Home office cleaning is no one’s idea of a fun weekend. There are so many ways to procrastinate and just avoid it entirely. Hey, the vacuum cleaner is making funny noises! Guess I better not use it; I”ll just have to save up to buy another one. Should I really mop the floor today? Last time I did that, the dog kept slipping on it. I don’t want to hurt my dog; I’m not some kind of monster. And so on and so forth.
Office cleaning takes up time that you could be using to check your emails, work on projects, and even eat peanut butter cups during your ‘down time.’ Not only that, but it also takes money. Cleaning supplies aren’t cheap, especially if you’re trying to go organic. If you really do need a new vacuum, that’s not cheap either.
Then there are the more offbeat items that you aren’t sure how to clean. For instance, the ceiling fan. Do you get a step ladder or just a very long duster? And what about your father-in-law’s cpap machine, the one they use for sleep apnea? That really sounds like a hassle.
You can be an efficient cleaner without busting your budget. It may seem like you have to choose between the dirt or being dirt poor, but you really don’t.
Coupons, FTW!
First of all, keep an eye out for coupons. Bookmark sites like Coupon To Pay and check them every few days to find deals on cleaning supplies and other things that can help around the house.
Ask friends for any advice they have as well. Some people may make their own cleaning solution for cheaper than you can buy it in stores. Or maybe they use items you already have in your pantry, things like cornstarch and white vinegar. If you ask around enough, you’re bound to find something that makes sense for you and your household.
Plan your cleaning
If you get so overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of you that you worry your only option is to hire a maid, it’s not. First of all, there’s nothing that says you have to deep clean your house from top to bottom in just one day. You can work for 30 minutes or an hour at a time. Do as many of those cleaning blocks as you can reasonably handle in a day, even if it’s just one or two. It’s better to do something than to not do anything at all. Focus on the big things first, and then work your way down to the smaller items.
Unless you live by yourself, you shouldn’t be doing this alone, either. Tell your other able-bodied family members to help out as well. A chore chart may be useful if you have kids or a spouse who constantly “forgets” to do their part. You’re not “nagging” by asking for help, so don’t let anyone tell you that you are. If someone lives in the house, then they have a stake in keeping it clean. It’s as simple as that, really. Even small children can sweep a little bit or maybe help dry the dishes (the everyday ones, not the expensive china you got as a wedding present).
If you have any medical equipment that needs special cleaning, like the aforementioned cpap machine, look into products like So Clean, which offers a simple set-up that you only need to do once. You can just put the mask in the chamber, close the lid, and bam, the cleaning begins. You shouldn’t have to spend a lot of time fumbling with dirty cpap machine parts just to make sure everything is safe and sanitary.
Above all else…
…remember that you aren’t a bad person for having a dirty home office. It’s one of the easiest things to let slip when life gets really busy. Think creatively and don’t be afraid to ask for help, and your office will be back in tip-top shape in no time.
