Where to Start Cleaning

Ever wonder where to start cleaning? This quick and simple strategy will help!

Have you ever walked into a room, fully intending to start cleaning it … but you have absolutely no idea where to begin?

It happens to me all the time, especially if a room is messier than normal. (Or just a downright disaster.)

It can seem overwhelming. But I have a helpful starting place and strategy. It works in every room in my home, and it can work in yours, too.

Clockwise cleaning

When I start to clean a room, I pick a corner – sometimes it’s the messiest, sometimes it’s the neatest. It doesn’t really matter, it just depends on my mood. Once I’ve picked a corner, then I start cleaning in that corner. I stay put until everything is decluttered and put away.

Once I’ve finished with the corner, then I continue cleaning the room in a clockwise direction. As tempting – and a little ADD – as it may seem to jump around to a different part of the room, I make myself stay with my clockwise cleaning.

If I can finish cleaning the room all at one time, that’s fantastic!

But if the room’s too messy and I need to leave it and come back at another time, it’s OK. With my clockwise cleaning method, it’s obvious to see what I’ve cleaned and where I’ve stopped. When I do have a chance to come back and clean some more, I can pick up right where I left off.

Top to Bottom

While I’m cleaning in my clockwise direction, I also remember to clean top to bottom.

My dad taught me to correctly wash a car from top to bottom (all the dirty, sudsy water runs down the car – if you don’t do it this way, your dirty suds will drip over what you’ve already cleaned), and I know the same is true in your home.

When dusting, always start at the top of your room and work your way to the bottom.

Similarly, when decluttering or doing any other sort of cleaning, always start at the top and work your way down.

Like clockwise cleaning, you’ll also be able to see where you’ve stopped cleaning if you need to take a break.

By simply remembering to start in one corner and at the top, you’ll be able to methodically clean your way around a room. Just this one trick can save you a lot of time and frustration!

Have you tried clockwise cleaning or cleaning from the top to bottom? How do you decide where to start cleaning?

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All images courtesy of Pixabay.