Can't Get Motivated to Clean? 14 Tips and Tricks Professional Cleaners Always Follow

How to Get Motivated to Clean — *photoguns / Getty Images*

When the dust, smudges, and clutter become unbearable, we know it’s time to prioritize cleaning. But it can be challenging to motivate yourself to clean when there’s so much to do. Fortunately, even the pros feel this way sometimes, and have hacks to get through it.

We spoke with a cleaning professional to find the best tips to help you get motivated to clean, no matter the undertaking.

Meet the Expert

Emily Adams is a cleaning expert and manager at NW Maids.

Divide Large Tasks into Smaller Ones

One of the primary reasons we avoid cleaning is because there are so many chores to complete that it can feel overwhelming to even think about cleaning.

“Breaking cleaning tasks into smaller, manageable steps helps me stay focused,” says Emily Adams, manager at NW Maids.

For example, Adams suggests you focus your attention on washing dishes or wiping down countertops instead of trying to clean the entire kitchen at once.

Always Start by Decluttering

Living room with clutter on the couch, coffee table, and floor — *urbazon / Getty Images*

A great way to start your cleaning routine is simply by putting misplaced items back where they belong. Clutter in your home can be visually overstimulating, which makes it hard to imagine how you’ll ever clean an entire room, not to mention your whole home.

Start with a simple task of decluttering. Once you’ve cleared the counter of dirty dishware or sorted the pile of shoes by your entryway, the space will feel tidier already, motivating you to start additional cleaning tasks.

Set a Timer

Just like dividing a whole room into smaller tasks or starting your cleaning routine with decluttering as your primary goal, breaking up your day into small chunks of cleaning can help you stay focused.

“Setting a timer for short bursts of cleaning can make the task feel less daunting,” says Adams, who prefers to set her timer for 15 or 20 minutes at a time. “It’s amazing how much can be accomplished when you focus on speed rather than perfection.”

Limit Distractions

Try to limit potential distractions during your cleaning routine: Clean on a day when you don’t have events to attend or errands to complete, or consider turning off your phone for a period of time to help you avoid getting distracted. Do what you can to eliminate potential distractions before they even have a chance to disrupt.

Listen to Something as You Work

Hand wiping down drawer handles with a towel — *KEHAN CHEN / Getty Images*

“Music or podcasts can make cleaning feel like less of a chore,” Adams says. “I often play upbeat music or a podcast while I work. It keeps me entertained and makes the process go by faster.”

Whatever you decide to listen to, make sure you can multitask well while you work.

Set a Deadline

If you work well with deadlines, an easy way to motivate yourself to clean is to give yourself a timeline for finishing the job.

A great example of this tip in action is when you invite company over and are forced to clean in preparation, but if you can stick to your own arbitrary deadlines well, try setting some.

Give Yourself Rewards

Giving yourself a treat as a reward for cleaning—like a snack or fun outing—can give you some encouragement and drive to finish the task.

“Whether it’s enjoying a cup of tea or watching a favorite show, knowing there’s a treat waiting after I’m done helps keep me on track,” Adams says.

Focus on One Room at a Time

Woman mopping floor in home — *DragonImages / Getty Images*

Tackling one room at a time can help you feel a little less overwhelmed with the larger job of cleaning your entire home. When you reframe the chore as cleaning one room versus cleaning the entire house, it can make the job feel more manageable and maybe keep you from procrastinating.

Start with High-Traffic Areas

Odds are high-traffic areas like your entryway, kitchen counters, and living room are more crowded and cluttered than other parts of your home.

“Having a clean, inviting space right away makes the rest of the cleaning process feel less overwhelming,” Adams says.

Develop a Cleaning Routine

If you try to approach cleaning your home without a game plan, odds are you will quickly become paralyzed by the sheer volume of to-dos floating in your head.

To help you get organized and motivated to clean, develop a cleaning routine that helps you focus on one project at a time. Use resources like a checklist for cleaning your entire house to get started.

Visualize the End Result

To motivate yourself to clean, it’s important to remember the why. Instead of focusing on the clutter, remember that cleaning will make your house more comfortable, which will soothe your tired mind.

“Focusing on the positive outcomes of a clean home, such as a relaxing, clutter-free environment, helps me push through moments when I lack motivation,” says Adams.

Lean Into Your Strengths

Woman washing dishes with wooden brush — *Dougal Waters / Getty Images*

Some of us are night owls, while others work best in the morning. If you work best in the morning, tackle your chores then. If you bounce around from chore to chore, try setting a timer or focusing on one room. Pay attention to your energy levels, and lean into your personal habits as strengths.

Don’t Forget to Delegate

Cleaning your entire home can be a massive undertaking, especially if you don’t live alone. When it’s time to clean, invite other members of the house to join; try out a “wheel of chores” for little ones, or a chore chart.

“Sometimes, getting help from others can help boost motivation,” says Adams. “If you’re not in the mood to clean, don’t hesitate to call a professional cleaning service.”

Don’t Be a Perfectionist

Sometimes we get too focused on creating a perfectly clean space and get overwhelmed. Of course, we all would love to maintain an exceptionally clean home, but if you spend too much time on the details you’ll never finish the job. Allow yourself to let go of perfectionism so you’re less frustrated and more motivated.

Can’t Get Motivated to Clean? 14 Tips and Tricks Professional Cleaners Always Follow