The New Year brings new opportunities to achieve our most important goals… The key to ensuring that our resolutions last longer than a few days is to select those which are most important to us - and those that are most achievable. Why not start at home? A beautiful, peaceful, uncluttered, and clean home is a joy in itself - and it may just motivate us to go after our other resolutions!
Cleaning resolutions are manageable, and you will succeed! Start by:
- Decluttering. This is a super effective - and zero-cost - way to get your house in order. If you are a fan of Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up on Netflix, put those lessons into action! One great tip: declutter by category instead of by room (e.g. tackle all of your books, then your clothing, then toys, and so on).
If a possession doesn’t add functionality, beauty, or joy to your life, see if you can toss it, recycle it, donate it, or give it to someone who can use it. Decluttering not only makes your house look cleaner, but it also reduces stress and anxiety: who needs more stuff getting in the way of life? It’s also less to clean!
- Setting Up a Cleaning Schedule. No one wants to sacrifice their weekends or days off to clean the house. If you set up a schedule, you can stay on top of your tasks. For example, every day you want to tackle the dishes and wipe down your stove/range. Whether you hand wash or load the dishwasher, make sure you have a clear sink before you go to bed. This saves you from having to stand over a sink full of suds and dirty pots and pans when you could be doing something you love.
Another easy way to stay ahead: put your dirty clothes in the hamper and hang jackets and clean clothes in your closet. If you make it a habit to do this as soon as you come in or change, it’s not even a chore.
Save a few minutes of one day for your weekly tasks, like vacuuming, changing your bedding, dusting, cleaning the bathroom, mopping, etc., and do big chores (e.g. washing the windows, cleaning the light fixtures, dusting the blinds, etc.) once a month.
- Take Care of Items Immediately. You come into the house with mail, for example. Instead of throwing it on the counter - and cluttering it up - separate it. Put action items into a special folder or box and recycle the junk. Another habit to develop: hang up your coat and put your shoes where they belong. Again, it is only a matter of making it a habit!
Along the same lines, as you cook, do simple clean up. For example, if you’re sauteing onions and garlic for your famous marinara sauce, wash your cutting board and knife while you wait. As the water boils for your pasta, wipe down your counters. Make the most of your time.
- Stock the Right Supplies. Make sure you have the “tools” to get the job done: our picks:
- Microfiber cloths
- Paper towels
- Baking soda and vinegar (an excellent natural cleanser)
- All-purpose cleaner
- Scrubbing sponges
- Stainless steel cleaner
- Lint roller
- Glass cleaner
- Toothbrushes (not for your teeth! They’re great for nooks and crannies, as well as the rings around your sink when you use a baking soda/vinegar solution
- Get Some Help. If you have a partner and/or children, enlist their help. You all live in the house, you all should be responsible for keeping it clean. Assign chores to kids based on their age and ability level (from simply picking up toys to loading the dishwasher to vacuuming the living room). If it’s you and your partner, divide and conquer.
If you set aside an hour or two to do chores on a Saturday, for example, make a list, assign or pick chores, put on some music, and go to it. If your family or partner responds to bribes (and don’t we all!), tell them they get a special meal, a trip to the pool or park, or another treat after.
When cleaning is an expectation, it does not have to be a fight or battle each day or week. As they say, it is what it is! It’s just part of living in the household.
You can also enlist the help of our professional crew. From simple everyday tasks to preparing for parties and events, Greenlife Professional Cleaners can help you achieve all of your New Year’s cleaning resolutions. With demanding schedules and endless obligations, it’s nice when your free time is not consumed with household tasks. Why not have fun with your family, connect with friends, volunteer in your community, or indulge in your hobbies? Sounds good to us!
If your New Year’s resolution is to enjoy a clean, organized home, contact the Greenlife team; we are here to help!