how do you engerize your self to clean?

**tammy88** · 07-02-2008, 10:21 AM

ok i hope i didnt post this in the wrong area i can never figure out where things go

im wondering how you get your self motivated to clean up?
sometimes i just dont feel like it..and the days i do it and it looks great it doesnt stay that way so when i see the mess the next morning i feel its almost pointless to clean..

some days im just lazy i guess

today i dont feel well at all and havent been getting much sleep in the last week or so..BUT my house really needs cleaning i dont know where to start and how to get moving

what do you do on those days?

**tervsforme** · 07-02-2008, 10:34 AM

I soooo know where you are coming from. Something that I've started doing though is to do some sort of cleaning or straightening for 15 minutes. Just tell yourself you will do something for those 15 minutes, dishes, picking up clothes, vacuum a room, etc. I'm totally amazed at how much I can get done in that short period of time. You can do that periodically through the day and at the end of the day it's incredible how much got done!

Good luck!

**hwmabire3** · 07-02-2008, 10:37 AM

Don't waste another second, go to www.flylady.net She has everything you need there...cleaning tips plus motivation. Print out her "morning" and "before bed" routines and put them on your refrigerator. Do them every morning and every night, along with her other instructions, and your house will look great in no time.

The only other thing I would suggest is...do you have cable? There's a show that comes on BBC America and it's called "How Clean Is Your House?" The homes are absolutely filthy and disgusting...this always motivates me to clean.

**Ilovesewing** · 07-02-2008, 10:42 AM

Oh, I understand that feeling!

DD and I were watching tv one night when a Febreze commercial came on. The announcer says 'Just use Febreze during your regular tidy-up time and .....)' DD and I looked at each other and said 'We're supposed to have a tidy-up time? Maybe that's the problem!' then we had a good laugh

So now we have a tidy up time. Always last thing at night right before bed - then you won't have a mess to get up to in the morning! You can have it any time during the day as often as you want. I have it when I make the bed...I tidy the bedroom. When I take a shower, I tidy the bathroom. When I fix a meal, I tidy the kitchen. You get the idea. If the house is always, or mostly, tidy then cleaning doesn't fall far behind because you don't have to pick up everything before you CAN clean!

It's the same sort of thing as the 15 minutes. Now dd and I joke about it. She'll call me and say 'what are you doing mom' and I reply ' Oh, having tidy up time'

**Michelle** · 07-02-2008, 11:14 AM

I understand how you feel, especially with the kids home during the summer making a mess

For me, I do things in small spurts. It's amazing how much one can get done in 15 min at a time (got that idea from Fly Lady). I throw on some music and just plug away. Sometimes I'm so "into" cleaning that I keep going.

HTH, and I hope you feel better soon

**tammy88** · 07-02-2008, 11:16 AM

i guess its just a blah day for me
i havent tried the 15 minute thing i need to try that one
i do watch "how clean is your house" and you are so right when i watch that want to disenfect everything ..LOL

everyone once in a while i do clean the bathroom while im in there and stuff like that..and when i did that it worked great but now i cant sit in the bathroom long enough to pee anymore..LOL
i have a 3 year old and a 6 month old..and im trying to teach the 3 year old private time..and he will come in there sit on the tub and say "mama is this your private time?" and i say say "yup now leave" and then "but why do you need private time mama" and by then i have given up trying to get him out..lol

i did pickup both living rooms and im woring on the office where mounds of clothes lay!! thats my weakness i hate laundry i dont mind washing it and folding it..but find some where to put it? nope oit piles on the guest bed and dresser

so now i have to finish with all these clothes clean the floor and desk, clean the storage typer room..it just has dirty clothes in, the kids clothes go in there

then the bathroom, dining room and kitchen..ugh..and i still have the upstairs bedrooms..i need to go to the post office today too

thanks for the tips..keep them coming

**tammy88** · 07-02-2008, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by hwmabire3

Don't waste another second, go to www.flylady.net She has everything you need there...cleaning tips plus motivation. Print out her "morning" and "before bed" routines and put them on your refrigerator. Do them every morning and every night, along with her other instructions, and your house will look great in no time.

The only other thing I would suggest is...do you have cable? There's a show that comes on BBC America and it's called "How Clean Is Your House?" The homes are absolutely filthy and disgusting...this always motivates me to clean.

wheres the morning and bed routine on there??..THANKS

and thank you all for caring!!

**tammy88** · 07-02-2008, 11:19 AM

never mind found it

**freebs** · 07-02-2008, 11:24 AM

Yes i understand totally. I hate to clean and so have a really hard time getting motivated to get anything done. I really need to get up and get going now but im here...lol

**AmyBoz** · 07-02-2008, 12:19 PM

Tammy, I work full-time and have 3 kids under the age of 7. The way that I motivate myself is this:
I ask myself, "If someone who wasn't related to me and wasn't a really close friend stopped by right now and I had to invite them in...would I be embarassed by the state of the house?" Then, if the answer is "yes," I clean to the point where I would no longer feel ashamed to invite someone in. If the answer is "no" then I'm good to go at that moment.

I do try to do some general cleaning on a daily or bi-daily basis, and I think my home is clean enough.

I agree with watching the "Is Your Home Clean Enough" and "Clean Sweep" shows for motivation.

FlyLady didn't work for me as she was too regimented, but I do know that many people have experienced great success using her system.

Good luck, Tammy!

**kcsmom76** · 07-02-2008, 01:10 PM

I just wanted to say I am right there with you. I hate to clean and then five minutes later it looks like nothing has been done. It's like, what is the point???

**MommyBliss** · 07-02-2008, 01:17 PM

I also recommend flylady. I do a tidy up time at quiet time and right before Daddy gets home. It works for us and the house stays nice and cleaned up and Mommy doesn't lose her mind, lol.

**iida** · 07-02-2008, 01:30 PM

I also think "How clean is your house?" is a great motivator. Those places are horrible and it is nice to see the difference after they have done the cleaning.

I am a bit lazy when it comes to cleaning but I also hate dirt and clutter. We clean together as a family every thursday.

**JustMegan79** · 07-06-2008, 08:00 PM

I struggle with this also. I work two jobs and dh does as well and he also goes to school full time too. So, the house is a mess and I usually feel so worn out I dont do anything. And then what happens??

At the end of the week there is no counter space left because the dishes have taken over and there is laundry piled up all the kitchen floor (our washer and dryer is in the kitchen right next to the microwave) and its a

MELL OF A HESS!

But now my mother is coming from VA on Friday so I have to get my butt in gear. I have an am plan for tommorrow since I am having surgery on Tues I will get up and clean one room at a time thouroughly until I am done.

After this big clean I am going to start trying the 15 minutes a day flylady thing in order to stay on top of it.

**Susanscraps** · 07-06-2008, 08:15 PM

I was also going to suggest inviting friends over...that gets rid of the "I don't feel like cleaning" mentality very quick!
We are having our DS grad party in 2 weeks...I'm going crazy, but my dining room has never looked so nice! And the fridge and oven have been moved and cleaned...like anyone will be on their hands and knees checking that out....LOL!