The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cleaning strategies if too overwhelmed to begin
When KC Davis started posting cleaning videos on TikTok, she felt that she would be judged. “I almost didn’t post it,” she says. “I was like, ‘Oh, people are going to judge me for my messy house.’” Instead, she found a community of people who related to her casual approach to cleaning and quickly built an audience of more than a million followers on TikTok.
“People felt as though the tips that I was giving were the first thing that ever helped them,” says Davis. “In particular, it was people with ADHD, with autism that were overwhelmed, or postpartum or had mental health issues; people that sort of classic aspirational Instagram cleaning tips were not helping them.”
Davis encourages her followers to see their chores not as moral obligations but rather as care tasks they deserve. As you get started, she suggests asking yourself, “How can I make my home serve me better?”
1. Start with a short to-do list
Davis recommends starting with a small and manageable one. Apps like Tody help users create cleaning lists that are managed by level of importance instead of strict deadlines.
“You can always do more than what’s on your list,” says Davis. “But if you end up doing fewer things than what’s on your list, it can really have a detrimental impact on your mindset.”
2. Use a timer
Davis says that sometimes we tend to overestimate how long a task will actually take, which leads to avoiding the task and never getting around to it. A more efficient approach is to set a timer when completing chores around the house.
3. Rethink your approach
Sometimes figuring out where to get started and how to clean is what is holding you back. Davis recommends doing a little bit of research and looking up the cleaning companies in your area for cleaning inspiration hacks. Most companies, such as Molly Maid, will post cleaning checklists on their websites.
These can be a great resource for those times when you’re unsure how to tackle a specific cleaning task, and you get a cleaning list while you’re at it.
4. Don’t confuse organizing and cleaning
Auri Kanenen, also known as the queen of cleaning, is a professional cleaner based in Finland. She shares weekly cleaning hacks and tips with her 6.4 million followers on TikTok. When it comes to cleaning, she understands that it can be overwhelming to get started.
Her advice is to start by removing any items or clutter from the space you want to clean. Place the items in boxes or off to the side so that you can focus on cleaning. Then once the space is clean, you can start to think about organizing.