If you hate cleaning, you are not alone. Trust me, I’ve always hated cleaning—and I still do!
Since childhood, I saw cleaning—spring cleaning, deep cleaning, or any cleaning—as an unnecessarily stressful chore. My siblings helped me survive those days, but now as an adult living far away from family, I’ve had to face my dislike of cleaning head-on. My choices were simple: hire a professional cleaning service or make cleaning fun myself. I chose the latter, and how I did that is exactly what I’m going to share.
If you’re someone who’d rather do anything else than clean, stick around—I’ve got professional hacks to make your home sparkle with minimal effort. For more detailed guides, check out my previous articles: A Step-by-Step Guide to Spring Cleaning and Unexpected Places to Clean in Your Home.
Why Do So Many People Hate Cleaning?
You’re definitely not alone if cleaning isn’t your favorite activity. Many people dread cleaning for various reasons:
- It’s overwhelming, boring, and tedious.
- It’s too time-consuming, especially for busy individuals.
- Results don’t seem to last, reducing motivation.
Truly, these feelings are valid—but they’re also major obstacles to a clean home. So why clean at all? Simply because the benefits of a clean home far outweigh the downsides of not cleaning.
How to Find Motivation: I Want a Clean House!
A clean home offers numerous benefits:
- A more pleasant and comfortable environment.
- Improved mood and reduced stress.
- Enhanced productivity.
- Better sleep and healthier breathing.
To find your motivation:
Identify Your “Why”: Clearly define why you want a clean home. Is it for health, comfort, productivity, or peace of mind?
Know Your Reward: Clearly picture what you gain after cleaning. Visualize relaxing in your sparkling clean space.
Clean with Minimal Effort: Use the professional hacks outlined in this article to avoid spending entire weekends cleaning.
Make it Fun: Play your favorite music, listen to engaging podcasts, or dance around while cleaning. These distractions make the process enjoyable.
Clean Smarter Not Harder
Time Management Hacks
Cleaning in short bursts helps avoid feeling overwhelmed. Here are some time-tested strategies:
- 20-minute cleaning rule: Choose one area and clean only for 20 minutes.
- One Thing rule: Focus on just one cleaning task.
- 20/10 cleaning rule: 20 minutes cleaning, then 10 minutes relaxing.
- 5×5 cleaning rule: Clean 5 small areas for 5 minutes each. Adjust to 5×10 if needed.
Quick Decluttering Hacks
Decluttering significantly reduces cleaning time:
- Remove dishes and papers from tabletops before cleaning.
- Clear horizontal surfaces regularly.
- Set aside 5 minutes daily to declutter problem areas.
Cleaning Efficiency Hacks
- Cleaning Schedule: Clean smarter by scheduling your tasks weekly or monthly.
- Gather Tools and Supplies: Save time by organizing supplies before starting.
- Declutter First: Always declutter before cleaning to simplify the process.
- Have Fun: Play your favorite music, podcast, or audiobook to make cleaning enjoyable.
Professional Cleaning Hacks That Really Work
Professional cleaners keep it simple and efficient, using multitasking items you probably already own:
Vinegar: Deodorize upholstery, curtains, carpets; soak showerheads; clean bathtubs (with baking soda) and windows (with cornstarch). NOTE: Avoid vinegar on granite, marble, or stone countertops to prevent damage.
Baking Soda: Sprinkle on mattresses, wait, and vacuum.
Dishwasher: Cleans toys, vents, soap dishes, makeup brushes, and more.
Rice: Absorbs odors—add essential oils and place jars around your home.
Dryer Sheets: Clean ceiling fans, baseboards, and pick up pet hair.
Lemons: Remove rust from stainless steel, deodorize cutting boards, and freshen garbage disposals.
Olive Oil: Polish stainless steel and wood furniture.
Magic Eraser: Remove crayon/marker marks, streaks, stains on walls, floors, furniture, dishes.
Key Takeaways
If you loathe cleaning and a professional service isn’t in the budget, adopt these strategies to keep your home effortlessly clean:
- Know your motivation and reward.
- Use multitasking cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, and magic erasers.
- Manage cleaning time with strategies like the 20-minute or 5×5 rules.
- Declutter regularly to simplify cleaning.
- Organize supplies first and clean with entertainment (music or podcasts) to make it enjoyable.
Cleaning doesn’t have to be dreadful—just quick, smart, and maybe even fun. We hope these few strategies will inspire you to get your spring cleaning done quickly and efficiently. Happy cleaning!
