The One-Tool Method Makes Cleaning More Efficient
There are many cleaning methods available, and while they have some commonalities, they are all different, and that’s important. When you’re cleaning your home and trying to keep it clean by scheduling and completing maintenance tasks, you shouldn’t use the same approach every time; you will become bored and lose motivation. Switching up different methods every few weeks will keep a tedious task at least a little fresh, and the one-tool method is a great way to start incorporating it into your cleaning schedule.
What is the “one tool” cleaning method?
I found this while browsing Apartment Therapy , so kudos to the author Shifra Combits for coming up with a technique that seems innovative and unique. This approach takes some of the classic cleaning tips I like (like don’t try to do everything at once), but turns it on its head slightly: You typically treat one area at a time, moving from area to area over the course of the course. For a few days, try tackling one problem at a time. By using the “one tool” concept, you’ll break one of my cardinal rules of not having to jump from room to room during a day’s scheduled cleaning time, but you’ll create a new type of efficiency by eliminating the need to use the same tools over and over again. day to day.
How to use the “one tool” cleaning method
First, you’ll still rely on the basics I always harp on, scheduling consistent times for daily cleaning and limiting yourself to small periods of time . If you try to clean too much for too long in the same day, you will fail. Remember that the task of cleaning and maintaining a home is a marathon, not a sprint, so you can (and should) work on it a little each day rather than trying to do it all at once. Apply the principles of blocking and time management here by setting aside a certain amount of time (15 to 30 minutes) in your daily schedule for cleaning, then committing to doing nothing but cleaning during that time , and stopping when your time is up to avoid distractions. get rid of feelings of depression.
I usually suggest choosing one area to clean each day, but using “one tool” instead, you’ll actually be doing just that: choosing one tool. On the first day it could have been a vacuum. On the second day it could have been a mop. On the third day, it could be a disinfectant, a rag, or a squeegee… you get the idea. Whatever you choose on a particular day, take it out, prepare it and carry it with you at home, using it wherever you need it.
You shouldn’t use this approach all the time, but add it every few weeks to shake up your routine. This is an effective approach because it saves you from having to dig out a vacuum cleaner, mop, or any other tool every few days when you’re dealing with a new room. Instead, you take it out once and focus entirely on using it, devoting all your energy that day to using the tool. Getting into the zone with a sponge or rag will keep you engaged and make your job more efficient.
Combine this method with another, such as the 5×5 tidying method , to make sure you’re constantly decluttering and actually tidying. Over time, if you do these things consistently, you won’t always eliminate the clutter, but rather maintain the absence of clutter.