hi certified adultā¢ļø here. these are some household tips and tricks iāve picked up over the years.
stop using liquid laundry detergent. itās mainly water which means a) you end up using more of it and b) it doesnāt get your clothes as clean. powder detergent is cheaper, lasts longer, and actually cleans your clothes.
while on the topic of detergent, use the measurements on the scoop. especially if you have a high efficiency machine. using more detergent than youāre supposed can mess up your machine.
i also recommend powder detergent for your dishwasher, too.
get an apron. it helps keep cleaning chemical off your clothes. it also prevents your clothes from getting wet if youāre doing the dishes.
this is related to the apron thing. i like wearing one bc it makes me feel like a tavern owner. cleaning is easier when you make it into a game.
if youāre okay with wearing shoes in the house, wear them while youāre cleaning. if you donāt like wearing outside shoes in the house, get a pair of inside only shoes. wearing shoes inside activates what i call āgo mode.ā
āgo modeā is activated when iām wearing clothes i didnāt sleep in, shoes, and an apron. it tricks my brain into doing things bc getting ready like im going to leave the house makes it easier for me to do tasks.
stop buying all purpose cleaner. get a spray bottle and fabuloso, or some other concentrated cleaner. you add it to your spray bottle and dilute it with water and bam! itās cheaper and it lasts far longer. and it smells better.
if financially able, get viva paper towels or something similar. they work far better than regular paper towels in terms of absorption and ability to clean dried sauces or what have you. the texture is a bit odd, so if it causes sensory issues, try cheap wash cloths instead.
stop. using. sponges. get a bristle brush. you donāt have to replace them nearly as often, you can actually wash them, and they donāt get stinky if your mental health keeps you from doing dishes for a bit.
i almost exclusively buy generic brand products because i really canāt tell the difference, but if financially able, buy name brand toilet paper. thatās one of the things you can tell a difference with.
stop thinking about cleaning as ācleaning.ā that word carries a negative connotation for a lot of folks in a lot of different ways. youāre not ācleaning,ā youāre resetting your space.
when it comes to tidying up, remember that you live there. your space is allowed to look like it has someone living in it.
if itās been a little bit since youāve tidied up, and youāre overwhelmed, thatās okay. weāre human. shit happens. life isnāt pristine. pick a room, pick a corner, work outward from it, and remember things are gonna look worse before they look better.
sometimes i use a timer system. i set one for 30 minutes and clean until it goes off. then i set another one for 10 minutes and take a break. and then another 30 minute timer with another 10 minute break. etc., etc. sometimes the timer goes off and iām in the zone so i donāt need the break or another 30 minute timer. sometimes my 30 minutes end and my brain or body tells me iām done. sometimes i can do 20 minutes or 10 and thatās what i can do for the day. each of these scenarios are okay. progress is progress.
different people have different ideas of what clean looks like. sometimes clean looks like not a single thing out of place. sometimes clean looks like all the trash being picked up and thrown away and no science experiments growing in the kitchen. both ideas are okay.
if you have pets, especially cats, and youāve got pet smells, especially cat pee, that feel impossible to get out, all hope is not lost. those smells arenāt permanent. borax and vinegar can get the smell out of clothes, but youāll need to wash them twice. once with the borax and vinegar, and then again without them to get the residue out. this is when an apron is handy again because borax is caustic. so be careful with it. this combo also helps with mildew smells, or just any other hard to get out smell.
if financially able, an enzyme cleaner and oxyclean are great for getting those smells out, too. i like to use ānatureās miracleā enzyme cleaner. itās super concentrated, so a little goes a long way. iāve attached the link for it.
got litter boxes? got cat pee smell you canāt get rid of? got another icky smell? āangry orangeā is industrial strength AND pet safe. the link for that is included, too. plus it can be diluted to make it last longer.
get a broom with soft bristles that are tightly packed. they do a great job at picking everything up. thereās another link. you donāt have to get that one, itās just an example.
wear a mask. especially if you have pets. tidying up can stir up a lot of dust and hair. keeping those allergens out helps you a) not feel like shit if you have allergies and b) helps you keep going longer.
if youāre overwhelmed, donāt be afraid to ask for help. you have nothing to be ashamed of.
if you donāt want to ask for help, for whatever reason, thatās okay, too. make a to do list. break your tasks down step by step. need to clean the living room? start by picking up and throwing away trash. then pick up out of place items and return them to their home. if they donāt have a home, make one. clean the windows if you have them. clean the space around the doorknobs if there are knobs to clean. dust if you need to. wipe down any surfaces: coffee tables or end tables or tv stands or what have you. and then vacuum or sweep. it doesnāt have to be perfect. itās okay if youāve gotta take breaks. but itās a starting point.
be kind to yourself. youāre busy and human and the internet lies. most peopleās homes donāt look like show homes or magazine worthy. itās okay if things get out of hand. no matter how daunting, the space can be reset. it may take a couple of hours. it may take a couple of days. it may take a couple of weeks. but it can be done.
