Helpful Hints To START Cleaning Your Messy House (When It’s BAD!)

Okay, so your house looks like a tornado met a frat party and decided to stay forever. Been there, done that (more times than I’d like to admit). And let’s be honest—starting the clean-up is usually the hardest part, right? You stand in the middle of the chaos, look around, and suddenly scrolling TikTok feels like a much better idea.

But here’s the thing: the mess isn’t going anywhere. Unless you’ve trained your pets to vacuum (if you have, please share your secrets ASAP), you’ve got to start somewhere. And don’t worry, I’m not here to lecture you with some “just clean as you go” nonsense. Nope. I’m about to give you real, practical, and actually doable tips to kickstart your cleaning when things are bad bad.

So grab a coffee (or an energy drink—I don’t judge), tie your hair up, and let’s figure this out together.

Step 1: Accept the Chaos First

Here’s the deal—you can’t clean what you don’t accept. If you keep staring at the mountain of clothes and pretending it’s modern art, you’ll never touch it. Acceptance is step one.

Ever tried ignoring the mess, only to magically hope it’ll clean itself? Yeah, spoiler alert—it won’t. :/

So take a deep breath and tell yourself: “Yep, my house is a disaster, but I’m about to fix it.”

Step 2: Don’t Try to Clean the Whole House at Once

If you think you’re going to scrub your floors, do laundry, clean your kitchen, AND organize your closet in one day—good luck. You’ll burn out faster than your old vacuum cleaner.

Instead, start small. Pick one task and one room. That’s it.

• Start with dishes. (They’re visual and make a big impact fast.)
• Or pick up trash. (Instant results, and you’ll feel better.)
• Or clear just one surface, like your coffee table.

Think of it this way: a little progress beats no progress.

Step 3: The 10-Minute Rule

This one saved me more times than I can count. When your house is super messy, tell yourself: “I’ll just clean for 10 minutes.”

Sounds easy, right? Because it is. The trick? Once you start, you usually keep going. And even if you don’t, guess what—you still did 10 minutes of cleaning, which is better than zero.

Pro tip: set a timer. It makes cleaning feel like a game. (Or a punishment from the universe, depending on your mood.)

Step 4: Music, Podcasts, or Trash TV

Ever noticed how time flies when you’re jamming to your favorite playlist? Use that to your advantage.

Here’s what works:

• High-energy music: Dance around while you vacuum. Bonus cardio.
• Podcasts: Distracts your brain while your hands do the work.
• Trash TV: Perfect for folding laundry. (Yes, you can actually justify watching “Love Is Blind” as productivity.)

Make cleaning fun—or at least less soul-crushing.

Step 5: Start With Visible Wins

If you clean the bathroom drawer nobody sees but leave your living room looking like a warzone, you’ll just feel defeated. Always go for the visible wins first.

• Clear your counters.
• Pick up visible trash.
• Make your bed.

These small wins create momentum and make the space instantly feel less chaotic.

Step 6: Use the “Basket Trick”

I swear by this one. Grab a laundry basket and go around collecting random items that don’t belong where they are. Socks on the couch? In the basket. Empty water bottles? Basket. Your kid’s toy car in the fridge? (Don’t ask.) Basket.

When you’re done, you can sort everything back into its rightful place. It beats running back and forth 50 times.

Step 7: Focus on Smells Too

Real talk: sometimes the mess comes with… odors. :/

Quick fixes:

• Take out the trash immediately.
• Light a candle or use a diffuser.
• Open your windows for 10 minutes.

A fresher-smelling house makes you feel like you’ve made way more progress than you actually have.

Step 8: Reward Yourself

Yes, adults deserve gold stars too. After you tackle a chunk of cleaning, reward yourself.

• Finished the dishes? Grab a snack.
• Cleaned the living room? Take a 15-minute break.
• Finally folded your laundry mountain? Binge an episode of your favorite show guilt-free.

Trust me, little rewards make the process so much more doable.

Step 9: Break Down Big Tasks

Ever looked at a sink full of dishes and thought, “Nope, not today”? Same. But here’s the trick: break it down.

• Wash cups first.
• Then plates.
• Then utensils.

Suddenly, the mountain looks less terrifying. This works for laundry, too. (One load at a time. Don’t attempt the “7 loads in one day” challenge unless you’re a superhero.)

Step 10: Don’t Aim for Perfection

Here’s some honesty: your house doesn’t need to look like Pinterest. You’re not auditioning for a cleaning commercial.

Aim for “functional clean,” not “showroom clean.”

• Floors don’t need to sparkle.
• Counters don’t need to be clutter-free forever.
• Beds don’t need hotel-level sheets.

You just need a space that feels calm and livable. IMO, that’s more than enough.

Step 11: Enlist Help If You Can

Got roommates, kids, or a partner? Congratulations—you have free labor. ;)

Make cleaning a team sport. Assign tasks, turn up the music, and make it a 30-minute sprint. Kids may complain, but trust me, bribing them with ice cream works.

If you live alone, call a friend and chat while cleaning. Time flies when you’re distracted.

Step 12: Build “Clean-As-You-Go” Habits (For the Future You)

Okay, I promised not to lecture you about “clean as you go,” but hear me out—future you will thank present you if you pick up some tiny habits:

• Wash your dish right after eating.
• Do a quick 5-minute evening tidy.
• Don’t let laundry sit in the basket for three days. (Guilty.)

These micro-habits prevent future messes from getting that bad again.

My Personal Story (AKA Confession Time)

Last year, I let my apartment get so messy I avoided inviting people over for weeks. One day, my mom surprised me with a visit (nightmare fuel). I had two choices: fake my death or clean like my life depended on it.

I used the 10-minute rule, basket trick, and music combo—and in one hour, the place looked halfway decent. Was it perfect? Nope. But it was enough for my mom to say, “Wow, looks nice in here!” (And if your mom compliments your cleaning, you know you’ve done something right.)

Quick Checklist: Emergency Cleaning Game Plan

Need a straight-to-the-point cheat sheet? Here’s your messy house starter pack:

1. Pick one task only. Don’t multitask.
2. Set a 10-minute timer. Just start.
3. Clear visible trash. Instant improvement.
4. Use a basket for random stuff. Deal with it later.
5. Focus on smell. Trash out, candle lit, window open.
6. Reward yourself. Always.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the truth: starting is the hardest part. Once you take that first step—dishes, trash, or laundry—you’ll feel momentum build. And remember, your house doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to feel better than before.

So the next time you look around and think, “It’s too messy, I don’t know where to start,” just pick one of these steps and go for it. Your future self (and probably your sanity) will thank you.

Now, be honest—what’s the messiest spot in your house right now? ;)