your house - daily, weekly or monthly. Let it be as simple or complex as you want it to be, but make sure it accounts for every task throughout the year.
The idea is to remove as much stress as possible by doing this effectively so that cleaning becomes a lot less overwhelming in the long run.
While this sounds like work, it boils down to three steps.
Create a Master Task List⚓︎
Before you begin cleaning, you should first know what you need to clean and how often. Make it work for you, your life, and your schedule. It's worth noting that a task list for an owner of a large home will look quite different than someone who rents a small apartment.
Find What Works Best For You⚓︎
There's no right way to clean, just like there's no schedule that fits everyone's needs. Make it doable:
- Would you prefer to do a little each day or tackle it all at once?
- Do you work full time, or are you home all day?
- Do you have young children, or are they old enough to should some of the responsibility?
These are questions to ask, but try to apply them to your situation and see if it's doable. If it isn't, abandon it and re-evaluate. Don't try to force it if it's not practical.
Common Approaches⚓︎
Daily Cleaning⚓︎
If you'd prefer to knock out a bit of cleaning daily to try and keep up with things, do it. This approach allows you to keep things relatively neat while minimizing the need for a deep clean as frequently.
Timed Sessions⚓︎
Carve out a block of time for cleaning. Set aside whatever time you can and knock out a few items on the list. If it's 30 minutes, stick to that 30-minute block and make it count. Once the 30 minutes is up, call it a day. Repeat this daily or whatever your schedule allows. Keep repeating until you've completed the list.
One Room or Task Each Day⚓︎
This approach sets aside tasks to do daily. For example:
- Monday: Bathrooms
- Tuesday: Laundry
- Wednesday: Vacuuming
This approach can vary heavily depending on which room you're doing and how much time you want to set aside to do it.
Everything All at Once⚓︎
This approach saves everything for a full day each week. In my opinion, this is the best option if you have help. If you have a spouse and can split the load, it will go that much faster. If you have kids that you can delegate to, even better.
Make sure everyone knows what it is that they're responsible for completing. Try swapping chores each week to keep things interesting.
Create Your Schedule⚓︎
Once you figure out which plan works best for you, you're now ready to create your schedule. It's not as daunting as it seems and can be even easier if you use a calendar.
Whatever approach you choose, make sure it's viable. When you finish creating your schedule, you'll likely feel a sense of relief. You'll begin finding that you have a manageable plan to work from, and things are no longer on an ad-hoc basis.
When Should I Begin?⚓︎
As the saying goes, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today." While the best time to begin may not be today, pick a day where you don't have a whole lot going on. You'll end up having more time to focus on the task at hand and get acclimated to your new schedule.
Don't forget - reward yourself for a job well done, and be kind to yourself. If you miss a cleaning, it's okay. Getting accustomed to a new routine can be challenging. Just make sure you jump right back in during your next scheduled cleaning.