• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Realistic Homemaker

  • Home
  • Homemaking
  • About

encouragement

How To Clean Your Messy House When You Don’t Know Where To Start

January 19, 2021 by Kim O'Bier 2 Comments

When the mess in your home has you stressed out, and you don’t know where to start cleaning it up, there is hope! Here’s how you can get motivated and clean that house up, even when it is a REALLY huge mess!

If you are looking around your house and thinking, “It’s just too hard. I CAN’T EVEN DEAL with this disaster.” then you might be suffering from Messy House Overwhelm.

It’s frustrating and sometimes even depressing.

I have been there more times than I would like to admit. And, as hopeless as it might seem, I promise you CAN get your house, or any room for that matter, CLEAN!

WHAT HOLDS US BACK FROM CLEANING OUR MESSY HOUSE

We might expect the process to be painful.

And, we would rather be doing something else. Or, ANYTHING else actually.

But, that’s okay! Because this clean-up plan offers us quick results, with less pain involved.

And, this is NOT an all day deep cleaning extravaganza. Not that you can’t do it all in one day. You can use this approach however it works for you.

The goal here is to take some of the sting out of the process by starting with small, incremental tasks that will give us big wins. That’s what this clean-up plan is all about.

Overwhelmed exhausted woman feeling tired of cleaning in her messy house sitting on the floor with toys and laundry lying around her

FINDING THE MOTIVATION TO CLEAN A MESSY HOUSE

Just wanting a clean house isn’t enough for us to get our cleaning groove on. We can feel stuck…even paralyzed by the chaos.

We know that our family will benefit from a cleaner space. It might even seem that we owe it to our spouse or our children.

But don’t we also owe it to ourselves to have the level of cleanliness in our homes that we desire?

Tidy, clean, relaxing…whatever that means to you. You owe it to yourself. And I believe that you are ready to put in the effort and claim it.

You have already taken the first step just by reading this post today!

(This post may include affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy HERE.)

(After you have tackled the mess, 5 Simple Habits for a Cleaner Home has some useful tips for keeping it under control!)

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Kitchen Timer

Clothes Basket or Storage Tote (Clutter Basket)

Trash Bin or Bag

Microfiber Cloths

Dusting Spray for Wood Surfaces (this one is non-toxic and is my fave)

All-Purpose Cleaning Spray (this is an awesome non-toxic spray or you can use/make your own)

Vacuum Cleaner (this is one amazing machine)

For our home, I choose to use cleaning products that are non-toxic and fragrance-free. This one is really good. Or, you can save tons of money by making your own with natural products that clean as well or better than chemicals!

Some things, like mirrors and some surfaces, can be cleaned with only microfiber cloths and water!

FOCUSING ON “DONE”, NOT “PERFECT”

Repeat after me: “Progress, not Perfection!!“

This is about getting it done, not getting it done to precision. Consequently, we don’t need to hunt down every dust bunny and find every speck of dirt.

Also, this is not a good time to get distracted by going on a purging spree. Ultimately, however, you make the rules. So if a few things make it into the donation box along the way, no biggie.

This strategy gives you a clear idea of where you left off and where to start again. So, don’t be frustrated if life gets in the way. Just roll with the interruptions.

And you and I both know that unless the stars align, and pigs start to fly, you are going to be interrupted.

The goal here is to make it as pain-free as possible, and maybe even pleasant. Shoot…you can even have fun if you want to!

So, turn on some of your favorite jam (or a good podcast if that’s what motivates you) and let’s see what we can do.

Man hangs his outside shirt on a hook in hallway

WHERE SHOULD YOU START CLEANING WHEN EVERYTHING IS A DISASTER?

Even if there are other areas of our home that need attention, it just feels good to have a somewhat clean and welcoming entrance.

For us, this is our mudroom area. That’s the last space we see as we leave the house, and the first thing we experience when we return.

Of course, if it’s the living area that really needs emergency attention, then feel free to start there. You can always tackle that room first and then come back to the entryway.

