1. Have a proper declutter. You’ve probably received some nice new things as Christmas presents (hopefully!) and want a fresh start for a fresh year. Why not start by clearing out old junk and unused items? It’s a great way to fill in a cold wet winter day (or, with the way the weather’s been lately, a snowy day). Don’t leave decluttering as part of the “moving house cleaning” or “end of tenancy cleaning”. Let’s face it – if you’re moving house, you probably have a whole lot more to focus on instead of whether you want to keep that old coffee percolator and are quite likely to think “Bother it – just stick it in the box and we’ll sort it out at the other end.” Hire a professional to help you if you can’t face it alone. Or enlist the help of a friend (who may be more than happy to give your junk a new home).
2. Switch to natural cleaning methods. New Year’s resolutions often include good intentions to rid your body of self-inflicted toxins, with “give up smoking” and “lose weight” being very popular goals. But why not get rid of the major source of household/environmental toxins that come in spray bottles with promises of killing 99% of household germs, streak-free windows, fabulous new fragrance, improved super-potent formula and a new super-spray nozzle design? This resolution will also help you keep Resolution 1, as you will be able to rid yourself of clutter in your cleaning cupboard by using good old multi-purpose natural cleaners like baking soda, soap, vinegar and the like.
3. Develop good cleaning habits. These habits include dealing with mess as soon as it happens rather than dealing with it later. Messes, like many other problems but unlike pimples, get worse if you leave them alone rather than getting better. Good mottoes to keep in mind are “Don’t put it down; put it away,” “A stitch in time saves nine,” and all those other sayings that your mother and/or grandmother always told you.
4. Treat yourself at least once this year by hiring a professional cleaner to do the work for you. And don’t use the time you’ve saved by spending extra time at the office. Go and take some time off to do something fun.
5. Tackle those horror cleaning jobs you’ve been putting off for years (these may or may not be related to Resolution 1). If you feel daunted by this, just choose one or maybe four of the jobs and give yourself a year to accomplish them. Horror jobs that often are put off for as long as possible include cleaning ovens, defrosting freezers, polishing and/or restoring wooden furniture, mending clothes, and cleaning the attic or garage. You can probably think of your own horror-list.
6. Start (or improve) recycling and cutting down on waste. Initially, this may seem like a contradiction of Resolution 1, as you will have to get a few extra bins to set up your recycling system. But in the long run, you will be helping to tidy the world, not just your home.
7. Change your attitude: see cleaning and household chores as a way of making beauty, peace and order in your life. If you keep this idea in your head, the whole process of scrubbing and wiping becomes much easier. Even if you’re cleaning toilets.
8. Stop cleaning up after other people who are capable of cleaning up after themselves. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be nice and helpful every now and again. But you will do yourself and others no favours if you let them think that you have been put on the planet to be their maid. If they want a cleaning maid, they can hire one. And treat him/her with respect.
9. Timetable and organize your home cleaning jobs like you would any other job. Set goals and priorities.
10. Reward yourself for achieving any of these resolutions.
