Many people struggle with keeping their homes clean, and it’s perfectly normal to feel dread at the thought of tackling big cleaning projects. The key isn’t to force long, grueling cleaning sessions, but rather to integrate small, manageable tasks into your daily routine.
The Problem with Traditional Cleaning
For years, the standard advice has been to dedicate large blocks of time to weekly deep cleans. But in today’s fast-paced world, this approach is unrealistic for many people. It leads to tasks piling up, creating a sense of overwhelm that makes cleaning even less appealing.
Iwan Carrington’s Approach: Small Bursts and Muscle Memory
Cleaning expert Iwan Carrington, known from the BBC’s Sort Your Life Out, advocates for a different strategy: short, frequent cleaning sessions. His new book, Clean in 15, emphasizes building motivation slowly and fitting cleaning into your lifestyle rather than letting it dominate it.
Carrington explains that most people don’t want to spend more than an hour cleaning at once. His longest routine in the book is just 50 minutes, followed by a 10-minute break. This approach prevents tasks from accumulating and becoming daunting.
Leveraging Habit and Consistency
The idea is to make cleaning almost automatic through repetition. Just as going to the gym builds muscle memory, consistent small cleaning tasks become ingrained habits. For example, quickly wiping down a bathroom sink after brushing your teeth can become as natural as the act of brushing itself.
This isn’t about perfection but about building momentum. The Ideal Home team has adopted similar tactics, like cleaning the shower while conditioner sits or decluttering while waiting for the kettle to boil. These small actions add up over time, making a noticeable difference without feeling overwhelming.
The Takeaway
Cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore you dread. By breaking it down into manageable chunks and integrating it into your daily routine, you can maintain a clean home without sacrificing your lifestyle. The key is consistency, habit, and listening to your own motivation levels.
