Do you like having a clean home but HATE the actual act of cleaning? Here are 12 unique ways to make your housework a little more enjoyable!
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I’ve mentioned on here before that I am not a natural-born cleaner. I know some women who honestly love to clean and it just boggles my mind. I would rather be doing almost anything else than housework. Oh, sure, I love having a clean house, but I just hate the actual process. Tidying? Sure. Organizing? Yes. But actual get-out-your-scrub-brushes cleaning? Nope.
But since when in life do we get to just do the things we like to do? Sometimes we just have to put on our big girl pants and do what needs to be done. I care about creating a nurturing, relaxing, peaceful environment for my family, and part of that means keeping a clean home.
Even though it’s not my favorite thing to do, I have found a few ways to make it much more enjoyable. And I’m convinced that if you use a few of these ideas, you will find that you can actually enjoy housework, too! (Or at the very least, tolerate it!)
Ways to Make Housework a Bit More Fun
- Put on music – I find that uptempo music works best for putting a little pep in my step while I clean.
- Dance while you clean – I can do this since my kids are little. They haven’t learned to judge my moves yet. 😉
- Watch your favorite show or listen to your favorite audiobook – Make it a rule to that you can only watch TV or listen to that gripping audiobook while you’re cleaning. It’s amazing how much longer you’ll be willing to work!
- Make it a race – Give yourself a timed challenge.
- Take pride your work – This does wonders for me! When I step back and appreciate all the hard work I just put in and the clean room (that will only stay clean for about 5 minutes … *sigh*), I feel so good about myself!
- Involve your kids – Make it a game! If you make it fun enough, maybe they’ll help you without even realizing that they’re doing housework!
- See the bigger picture – I talk about this in more detail in my Surviving the Monotony post, but looking past the duties and finding the “why” of your housework makes it so much easier. See your housework as a labor of love and submission to Christ rather than a burdensome chore.
- Take before & after pictures – Seeing the difference might help motivate you!
- Look around and take it all in – Look at everything you’ve accomplished and relish in it … while it lasts!
- Consider the exercise – This was a game changer for me. I’m always looking for more ways to get active, exercise, and get more FitBit steps! Thinking about my housework in terms of the exercise I’m getting keeps me cleaning for a longer time!
- Log your “workout” – Going along with that, did you know that you can log your housework as exercise in your MyFitnessPal?? I don’t know about other activity/food trackers, but I use MyFitnessPal, and I was so excited when I saw that I could actually log my cleaning! That means more calories burned, which means more calories that I can eat that day. Whoo-hoo! If that’s not motivation to get busy cleaning, I don’t know what is!
- Fun cleaners – This might sound silly, but when I started using safer cleaning supplies that smelled nice, it actually made me want to clean!
I discovered Mrs. Meyers products awhile back, and I love them!! They’re made from natural essential oils, so they’re safer for your family than harsh chemical cleaners, and they small AH-Mazing! Seriously, you have to try these cleaners – you will find yourself cleaning everything in sight! I get mine from Grove Collaborative, a monthly mail subscription service that is SUPER handy, but you can also get them from www.mrsmeyers.com, on Amazon, or at a number of grocery & housewares stores.
Take my challenge! Try one – or all! – of these 12 ways to make housework a little more fun, and see if it doesn’t make you want to clean! If something on this list works for you, or if you have a suggestion of your own, let me know in the comments below! I’d love to hear from fellow cleaning un-enthusiasts!
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These ideas are awesome! I can personally vouch that music AND dancing really makes cleaning fun! I have some chores to do today, too. ><
The before and after picture sounds super duper as well!
Thanks Stephanie! Happy cleaning! 😀
I really like the before and after picture idea! This is really great!
Thank you Mihaela!
Love fun cleaners!! I also am an epantry/grove collaborative customer!! I truly think we were destined to be friends…we have so much in common! ? Just reading this post makes me want to clean!!! I am not a huge enthusiastic cleaner either, but something I am working on to make it easier is a cleaning schedule so it becomes more of a routine…but I haven’t *quite* gotten it figured out yet…hoping to do a post about it this fall!! What is your favorite Mrs Meyers scent? I love the seasonal ones!!
