How do you clean when you really don't want to...

Truly_Blessed · Oct 28, 2004

I clean by the hour. Here's how:
Set the stove timer for 10 minutes. Stay in one room for that 10 minutes. I usually start with the kitchen. The idea is to go as fast as possible. And items must be put away where they belong, not just out of sight.
I can pretty much get the dishwasher loaded, and the table and counters cleaned during that time.
If some things go into another room, gather them together and put them near the door.
That room will be your next 10-minute cleanup, and so on for an hour. You'll be surprised at how much you can get done in just an hour.
Somehow, I can handle it a little better in short increments until I'm really in the mood to go for it (usually on my weekends off).

omg...I thought I was freakishly weird because i do this exact same thing. Ppl always think I am crazy when they see me buzzing around my house trying to beat the stove clock:chuckle I must say, it works pretty well. I do it for 1 hour after school....I actually only have 5 rooms in my house...so I have figured it exactly to the minute; 12 minutes for each room:p If for some reason I don't start right after school, I will clean while one of my favorite shows is on...during commercials. You rush to get as much as you can done in those little 3 minute breaks. Gives you free time on the weekends. Well, nevermind...that free time is then spent studying:rolleyes:

Truly_Blessed · Oct 28, 2004

I clean by the hour. Here's how:
Set the stove timer for 10 minutes. Stay in one room for that 10 minutes. I usually start with the kitchen. The idea is to go as fast as possible. And items must be put away where they belong, not just out of sight.
I can pretty much get the dishwasher loaded, and the table and counters cleaned during that time.
If some things go into another room, gather them together and put them near the door.
That room will be your next 10-minute cleanup, and so on for an hour. You'll be surprised at how much you can get done in just an hour.
Somehow, I can handle it a little better in short increments until I'm really in the mood to go for it (usually on my weekends off).

omg...I thought I was freakishly weird because i do this exact same thing. Ppl always think I am crazy when they see me buzzing around my house trying to beat the stove clock:chuckle I must say, it works pretty well. I do it for 1 hour after school....I actually only have 5 rooms in my house...so I have figured it exactly to the minute; 12 minutes for each room:p If for some reason I don't start right after school, I will clean while one of my favorite shows is on...during commercials. You rush to get as much as you can done in those little 3 minute breaks. Gives you free time on the weekends. Well, nevermind...that free time is then spent studying:rolleyes:

NurseRachy · Oct 28, 2004

I also invite people over when i need the motivation to clean. I don't mind myself seeing a bit of clean clutter when I'm bone tired but I'll be damned if anyone else will see it! Also run around during the commerical breaks and turn the stereo up and clean whilst singing to the music.

NurseRachy · Oct 28, 2004

I also invite people over when i need the motivation to clean. I don't mind myself seeing a bit of clean clutter when I'm bone tired but I'll be damned if anyone else will see it! Also run around during the commerical breaks and turn the stereo up and clean whilst singing to the music.

PhoenixGirl · Oct 28, 2004

I am a neat freak. I'm also taking 5 classes this semester! So it's been hard, and my house doesn't get cleaned as often as it used to. Best thing to do is not to procrastinate. Wash and fold one small load of laundry a day, don't let it pile up. Dishes go in the dishwasher as soon as your done, to keep the kitchen clear. Clutter gets thrown out every single day. Everytime we get an empty box, I fill it with stuff that can be thrown out or donated. For example, my husband just got a shipment of some equipment in the mail, and I took the empty box into our closet and filled it with clothes that are old and we don't use and it's in the garage along with the other piles of things that the salvation army truck can pick up. Everytime I'm done with a box of diapers (I buy the huge box from costco) I go around filling it with old toys to be donated, or papers that can be recycled, or clutter that is really trash. It's much easier to keep the house clean when it's uncluttered.

I also have a to-do list that my husband gets through the 2 evenings I'm at school. Usually it will have 2-3 things on there. "Do dishes, sweep floor, take trash out from each bathroom & the kitchen." It takes him 20 mins to do these 3 things and puts a load off on my mind!

I also do cleaning in the morning when I'm most motivated. One big thing a day like vacuum the stairs, or clean one bathroom. I don't ever do a bunch of cleaning all in one day, more like a few little things everyday. So I know that if I did a big cleaning in the living room, my bedroom is just going to stay a mess today because it's too overwhelming to think of doing it all at once!

