7 Little Ways To Romanticize Cleaning (Or Just Make It Less Tedious)

A person sprays a liquid onto a couch in a room with stone accents; another hand elegantly places a toilet paper roll on a faucet, inviting you to romanticize your cleaning routine.

Romanticization is often discussed in a negative context (i.e. romanticizing an unhealthy relationship), but it’s not always harmful to view things through rose-colored glasses! Romanticizing cleaning and other forms of housework, which are important if not enjoyable, can help make them less of a drag.

In this post, you’ll learn some simple ways to romanticize your cleaning routine to make it more enjoyable — or at least less tedious!

Jillee’s Take:

It’s easy for us to romanticize other people’s lives — who hasn’t seen a friend’s vacation photos and imagined what an incredible time they must be having? Although it may not come as easily, finding beauty and joy in our everyday lives can have real benefits, and the tips below are a great way to practice!

7 Little Ways To Romanticize Your Cleaning Routine

A person in a pink sweater holds a cloth, standing near a shelf with jars and a spray bottle. A digital device is on the shelf.

1. Listen To Music

When I’m feeling down or unmotivated, a great playlist is often just what the doctor ordered! My Spring Cleaning Playlist is loaded with upbeat songs that always get me moving when I need a lift (and you can stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music!)

2. Choose A Scent

The right scent can make any activity more enjoyable, including housework. Lighting a favorite candle or diffusing your favorite essential oil blend (you can’t go wrong with Simple Clean!) before you start folding laundry or mopping the kitchen floor can go a long way toward making the experience more pleasant.

A person effortlessly places a roll of toilet paper onto a holder in a bathroom setting, inspired by ingenious cleaning hacks from TikTok.

3. Add Luxurious Touches

Don’t overlook the little things, especially the ones that bring you joy. (I like to stamp the toilet paper roll — it makes me feel like I’m at a 5-star resort!) Find little ways to add luxurious touches to your surroundings, from artfully folded towels to fresh flowers.

4. Cultivate Gratitude

Cleaning can feel like a burden sometimes, but it’s a blessing to maintain a comfortable home for the people we love. If housework puts you in a bad mood, be mindful when negative thoughts start creeping in, and remind yourself why you put your time and effort into keeping your home clean and comfortable.

A woman is hanging a dish towel on a hook in a kitchen.

5. Update Your Supplies

Cleaning isn’t the most fun to begin with and beat-up, grimy tools aren’t making it any better! If your cleaning arsenal has seen better days, invest in dish towels or cleaning cloths that are a joy to use or a cute new pair of gloves. Quality cleaning tools are more enjoyable to use and make the work easier!

6. Clean In Short Bursts

Instead of allowing big projects and time-consuming tasks to sour your mood, break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. You can get the same results of an hour-long cleaning session by doing it in 15-minute increments throughout the day. Use cleaning shortcuts and avoid cleaning mistakes that can make your life harder!

A woman wearing pink pajamas sits in bed reading a book.

7. Celebrate Your Accomplishments

When you’re finished cleaning, don’t forget to reward yourself for your hard work. Enjoy the clean and inviting space you’ve created by relaxing with a good book or enjoying a favorite snack!

How do you make cleaning more enjoyable?

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Jill Nystul Photo

Jill Nystul (aka Jillee)

Jill Nystul is an accomplished writer and author who founded the blog One Good Thing by Jillee in 2011. With over 30 years of experience in homemaking, she has become a trusted resource for contemporary homemakers by offering practical solutions to everyday household challenges.I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

About Jillee

Jill Nystul

Jill’s 30 years of homemaking experience, make her the trusted source for practical household solutions.

About Jillee

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1 Comment

  1. I just clean one room a day..my house is small, so it doesn’t take all week! If ypu
    keep things up it’s so much easier!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.

Leave a Comment

1 Comment

  1. I just clean one room a day..my house is small, so it doesn’t take all week! If ypu
    keep things up it’s so much easier!

    Please log in or create a free account to comment.