Haha, I think we were!!! 🙂
I love the seasonal ones, too! I stocked up on the orange clove last Christmas because I loved it so much. I find I like different scents for different tasks. I have the room freshener spray in lavender and love spraying that around our bedroom right before bed. I also really like the lemon scent, and Levon likes the peony scent multi-surface spray I use.
I have tried several different cleaning schedules and can’t ever seem to stick it out. I’m still working on finding the right system that works for me!
“Take before and after pictures.” I haven’t heard that one before! Love it!
I thought it might help – even if it’s just mental pictures! 🙂
I must be a weirdo because housework is one of my fav things to do. I love these tips because they will help me (hopefully) help my daughters to enjoy housework a little more.
You’re not a weirdo – I know several people who LOVE to clean! I’m just definitely not one of them. I hope this helps your daughters!
Yes!!! Putting on music ALWAYS helps me!
Yep, me too!
I love turning on music and making it my workout! I also like to pretend I’m a housekeeper on Downton Abbey… totally weird, I know, but it gets the job done!
Hahaha! That’s awesome! Hey, whatever works for you! 😀
I actually really enjoy cleaning and completely agreed with your tips! I got my daughter a little Melissa and Doug cleaning set because she likes to be like her momma : )
That’s awesome that you enjoy it! I so wish I did. 🙂 But I do it anyway!
These are fun ideas! I fold laundry while watching Gilmore girls and has been a way for me to tackle multiple baskets of laundry at once!
Yes!! I love Gilmore Girls, too! I folded many a load of laundry while watching it when it first came to Netflix. 😉
Really awesome tips! I know that putting on music is my ultimate motivation!
Yep, it’s amazing how much music can lighten your mood and put a spring in your step!
I am actually a little weirdo who is OBSESSED with cleaning (in a good way). I believe that clean space = less stressed mind and more productive moi 🙂
It’s so amazing to see the final result! Even though it is something we have to do time after time, it’s rewarding because we are doing it not just for ourselves but for our loved ones <3
xox Nadia
http://www.mielandmint.com
Oh, I definitely agree that the final result is awesome … I just hate the process. 🙂 Glad you have such a great attitude about it!
I love listening to music while I clean! It helps me just zone out and get everything done!
Playing music is def a must!!! I actually love to do housework to a certain extent haha but music def makes it more fun
I’m so jealous of everyone who loves to do housework!
Oh i am definitely not a natural cleaner either!! Upbeat music really helps me but i also like the audiobook idea, might use podcasts instead to make it extra useful 🙂
Yes, I’ve been trying to do more podcasts instead of TV shows to make better use of the time … but sometimes I just want to watch a little TV. 😉
Great ideas. Always good to get a change in perspective.
These are great tips! I tend to keep Friends reruns on in the background while i’m cleaning. Since I’ve seen them all I don’t have to pay close attention but occasionally I get a good laugh!
Yes!! Me too, for those exact reasons! We’re kindred spirits. 🙂
I LOVE your tips. Music and visualizing the final product always get me going.
Thanks for sharing what works for you, Heather!
this is such a great (and motivating!) list. I need to be better about doing housework but I get so overwhelmed!
I used to get overwhelmed ALL the time! And that made me not even want to start. What helped me tremendously was learning to stay on top of things and clean as I go. It’s not so overwhelming when you just have to maintain.
I cannot make it thru the day without some music…. I am always cleaning while we are jamming out!! You are right… it def makes it more enjoyable
Music makes everything better!
before and after pictures is a great idea! evidence will def make me clean more…haha
Whatever works, right?? 🙂
I really do like this post. I really can need some help for my housework. 😀
I enjoy listening to podcasts when I’m doing a task I’m not all that excited about.
Logging it as a workout is a great idea! At 8+ months pregnant I am less than motivated to clean, although I have a list of things to do before baby comes. Thanks for the ideas.
I am SO much more motivated to do housework when I think of it as exercise.
Congrats on the new little one coming!
I’m a music-blasting, dancing queen when it comes time to clean…because otherwise I’ll quit part way through the first room!
Haha! A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do! 🙂
These are great tips! I always listen to podcasts and webinars while I clean so I enjoy it more!
Thank you! Thank you for sharing what works for you!