Whew, I'm long winded on this topic but I guess I just love to clean. :chuckle

Rebecca

PhoenixGirl · Oct 28, 2004

I am a neat freak. I'm also taking 5 classes this semester! So it's been hard, and my house doesn't get cleaned as often as it used to. Best thing to do is not to procrastinate. Wash and fold one small load of laundry a day, don't let it pile up. Dishes go in the dishwasher as soon as your done, to keep the kitchen clear. Clutter gets thrown out every single day. Everytime we get an empty box, I fill it with stuff that can be thrown out or donated. For example, my husband just got a shipment of some equipment in the mail, and I took the empty box into our closet and filled it with clothes that are old and we don't use and it's in the garage along with the other piles of things that the salvation army truck can pick up. Everytime I'm done with a box of diapers (I buy the huge box from costco) I go around filling it with old toys to be donated, or papers that can be recycled, or clutter that is really trash. It's much easier to keep the house clean when it's uncluttered.

I also have a to-do list that my husband gets through the 2 evenings I'm at school. Usually it will have 2-3 things on there. "Do dishes, sweep floor, take trash out from each bathroom & the kitchen." It takes him 20 mins to do these 3 things and puts a load off on my mind!

I also do cleaning in the morning when I'm most motivated. One big thing a day like vacuum the stairs, or clean one bathroom. I don't ever do a bunch of cleaning all in one day, more like a few little things everyday. So I know that if I did a big cleaning in the living room, my bedroom is just going to stay a mess today because it's too overwhelming to think of doing it all at once!

Whew, I'm long winded on this topic but I guess I just love to clean. :chuckle

Rebecca

mariedoreen · Oct 28, 2004

Wow, I like everyone's suggestions. I used to clean during commercials but since I started school it's rare that I get to watch TV and when I do... I'm usually too tired to get back up, it's like my treat to be able to sit still for a half hour and not worry about something ELSE that has to be done. I do like the setting the kitchen clock idea tho... Somehow knowing that you only have to pay attention to one room for a small period of time (and yet we all know how much can get done in that time) is appealing. I'm gonna try it. To answer the OP, my philosophy has been that keeping up on the dishes and laundry and keeping the bathroom clean are key and everything else can wait until my husband has time or December ; ) But I'm gonna try some of the other suggestions here and see how they work! Good luck to you too.

mariedoreen · Oct 28, 2004

Wow, I like everyone's suggestions. I used to clean during commercials but since I started school it's rare that I get to watch TV and when I do... I'm usually too tired to get back up, it's like my treat to be able to sit still for a half hour and not worry about something ELSE that has to be done. I do like the setting the kitchen clock idea tho... Somehow knowing that you only have to pay attention to one room for a small period of time (and yet we all know how much can get done in that time) is appealing. I'm gonna try it. To answer the OP, my philosophy has been that keeping up on the dishes and laundry and keeping the bathroom clean are key and everything else can wait until my husband has time or December ; ) But I'm gonna try some of the other suggestions here and see how they work! Good luck to you too.

checkers · Oct 28, 2004

Geez, I'm the opposite of you guys! For some reason I clean as a form of procrastination when I know I should be studying. I can't think if the place is a mess. Of course, I don't have kids... but 3 roommates are close enough. It's in between semesters, when I actually have time to clean, that I am messy. Go figure.

checkers · Oct 28, 2004

Geez, I'm the opposite of you guys! For some reason I clean as a form of procrastination when I know I should be studying. I can't think if the place is a mess. Of course, I don't have kids... but 3 roommates are close enough. It's in between semesters, when I actually have time to clean, that I am messy. Go figure.

Ari RN, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2004

I clean by the hour. Here's how:
Set the stove timer for 10 minutes. Stay in one room for that 10 minutes. I usually start with the kitchen. The idea is to go as fast as possible. And items must be put away where they belong, not just out of sight.
I can pretty much get the dishwasher loaded, and the table and counters cleaned during that time.
If some things go into another room, gather them together and put them near the door.
That room will be your next 10-minute cleanup, and so on for an hour. You'll be surprised at how much you can get done in just an hour.
Somehow, I can handle it a little better in short increments until I'm really in the mood to go for it (usually on my weekends off).

I was watching "Wife Swap" last night and one of mom's sets her stove timer for 15 minutes. She tries to clean her whole house within that time frame. Not much you can do in 15 minutes. :rotfl: :rotfl:

kristylee · Oct 28, 2004

My mom told me that cleaning for her is a great form of therapy. She told me that when her and my dad divorced that she was really depressed and instead of sitting around being upset, that she started cleaning and it really kept her mind off of him and it was basically free therapy. I understand in her situation how that could work, but when your life is just busy and your tired all the time, not sure I have a solution for that one...sorry!

But, yes, music will give you some motivation. I'm a very lazy person when I'm at home, so I try to start off with one room and then move on to the others, once you get started it's not so bad, it's just getting started that gets me!