If even after all that you’ve read from me so far hasn’t driven you enough to get your home tidied up, then this one should do it. There are times when we need to force the inner maid in us to get up off the couch and get dusting.
I don’t recommend these two forces if you’re already great at maintenance. I do encourage you to try these out when you feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done around your house.
Think, what is one of the best motivators to get stuff done? Procrastination.
I don’t mean procrastinating by waiting to clean up for the holiday event you’re hosting several months from now. I mean to force a nearby date and automatically initiate procrastination without any time to “put it off”. Here’s how to do that:
Two Forces That Get You to Clean Your Home
- Book a Home Event in Two Days
The moment you get those RSVPs back you’re going to feel a rush of energy that immediately gets you to cleaning or at least planning on how to get it done fast. Nothing gets you to vacuum, scrub your toilets, stock up on air fresheners, extra toilet paper, or clean your kitchen faster than knowing guests are arriving in just 48 hours.
My family did this once when we decided to host a Mother’s Day brunch at our house, which was only two days away. We were four adults and had two dogs and four cats. And we all loved to hang out in the backyard, even during rainy days, to enjoy our firepit and garden. You can imagine the hair, mud, and leaves that tracked. Though we maintained, to have up to 20 people in the home was enough to spark a deep need to deeply clean – and this included washing the dogs. So, we all got to work.
We polished our stainless-steel appliances. We made our moldings blinding white. We squeegeed all the windows. Removed every cobweb. Took a toothbrush to the grout in our kitchen. The list goes one. But we did it because we felt that rush and pressure from the short time limit.
We forced the same energy people get when they procrastinate – and it worked.
2. Rearrange Your Furniture
This one is less likely to put a fire under your bottom with pressure but works just as well. If you’re not into the idea of feeling stress to clean, then find a moment where you get a burst of energy and rearrange one room at a time. I don’t mean just move your couch in another direction, but the same location. I mean completely switching around how you view your television, meaning putting the stand against another wall. If your TV is mounted, then try your best. I realize there are limitations.
The whole point is that when we move items, we tend to clear what’s on top of them to make a furniture piece lighter to transport. When we do this, we have easy access to wipe down the dust. The same goes for moving a couch or bedroom set. You’re more likely to vacuum under those areas and wash the floor. How often do we clean underneath our furniture? We don’t usually, so this is one way to get that deep clean feeling.
The energy that comes with rearranging furniture is a sense of anew. When we feel like the space is new, we feel driven to freshen it up with a good dusting, washing, and adding a candle or two. We will even redecorate the space which gives a whole new look. This helps us get back into maintenance mode since we will want to keep this space looking this fresh for the long while.
Every time I feel a sense of blah and want to freshen up, I rearrange furniture. Doing so clears away trapped energy and gives us a new beginning with steady flow of positivity and vibrance.
There is one more force, but not necessarily in relation to these two. It’s more of a reason, or validation, for why you should practice maintenance versus binge cleaning. It’s called How to Prepare Your Home for Sick Days, because being sick is a force enough to get you on a regular but efficient homemaking routine.
Whatever force you choose, the one that adds pressure or the one that adds new vibrations, I promise you a cleaner home. When I go through my lazy days, I practice one or two of these options. So next time you feel stuck in a rut, move some things around or invite some folks over for a cozy dining experience. It just takes an initial jolt, but the feeling lasts for quite some time. It’s a win-win.
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