Starting Cleaning When You're Overwhelmed by Your Messy House

#1 WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TO CLEAN

Before you do that, determine which three areas in your house are most important for you to quickly clean.

For us, this is the living room, kitchen, the hall bathroom, as well, should you be willing for it, the garage/laundry room entryway and master's bedroom.

Focus on these rooms.

Don't stray from this 3-5-room rescue plan until you've gotten rid of the overwhelming feeling and regained control over your home's clutter.

#2 CHOOSE A REASONABLE LEVEL OF CLEANLINESS

Go check your reflection and have a brief talk with yourself.

Consider it, and choose the level of cleanliness you can manage in the present—a degree that eliminates the dread and desire to get rid of your home altogether.

It's likely that a thorough straightening could be the answer. If you're no longer drowning in chaos, perhaps you're confident that you'll manage to get your house in order.

Perhaps you think this cleaning routine ought to include a thorough wiping down and a good vacuuming.

You can do that, but try to resist the desire to explore more right now.

#3 FIND YOUR CLEANING MOTIVATION AND START CLEANING

Once you've got a plan, you just need to start. Find any reason to do it, but just . . . start.

Pick a task to complete that you can commit 100 minutes of cleaning.

#4 STAY ON TRACK WHILE TACKLING THE MESS

After you've started working through the chaos you've fought, set the timer.

In this scenario, the timer doesn't serve as signaling to stop - it's merely a goal-oriented reminder. Every time it sounds, it will remind you that you're cleaning out your house of clutter, one tiny container cap, or a used piece of tissue and sock that's ripped at one moment.

It also reduces the effects of time blindness. By turning it on every five or 10 mins, you will not be able to see and lose track of time.

It is not a good idea to be distracted by a distraction or become over-focused. This is not the moment to:

• Clean your dishwasher thoroughly,
• Sort out the pantry Or,
• God beware, never glimpse into your son's bedroom.

If the alarm goes off and you find yourself in the sink, scratching at the rust stain on your kitchen counter, stop and resume your home cleaning plan.

The timer helps you stay within the room and on track. If you're distracted and go distracted, the timer is the audio signal to let you know that you're not in the right spot. Reset it, return and try it again.

#5 GODSPEED

Okay, now that you know, you can imagine...

• Motivation to get moving and take on the chaos
• Deciding which rooms with a mess to take on first and
• Setting timers to help you stay on track

...are enough to break the spell of chaos that your messy home has placed upon you. You're on your way.

However, if you don't know exactly what to do and which order to do it or if you're running out of only a short amount of time (or simply would like to get your home cleaned! ), make sure you are taking your time.