When you really have to get the house clean quickly, why not try the Pomodoro Technique - a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work (or in this case, cleaning!) into intervals, typically 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.
Each interval is known as a pomodoro, funnily enough coming from the Italian word for tomato, after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer Cirillo used as a university student.
The idea is to break down a large intimidating task into smaller steps, making it more manageable and seeing achievement along the way.
We are so passionate about this technique that we even spoke to the Sun newspaper about it - read the full article here
OK so how it works:
1 - Decide first on the tasks to be done.
2 - Set the pomodoro timer (however long you think it will take to get the task done - usually from 5 - 25 minutes),
3 - Work on the task.
4 - End work when the timer rings and take a short break (typically 5 minutes).
5 - If you have finished fewer than three pomodoros, go back to Step 2 and repeat until you go through all three pomodoros.
6 - After three pomodoros are done, take the fourth pomodoro as a long break (we like to call this a tea and cake break). Once the long break is finished, return to step 2.
To effectively do the Pomodoro method you will need the following:
Pen, paper & notepad - to list your jobs and finally a timer of your choice
I personally find setting a timer to get a job done quickly is a really good motivator - racing against the timer gets me moving. If you really want to add extra motivation to your cleaning, you can try writing a list of all the jobs to be done which will then give you the satisfaction of crossing them off when finished.
Work through your home one room at a time roughly 10 mins on the timer per room. Clearing away clutter, wiping down surfaces, and a quick hoover.
For example:
In 10 mins the kitchen
Do the dishes, spray surfaces with a natural cleaning product, and give everything a good wipe. Put away extra cutlery and crockery, and dust the top shelves in your cupboards.
10 min in the bathroom
Remove used products from your shower, empty the bin, wipe down sinks and shower screens and make sure the mirror’s sparkling clean.
Other areas you might be able to squeeze in are:
• Changing the bed
• Folding or ironing the laundry
• Putting kids’ toys away
• Dusting the window sills
When you are really short on time and you have only 10 mins, you can never underestimate the power of a speed hoover, a quick cushion plump and a surface wipe down.
And a little bonus tip, if you think your house could do with a smell refresh - try this quick tip so that it will smell amazing in no time:
1. Open the windows, nothing will make your home smell better than getting rid of the stale air.
2 . Boil a pan of water and add some slices of lemons and oranges, the gorgeous scent of lemon and orange will soon fill your house.
3 If your bin is really bringing down the smell in your home, why not try this quick tip: Take a cotton wool ball and add a few drops of your favourite essential oil, and place it at the bottom of your bin.
You might also like our blog on 4 ways to make your home smell incredible
What do you think? Would the Pomodoro method help you with getting your cleaning done?
