No energy to clean: how to clean up quickly and easily

The thought that instead of a long-awaited rest, you will have to wash the kitchen facades and scrub the floor until it shines is depressing and can seriously ruin your weekend mood. We have identified 10 unconventional strategies that will help you quickly restore order, informs Ukr.Media.

Define your standard of cleanliness

Cleanliness is a subjective concept. For some, it's a perfectly made bed, for others, sparkling plumbing, and for others, the crispness of the sheets makes them feel like they're in a five-star hotel. Before you start cleaning, it's important to understand what exactly creates a sense of order for you. What does your ideal clean home look like? Identify three to five key parameters that are important to you and that you must consider when cleaning.

Make a checklist

For example, it could be like this:

• made bed,
• clean sink and plumbing without stains,
• absence of dust on visible surfaces,
• freshly washed floor,
• things are laid out in places.

Identify the barriers that prevent you from cleaning

The reasons why cleaning turns into an endless problem are different for everyone. Some people lack time, others lack strength and energy, and some people are hindered by lack of discipline and laziness. What is your barrier to cleanliness and order in your home? Maybe chaos is an environment in which you are comfortable? Listen to yourself to understand where the very barrier is that prevents you from bringing cleanliness around you.

If the reason is lack of time, you can delegate some of the work to a cleaning company or use five- and ten-minute sprints throughout the day to simply bring the express order. If the problem is fatigue, it is worth starting with the easiest tasks, moving from simple to complex. If the reason is lack of discipline, the habit of tying cleaning to existing rituals will help. For example, after morning coffee, you can wipe the kitchen table, and after shower – quickly remove drops from the mirror. Make cleaning part of a completed cycle of interaction with a specific object at home.

Develop your own cleaning methods

Professional cleaners don't clean everything at once, but work according to a clear system. They have different types of cleaning: general, maintenance, express cleaning, window washing, dry cleaning of furniture. If you adapt this approach to everyday life, the process will become much easier.

If you only have fifteen minutes, you should focus on the visible things: making the bed, clearing away clutter, dusting where it’s visible. If you have half an hour, you can clean key areas: kitchen counters, mirrors, bathroom, and do a deeper clean. If you have an hour or more, you should pay attention to the details and do a more thorough general cleaning.

Choose the right tools

The feeling of cleanliness is not only about the absence of dirt, but also about the tactile, visual and aromatic sensations. If the cleaning process is annoying, it can be made more comfortable with the right tools.

A soft cloth as an anti-stress toy, a powerful but easy-to-use vacuum cleaner, aesthetic scented candles or diffusers – all this affects the perception of the cleaning process. It is worth paying attention to objects that create an atmosphere, be it a soft blanket, fresh flowers or a beautiful tablecloth. The more pleasure you bring to the cleaning process itself, turning it into a creative adventure, the easier it will be to maintain cleanliness.

Clean in waves and pause.

Trying to clean the entire apartment in one day is a direct path to fatigue and irritation. Instead, it is worth breaking the process into several waves. First of all, order is restored: things are laid out in their places, unnecessary objects are removed from surfaces. After that, you need to take a break: drink tea, eat something tasty, listen to pleasant music.

The second wave is a full-fledged cleaning: washing surfaces, removing dust, mopping the floor. This method avoids the feeling of endless work and makes the process less tiring.

Cleaning on a “weekly” basis

If the thought of a big cleaning before the holidays makes you panic, break it up into chunks. For example, you could dedicate Monday to vacuuming, Tuesday to mopping the floors, Wednesday to dusting, Thursday to unpacking the closets, Friday to cleaning the bathroom, and Saturday to polishing the kitchen.

This approach allows you to clean your entire apartment without stress, spending no more than thirty minutes a day. By Sunday, the apartment will be clean, and the cleaning process itself will not seem exhausting.

Play in the traditions of other countries

To add an element of play, you can try cleaning methods used in different countries. The Japanese minimize the number of things, leaving only what brings joy. The French do cleaning to pleasant music, turning it into pleasure. The Swedish “lagom” approach teaches you to clean only what really interferes with comfort, without striving for perfect sterility. Italians organize cleaning in a company, combining it with communication.

You can choose the approach that seems closest, or try different methods throughout the week, turning your routine into an exciting experiment.

Cleaning with monetization

One of the most enjoyable bonuses of cleaning is the opportunity to get rid of unnecessary things and earn money at the same time. If you look through the contents of your closets, balcony, and pantry, you will probably find something that has not been used for a long time.

If an item does not bring joy and has not been used for more than a year, it can be sold through an ad, donated, or recycled.

“Day of Caring”

If you are already very tired at work, try delegating household duties. If you have children, you can agree that they will take on some of the household duties: washing mirrors or disassembling things. Your husband can vacuum the apartment. This will not only relieve you, but also create an atmosphere of genuine attention and care from your family.

Help from professionals

Professional cleaning is not just help with cleaning, but an opportunity to free up a day from household chores, get a perfectly clean house without effort, and at the same time avoid the usual stress.

Джерело: Source