The Winter Solstice Approaches

The Single Best Thing You Can Do If You Want a Cleaner, Less Cluttered Kitchen

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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Maybe you want to get your kitchen clean and in order? But you just can’t find the motivation to actually do it? Here it is: Plan on having people over! Allow me to explain.

If you’re frustrated about the messes that always seem to accumulate in your kitchen — and how infrequently they get cleaned — planning to have people over (even if it’s just a small gathering of close, vaccinated friends) can be a near-instant fix.

If you’re the only one in your space, it’s easy to let the dishes pile up and the counters stay cluttered. The mess is annoying, sure, but it’s only affecting you (and whoever lives in your home with you). Hospitality will kick you into gear and force you to think about areas of your kitchen, and probably your entire space, that you’ve been neglecting!

Here’s why this trick works: Planning a gathering in your home this fall — even if it’s just one friend, and even if it doesn’t involve making a meal — will shift your mindset outward. As a result, it’ll alter your behavior, too! You’ll be more likely to pick up after yourself, and do the dishes if, in the back of your mind, you know people will be coming over soon. Our tip: If you want a cleaner and less cluttered kitchen, plan on having at least one person over .

Credit: Elissa Crowe

As a bonus, you also may be more motivated to work on deep-cleaning projects you’ve been putting off. Those greasy backsplashes and splattered microwave won’t stand a chance if you’re even mildly aware your messy kitchen will affect more than you.

So, next time you notice your kitchen needs a little love, don’t just make vague plans to clean it — increase the likelihood you’ll actually do something about it by inviting a handful of guests to come in your home and use it!

What motivates you to clean your kitchen? Tell us in the comments below.

Ashley Abramson

Contributor

Ashley Abramson is a writer-mom hybrid in Minneapolis, MN. Her work, mostly focused on health, psychology, and parenting, has been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Allure, and more. She lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two young sons.

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Source : food