The Lazy Woman’s Guide To Cleaning
Confession time: We harbor a deep aversion to cleaning. It’s not a sentiment we’re proud of, but there it is. The whole endeavor seems dull, mainly when far more engaging activities exist. What compounds the issue is the relentless cycle of cleaning – the very surfaces we diligently scrub seem to regain their grime in record time. Despite this loathing for the tedious and often thankless task of cleaning, a clean living space is an undeniable necessity. So, what’s the strategy for lazy women who desire a clean home without succumbing to incessant cleaning?
After some contemplation, we’ve realized that adopting a nonchalant attitude towards cleanliness is not a viable solution. We aspire to maintain a clean living space without sacrificing our sanity. With this objective in mind, we’ve devised practical strategies to keep our house reasonably clean, catering to our lazy inclinations.
Firstly, the secret weapon in decluttering is drawers. Recognizing our house’s propensity for accumulating random items scattered about – be it on the coffee table, kitchen countertop, or bedroom floor – we’ve embraced the power of drawers. Allocating one ‘stuff’ drawer in every room provides a designated space to stow away items that defy immediate categorization swiftly. We no longer waste mental energy contemplating where that misplaced object belongs; it goes into the drawer, problem solved.
Strategic placement of cleaning supplies is another game-changer. Knowing our tendencies, we’ve stationed duplicates of essential cleaning products in various locations. A Windex in the bathroom and another in the kitchen ensures that when the urge to clean strikes, we don’t have to embark on a quest to fetch supplies from a distant location. This simple adjustment has significantly elevated the cleanliness of our home, making it a win-win.
Setting a timer has been surprisingly effective for those who despise cleaning. Inspired by our mom’s wisdom, we commit to a mere ten minutes of cleaning. The magic lies in initiating the process – once the timer rings, we often find ourselves halfway through the task, and the momentum carries us to completion. It’s a psychological trick that turns the seemingly impossible task of cleaning into manageable increments.
Moreover, we’ve learned to not obsess over perfection. A revelation came during a frantic pre-party cleaning session when our then-boyfriend dismissed our concerns about microscopic imperfections on the bathroom mirror. “They don’t matter,” he declared. It was a wake-up call – the small stuff doesn’t warrant excessive fretting. This newfound perspective has alleviated the burden of cleaning-induced stress.
Injecting an element of enjoyment into the cleaning routine has been transformative. Inspired by a co-worker who found solace in ironing and sipping a beer, we combined an enjoyable activity with a chore. While ironing may not be our forte, pairing dishwashing with a glass of wine or turning up the music to transform cleaning into a mini-celebration has made the process considerably palatable.
Finally, embracing minimalism has been a game-changing revelation. The less stuff we own, the less time we spend managing and cleaning it. This seemingly straightforward concept is paradoxically challenging in a culture oscillating between decluttering aspirations and a perpetual cycle of acquiring more possessions. However, downsizing has illuminated the liberating benefits of having fewer material possessions, rendering cleaning less arduous.
Our journey as self-proclaimed lazy women navigating the realm of cleaning has led to the discovery of practical strategies. From the organizational power of drawers to the strategic placement of cleaning supplies and the liberating embrace of minimalism, these tactics offer a harmonious balance between maintaining a reasonably clean home and preserving our sanity. Cleaning may never become a beloved pastime, but it becomes more manageable and tolerable with these strategies.