How to keep a clean living space?

[Metalhead]

It seems like I have developed a habit of letting my place become a disaster area and then having to do a severely deep cleaning every month as the result of that. I want some tips on how to stay on top of my cleaning so I do not have to spend a whole weekend cleaning my house again.

Some people say staying on top of it is easier than letting it build up. That is BS.

 

[Nervous Rex]

When I find clutter piling up, I try to make a place for it - as in "put it away here". Most of my clutter is because I don't have a place for random crap I accumulate.

I also like the idea of doing 5-minutes of cleaning - I'll just tidy up one little spot. I like the idea of it, but I'm horribly inconsistent at it.

 

[Callistemon]

We have this book, which has some good ideas:

Speed cleaning : a spotless house in just 15 minutes a day by Shannon Lush

Doing a little every day is more efficient than doing lots on the weekend. There's good time-saving tips in this book and I do recommend it. It's got a whole section on effective stain removal, and lots of "how do I..." solutions for sticky problems.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

As some people say,..."The first step towards changing one's behavior is recognizing the problem." Of course, the second step is having a sincere motivation towards making those changes.

It's my understanding it takes about 6-9 months of consistent behavior change to engrain a "habit" in one's life. That said, you have to create some sort of check list or system that works for you. You know you,...what works and what doesn't. Make it a priority,...something that is on your mind. Of course, you have to have some form of personal satisfaction for living in a clean environment,...the dopamine hit.

Personally, what works for me,...take one day and deep clean the home,...and then, it is easier to simply keep it clean from then on. Again, though, you've got to make it a priority to keep things clean,...it has to be on your mind,...you have to care.

 

[Metalhead]

As some people say,..."The first step towards changing one's behavior is recognizing the problem." Of course, the second step is having a sincere motivation towards making those changes.

It's my understanding it takes about 6-9 months of consistent behavior change to engrain a "habit" in one's life. That said, you have to create some sort of check list or system that works for you. You know you,...what works and what doesn't. Make it a priority,...something that is on your mind. Of course, you have to have some form of personal satisfaction for living in a clean environment,...the dopamine hit.

Personally, what works for me,...take one day and deep clean the home,...and then, it is easier to simply keep it clean from then on. Again, though, you've got to make it a priority to keep things clean,...it has to be on your mind,...you have to care.

Hell, I am in dopamine city now that my house is spotless. I look at it now and I want it like this always. But depression makes me forget this feeling after a stressful day at the office or something like that.

 

[Aspychata]

I have to make it a priority. Sometimes in my head, I think everything is fighting to get to the top of my priority list. Sometimes depression or anxiety hijacks my priority list. Lol

 

[Atrapa Almas]

My Father is really organized and allways say:

"One place for every thing you have, and every thing you have on its place"

"Everytime you finish using something let that thing as it was before using it"

"The cleanest person is not who cleans the most but who dirty the least"

With this 3 principles I have everything quite under control.

 

[Metalhead]

Well, now it seems like every time I turn around, I notice another spot that needs cleaning. I am staying on top of all of these spots, though. Now I am chilling and listening to vinyls in a clean and organized home.

 

[Judge]

It's part of my OCD that I am compelled to keep a spotless home.

What's the secret? There is isn't any. I'm compelled to do it, whether I want it or not. And like yourself, at times when I get really depressed it creates a bit of a roadblock when it comes to doing routine housekeeping.

Though I do make a point of making my bed every single day...just to let my spirit know I am not ready to give up.

For me it's just a matter of perseverance.

 

[Fino]

I don't have personal experience with it, but I often have heard people suggest schedules like:

Mondays - Vacuum
Tuesdays - Clean bathroom

And so on.

 

[Suzette]

Some people say staying on top of it is easier than letting it build up. That is BS.

