Tips For Cleaning When You Feel Overwhelmed
Have you ever walked into your home and looked at a cluttered living room or a sink full of smelly dishes and thought, “Didn’t I just clean this?” This is my reality every. single. day. as it may be yours as well. These days, with everyone at home more than before, it may seem like a constant loop of cleaning and clutter. With that being said, we have some tips to help you overcome the overwhelmed feeling that can come from not knowing where to start.
Don’t Sit Down
If you are anything like me, half of your lack of motivation comes the moment your backside hits the sofa. If I sit before picking up from the morning bustle I can just kiss any motivation I just had goodbye.
Have the Right Tools for the Task on Hand
When cleaning the surfaces in your home it is important to have all the tools and cleaning products at your fingertips. Take inventory and stock up on the essentials here.
Race the Clock Cleaning
Try a more sprint-like approach to tackling a room. Got kids? They enjoy this game too!
Set a timer for 20 minutes
Spend those 20 minutes cleaning
Take a 10-minute break from cleaning
Repeat
Choose Somewhere to Start
The overwhelm you feel when faced with a messy house may not actually be about the task of cleaning but rather not knowing where to begin.
Here are some good places to get started:
The floor – Sit and tidy or sort piles of mail or books, grab a broom and sweep up crumbs, or vacuum the living room rug. A cluttered or dirty floor can make everything else in the room appear messier, as a result, so starting here can make a big impact.
The kitchen sink – Wash any dishes in the sink or load the dishwasher, then give the sink itself a good scrub. (Pro tip: Dry the sink after rinsing to help protect it!) A clean, shiny sink can be achieved fairly quickly and easily and will give you a sense of accomplishment to carry you through to the next task.
The laundry hamper – Start by throwing in a load of laundry. While your dirty clothes take a spin in the suds, you’ll be able to use the momentum to tackle something else.
Your wallet – Toss, shred, or recycle any old receipts you no longer need, save contact information from business cards in your phone or address book, and cut up any expired credit cards. Sometimes something small can give you the motivation to move on to something bigger.
Figure Out Your Priorities & Make a List
If you have a history of feeling overwhelmed by house cleaning, take a proactive approach. Keep a list of the specific tasks that, when completed, give you the best sense of accomplishment or make the biggest impact. Use a note-taking app on your phone, write it out on sticky notes, or my favorite, this chore chart. Refer back to it when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Are these tasks complete? If not, choose one and start there.
Create a Cleaning Playlist
Upbeat music that inspires you to move may help motivate you to complete your to-do list. Create your own playlist of your favorite songs or browse streaming music services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music Unlimited to find curated playlists perfect for housework. (Hint: Try searching “cleaning motivation.”) If you’re in a more cerebral mood, catch up on a popular podcast or listen to an audiobook while you work. Sometimes your brain just needs a little distraction to get into the cleaning groove.
What other tips do you have when you’re feeling overwhelmed by cleaning the house?
HELP!!!! We have a small home and we have a LOT of stuff with no storage room. My husband does not like to get rid of stuff but we have no room to store any of it! We are maxxed out of space and I can not deal with it! Every part of out house is full. our garage is full. our sheds are full. We are FULL but “we” keep getting stuff and I do not know what to do!! I am so tempted just to get a roll off dumpster and trash everything but I know that will literally only be a temporary solve and it will end up being right back to the chaos we have now again! I need him to see that we have more stuff than we do home to put it in!
That can definitely be overwhelming and make coming home to this constant feeling unpleasant. I get it. Here are a few more tips that might help you and your spouse come to an agreement on decluttering.
1. Start by removing trash.
2. Begin by choosing one small area to organize — like a drawer.
3. Sort items into three piles: Keep, donate and toss.
4. Find a specific home for everything you intend to keep — for example, a hook for your keys.
5. Group similar items together, instead of storing them in multiple places, so you always know where to find them.
6. If you buy something new, pledge to get rid of something else to limit items in your home.
7. If you’re holding on to items to pass to the next generation, ask your heirs if they want the items. Be prepared for them to say no, and be gracious.
8. Don’t try to do everything all at once. Schedule limited amounts of time to work on decluttering and organizing on a regular basis.
Good Luck!
My biggest problem is with the laundry…my old washing machine was quick and I could get caught up with laundry no problem, but this new one takes FOREVER (and I’m not sure it is better!!!) I always seem to be overwhelmed with laundry…any pointers??
Ick, the never ending laundry pile. I personally have to do laundry on a daily basis to keep up with it. For smaller loads, I have a setting that is for quick wash and it is quick and efficient. Heavier loads typically take an hour to wash. Take a look at your settings and depending upon load size, you might find a quicker setting.
Many conventional hardwood floor cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can not only damage your floors over time, but also pose risks to your health and the environment. Are there safer and more effective alternatives available?”,
“refusal
Hi Rae,
We recommend Quick Shine Hardwood Floor Cleaner as a safer option. This cleaner does not contain harsh chemical ingredients such as Alcohol, Ammonia, Formaldehyde and Parabens. Simply squirt and spread for clean floors.