10 Ideas for Cleaning After Moving in With a Chaotic Mess
Moving in with a roommate or family member can be exciting, but realizing your new housemate is a slob can be a tough pill to swallow! When your mission is to make your new home as clean as possible, the task can seem impossible. Recently, men and women converged in an online discussion to reveal their favorite tips for cleaning top-to-bottom with a messy roommate.
1. Start With the Kitchen
Cleaning your new home will be arduous, and you must start somewhere; why not the kitchen? “Start with the kitchen because you both will need to use it, even if you order takeout,” explains one woman. “If your roommate can’t keep up with the dishes, use paper plates and plastic utensils (there are biodegradable options). Yes, it adds to waste, but at least there won’t be dirty dishes in the sink.” I’m all for using paper plates and plastic utensils!
2. Dedicate 30 Minutes per Day
Organizing your cleaning habits into a concise time frame each day will ease the burden. Many cleaners advise to set aside 30 minutes daily for cleaning tasks. You and your new roommate will be surprised how much deep cleaning and organizing can be done in that time! (Of course, adjust times as needed; some messes require more than a half-hour.)
3. Learn From the Best
Millions of people have taken to watching YouTube videos about cleaning and reading best-selling books on the same topic. Expert home cleaners and declutterers have a proven track record of success! “Follow Dana K. White’s system for decluttering, in her book called Organizing for the Rest of Us,” suggests one cleaning fanatic. “You can also find tutorial videos of hers on YouTube.”
4. Work as a Team
No matter what, work as a team. You are not two individuals with varying cleaning goals. You are a household dedicated to transforming a messy house into a clean home. It’s important to maintain a unified front in your fight against your untidy house; make sure you support each other and keep your eyes on the prize!
5. Make a List
People struggling with financial wellness often turn to creating a budget to help them visualize the money coming in and going out; use this same philosophy for cleaning! “Make a list of all the things you hope to accomplish and organize it from most critical to least, then just start banging them out as best as possible. I like a physical list as it’s easier to visualize when I get to check stuff off, but a digital one might be easier if you have a lot of things.”
6. Hire Professional Cleaners
If you’re looking for the easiest possible solution, hire professional cleaners to give your new home the deep clean it desperately needs! Although this option isn’t the most affordable, it can save you time; imagine the hours of frustration, sweat, and body aches you’ll avoid by hiring someone to clean your house for you!
7. Agree on Established Routines Moving Forward
Keeping your new home clean will only be possible if all parties agree to established routines to ensure cleanliness. “I would start by establishing routines,” advises one man. “It won’t come clean as quickly, but you’ll have a greater chance of success in maintaining it. Sit down and discuss a good weekly cleaning schedule for each of you. Set daily, weekly, and monthly tasks for each of you. To make it less overwhelming, they can be limited for now.” Don’t forget: This will be a team effort!
8. Clean Passively
You and your roommate don’t necessarily need to devote your full and undying attention to cleaning. Many people recommend cleaning passively. For example, clean the shower while using it and do the dishes while watching TV! Always take advantage of an opportunity that you can mold into a more manageable task.
9. Set Decluttering Goals
Sometimes, keeping a house clean is as simple as setting goals and meeting them. These rules can act as guidelines that both people abide by. One person suggests setting decluttering benchmarks: “Set goals for decluttering, like fill up a laundry basket to be dropped at the thrift store or in the trash weekly, or ten items per week or something,” one man explains. “Nothing new goes in without getting rid of two or more of the same-category item.”
10. Take Before and After Photos
Even if you turn your new place into a spotless home, you will require ongoing motivation to keep it that way! Arguably, the best advice I’ve come across is to take an abundance of before and after photos. You’ll continuously feel accomplished by looking back on how dirty the place was and what your new home’s potential can be!
Source: Reddit.
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