Do you feel fear or excitement when you hear the words “spring cleaning”? For me, cleaning gives me the opportunity to accomplish something, even if it’s not a job I actually like. The more I practiced cleaning with a good attitude, the more I started to like it.
I’m all about keeping surfaces free of clutter and getting laundry done as quickly as possible, but if I mention washing the windows or polishing the baseboards, you’ll probably see a look of panic on my face. I’m an “organizer”. If you suddenly stopped by my house, you would probably think that my house is very clean. Just don’t look too close…
Can you relate? I’d love to be one of those women (like Monica from Friends) who views mopping floors as a fun activity, but that’s just not me. However, I can’t afford to hire a cleaning service, so here are my options for spring and the inevitable spring cleaning duties.
I completely ignore spring cleaning and tell myself I’ll do better next year.I reluctantly clean up and let everyone know how much I don’t like it, thereby making the lives of those around me miserable.Put your head down and go at it, knowing that the results will be worth the effort.
Which option would you most likely choose? Up until about a year ago, I would have chosen either option 1 or 2. I was often overwhelmed by the amount of space I had to clean and frustrated at how often I had to vacuum my hardwood floors (thanks to my cute adorable shedding puppy). At some point, I got frustrated with my own unfriendly attitude and decided to get a better perspective on taking care of my home.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t always enjoy cleaning. The trick is that I decided to stop hating it. When I realized that a clean house would ultimately make me proud and satisfied, I realized that I didn’t want to spend my energy complaining and whining. For example, consider last week. My sister was coming to stay over, so the house was a mess. (I’m not exaggerating.) Travel and illness have thrown a wrench in my usual easy cleaning and maintenance routine, and I’ve had to do some serious deep cleaning to get my house sparkling again. I thought my sister would be happy to have a clean bed to sleep in and a clean bathroom to wash in.
Simply put, I knew what I needed to do. I got down on all fours and mopped the dirty footprints on the wooden floor, scrubbed away the microwave splatters, and attacked the toilet with a critical eye. At the end of the day, I was sweaty, thirsty, and tired, but I also felt a rush of pleasure. My house looked shiny!
My new attitude towards cleaning didn’t happen overnight. The actual cleaning process still doesn’t often get me excited, but knowing the results will be worth the effort increases excitement. To make this process more enjoyable, I employ the following “trick”:
Gather and store your favorite cleaning supplies. Instead of using dozens of cleaning wipes and paper towels, I can do almost all my cleaning with just a sponge and a few cloths.Listen to an engaging podcast or book on tape, or put on a catchy song (my favorites are Hillsong United, Disney songs, and Broadway musical soundtracks).Think of cleaning as training and put a little strain on your work.Use a timer to help you stick to tasks (this also proves that cleaning doesn’t take as long as you think)Set up rewards to motivate you to get your work done (like reading outside, watching TV, or getting your favorite drink at Starbucks).
Another important step to getting over the cleaning blues is to have a plan. There’s a lot to do, especially when it comes to cleaning, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who gets tired just thinking about it. My personal plan for this year’s spring clean is to focus on the tasks I think are most important and let go of the idea of doing them all. My top priorities are to organize my storage space (closets, pantry, laundry room, etc.) and finally have that yard sale I’ve been talking about for years.
After all, spending hours looking for spring cleaning ideas from Pinterest won’t make your house cleaner. Create a basic plan that is workable for you and avoid stressing about tasks you don’t have the time or energy for. Instead, focus on the attitude behind your work and see caring for your home as a way to care for the blessings God has given you.
Related videos:
iBelieve.com: How can I be a better housekeeper? – Sarah Mae of ibelievedotcom on GodTube.
Laura Rennie lives in Maryland with her cheerful husband and their ever-shedding dog. She loves reading, writing, and playing with words. Her greatest desire is to share Jesus through words and actions while learning how to be a better wife, daughter, sister, and friend. She recently launched her own interior decorating business, Laura Rennie Interiors.