(Think you are failing at homemaking? Read 7 Encouragements for When You Are Struggling as a Homemaker)

HOW TO DO THIS THING: SIMPLE STEPS FOR CLEANING A REALLY MESSY HOUSE

Alright, here we go.

Armed with your basket and timer, head to the area or room closest to your home’s most used entrance (or living area if that’s what you plan to tackle first). Leave the cleaning products behind for now.

Choose a small section of that room and set your timer for 10 minutes. This will help to keep you on task and encourage you to steadily work.

If there are things on the floor, begin there and work quickly in that section, putting items in their proper place.

Next, still working in that section, start on the things that are on the furniture and other surfaces. Remove items from that section that don’t belong and place them in the “clutter basket” to be put away later.

If you are done with a section before the timer goes off, use that time to put away some of the items in the clutter basket, or just reset the timer and move on to the next section.

Now you’re cruisin’!

Continue moving clockwise around the room, resetting the timer for each section. Each time it goes off, you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you have reached a small goal, and that you are 10 minutes closer to accomplishing the much larger goal of having a cleaner home!

Do as many sections as your schedule or your energy allows. Or continue until you have worked your way around the room and are back where you started.

The hardest part is done!

smiling woman wiping white bookshelves

CLEANING THE MESSY SURFACES

It’s time to tackle the actual dust, grime and dirt that has accumulated.

Set your timer for 5 minutes and do any refinements that might be needed before bringing in the cleaning supplies, like putting furniture back in place or picking up something that you missed the first time around.

Grab your cleaning cloths and spray cleaner if you’re using one. Use paper towels, too, if you need them. Yes, I know that some people consider them to be wasteful but if it’s a really grungy, icky, gross mess, a paper towel can be a wonderful thing!

Now, go back to the first section you chose in the beginning.

Start with the highest surfaces in that section, spraying, wiping, and cleaning…or dusting that surface.

Work down from the upper surfaces to the lower in each section as you move around the room.

Get your groove on!

Whistle. Sing. Dance.

Might as well burn some extra calories and get some endorphins flowing while you do this thing.

Spray. Wipe. Repeat.

I like to spray my cloth as opposed to the surface so that I am not sending dust and other stuff into the air.

If you like using the timer and it motivates you, totally use it for this part too!

If you are interrupted or have to stop cleaning, make a note of the section where you left off.

This way, there won’t be any guesswork when you come back to it later.

Cleaning floor in room close-up of womans feet and mop

FINALLY…CLEANING THE FLOORS

Give the floor a good vacuuming. This should only take a few minutes.

Next, if the floor is hard surfaced you can either “spot clean” as I like to call it, or scrub the whole shebang if it needs it.

I find that scrubbing or mopping the floor doesn’t take very long, but for some reason it is one of my least favorite chores. So, if you’re like me, you might need some really upbeat music and a fun, fancy mop for this task.

If the “clutter basket” has items in it, now is a good time to take the basket around the house and deliver those things to their proper places.

Congratulations!

That wasn’t too hard, I hope.

Now, look around (quickly, while it lasts) and take in the awesomeness of your clean space.

Of course this is not the ONLY way to approach cleaning a super messy house.

But it is effective… and doable. That’s what counts!

And the results are so rewarding!

RECAP:

  • Know that you owe it to yourself to have a space that is clean and enjoyable.
  • Start close to the main entrance of your home, or in another area that needs immediate emergency attention.
  • Use 10 minute increments to clean small sections of a room.
  • Work up from the floor as you clear the mess.
  • Put things that don’t belong in that room in a “clutter basket” and put them away later.
  • Wipe and clean surfaces, working from high to low in each section of the room.
  • Shake it up and have fun…might as well!
  • Vacuum and clean floors.
  • Look around and marvel at your super cleaning powers.

SOME PRO TIPS:

~ I like to load my dishwasher before diving in to the cleaning process so it can be running while I am working on other areas of the house. By the time I get back around to the kitchen, one load of dishes is already clean. I can unload it and load it again if needed. Makes me feel like I scored a big win!

