How to Master the TikTok Closing Shift Cleaning Method
Like many people, I worked in retail during college. What he couldn’t bring in financial rewards, he made up for by teaching me life skills. I learned how to stay calm when someone speaks loudly and incorrectly, how to negotiate and how to manage my time. Other skills acquired were not so obvious. For example, every time I worked the last shift, I didn’t realize that I was learning how to manage my own home. At least that’s what the CleanTok influencers would have me believe when they talk about this latest cleaning trend. It’s called “end-of-shift cleaning,” and you may have seen it on TikTok or Reels .
What is “final shift cleaning”?
Closing shift cleaning is what it’s like if you know what closing shift is: you clean at night and get everything ready for opening. In this case, you are not only closer, but also open. If you’ve ever worked a “closed” shift, you may remember putting more effort into closing to make it easier for you to open in the morning. This is true, but for your home.
If you’ve ever closed a cafe, you know you need to make sure the food is ready for the next morning. If you’ve ever closed up shop at a mall, you know you need to make sure the displays are in order. You need to count the cash at the register, throw out the trash and turn off all the machines. The idea is to do all of this so that the opener can focus on the actual tasks of opening, such as putting cupcakes in the oven or coordinating delivery with a replenishment agent.
When you do your “final shift” at home, you think about what you’ll need the next morning and prepare it. If you know you’ll need coffee, make sure your car is clean and you have a fresh mug. If you have to go to the office, make sure your clothes are steamed and laid out. Take out the trash, clean up any clutter that has accumulated during the day, and generally prepare your home for the morning “opening.”
Why does last shift cleaning work?
Thinking of your home as a business is not a new concept in the decluttering space. In the past, I recommended a method that involves storing extra products in an “inventory” area , like in a store. Treating your home like a business allows you to be more methodical and objective, and eliminates much of the hesitation and decision paralysis.
As with any business, you want to start your day without any bumps or mistakes; you want everything to go according to plan. Preparing the night before, cleaning the kitchen, gathering everything you’ll need in the morning, and “locking up” the house gives you a head start on the day. Not only does this make the next day better before it even begins, but it also gives you a sense of accomplishment when you head to bed.
To make this work, spend a few days noticing what distracts you in the morning, whether it’s digging out your rubber boots from the back of your hallway closet or tripping over folded clothes you haven’t put away yet. What, if removed or eliminated, would make your mornings better? Also pay attention to things that weigh on you when you go to bed, such as dishes left in the sink or trash you didn’t take out. Then commit to tackling those issues in the evening by creating a personal checklist of “closing” responsibilities.