Three Things Thursday No. 12: Cleaning or Decluttering?
Hiya!
Welcome to the 12th edition of Three Things Thursday, wherein we talk about the eternal debate of which comes first: cleaning or decluttering.
How are you? Hanging in there? Things have been a little chaotic at my end between the closing of our bookstore and my son’s midterms. Plus, with events and meetings being canceled we’re all at home much more and while it’s cozy to spend more time at home, boy, is it sure shining a light on the clutter and cleaning habits we haven’t dealt with yet! It’s so much easier to ignore those when you’re busy elsewhere! LOL!
So, I’m feeling compelled to tackle (again, le sigh) the clutter and cleaning chores in our home, and I always get a little confused. Which should I focus on first? Decluttering or building cleaning habits? I’ve heard it both ways. One person says that there’s no point in building cleaning habits unless you’ve removed the clutter because it makes cleaning so much harder. Another person says there’s no point in decluttering until you’ve built cleaning habits or you’ll still have a messy house! Which is it?
Well, I’m starting to think that really it depends on who you are and what you feel like tackling. In the end, you really need both – less stuff and better habits. Go ahead and work on what you are inspired to work on. Any forward momentum is going to make a difference so don’t get stuck deciding, just pick one and start!!
Here’s some resources for either path.
Thing 1: Decluttering
Proponents for decluttering say that cleaning around clutter takes so @*&%(*&#$ longer that you really need to get rid of the excess first. If you’re inclined to agree, then you might find it useful to check out my favorite five decluttering books or my series on Decluttering for Magpies:
Top 5 Favorite Decluttering Books
Thing 2: Cleaning
Proponents for cleaning say that you can have the most minimalist house ever but it will still be messy and dirty if you don’t establish cleaning habits first. If you are inclined to agree then you might want to take advantage of the sale going on at my friend Rachel’s website, Nourishing Minimalism. Her newest product, Home Reset, is a set of cleaning habit charts designed to help you build those habits one at a time over the course of three months. I just bought a set for myself and I can’t wait to try them out. They are 50% off until Sunday evening so if you want to get them, you should:
Home Reset Cleaning Habit Chart System
Thing 3: Hugs
I didn’t want to get through this whole email without acknowledging the unfolding health crisis and how it might be affecting you. This is a strange time like nothing I have ever personally experienced and I know that many people are scared or have already been affected either directly or indirectly.
So, yes. It is a weird, hard time that is changing day by day. People are scared or suffering, maybe you are one of those people. I want to give you a hug – a virtual one, of course – but still, a big, loving hug. Since I can’t give you one in real life, instead here is a picture of our sweet kittens Thing One and Thing Two from when they first came home in 2018:
Look at those little faces! They just love you.
I don’t have anything to offer other than pictures of cute kittens and my heartfelt thoughts for you. I don’t have any answers and I don’t want to minimize anyone’s pain with platitudes if their life has been turned upside down. Just know that I am thinking about you and hoping that this time passes quickly and with as little suffering as possible.
(You can see more of these two and their antics on their web page: Thing One and Thing Two: Junior Resident Quilt Inspectors.)
That’s it!
This week it’s all about focusing on our homes and making them the best that they can be. Which one are you going to tackle first? Cleaning or decluttering?
Comment below and let me know, or come find me on Facebook or Instagram!
Much love,
P.S. What are you reading? I just started this great book called Work Clean by Dan Charnas about my favorite culinary practice of mise-en-place and how this powerful practice can be elevated to a life philosophy and applied to everything. I have just started so don’t have much to say but it is intriguing!