~ It’s conventional wisdom to vacuum after you have wiped surfaces. I have this thing, though, about dirty floors. If there is visible debris on the floor, it sort of paralyzes me. So, I have to give it a quick one-minute vacuuming before I proceed.

~ With little ones, I know it can get tricky. I used to clean the bathroom while watching mine in the tub. I gave them bowls of beans or rice to stir when I worked in the kitchen…age appropriate of course. Safety first. If they’re older, get them involved. Sure, it might slow you down a bit. But it may actually motivate you somewhat to have the help, and they will learn so much by working alongside an adult.

~ Use five or ten minute chunks of time that you have during the day to slowly pick away at the mess until is more manageable. You will see the progress and hopefully be encouraged by what you have done so far.

Finally, if you are in that place where you really need another person to help with cleaning, I get that too.

Don’t be afraid to ask available friends or family if you have that option. Or hire someone if you can work it into the budget. It can save physical and mental energy in the end and can definitely be worth it.

Also Check Out: 5 Strategies That Changed My Life as a Homemaker

laundry basket, messy house overwhelm
how to clean messy house,laundry basket overflowing
clean when distracted,clean very messy house,clean when you don't know where to start, clean very messy room,clean big mess

Filed Under: Cleaning House, Encouragement, Homemaking Tagged With: cleaning, encouragement, homemaking, motivation

7 Tips For When You Feel Like a Homemaking Failure

November 24, 2019 by Kim O'Bier 1 Comment

failing at homemaking,how to keep house,homemaking failure,encouragement for homemakers

Keeping up with a home and family is not always (hardly ever) easy! In fact, it can leave us discouraged and feeling like we will never measure up.

But whatever shape your household is in right now, if you are depressed or feeling bad because of it then please be encouraged! I have been right where you are, and there are things we can do to motivate and inspire ourselves as we manage our homes.

Keeping a House In Order = Not an Easy Task

The hectic life that we lead these days can wreak havoc on our homes and leave chaos in it’s wake. We have embraced the conveniences of time-saving appliances like washing machines and dishwashers (YAY!)

But, we have also managed to add more to our plates…multiple jobs, kids’ activities, social media. The list goes on and on…

And when we look around at the mess that has been created while life was happening, it’s easy for us to feel inadequate as homemakers.

(This post may include affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy HERE.)

It doesn’t help that we have so much to compare ourselves to these days.

There are the fabulous home makeovers on HGTV. There are home decorating blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram…all with gorgeous photos of perfectly kept homes.

No wonder we are so hard on ourselves!

OK. So there’s probably nothing on the list that will magically transform your home into something worthy of House Beautiful Magazine overnight.

However, there are some practical ideas here that will bring you out of your funk and help you feel better about yourself as keeper of your home.

1) VISIT A MESSY HOUSE

Seriously, this might sound a little strange but go visit a friend whom you know is not a perfect housekeeper. Someone who, for whatever reason, has similar housekeeping standards to yours at the present time.

Hopefully, after your visit, you will feel that you’re not the only one who struggles.

I’m not saying that you can’t visit or have friends who have beautiful homes. In fact, I’ve picked up some of my best housekeeping ideas from people who always keep their homes tidy.

Just be sure that you have some peeps in your squad who, like you, sometimes let go of perfection for a higher purpose.

2) SNAG A WIN (OR 2…OR 3)

Here’s a little to-do list hack when you need motivation. Write down 2 or 3 things that you know you can get done by the end of the day.

These can be really simple tasks, like putting laundry in the dryer or wiping the kitchen counter…stuff you would be doing anyway that will give you several wins for the day and allow you to scratch something off the list.

REALLY NEED A BOOST?

HACK THE LIST by adding a few things that you have already done.

(Yes, I have done this. It is TOTALLY legit!)

Shower…check.

Make the bed…check.

Put towels away…check.

Three Wins!!!

Winning Feels Good!!!

3) GIVE YOURSELF GRACE

Life happens, kids happen, phone calls from relatives happen. You know how it goes.

There is always something happening and some days they just seems to pile on, one thing after another.

Before you know it, there just isn’t enough time in the day to get it all done.

