Top 10 Ways to Make Cleaning More Fun!

We all want to have clean houses, right?! Sometimes it’s just the actual cleaning part we don’t particularly enjoy. So to help us feel more motivated this week, I decided to make a fun list for you!

Top 10 Ways to Make Cleaning More Fun:

1) Listen to Music

Music is probably the fastest and easiest way to add a little energy into your home! Use Pandora or your favorite music app on your phone and listen to something upbeat while you clean. I personally love Jennifer Dukes Lee’s ultimate happiness playlist on Spotify. Make sure to sing along as loudly as you want!

2) Enjoy Podcasts & Audio Books

Turning on Podcasts while you clean is a great way to engage your mind while your hands are scrubbing sinks and toilets. Here are a few of my current favorites:

• Dig-A-Bit Bible Study with Cindy Colley
• Wifey Wednesdays with Emily Hatfield
• Arrows in our Hand: Parenting with a Purpose with Wesley and Denise
• The Next Right Thing with Emily Freeman
• The Dave Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey
• Read Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie

You could also listen to great audio books. I typically download audio books for FREE from Loyal Books or borrow them from the library. Some of our favorites have been:

• Mr. Popper’s Penguins (the book is a thousand times better than the movie!)
• The Little House Series
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Anne of Green Gables & Anne of Avonlea
• The Help (for me, with ear buds)

3) Complete One Tiny Task

Sometimes the hardest part of cleaning is just starting. So only commit to something small like taking dirty clothes to the washing machine or unloading the dishwasher.

If you only do that one task, you’ve made progress. But you may find that it’s not so bad and you can do one more small task, then another…

4) Find Support

Don’t get pulled into the internet! But, do spend a few minutes reading an inspiring article if you need extra cleaning motivation. You can also work through a housekeeping book or join the private Tidy Up club on Facebook.

5) Watch a Show

A few ladies in the Tidy Up Club recommended watching Hoarders to get inspired! You could also dump all of your laundry next to the couch and watch your favorite show while you fold.

6) Drink Something Lovely

Make yourself hot tea or grab a soda and sip it while you clean. Drinking something delicious while listening to a podcast or music is a great way to make cleaning more enjoyable!

7) Throw Stuff Out

Throw something out – anything really. Getting rid of junk mail, games with missing pieces, or toys the kids never play with feels so great and can help build awesome momentum.

And just think – you’ll never have to organize those items again! (Read about how I decluttered my entire home in just 6 days for more inspiration to throw things out.)

8 ) Call a Friend

Decluttering usually requires our full focus. But scrubbing dishes, wiping down sinks, and mopping floors? Not so much. So when you’re completing tasks that don’t take a ton of brain power, call a friend or family member and chat while you clean “together.”

And if your friend is local and willing to trade days so you can take turns working at each others houses in person? Even better!

9) Focus on How You’ll Feel later

Sandra Felton says, “The bitterness of living in a mess remains long after the sweetness of resting is forgotten.”

In other words, if you clean your kitchen or declutter your bedroom now, you’re going to feel fabulous afterwards. But if you procrastinate, you’re not going to feel so great when you have to look at a mess later.

So, take care of your home now and stay focused on how great you’ll feel after you cross the finish line.

10) Give yourself something to look forward to

Do you love taking relaxing baths, reading good books, or curling up with a cozy blanket and fun movie? Think of something simple you enjoy and plan to indulge a little after a job well done! (You can even print some coupons for yourself if you’d like!)

And remember that regardless of how fast or slow you reach your homemaking goals, the real victory comes simply from pressing forward and completing the race.

I’d love to hear: How do you make cleaning more enjoyable in your home? Share your tip in the comments below!

 

P.S. My Live Declutter Updates

As promised, here’s the next update in 2015’s Live Declutter project!

Days 16 & 17: We almost finished decluttering the schoolroom! This is big stuff, people! Baby books are gone, we found a temporary (and free!) solution for our broken bookshelf situation, we rearranged many items to make them more functional for this season, and we tidied up as we cleaned. This is not an easy task but it’s worth the work!

Ridiculously embarrassing photos of our first schoolroom session are here.

School/Play Room Summary:

• Spent 7 hours working in the schoolroom.
• Filled 2 trash bags for donation.
• Filled 1 trash bag with trash.

OVERALL TOTALS:

• Time spent cleaning, decluttering & organizing: 43.5 hours
• Bags for donation: 17
• Bags of trash: 11
• Plus we purged 1 huge Christmas tree, a bag of egg cartons, and a broken bookshelf.

PS Don’t forget to submit your before & after photos by Saturday, January 31, 2015 for your chance to win a $100 Gift Card!