Overwhelmingly Messy House?

8 Encouraging & Straightforward Steps to a Clean House

I was down and out with the flu for over two weeks in November. My house wasn’t terribly clean before I went down, but let’s just say it was trashed by the time I was finally standing again. It was overwhelmingly messy. So I sat down on my couch, tears in my eyes, and Googled, “what to do when your house is overwhelmingly messy.” And Google made sure to correct me that ‘overwhelmingly’ isn’t a word. Shocker. I did find this article though, and I’m going to reorganize it for you because I think it will help.

The key here is to create self encouragement by completing steps.

1. Pick up trash. Grab a trash can or a trash bag and go around your house picking up all the trash that is on the surface. I have to go around with the recycle can separately after the trash.
2. Pick up cups & dishes. Make sure your arms are empty when you start this. Only put them in the sink. This isn’t the time to deal with them.
3. Pick up laundry. Find a spare laundry basket, and get it delivered to the laundry room. If you’re starting to feel encouraged, start a load of laundry. If not encouraged yet, don’t do this.
4. Grab your spare laundry basket and head to the smallest and messiest room. Now clear the clutter. Usually, a bathroom is a great place to start. The goal here is to conquer the clutter in at least one room.
5. Finish cleaning this room. Whichever room you’ve started with, finish it. Bathroom: clean the toilet, the mirror, sink, counter, and the floor. Note: only tackle the shower/tub if you’re feeling encouraged.
6. Put clutter in the basket away. Take the basket room to room and put the items away.
7. Now go room by room by room, individually, and repeat 4-6. This is often the step that if control was lost like mine it can quickly become a several day project. That’s ok, you’re making great progress. In my experience my 9 year old can do his whole room himself, so starting between 7-11 years old kids can start doing their own room.
8. Finally the kitchen. Take your laundry basket and follow 4-6 here as well. You know what to do, and you’re winning. If you’re not a person who needs encouragement, I highly recommend starting in the kitchen, because the kitchen is essentially the distribution center of the whole house. If you can conquer the kitchen, the rest of the house goes so much more smoothly.

[J. Credence, Author, self-diagnosed Conspiracy Theorist, fact checker, researcher, wife, and mother of three boys, entrepreneur, and owner Mavenite.Media. Contact:  J.Credence@mavenite.media]