Then there are those days that you just run out of juice before you run out of to-do’s on the list. As someone who is still in the healing process from a chronic illness, this happens to me frequently.

So I rest. My health is important and I am no good to anyone if I don’t pay attention to my own body.

Dishes can wait, the floor doesn’t really have to be spotless, and if I’m really lucky my kiddos will pick up the slack and do a basket of laundry or load the dishwasher.

Whatever is was that kept you from getting it all done today, move on, let go of the guilt and give yourself the grace that you deserve.

4) FOCUS ON PROGRESS, NOT COMPARISON

It’s not hard to fall into the trap of comparison, especially when it comes to keeping house.

Simply visiting a friend’s home that’s neat and tidy can stir up negative feelings about ourselves or our circumstances.

Of course, if we REALLY want to feel inadequate, there’s always Instagram.

Honestly, I still play the comparison game from time to time. I’m only human, after all.

But I have learned to accept that my skills and God given gifts are unique. I don’t need to put others above myself on the virtual housewife scale.

You can learn and draw inspiration from others whose homemaking skills you admire. But avoid getting caught up in the game of comparison. Doing so can only leave you depressed and feeling inadequate.

Find your own priorities and set your own goals accordingly. Let them guide you as you move forward.

Then, look at your progress and identify areas that you feel like you could improve in.

Be yourself and embrace your own gifts!

woman with mug,self care when overwhelmed

5) TAKE A BREAK

Giving your body a rest during the day can restore your energy and mental clarity. This helps you to be more productive and think more rationally.

So, take a break…whatever that means to you.

I know it’s hard, and you might have to get creative if you have kids, but DO YOUR BEST to carve out time for something that gives you a recharge. Maybe a hot bath, some time of meditation, exercise, or talking with a friend?

For me, this can be a few minutes of total solitude, prayer, or maybe even a short power nap while I run my white noise machine in the background.

By the way, try to steer clear of social media during your break. Instead, use this time to give your brain and your body a rest from the craziness of all that is going on in your home and in the world.

You deserve it!        

6) KEEP IT REAL

When I was growing up, my mom kept our house immaculate…like totally magazine worthy.

When I married and left home I carried these standards with me. Well, in theory at least. And they actually weren’t too hard to live up to until my firstborn came along.

It was all downhill from there.

Other things came along that had the same affect. Like homeschooling, raising three children, homesteading and enduring chronic illness.

The ability to change the way I view the state of our environment, through the many “seasons” of our family, has been necessary for my sanity.

Maybe your new definition of clean and organized in this season is that everyone has clean laundry and there’s at least a path to every room.

Even if it’s just temporary.

7) GIVE YOURSELF CREDIT FOR YOUR EFFORTS

How often do we give ourselves credit for what we have done rather than focusing on what we haven’t?

Look around at what YOU HAVE managed to accomplish. Even if you are behind on tasks because you were distracted by less productive activities, give yourself grace, leave it in the past and move on.

Negative thinking will only waste precious energy that you could be using to pour into your own life and the lives of those around you.

Get rid of the guilt that whispers to you that you are not enough…that you are not competent, and embrace who you are as a homemaker.

Need more calm and less chaos in your day? Read 5 Strategies That Changed My Life As A Homemaker

tips for homemakers,how to be homemaker,how to clean house,tips for when failure at homemaking

Filed Under: Encouragement, Habits & Productivity, Homemaking Tagged With: encouragement, homemaking, parenting, self-care

Primary Sidebar

  • Pinterest

Categories

  • Cleaning House
  • Encouragement
  • Food
  • Gift Guides
  • Habits & Productivity
  • Homemaking
  • Kitchen
  • Meal Planning
  • Organizing

Recent Posts

  • 10 Simple Ways to Organize Pots and Pans in Your Kitchen
  • How To Clean Your Messy House When You Don’t Know Where To Start
  • 17 Fast & Easy No-Recipe Dinner Ideas
  • 100+ Simple Family Meals To Make For Dinner
  • 12 Productive Things To Do When You’re At Home

Footer

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosure

Realistic Homemaker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework