How to Get Motivated to Clean Your Home, According to decorvow Editors Struggling to start? These editor-approved tricks work every time. Close Credit: Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images Some days, the biggest home care hurdle isn’t the pile of laundry or the dust on the baseboards; it’s the lack of motivation to deal with it. Whether you're facing a full-on deep clean or just trying to stay on top of the little things, getting started can often feel like the hardest part. The key is in the mindset and some rituals that make the work feel manageable. We polled a few decorvow editors for the cleaning habits and small tricks they rely on when motivation runs low. These are the practical, tried-and-true strategies that help us swap procrastination for productivity and reclaim our spaces in the process. 6 Things to Always Clean Before Guests Come Over Start With One Spot That Matters Rather than looking at the house as one giant to-do list, try starting small. Pick a space that affects your daily routine the most—maybe it’s your kitchen counter, your bathroom sink, or a shoe-cluttered entryway. Cleaning that one area can trigger a mental shift and spark momentum for everything else. "Don't feel pressure to clean your whole house in one sitting. I often find that committing to tackling one room feels more manageable than knowing I'm about to spend the next five hours cleaning. The best part? Starting small often gives me the motivation to keep going until every room is clean." —Madeline Buiano, Editor "I give myself permission to clean just the kitchen counter or sink, not the whole kitchen. Oftentimes, this is all it takes to get going and complete the project. But at the very least, it'll keep things feeling manageable and tasks from piling up if they need to wait until later." —Jamie Cuccinelli, Senior Editor Think of it as a domino effect: a clean nightstand might inspire you to clear off the dresser, which may lead you to tackle the overflowing laundry basket. Motivation builds as you go. Keep Your Favorite Tools in Reach Credit: Anastasiia Krivenok / Getty Images Familiar with the saying "out of sight, out of mind?" If your go-to cleaning products are buried in the back of a cabinet, you’re less likely to use them. Keep your most-loved sprays, cloths, and dusters in a caddy or basket somewhere accessible. You can even stash a mini cleaning kit in the bathroom or bedroom for easy touch-ups. Sometimes, just wiping down a surface is enough to spark a full-on cleaning spree. Also, take stock of your supplies to ensure their efficiency. (No one wants to clean with tools that make the task harder.) "Remember to replace or upgrade your cleaning supplies so you aren't using worn out sweeping brushes or threadbare cloths, that way you'll be more motivated to clean." —Victoria Spencer, Senior Food Editor Romanticize the Routine It may sound cliché, but making cleaning a ritual can really work wonders. Light a candle, open the windows, and apply a face mask before tackling the mess—anything that'll make the task feel less like a chore and more something to actually look forward to. Try setting the scene with tools that delight, too. A lavender-scented all-purpose spray or a linen apron can elevate the experience, even if it's as mundane wiping down the stove. “Try treating cleaning like a self-care routine. Light a candle, pour some sparkling water (or even wine if you're feeling frisky), and put on a playlist of choice. I also recommend pretty cleaning supplies in your favorite color—a baby blue scrub brush just feels better than a boring grey one.” —Jamie Cuccinelli, Senior Editor Embrace the Power of the Timer Credit: InnaVlasova / Getty Images There’s something magic about a 10-minute timer. When you’re overwhelmed, it makes the task manageable. When you’re already in the groove, it helps you focus. We love the method of setting a timer and tackling one category or zone—like putting laundry away or wiping down all mirrors and windows. Can't spare 10 minutes? How about 10 seconds? Even the smallest cleaning tasks add up. "I do 10-second cleaning tasks in the moment that all add up and make larger cleaning endeavors less daunting and more approachable. For example, I wipe down the bathroom sink after I brush my teeth, clean the drip tray of the espresso machine after I make coffee, rinse the tub well after a bath, etc." —Melissa Breyer, Senior Editorial Director How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen in an Hour or Less, According to Experts Make a Cleaning Playlist You Genuinely Look Forward to Yes, this tip deserves its own callout. Music has an uncanny ability to shift energy, so a dedicated playlist of upbeat, feel-good tracks can signal it’s time to clean. And if music’s not your thing? Try a motivating podcast, news roundup, or even a stand-up comedy special in the background. Bonus: You’ll be caught up on culture and have gleaming countertops. "New episodes of my favorite podcast, Be There in Five, typically come out on Sundays. I download the episode, pop in my earbuds, and clean for as long as the episode lasts. It's a long-form podcast, usually 1-2 hours, so it's the right amount of time to knock out my weekly cleaning without feeling bored." —Abbie Harrison, Editorial Director Buy Yourself Flowers Credit: Stef Grant / Getty Images Sometimes, the best way to spark a cleaning session is to give yourself a reason to beautify your space. For one of our editors, the secret is as simple as a bouquet. "All I have to do is cut stems from the garden or purchase a pretty arrangement of fresh flowers, and then I have no choice but to clean the house in order to showcase them. Works every time." —Melissa Breyer, Senior Editorial Director Place a vase of peonies or garden roses on the dining table, and suddenly you’re fluffing pillows, wiping down counters, and clearing the clutter to let those blooms shine. Your home (and the motivation to clean it) should follow. Explore more: Cleaning & Organizing