I think you should ditch the deep cleaning.
And I’m going to tell you why. (Because I’d better back this one up!)
Here are the three reasons why I think giving yourself a pass – calling it a day at “good enough” – is better for your brain.
Number One
It removes perfectionism.
Perfect is the enemy of good (enough), right?
But so often, we get caught in the deadly trap of perfectionism.
You started out with one little “should” – I should have a cleaner house – which then quickly balloons into statements like these:
- “Wait! I need to vacuum the blinds.”
- “Oh, look! I never saw all those spots on the wall before… maybe I should do something about them!”
- “Yikes, just look at the state of those baseboards. They’re practically brown.”
And before you know it, you’re off to the races with despair at the state of your house, your inability to keep things clean, and your general failure at motherhood.
Wonderful. How’s that for a pick-me-up at this time of day?
But listen – the real culprit was perfectionism. This idea that you could – and should – have a perfect house.
Kick that thought to the curb, and what do you have?
Look around again.
- A house that’s pretty clean, considering the number of kids living there (and their personal cleanliness habits, or lack thereof!)
- A reasonably tidy living area (your no food in the living room rule helps a lot!)
- And a warm, welcoming atmosphere to any friends or family who stop by (worth your weight in gold)
Not so bad now, is it?
Number Two
When you release perfectionism, you’re able to right-size your thinking – about everything.
What’s a “good enough” level of cleanliness? Just do that.
What’s a “good enough” mirror? Forget the no-smudge rule you grew up with. (Save that for when they’re teenagers, right?)
What’s your good enough point for the floors? (Um, walking barefoot without pain from sharp, pointy objects? How about that.)
And now you can dump the guilt – every last ounce of it – and get back to actually living your life. (Spoiler alert: it’s way more fun this way.)
All you had to do was put a “good enough” cleaning task on today’s to-do list, and get it done. No pressure. No perfectionism. Just forward action.
No pressure. No perfectionism.
Think about it – isn’t it easier to say, today I’m just going to wipe down the bathroom counters (might as well do the sinks + mirrors, while you’re at it) so they look better than before?
You’re not going for a full, faucets-sparkling deep clean.
No, you’re just going to soak up the water spills, clean off the toothpaste all over the sink (and cabinet, and mirror…), and use that wet rag to mop up the most egregious dirt clods from the bathroom floor.
And then you notice… hey, the bathroom looks pretty good now! It’s certainly a lot better than before, that’s for sure.
And that’s what you’re going for: better than before.
Easy target to reach = no stress for you. Amen?
Number Three
Finally, the last reason to quit deep cleaning is to give your brain a break.
Stop looking at the floors and mentally cataloging your ideal housewife to-do list.
Quit tallying up the (miles-long) list of all the things that need to happen to have a truly spick-and-span abode.
Just give up.
Abandon the effort to have a magazine-worthy house, all the time, and focus on what today’s chore was. Did you get it done? Have you left one area better than before?
Then you’re good to go. You don’t need to do anything else.
You. Are. Fine. Hear me?
- The only day you can worry about the toilets is toilet-scrubbing day.
- The only time you can fuss over the light fixtures is dusting day.
- The only day you’re allowed to obsess over the mirrors is on mirrors-and-counters day.
The rest of the time, relax. Tell the “I should clean it” self-talk to take a hike.
Because no, you shouldn’t clean it. That isn’t today’s task.
See if your life doesn’t feel better – easier – lighter when you embrace the “good enough” cleaning system.
When you just focus on that day’s task, and let the other days take care of themselves.
The floor’s dirty? Yeah, you’ll get to it tomorrow. It’s vacuuming day. But today? It’s not on your radar anymore.
Ditch the deep cleaning to-do’s, and give your (already busy) brain a break.
Your motherhood will thank you.
