Do you ever stare at a messy house, feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated to tackle the chaos? Fear not!
I’ve compiled a list of 7 proven strategies on how to get motivated to clean, which will help you transform your living space into a tidy, clutter-free haven.
Let’s dive in and explore these effective tips designed to boost your cleaning motivation and make the process more enjoyable.
Key Takeaways
- Identify obstacles and break down tasks to create a successful cleaning routine.
- Use visualization, achievable goals, & positive reinforcement for consistent cleaning motivation.
- Utilize technology, prioritize tasks, & adjust expectations to maintain cleanliness.
- Use a free deep clean house checklist to set yourself up for success!
7 Proven Strategies for How to Get Motivated to Clean
1. Identify Your Cleaning Obstacles
We need to be aware of the main sources that keep us from being motivated: feeling overwhelmed and having limited time to deal with mess and disorganization.
Knowing these roadblocks helps create a plan for keeping a clean house regularly by overcoming them successfully with motivation-boosting tactics.
So here are some problem spots and how to get past them:
Becoming Overwhelmed
Being overwhelmed is usually the main reason people lose cleaning motivation and can’t get it started.
Don’t let the daunting sight of a chaotic home stop you from taking control. With some creative strategies, your home can be transformed into an organized haven!
Start by breaking down each task into smaller pieces so it is easier to tackle. For cleaning the kitchen- start with clearing the counters and washing them, then dirty dishes, and so on
Focus on designated rooms in your house and start small by thoroughly cleaning one room before tackling other areas too quickly without giving them the attention they deserve.
Time Constraints
Time management is a very important skill that many people struggle with, especially with hectic family life and active kiddos.
If you only have so much time to get things cleaned up, there are techniques to help you break down tasks into a time frame that doesn’t overwhelm you but motivates you!
The Pomodoro technique is a practical time management approach that involves allocating twenty-five minutes for one task, a.k.a. one session.
Then you’ll have a five-minute break interval between sessions, allowing attention to be on the specified chore at hand.
Organizing limits may seem difficult, but if large tasks are divided into more achievable pieces in time frames, it will become easier to focus on one job.
2. See The Finish Line & Plan How to Get There
Now that the main obstacles preventing us from cleaning have been identified and we’ve talked about ways around them, it’s time to find ways of increasing our motivation through end goals.
It’s hard to image the entire house all spick and spam when you can’t see your living room floor, but picturing the finish line can be motivating all by itself.
Thinking of the outcome and planning your way to get there are other ways to get motivated to clean and stick with your tasks.
Let’s take a closer look at these steps and learn how they help make housekeeping tasks easier and energize us to do even the most overwhelming ones with ease!
Visualize the Outcome
Having a clear goal to strive for can help keep you motivated while cleaning.
When I look at my bathroom and need cleaning motivation, I imagine a nice bath in a clean tub with no toys in sight.
Creating visual aids such as vision boards and lists of goals or tasks that need completing provides an effective way of picturing the end result and staying on track with your cleaning progress.
Some moms think of the finish line of cleaning and finally being able to decorate and create their own cute home aesthetic.
Taking time to recognize every step forward helps fuel motivation to achieve an organized, clutter-free home.
Keeping the aim at hand throughout will make it easier to remain focused on achieving what was set out initially.
Set Achievable Goals
Making realistic goals for cleaning can help break down daunting tasks into more manageable chunks. Seeing the finish line becomes easier when you plan each small step.
Develop a plan and set deadlines that allow you to achieve your desired level of tidiness at home.
Tackling smaller projects, like organizing clothes or sorting books, is an effective way to make steady progress toward the ultimate goal of having a clean house.
You can use printables checklists to make this even easier- it lists what need to get done in easy steps!
My free bedroom cleaning checklists are one example to walk you through what you’ll achieve and get done.
3. Create An Enjoyable Cleaning Environment
Creating a pleasant cleaning environment can help boost motivation and make the task more enjoyable.
Here are some tips to achieve this: Listen to music or podcasts, wear comfortable clothing, and use aromatherapy during your clean-up session.
Music & Podcasts
If you’re faced with a chore, why not turn on some music or listen to your favorite podcast?
I’ve found that the right upbeat music or funny podcast can make all the difference in making cleaning fun!
Next time you are given any kind of cleansing duty, put those earphones in and give yourself something entertaining to focus on while working – this way, work won’t seem unbearable!
Comfortable Clothing
When tackling a mess, it’s important to make sure your clothing enables you to stay focused and motivated. You don’t want to get overheated and feel uncomfortable as you clean.
Wear loose-fitting clothes, like workout clothes, preferably breathable cotton, linen, or bamboo.
Such fabrics can ensure you remain comfortable and in good spirits while carrying out all necessary chores without feeling tired or overwhelmed.
4. Establish a Cleaning Schedule
Designing an efficient routine is essential for maintaining a neat home and staying motivated to complete necessary tasks.
To make sure that you stay on top of tasks, it’s important to establish a proper schedule, including daily tasks plus weekly duties or certain days dedicated solely to particular household jobs.
Customizing the plan according to your preferences and requirements will make housecleaning much easier and achievable, resulting in cleaner premises!
Daily Vs. Weekly Tasks
For a tidy home, it’s important to identify and complete daily and weekly tasks.
Some things don’t need to get done every day, whereas some really should- I’m talking about dusting for cobwebs vs. washing all the dishes in the sink!
Doing small jobs every day, such as keeping counters clean or washing dishes, make sure messes don’t get out of control and require deep cleaning later on.
You can maintain things more long-term by breaking up house cleaning into daily or weekly chores.
You could designate days for certain tasks like bedrooms on Mondays, bathrooms on Tuesdays, and flooring on Wednesdays- that’s what I do in my weekly cleaning checklist.
