Are you tired of cleaning your house? Use the 20/10 method

Cleaning can either become an obsession or the most boring thing you can think of. I mean, being that kind of a person who likes to be clean and stay clean is a positive characteristic. Working or just chilling in a clean environment just feels better. 

And when it comes to keeping a clean house, office, yard, car, etc., people that are neat and tidy are, in most cases less stressed. However, cleaning your house involves doing the same thing over and over again. 

This can become boring and incredibly monotonous activity. You can’t bring any variety to it, and no matter how much you clean, you always feel like you are putting the same thing back into the same place or cleaning the same spot every single time.

You don’t want to be bored. Boredom can lead to very serious health problems. For example, according to NBC NEWS, there is a research that points out a study conducted at York University in Toronto. They found that boredom has effects on health and happiness. In other words, boredom leads to stress. On the other hand, living and/ or working in a messy environment can also lead to stress. So, what do you do then?

The solution for boredom – 20/10 method

You can either call a professional to do the job for you if you don’t feel like cleaning, or you can ask a professional for advice. We chose the latter.

So, we have some friends working in a cleaning company. They told us about the famous 20/10 method. This method is maybe the smartest way to clean your home (or office). The method is nothing new. It has been used by many people who want to keep things interesting while cleaning. Top cleaning companies such as Clean 4u use the 20/10 method themselves.

You don’t want to give up or wait until the situation in your home gets to the point of being completely unbearable. You want to make everything a bit more interesting. Split your tasks into shorter intervals. Invest just a little bit of your time every day (or most days).

20 minutes and 10 minutes

The 20/10 method was invented by Rachel Hoffman, the author of the book “Unf##k Your Habitat”. The concept of this method is very simple – you work for 20 minutes and relax for 10. This method was made not only for people who find cleaning boring but also for those who get tired fast. It is a more relaxed approach to cleaning and tidying and it even has a step-by-step guide!

How to use the 20/10 method

As we’ve already mentioned, people get bored or tired of doing something over and over again. This is why this method was designed for anyone and everyone, but especially for those who find cleaning difficult. To make everything a little bit simpler and more effective, the creator of this method also recommends designating specific times for work and rest.

Hoffman recommends doing 20 minutes of work and taking a 10-minute break. You can’t skip any of those breaks, and you can do whatever you want during those breaks. Once you complete a 10-minute break, you can either continue cleaning or leave everything for another day. By following this method you can complete any task, especially cleaning, with minimal effort. The 20/10 method will make you complete the everyday chores with ease. You can incorporate the method in almost everything you do.

10 tips of 20/10 method

Hoffman also provides us with 10 tips to make the 20/10 method even more interesting.

The “before and after” photos

“Before and after” photos will not only help motivate you but also allow you to look at things a bit more objectively.

Start your day with something productive – make your bed

It is one of the rules you learn in the military – Start your day by making your bed! This gives you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do other tasks one by one. By the end of the day, that small task you did at the start of your day will have turned into many completed tasks. 

Let the fresh air come into your home

It is essential to ventilate your home every day to purify it from bad odors and bacteria. It doesn’t matter how cold it is outside.

The dishes

Wash the dishes as soon as you finish eating. Giving yourself to the pleasures of watching TV and curling up on the couch will only let the dishes keep piling up and the pyramid of the dishes will still be waiting for you later.

Keep the fridge clean

Your fridge is a very important part of your home. It is the single most important appliance and it deserves your respect. Give it a deep clean every 3 to 4 months. This means getting everything out of the fridge, turning it off, removing the shelves and drawers and washing them with hot soapy water. 

You should always start with the most difficult task

Start your cleaning process with the biggest room in the house. Once you are done with that room you will feel a sudden surge of motivation, like you can do anything.

From top to bottom

The most efficient way to clean a room is to work from top to bottom. It is an easy way to make sure you never have to clean something twice. Secondly, when you start cleaning anything from top to bottom, you work with gravity instead of against it. You start with the tallest surfaces first and allow dust and dirt to collect on the floor. This is why the last thing to clean is the floor.

Don’t leave anything on the floor

You shouldn’t use your floor as a storage place. All those stacks of books and old backpacks that never seem to make it to their designated place shouldn’t stay on your floor for more than a couple of minutes. They only clutter up the floor and make your home seem messier than it is.

Never leave your clothes on the drying rack

You should take your already dry clothes off the drying rack and put them where they belong – in the closet. This also goes for plates and dishes.

Clean the floors

It’s now time to sweep, mop, and/ or vacuum the floors.

There you have it! By using the 20/10 method you can be sure it will work.