Hey there! If you're anything like me, juggling the endless responsibilities of parenthood and home management, you know how quickly things can go from organized to …not. That's why I decided to take on a 21-day cleaning challenge, focusing on those often-forgotten corners and items around the house. And let me tell you, it was a journey filled with surprises, insights, and a whole lot of dust bunnies.
The Challenge: A Daily Dose of Clean
Each day, I tackled one specific item or area that usually doesn't make it onto my regular cleaning radar. We're talking about the washer and dryer, range hood, and dreaded junk drawer. The goal was to not just clean but to learn and adapt my approach to home management.
Lessons Learned: More Than Just a Clean Home
- Efficiency is Key: One of the greatest takeaways was learning that maintaining a clean and organized home doesn't have to be a time-consuming ordeal. Building small cleaning tasks into my daily routine made the whole process feel more manageable and less daunting. While some of the challenge tasks took longer than others, I typically spent just 15-30 minutes each day. Imagine the difference if I took an extra minute to clean up the cabinets when I saw a mess, or wiped out the vacuum each time I emptied it.
- Discovering Joy in the Everyday: Who knew that cleaning could be so... rewarding? I really don’t enjoy cleaning but there's something incredibly satisfying about conquering those small, often overlooked tasks. I was so surprised at the mental boost I felt after each task, it was like a little weight was lifted off my shoulders. After the full 21 days, I honestly felt so proud at what I had accomplished. It turns out, a little bit of effort goes a long way in transforming the feel of your home – and how your home makes you feel.
- The Value of Mindfulness: This challenge made me realize how mindlessly I had been treating my belongings. Instead of caring for what I had, I was quick to consider replacements.
This realization hit me like a lightning bolt when I was deep cleaning my dishwasher. You see, we moved into this house almost a year ago and it was dirty. I’m talking walls, windows, doors, floors – a layer of grime evenly layered on every surface. The dishwasher was in decent shape but given how the previous owners clearly treated the rest of the house, we assumed we would just replace it soon. But as I sat there giving the dishwasher a good clean, I was amazed when it looked brand new.
You see, I recently saw a video with someone talking about how our society today tends to value buying new things over preserving what they have, and it really hit home for me. Sure, we can say that “they don’t make them like they used to” but it’s true that trading up has become totally normal in many households. I’m not sure exactly when I became so wasteful, but this video opened my eyes to the need for being more proactive in caring for the things I have, in order to 1) save money, 2) save the environment, and 3) set a good example for my kids.
Every day after that, I looked at each cleaning task with new eyes. Rather than being a chore to check off the list, it was an opportunity to extend the life of my belongings and appreciate what I already had. This shift in perspective transformed my approach to cleaning and maintaining my home. It wasn't just about tidying up; it was about nurturing the space that nurtures my family.
Saving money by not impulsively replacing items became a welcome benefit, but the real treasure was in the environmental impact and the lessons being passed down to my kids. Demonstrating that taking care of our possessions is not only a responsibility but also a form of respect for the resources we've been given became a cornerstone of this journey.
The Game Changer: A Schedule to Success
If you're nodding along, thinking, "I need this in my life," then you're in luck! I've put together a home cleaning checklist, inspired by my 21-day challenge, designed to make tackling those cleaning tasks feel like a breeze. It's structured to provide a balanced mix of quick fixes and deeper cleans, ensuring you get the most out of your cleaning efforts without feeling overwhelmed.
Wrapping Up: A Cleaner Home, A Clearer Mind
Through this 21-day challenge, I learned that every object in our home has a story and a value. Cleaning became a ritual of gratitude, acknowledging the abundance and comfort these items provide. The mental clarity and calmness that emerged from this process were unexpected but profoundly impactful. It turned out that the clean surfaces and organized spaces were just the beginning; the true clean-up was happening within me, shedding layers of consumerism and wastefulness to reveal a more mindful and intentional way of living.
In sharing this journey, I hope to inspire others to look at their homes—and the items within them—with new eyes, recognizing the potential for transformation, not just of our spaces but of our habits and hearts.
For those ready to embark on their own cleaning adventure, I've got just the thing to get you started: a free home cleaning schedule, inspired by my own 21-day challenge. Get your free checklist here. Trust me, if I can do it, so can you. And with the LuxeFold Linen Cube by your side, there's nothing you can't tackle.