You are depressed so everything feels like an endless slog through the mug. Maybe aiming for "spotless" is just too high of a goal.
When I get that way,( and I do!), I just focus on doing the important things, like washing the dishes everyday and throwing my dirty clothes in a hamper, and trash in the bin, make all the difference.

The next "good" day do another chore like cleaning the toilet.

Basically, when you are depressed, don't worry about spotless. Just aim to tackle the bio hazards.

 

[Luca]

I like my home to be spotless. But I have six dogs lol

I usually put on music and it helps me focus on cleaning. I try to do one room at a time too.
I’m a pretty clean person overall but sometimes if I’m anxious or depressed things can get messy. Usually the mess ends up making me more anxious so I end up cleaning it up out of frustration. Lol.

I try to vacuum a couple times a week two since, as you can imagine, there is hair on everything.
I routinely groom my dogs weekly and bathe them every 3 to 5 weeks to reduce hair messes and stinky stuff.

I usually feel pretty motivated to clean and when I get started I usually end up doing the whole house.

 

[Captain Jigglypuff]

Is it a bad thing that I want to say that shoving everything into a closet is a way to keep a cleaning living space?

 

[Tom]

Nothing is really BS when it comes to cleaning methods. There is what works for you and what works for others.

One process I find useful for clutter is thinking of the house/apartment as like a body. If you only bring things in it gets constipated (cluttered). So once it has reached the point of being full, that is all storage spaces used up I make a point thereafter of getting rid of something any time I bring something new.

For example cleaning out some old left overs or past shelf life stuff to make space for a grocery shopping. Or doing a quick run around filling up a garbage bag with junk/trash/things I never use each time big box from Chewy arrives (Pet supplys), etc.

One thing I like about it is it's not scheduled or a crisis thing. You only do it when needed. You just have to stick to it. Something I thinks helps is you are already going to be in motion bringing the something new in.

 

[Nervous Rex]

Another principle that helps me is: Do it now.

I am very scatterbrained, forgetful, and easily distracted. I may see something that needs to be done or get put away and I know - from years of experience being me - that if I don't do it now, I will forget about it in a few seconds. So, I do it now.

This means that when I get something out, I have to put it away as soon as I'm done with it or it will sit out for days or weeks. If someone asks me to do something and I can do it now, I either have to do it now or set a time when I will do it.

I often get remarks from people at work or church that they are glad that I got something done immediately. I usually don't tell them that if I didn't do it immediately, it would never get done.

 

[Darkkin]

Sort your mail immediately, junk to recycling or garbage, important stuff to a designated spot. Actually designate locations for things like bags, keys, shoes, etc. Put things in those spots every single time you come in the door. Treat all incoming items, be it an online order or groceries like frozen food. (Urgent). Deal with it before you take off your shoes or sit down. This will reduce accumulative clutter by more than half and prevent the formation of doom piles.

Have tile, laminate, or hardwood floors? Invest in a dry mop. Run it over your floors, every couple of days. At our house, this is a daily thing because I have a fluffy, sheddy dog. It is five minutes that will reduce dust and grime accumulation by up to 40%.

Do a general tidy up before bed. Fold up blankets, put pillows back on the couch, straighten the wonky rug, put the shoes or toys away. (Rue is trained to put all his toys away before I crate him at night. It is a game he loves, and it saves me time because he beings everything he got out to its designated spot.)

Check the locks, look around for stray coffee cups or a half finished glass of water. Take the strays to the kitchen. Have a dishwasher? Tuck the items in it. No dishwasher, run dishwater when you go to turn on an appliance, yes, that includes the microwave, the toaster, or even the coffee machine. Cleaning up as you go can help stay ahead of the clutter curve.

Our environments have a direct impact on our mental health. Clutter can and does take a toll on everyone. Something that gives me total zen, turning down the lights in my book cave and looking out across the freshly vacuumed floor. I vacuum downstairs every time I know I'm going to spend time downstairs. My dogs love having a clean place to play and my senses are at peace.

- D.