Prioritize Tasks
Busy moms only have so many hours in the day- making sure to spend time on the most important tasks is key.
Organizing your tasks on a to-do list is essential for staying on top of responsibilities and avoiding procrastination.
Prioritize which chores are the most important, challenging, or take more effort. These should be tackled first while leaving easier tasks until later.
With this method, you will save time and have an orderly home environment, allowing you to use all energy devotedly rather than scatter it into multiple areas at once.
5. Involve Others In Cleaning
Getting everyone on board can be a great way to get motivated and help keep your home neat. They help make the mess; why can’t they help with clean-up?
Sharing the responsibility for tidying up with those around you can make it far more enjoyable, so here are three methods of including them:
Delegate Tasks
Cleaning can become simpler with the help of other family members or roommates.
By delegating duties to each person in the home, all areas remain clean and orderly since everyone contributes to maintaining a healthy home.
Even your kiddos can get involved! Cleaning up teaches little kids good habits and responsibility with age-appropriate tasks.
Create Cleaning Challenges
Making cleaning jobs into a fun game or challenge can bring motivation and enjoyment to the process.
By transforming mundane chores into entertaining activities, everyone will be more interested in participating with enthusiasm when required to do these tasks.
For instance, it could be an opportunity for families to compete against each other to find out who’s quickest at clearing their bedroom.
6. Utilize Technology for Cleaning Motivation
Cleaning supplies are the essential tools to get cleaning, but it’s not the only thing that can get things done!
Technology can provide an effective resource to help motivate you and change how you clean.
So let’s see what tech can teach you how to get motivated to clean:
Cleaning Apps
Cleaning apps can be immensely helpful in streamlining cleaning with reminders and tracking your progress.
These apps are time-saving methods that keep you from forgetting tasks and getting overwhelmed with a big house deep-clean.
Here are a few cleaning apps you may be interested in:
Online Communities
Joining an online community dedicated to cleaning motivation can be extremely beneficial for those trying to create a tidy house.
On Facebook or other platforms, people can join groups and engage with people who share tips and strategies that have worked well for them
This is an excellent way of staying motivated on your mission towards better home organization!
I love seeing the before and after pics; they motivate me to get to the finish line with my own projects.
7. Adjust Expectations
Realizing that tidying up isn’t always achievable and making sure to keep your living space presentable is the best way of avoiding overwhelm caused by cleaning tasks.
Taking small steps towards decluttering can be helpful in this process too, and having cleaning supplies and organization bins on hand for it.
It’s important not to expect a spotless house all the time since messes are unavoidable when leaving a busy life with a family.
But with some effort, it’s possible to manage these issues without feeling stressed out!
Maintaining A Clean Home
Now that you’re motivated to clean, it’s time to get to the nitty gritty and clean house!
But I need to remind you that cleaning is an uphill battle- where you will always need to clean and keep at it to keep the place looking good.
Stick with it so you don’t need to deep clean the whole house again and again. Get motivated to clean a little every day and not let things get too bad too often.
By consistently cleaning and doing even one task a day, you can keep a clean house without losing energy or getting frustrated or overwhelmed.
FAQS
Why can’t I motivate myself to clean?
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you struggle to get motivated to clean. You aren’t alone, and I’ve been in your shoes.
It’s hard to clean after all your hard work when you’re ready to sit down and be a couch potato.
Sometimes after a long day of work, family time, cooking dinner, cleaning dirty clothes, and more, it’s hard to get cleaning when you’ve already been hard at work doing other things.
You may be overwhelmed, struggle with procrastination, or even have limited time to clean and would rather relax for an hour before bed instead of cleaning.
But all the strategies above, like planning your cleaning, breaking big messes into small cleaning tasks, and more, can be the first steps to make cleaning easier and motivate you to get it done!
Find your cleaning inspiration and take things one step at a time, one cleaning task at a time to fight feeling overwhelmed.
How can I overcome feeling overwhelmed when faced with a messy house?
A messy home can be overwhelming to tackle, but it doesn’t need to stay that way. With careful planning and helpful tips, you’ll soon have your home looking neat and organized.
Start by dividing the task into manageable parts and prioritizing the tasks that need to get done first.
Create clear designated zones in your house, and pick the ones that need the most clean-up. Cleaning one room at a time can help you stay motivated by seeing physical progress.
Taking things step-by-step like this should help reduce any stress associated with decluttering and organizing your space until it becomes orderly again.
If you need help decluttering and having less stuff to take care of, use my free decluttering checklist to get things handled.
How can I create an enjoyable cleaning environment?
For a more pleasant experience while cleaning, try wearing comfortable attire and making sure you aren’t going to overheat.
You can also listen to music or podcasts, which may help motivate you further.
I hate cleaning in silence, and I’ll even put on a comedy special to make me laugh as I clean the house.
Also, don’t think about it as a cleaning job you dread- think about tidying up as a way to help your future self.
How can technology help me stay motivated to clean?
Using technology can help keep you motivated while cleaning.
There are various apps available that allow for tracking progress and staying organized.
Apps will help you add each thing that needs doing, when it needs to be completed, and even assign tasks to another family member.
You can also connect with online communities focused on the same goal as you. Seeing how they have tackled each task and succeeded will motivate you to do the same!
Final Thoughts
These strategies are the first steps for you to get motivated to clean and maintain a happy, healthy home.
To create a neat and tidy living space, identify the obstacles to staying motivated to clean your home and how to overcome those barriers.
Boost your motivation by creating an enjoyable cleaning environment, establishing a schedule with your family to help, and utilizing technology and cleaning apps.
Get house cleaning motivation today, and get ready to appreciate how satisfying it is when all areas are orderly.
After all, clean and calm spaces can lead to a calm, collected mind!
