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Help to clean


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  • Music… is my motivation to do any sort of cleaning/sorting…. Just turn it up and get stuck in – one draw or cupboard at a time…


  • One motivational tip is to think of death. I often imagine what it would be like to clear out my stuff after I’ve passed away! I would like sentimental things organized. That which I really care about preserved to hand on, and that which I don’t need already dealt with and given away or whatever. The everyday stuff I’d like to be clean so that no one goes ‘yuck how could they have lived like this’! It’s a sombre one but a good tip. I think in Europe there is a word for such occasional clearing out meaning ‘little death’, like we are preparing for it and sorting our affairs a little more each spring, or something!


  • Start small – start with one room and one small pile at a time.


  • I know people love Marie Kondo, and I’ve definitely taken some things on board, but the books are so laborious. I read “Less Stuff” by Lindsay Miles and it is much more simple to read and has some great tips. Plus, it has places to write and plan and reflect.


  • Borrow a Marie Kondo book – she’s obsessive about tidying and it’s kind of inspiring. This last weekend i went through all my cupboards and cleaned them out and then folded the way she suggested. My wardrobe looks fantastic now.
    I would also suggest that unless you have time to do everything in one go, then just do small bits at a time – eg this weekend i will tackle that junk drawer, next weekend the laundry cupboard


  • Get rid of things that are broken, really old and unused and sort through what you can and see what’s bin or keep


  • i just don’t like clutter and prefer a clean and minimal look.


  • Second Marie Kondo – I couldn’t keep still watching the second episode so started tidying as I was watching


  • Watch Mari Kondo on Netfilx! Lots of inspiration there.


  • Try viewing housework as a form of exercise and do it on days that you can’t get to the gym. Vacuum with force to pump the muscles in my arms. lift baskets of toys and clothing as if they were dumb bells strengthening your core and shoulders. Stretch to wipe high cupboards and feel the beautiful loosening around your ribcage. This change of mindset will help to change how you feel about housework and you may actually look forward to it!


  • Well, excess junk and paper attract mice and cockroaches and I hate pests. It is always nice to be clean and tidy and its good for your health too.


  • if you haven’t used it in a while – then chuck it!


  • It’s a never-ending job so I tend to focus on things I can do quickly and leave the nitty gritty stuff to when I have more time or when I’m in a cleaning mood.


  • Not sure when you talk about cleaning whether you mean decluttering or actual cleaning. If its decluttering I use the British artist William Morris’ words: Do not have anything in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.
    If its cleaning I use a timer for any job I dont particularly like. I set say 30 minutes on my phone and work hard, entirely focused on the task for that period of time and as soon as the timer goes I stop. Its amazing how much more I achieve when I’m time limited and dont multi task.


  • Start with a little bit at a time, and start with what is achievable. It could be a cupboard or a room, or excess clothes. Each bit done can often motivate a person to do the next bit.


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